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“Thanks for coming over. I thought you might avoid me.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Now that you didn’t, it doesn’t matter.”
After that, they stood and stared at each other without saying anything. A whisper of wind caught at a loose strand of her hair and brushed it against her lips, fantasies about which had kept him awake most of the night. In an unconscious gesture, she pushed the wayward tendril back onto her cheek.
He flicked his gaze away from her mouth. “Are you here at Compton’s request?”
“She called me last night.”
“Me too. You’ve met with her already?”
“Her and Perkins. We just finished.”
“What’s it about?”
“I’m not supposed to talk about it with anyone. But since they asked you to come in also, I assume it relates to the same subject.”
“Why the two of us?”
She gave a faint smile. “That’s what I’m not supposed to say.”
“Is it something bad?”
“It’s, uh—”
“Sorry. Scratch that.” He shoved his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket. “I shouldn’t be pressuring you for information if they asked you not to talk about it. I guess I’ll learn what it’s about soon enough.”
She nodded and glanced toward the entrance. “I shouldn’t keep you.”
“You’re not. I’m a few minutes early.” Quickly, he added, “Am I keeping you from something?”
“No, I’m not on a deadline.”
“What about your book?”
“Well, there is that.”
Their chuckles were followed by another lull, during which he debated with himself. Before he could change his mind, he said, “Actually, Elle, it does matter.”
“What?”
“The reason I thought you might avoid me. It had to do with what I told you last night just before we left each other.”
“Oh.” Her eyes turned soft. “The bullet you couldn’t stop. The burden of guilt you live with.”
“It’s a heavy one.”
“Calder.” She placed her hand on his sleeve. “Who knows why things happened the way they did. They just did. Please don’t blame yourself for not dying.”
“I’m trying to come to terms with it, you know? But it’s tough.”
“I don’t blame you. If I don’t, can’t you forgive yourself?”
“I promise to work on it.”
She smiled and gave his arm a little squeeze before letting go. “You shouldn’t be late for your meeting. Take care.”
