Welsh snorted.“Why?‘Cuz you want more of that AB neg?”
“Hey, we’ve stayed longer at other places,” Rhyne reminded them.“And sometimes for no legitimate reason whatsoever.”
Welsh sucked the last drops from his bag.Getting to his feet, he ambled over to the now empty backpack Rhyne had stashed by the back door and dropped it inside.“Well, to be honest, I’d like to stay a bit longer myself.”
“Why?”Nash inquired.
A grin Rhyne and Nash were familiar with spread over the man’s face.
“I sorta ran into this woman at the market today, and, boy, did she have the most delicious smell.”
Rhyne sat up in his chair.“Welsh, we’ve talked about this sort of thing before.”
“I know, I know.”Welsh raised a hand to stop him from saying more.“But she smelled so fucking good.What would it hurt for me to ask her out on a date or something?”
“Just a date?”Nash pressed.
The man held up both hands.“Just a date.No harm, no foul.”He sighed and the smile widened.“I would be happy just sitting downwind from her and inhaling her fragrance all night long.”
“Do you even know who the woman is?”Rhyne asked with a chuckle.
“Personally?No.Never met her before until today.But I know her name and where she works,” Welsh answered.“I thought I could go by there tomorrow.”
“Oh?And where does she work?”Nash questioned, snickering.
“Over at the Harbor County Hospital,” Welsh replied.“Cute chick.And reeeal sexy smelling.”He threw them both a wink.“And if you’re expecting me to let me tell you her name, for…get…it.I got dibs on her first.”Not wanting to say anything more, Welsh strolled out of the kitchen.
Rhyne followed him with his eyes.For some reason, a chill had just gone up his spine before it settled like a dark, amorphous shape in the pit of his stomach.
Unable to finish his meal, he took the remains over to the garbage can, then placed the dish and utensils in the sink to wash later.As much as he wanted to brush off Welsh’s remarks, he couldn’t.And that’s what bothered him for the rest of the night.
CHAPTER10
Offer
Grace finished attaching the ID bracelet around the man’s wrist and handed him his papers.“Here you go, Mr.Ito.If you’ll return now to the waiting area and take a seat, a lab assistant will be with you shortly.”She added a warm smile as the man thanked her before he got his feet and left the cubicle.
She turned back to the computer when Susan stuck her head around the corner.
“Psst!Grace, someone’s asking for you by name at the front desk.”
Grace’s thoughts immediately went to the man who worked at the amusement center.He was back, and knowing he’d deliberately sought her out this time almost made her giddy.Pasting a bigger smile on her face, she went to greet him.
“Hello.”
She abruptly stopped to stare at the man waiting for her.He wasn’t the guy from the dollar store.He was the one she’d knocked into the cases of water at the supermarket.
“How did…”
He tapped his upper left chest, then pointed to her.Glancing down, she saw her nametag.
Harbor County Hospital
G LOCKHART
She then remembered him calling her by her last name right before he walked away.
He continued to smile at her.“Forgive me if I’m interrupting you at work.”
