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“I’m sure they will. It’s just a matter of time. Maybe other samples take priority over mine.”
She shook her head, her cheeks flushed. “Yours are part of a criminal investigation. There isn’t anything that takes more priority than that.” She started pacing. “I can’t believe what’s going on. At this rate, something else could happen. We should have been able to prevent it.”
Grant chuckled, his arm shooting out to stop her. “I’ll give them another sample. It’s no big deal.”
She gave him a flat look. “You can’t be serious.”
“Why not? It’s just blood. I’m sure?—”
Bella pinched the bridge of her nose and took a deep breath. “That blood came from the day you were drugged. It’s not in your system anymore. If they can’t find it, then we’re stuck. We’ll never figure out what you took.”
“Oh. I guess you’re right.”
She peeked at him. He wasn’t sure, but he thought he saw amusement cross her face. Bella shook her head and a soft laugh escaped her lips. Yep, he was right.
“I’m going to give you a pass on that one because of what you’ve been going through.” She pushed her hands in her pockets, and it was only then he realized she wasn’t in her uniform.
Bella was dressed in a pair of capris and white sneakers. She wore a white knit top that fell off one shoulder, and beneath it was a black tank top. This was the most dressed-down he’d ever seen her.
It must have been obvious that he was staring because she waved a hand in front of her face. “Hello? You in there?”
He jumped, letting out a nervous laugh. “Sorry, what were you saying?”
“Are you ready to go over what you know?”
Grant ran a hand through his hair and looked away. “Honestly, I racked my brain for any additional details, but I came up blank. Even the people who might be a good suspect—there are days when they’re great to work with just like there are days when it feels like they wish I wasn’t here. But that’s how everyone I’ve ever met is.” His gaze found hers. “Even you.”
Her mouth fell open with a smile. “I beg your pardon.”
“Don’t you remember the first day we met? You practically bit my head off.”
“Did not!” she stammered.
“Yes, you did! You gave me this long lecture about keeping a better eye on my son.”
Her mouth remained open when she huffed.
Grant moved a little closer to her. “But then there are days, like when you took me to the hospital, where I feel like you might actually…”
He couldn’t bring himself to say it. He knew how bad it could be to assume something like that. It would be better to just ask her out instead of accusing her of liking him. He cleared his throat and ended up just staring at his coffee.
Bella’s voice sobered. “Where I might actually what?”
She was quieter this time. The whole ranch seemed quieter. It was as if they were the only two people left on the planet. The air hung heavy with the anticipation of what he might say.
Bella probably didn’t even want to hear what he was thinking. But she shouldn’t be asking him if she wasn’t prepared for it.
He glanced up at her once more. Then again, maybe this was exactly what she wanted him to say.
“Is there a chance that you might find me attractive?”
He hadn’t meant it to come out as a question. Normally, he was so much more confident when it came to women. But that was when he didn’t think anything would come of it. He was so busy with work that he didn’t have time for a first date to become anything more. He’d always had the mentality that he wouldn’t be seeing the woman again any time soon.
Bella was different. She was someone he would have to see a lot over the next few weeks and that was if they were lucky and figured out who the bad guy really was. But besides his ex-wife, Bella was the first woman he wanted to see more of.
The realization hit him hard in the chest and made his whole body sag. Grant could actually see a future with this woman. He was willing to make a commitment to her and they hadn’t even gone on a first date—something he needed to rectify immediately.
“It’s okay if you don’t. I’m not going to push you into anything you’re not comfortable with, but I want to make it clear that I…” He swallowed hard and straightened his shoulders to take on the frame of the man he used to be when he headed his company back home. “I do find you attractive—very much so. And I would like nothing more than to take you out to dinner tonight.”
