Chapter 31
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Inside the chain steakhousethey’d chosen, Hallene kept glancing around, waiting for someone to pop out from behind a booth to attack them.
Everyone else in this place was enjoying their meals. They didn’t watch for assassins.
“Eat your meal, babe. I’ll know if anyone shows up.” Sam was busy cutting and eating his thick steak.
The man was a true meat eater.
“I’m almost done,” she admitted. She brushed crumbs from the long-sleeved red T-shirt with the logo of an ice hockey team she didn’t know. Sam had approved. He’d also given a big thumbs-up to her cargo pants. This was so not what she normally wore back home, no more than leaving her hair to dry curly.
He liked it, more than liked it. He’d given her a hungry glance that had her breasts perking up, ready for him.
She’d enjoyed shopping at the thrift store down from the hotel where they’d gone hunting clothes.
Sam shopped like a man. Short-sleeved shirt with Hawaiian print and baggy shorts. He found another cap that was just as worn out as the one he’d gotten blood on.
They looked like any other couple in this restaurant.
She’d never fit in so easily before. Never felt like she fit it. She’d dressed for business meetings while running her organization because that’s what it took to get people involved. The only time she didn’t wear a suit was when she went with her people to rescue kids.
Even then, she was never this casual, always trying to keep up appearances. Why? For strangers who cared nothing for her?
Being with Sam had shown her a middle ground of how to be comfortable doing everyday things. It was a healthy mindset and hers had been set wrong for a long time.
In the next few minutes, he finished his meal, took a drink of water, and leaned forward on his crossed arms. “Let’s talk.”
That hadn’t sounded casual or teasing.
Warning signals flared in her head. She pushed her plate aside and propped her elbows on the table to keep their conversation private.
He asked, “How much danger are Angie and Clercville in?”
She’d expected him to ask about finding Phoebe, not that. He wanted to know the truth she believed he suspected. If she failed to admit it, he would look at her differently.
Deep breath. She gave up her only card to keep his team out of their hair and to ensure they continued as partners. “They’ll be fine.”
“Even if neither of us shows up again?” he pressed.
She covered her eyes for a minute then lowered her hands. “No one is going to come looking for me or hurt anyone in Clercville.” The fact that he asked her should be okay, but she worried she was making a mistake. She narrowed her eyes at him. “Is that what you wanted to hear?”
“To be honest, I did not think you had it in you to harm any innocent people, but we ran into something bad yesterday. I don’t intend to let anyone hurt you. They’ll have to come through me. I just needed to be sure there was no trip wire we might accidentally cross if you didn’t contact someone on time.”
