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“Wow.” He hadn’t expected this.
“It’s almost better than a tent,” she said, beaming with a smile full of pride.
“I bet.”
He put the car in park and was about to turn it off when she told him she’d only be a minute.
“I don’t get a tour?”
“You really want one?”
“I figure something keeps you close to Haleswood.” He pointed to the lodge. “Maybe this is it.”
“Why do you care?”
Because she was a curiosity. “I don’t.”
“Then quit bringing up my life choices.” She pushed open the car door and climbed out.
He moved quickly, to follow her, ignoring the hitch and pull as muscles and tendons fought with each other. “How else am I supposed to get to know you?”
She whipped around, eyes flashing, hands on her hips. “Suddenly you want to know me?”
“Yes.”
“For this stupid cover story.” Her thumbs slid into her back pockets and her gaze narrowed.
“Yes.” As an excuse, it beat the hell out of the truth.
“Bullshit. We aren’t going to an office party, we’re going into the woods to spy on criminals.”
“We’ve got all day before it gets dark. If your family is going to give you a hard time, it will help if I know you. Maybe we should stop by and see your mom.”
“Oh, hell no.” She stomped up the steps to the door. “If—when—my family gives me a hard time, what would help is knowing something about YOU.”
“You’re right.”
The admission caught her full attention and she faced him once more from the top of the steps. She’d gained the high ground, points for her.
“Well? I’m waiting.”
“I guess it is a cave more than a home.”
“Already knew that much, Mr. FBI.” She shook her head, sending him the most pitying smile.
It annoyed him. As did her return to the less than flattering nickname. He supposed he’d earned that too. “I’m an orphan. The Army and FBI were—are—all the family I have.”
“What happened?”
He didn’t want to go there. “Life.” He shrugged. “I was young, there was a tragic accident, I moved on.”
“I see.”
He thought she did see. The whole ugly truth of life dealing out hard blows. “We weren’t ever close like you and your family.”
“I learned early there aren’t many families like ours.”
“Christmas Eve dinner at your mother’s house was the first family dinner I’ve been part of in over a decade.”
