She wasn’t quite so blank with him.
And the fact Nate knew that was half of his anger right now didn’thelp.Understanding too many things he’d been avoiding didn’thelp.
Because the idea of Sam being targeted in some way stole his fucking breath.Just like when she’d come back from a witness interview with that black eye this summer.And it all stormed inside of him, a wave of care he didn’t know what to do with except try to fight.
“No court for me today.Mr.Vanderbilt said tomorrow, and I’ve got some stuff to do beforehand.”The detective held up his little notepad.“I’ve got everything I need for this.I’ll be in touch.”He nodded at Sam, then turned his gaze to Nate.
Nate tried very,veryhard not to scowl.The detective hesitated like he was going to say something, but in the end, he did nothing but walk to his car.
Sam turned away from the both of them.She opened the door and stepped into the office.
Nate followed her inside.He didn’t trust himself to speak just yet.He knew his anger was out of proportion for the situation.Not that he didn’t have a right to be pissed she hadn’t called him, but notthispissed.This was stillherbuilding.Herbusiness.He was an employee.
And a friend, damn it.
Once they were in the main office, she sighed.“Look, Nate.You’d had a rough day yesterday.I handled it.And I wasn’thidingit.I was going to tell you once I saw you.You don’t need to make a big deal out of this.”
He watched her move through the office and tried to remind himself that she’d been on her own a long-ass time.Just like he had.Would he have called her if the situation was reversed?
He honestly didn’t know.So he tried to set it aside, with every other damn thing.But there was one thing he couldn’t set aside.“Feels like fishy ass timing.”
She looked at him, brow wrinkled in confusion.“In what way?”
He was shocked she didn’t see it.“In the way Bo Lake has been skulking around Marietta all of a few days, and suddenly you have a break-in.”
Sam sighed.“It wasn’t Bo.The security footage didn’t get a full-on look at the guy’s face, but the physical profile doesn’t fit Bo.”
“Are you sure?”
“No, I’m an idiot.”
He bit back a nasty retort.“Could have been someone connected to him.”
“And it could have been some kid looking to see if he could break in for fun.It could have been someone here brought by all the trial media coverage.Hell, it could have been one of those asshole journalists who leave a hundred messages a day.There’s a lot ofcoulds, Nate.”
She was right, and it grated.But… the timing.Maybe Bo had timed it just that way, so there could be even more coulds.Why didn’t she see that?
“Speaking of Bo,” she continued.“He should be here any minute so let’s not throw out any accusations at him.Detective Hayes will investigate, and we’ll trust him to do that.”
Nate made a rude noise.
Sam fisted her hands on her hips, glared at him.“He’s a nice enough guy and a damn good detective.Why do you hate him so much?”
“Buy a clue, Sam,” he muttered without thinkingthatthrough, clearly.
Not that he realized it until she frowned at him as if shedidn’thave a clue.And maybe she didn’t.Maybe he was fooling himself, over and over again.Maybe all thissetting asidewas a fast track to nowhere.Or an explosion.
He’d had enough of those.Enough explosions and shocks to the system.Maybe it was time to take control.Time to… get a hold ofeverything.Make a choice instead of an evasion.
“Sam…”
“Am I… interrupting?”
They both looked over at where Bo stood awkwardly in the doorway.He held a ballcap smashed in his hands.
Why couldn’t Sam see that just like Aly’s mom this summer, this guy showing up out of nowhere couldn’t begood?It didn’t matter if he meant to be or not.It was all bad.
“Bo, thanks for coming,” Sam said, moving away from Nate.“I don’t have a lot of time, but let’s go over a few things really quick.”
