“Because your ex got money out of him.”
“Got it in one.” She swallowed. “I am really a downer tonight. It’s just looking ahead to the holiday plans, he’s been on my mind.”
“Is that why you focus on the summer and fall festivals?”
“Yes!” She wriggled her toes in her sandals. “I’m not surprised you guessed, but I will tell you you’re the only one to say it out loud.” The autumn festivities didn’t carry the same baggage and expectations as Thanksgiving and Christmas, making it easier to relax and invest her emotional and creative joy.
“Bonus points for me.”
“Absolutely.” She tugged at the lid to the cooler. “How about a drink?” She opened the lid and found a wrapped plate of cheese and fruit. Taking it out, she set the plate on the camptable between them. “You went all out.” Her stomach rumbled and they both chuckled. “Thank you.”
“Better dig in,” he suggested, reaching for a soda. “I packed beer, wine, and sparkling water too.”
“Sparkling water is perfect.” The wine tempted her, but she didn’t want to risk a headache in the morning.
Trent snagged a few grapes from the plate. “Were you able to make some progress for your music festival booth?”
“A little.” She layered an apple slice between two squares of cheese. “I made a list of businesses to approach for donations.” She hesitated, afraid to bring down the mood again, but she had to tell him. “Corey showed up at the gallery yesterday with boxes of small nuts and bolts he can’t use. The items are exactly what I need and it saves me a ton of money and time. If I only order pipe cleaners the kids will be happy for days.” She twined her fingers together, then stretched her hands wide. She had to be making too much of a kind gesture.
Suddenly finding herself under the full weight of his attention caught her off guard. “And?”
“Well, after what happened,” she jerked her head toward the construction site. “I realized something he said was kind of weird.”
“Details, Natalie. Right now.”
“It was just that he said with the donation I wouldn’t need to poke around near the docks anymore.” Trent scowled at her. “I wasn’t holding back last night,” she explained in a rush. “I was scared and not thinking straight. It just didn’t occur to me. I mean, we’re talking about Corey. He’s one of the good guys around here.”
“Good guys do bad things too.”
“I’m aware.” She sipped her water, wanting to believe the best. In Corey, in herself, and in most other people too. “We see each other quite a bit when I’m poking around for inspirationdown by the water. And so many folks came by when I was working on the Brookwell sculptures. I just assumed it was a friendly gesture.”
“If that was him I overheard with Royer, sounds like the gesture was his way of keeping you out of harm’s way.”
“That’s a nice thought,” she murmured. “Nicer still, if you learn he’s not involved at all.” She really wanted to trust people.
Trent grunted as he checked on the pot pie. “Well, I didn’t rule him out today.” Whatever he saw in the dutch oven, he added the biscuits to the top and covered it again.
“I could talk to him.”
“Not happening.”
She was really botching this. Everything she said seemed to ratchet Trent’s concern. “Okay. I’ll stay away.”
“Why aren’t you arguing more?” he challenged.
She slumped into the seat. “Because when I opened the box, I found the invoice. He didn’t get the parts by mistake, he placed the order on purpose. For me.”
Trent swore. Leaning forward, he braced his elbows on his knees. “Stop trying to tell me this is nothing. Every inch of your body language says his visit bothered you.”
“Sure it did, if I look at it within the new context of your case.”
He sat back, the can of soda balanced on his knee. “I’ve been with the Guardian Agency for years. I’ve worked full investigations like this one, personal security, and done plenty of consulting. My brothers claim I have a suspicious nature. My baby sister calls me paranoid.”
Was he trying to lighten the mood? “Which is it?” she asked, though she was more curious about his family life.
“Experience makes me wary,” he said. Thunder rumbled in the distance, underscoring his admission. “Based on what you’vesaid, it sounds like Corey means well, even if he is caught in Royer’s web.”
“Does that change anything?”
