Brick let out a low chuckle. “Careful. He’s been trained to read people like a book.”
Holland didn’t take the bait right away. He studied her, head tilted slightly. “You pay attention to small details. That dress is expensive, but the shoes aren’t, so what you said about money tracks. You had it. You don’t now, but that hasn’t stopped you from caring about appearances, but not enough to be fake about it. You were happily married but he passed.”
Blaise blinked, startled. “How do you know that?”
“That diamond band. You wouldn’t still wear it if you hadn’t loved him and didn’t miss him now.”
She felt exposed, but not in a bad way. Everything he’d said was true.
“Impressive,” Brick said, pride sneaking into his voice.
“And maybe a little creepy,” Blaise corrected, though she couldn’t stop her laugh. “Is this a regular parlor trick or did I just get lucky?”
Holland’s fork paused midair. Then, to her surprise, he smiled. It wasn’t big, but it softened him. “Just watching out for my old man. You’d be amazed what people try to get away with when they think someone’s lonely.”
Brick’s brow furrowed. “Holland.”
“It’s fine,” Blaise said quickly. “If I were in your shoes, I might be suspicious, too. But I’m not after your father’s money, if that’s what you’re implying.”
“Didn’t say that,” Holland replied evenly. “But I’ve seen enough. Motives come in all shapes and sizes.”
“Good thing mine’s brownies, then,” she said, pointing her fork at the plate of dessert in the center of the table. “Carbs and friendship. That’s about as dangerous as I get.”
That earned her another twitch of a smile, this time almost genuine.
Brick grinned, shaking his head. “You see why I like her, son?”
Holland leaned back in his chair, studying her again—but less like a suspect, more like a puzzle he hadn’t quite solved. “Yeah,” he said finally, the word slow and grudging. “I get it.”
Blaise thought maybe she’d passed some invisible test. She lifted her glass and met his gaze. “Glad to hear it, Detective.”
He tipped his glass of water in return. “We’ll see.”
Brick groaned good-naturedly. “Dinner with two stubborn people—no wonder I’ve got indigestion.”
Blaise laughed, and for the first time since she’d arrived, she didn’t immediately want to go home.
Chapter Thirteen
“You aren’t really going to make me wear this,” Cece said, holding the red bandana Joe had just given her to use as a blindfold.
They were sitting in his car, a well-kept, late-model Jaguar convertible, and still in her driveway.
He looked entirely too pleased with himself. “You’ll ruin the surprise otherwise.”
His amusement entertained her. She gave him a wry smile. “What if people see me and think you’re kidnapping me?”
“Hmm. There’s a very slim chance that will happen, but maybe you should put your sunglasses on over the blindfold.”
If he wasn’t handsome and charming and the most fun she’d had in ages, she wouldn’t be doing this. She got her sunglasses out of her purse. “This better be worth it.”
He laughed nervously. “Well, I hope it is.”
She tied the bandana around her eyes and put her sunglasses on. She was sure she looked like a fool. “All right. I’m ready.”
“You’re a good sport.”
The car moved and she slouched down in the seat, not wanting to be seen or for Joe to get in trouble, just in case somebusybody really did think he was forcing her to do something against her will.
