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Okay. That right there told me I should dig deeper into Norman Bernard. There was definitely a story behind that reaction.
“I’d love to take you to lunch sometime,” I said in the sweetest voice I could muster. “I’m writing a series of books set up here. They’ll all revolve around the timber industry. From what Paz has told me, you’re the expert.”
His eyes never left the fire. “I doubt I’ve got anything interesting to tell you.”
I bit the inside of my cheek and forced a smile. “Online research can only get me so far. Talking to someone who’s been doing this for as long as you have would really help me out.”
He nodded and gave me a sidelong glance but didn’t respond.
Shit. I was coming on too strong. I shouldn’t have come out with the ask so quickly.
Richard was skittish. Everything I’d dug up indicated that he kept to himself. Our interaction tonight confirmed it, and I couldn’t afford to burn this bridge. Henri trusted him, and he was a mentor to Pascal. He would be my best chance at figuring out what happened.
And my gut told me there was so much more here. He had an alibi for the day of Frank’s accident, but I had no doubt he was hiding something.
While Nate and Al were happy to talk shop and ramble on about all the boring details, Richard was more reserved. He’d turn my questions around on me skillfully. And while he was always polite, he was distant, closed off. And it only made me want to know more.
* * *
The sun had gone down, and the reception was in full swing. The guests were all full of barbeque, and spirits were high.
The local band played a mix of oldies, country and pop hits, and the dance floor had been full all night. The general ease of the evening had my guard slipping a little, and I didn’t mind it one bit. The happiness was contagious.
“Dance?” my date asked, offering his hand.
The last thing on earth I wanted to do was dance with him. Because no good could come of this. My poor lady parts were already so confused around him, and my brain was too.
But instead of feigning an injury or coming up with a clever excuse, I took his hand and followed him onto the dance floor.
The heat of him soaked into me as he wrapped an arm around my waist. Subconsciously, I wanted to snuggle in closer, nuzzle into the crook of his neck, but the sliver of my brain still on guard reminded me that distance was necessary and healthy.
“Having a good time?”
I nodded silently. Talking right now would lead to one of two things: fighting or more vulnerable revelations. I wasn’t interested in getting involved in either.
This was the closest we’d been since we slept together. We’d been staying out of each other’s way, and that had helped cool things off a little. But now, dancing with him, wrapped up in his warmth and his scent, I had to fight the surge of lust only his proximity was capable of creating. And damn if it didn’t make it hard to stay professional.
But I persevered, remaining quiet, pushing thoughts of the case out of my mind. For once, I took the time to let myself be. I was dancing with a strong, handsome man I happened to have a massive crush on. Life didn’t get much better.
“Parker,” he rasped, his tone loaded with more vulnerability than I’d ever witnessed from him.
When I pulled back to respond, he was watching me, his brown eyes molten.
His grip tightened on my hip, and I arched toward him, needing him closer. He said my name again, this time just a whisper, as he tilted his face closer.
“Everyone is watching us.” I said lamely.
“Good. Then we’ll give them a show.” He leaned forward and every cell in my body anticipated his kiss. I needed it. I needed him in this moment.
His lips were centimeters from mine when a shrill scream rang out.
I jerked back, scanning the tent for danger, wishing I had a weapon or at least a can of pepper spray.
Not, even for an instant, would I have fathomed what had the guests around us in a panic. It was a moose—enormous, with a full rack of antlers—and it was standing in front of the ornate cake table at the end of the tent.
He was devouring the exquisite wedding cake we had admired earlier. The creation was massive and decorated to look like tree bark with Henri and Alice’s initials carved into it.
And now a moose the size of a shipping container was going to town on it, working his way through the intricate leaves and acorns while guests backed away in horror.
