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"Which doesn't ring a bell. I never heard about anyone named Ellie or Hank."
"Do you remember Hank from your visit here?"
He thought about that. "I think there was an older man that we went to see." He struggled to remember more, but the memory wasn't there. He shook his head in bemusement and a little anger, but he didn't know exactly who to be pissed at. "I feel like I've opened Pandora's box. I want to put the lid back on, but I can't."
"What do you want to do?"
"I have to keep looking for answers. I won't be able to stop thinking about this weird connection."
"I wouldn't be able to stop thinking about it, either. Should we keep looking?"
"Maybe tomorrow. I need to process this revelation before I hit another one."
"Do you want me to look without you?"
"You can, but don't feel like you have to. I'm sure you're tired, and this isn't your problem."
"I want to help you, Decker," she said, getting to her feet. "It's only fair after you helped entertain my kid all night."
"That was fun."
"Really?"
"Yes," he said, seeing the doubt in her eyes. "Why would you think it wasn't?"
"Most people get bored playing little kid imaginary games."
"Well, I'm not most people."
"No, you're not," she breathed.
He sucked in a breath as her gaze shifted. He saw the need in her eyes at the same time he felt the yearning in his gut. Chloe was so damn beautiful. "I wish…" He stopped himself just in time. "Never mind."
"What were you going to say?" she challenged.
"That I should go home," he said. "I put the samples on your table. Take a look and let me know if I'm close to what you want."
Her gaze moved to the dining room. "Okay, I'll do that soon." She paused, looking back at him. "But I don't think that's what you were going to say."
"Well, it's what needed to be said," he said tensely. "Will I see you tomorrow at the house?"
"Leo has a playdate in the afternoon, so I can come by for a while."
"I'll see you then."
He dug his hands into his pockets, so he wouldn't reach for her, wouldn't kiss her again. The pull was still so strong, he had to force himself to leave. He jogged out to his truck and slammed the door, releasing a small amount of frustration with that forceful move.
He'd come close to screwing things up again. He'd almost told Chloe he wished she wasn't taken, but she was taken, and Joel was his friend.
He needed to remember that.
Decker had just finished loading up his truck Saturday afternoon for another run to the dump when he got a call from Joel.
"Hey, what's up?" he asked. "Are you back?"
"No. It will probably be Monday."
"I thought this was supposed to be a quick trip. What's going on?"
