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That was news.
Before he could try to ferret out a few details on that subject, she frowned, straightened up, and once again shifted back to business. “I’ll go ahead and draw up a list of nearby jurisdictions, along with contact information for the fire investigation units, and send you a copy. You can pick as many or as few as you want to check out, and I’ll tackle the rest.”
“That works.”
“Is there anything else we should talk about today?”
Yes. Her family background. The story behind her limp. Her career out West. Whether she’d be open to another Saturday morning get-together—one that wasn’t work related.
But she was already stowing her notebook, preparing to end their impromptu meeting.
While patience wasn’t his strongest virtue, perhaps he should leave his questions for another day. The lobby of a medical office building wasn’t an ideal place to dive into personal subjects.
“Nothing that can’t wait.”
She threw him a cautious look as she stood. “I’ll email you the list tomorrow, or later tonight.”
Definitely not a nine-to-five woman.
He rose too. “I’ll watch for it. Let me walk you to your car.”
“Thanks, but I’m not far away and the wind is fierce.” She retreated a step.
“Wind doesn’t bother me—and you wouldn’t want me to disappoint my grandmother with such a lapse in etiquette, would you?” He motioned for her to precede him.
After a brief hesitation, she started toward the door.
Outside, the shadows had lengthened and dusk was fast approaching as they trekked across the parking lot under the leaden sky. The gusty wind was also a force to be reckoned with. He’d have to pick Nan up at the door after she was done, even though she’d protest.
Like Bri had protested this escort.
What was it about him that activated her proceed-with-caution impulse? Was it him personally, or was she gun-shy about all men after the bad experience she’d referenced out West?
He mulled that over as the wind buffeted him, and more than once he had to fight the temptation to take her arm. Especially as her limp grew more pronounced the longer they walked.
And it was a long walk.
Bri wasn’t parked as close to the building as she’d indicated. In fact, her car was at the far end of the thinning lot.
She spoke as if she’d read his mind. “Sorry for the hike. I’m a little farther away than I thought. The place was packed when I arrived.”
“I don’t mind the exercise. I was behind my desk most of the day—my least favorite place to be.”
“I hear you. I loved the wide-open space out West, and despite all my fieldwork in this job, there are days the walls feel like they’re closing in on me. But that’s not a new—”
In the abrupt silence, he assessed her. Her lips were clamped together, and she’d picked up her pace.
What had she been about to say? Why was she plagued by a feeling of walls closing in on her?
It was clear from her furrowed brow, however, that she had no intention of answering those questions, either.
“I’m right here.” She indicated her car with a flick of her wrist as she approached, then dug through her purse and extracted her keys without slowing her stride. As if she couldn’t wait to relieve him of his escort duties.
Unfortunately, his phone cooperated with her. It began to vibrate as she rounded the trunk.
He skimmed the screen.
Nan.
