The look on Bryson’s face had Teagan stiffening. “Why are you so surprised? I went to you for help and advice because I respected your experience and expertise. Did you think I’d completely ignore your suggestions?”
He nodded, surprising her with his honesty. “I assumed anyone stubborn enough to work past my annoyance over the mistaken identity thing and then pretend they liked tequila enough to make themselves sick would be far too one-track minded to give up over a year of research to essentially start over.”
“Yeah, well. Maybe you shouldn’t judge people so fast when you meet them.”
His mouth quirked up in that sexy half-smile that had her practically drooling again just like the first time she’d seen him. Good grief he was dangerous, the kind of danger that had her wishing she’d worn shorts instead of jeans. She was actually sweating now, and it couldn’t be more than eighty degrees. A mild spring day around here.
“Looks like my profiling skills are even dustier than I’d realized,” he said. “My apologies for making assumptions.” He shifted on his feet, and she didn’t miss the telltale wince as he rested both hands on the top of his cane.
“Your hip is bothering you.”
“Are you playing Watson to my Sherlock now?”
“Oh heck no. I’ll never be the sidekick. If anything, I’m Wonder Woman and you’re Steve Trevor.”
“Doesn’t he die in the end?”
“Everyone dies in the end.”
His grin faded. “I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories again.”
She shook her head. “Trust me. You didn’t. They’re always there, in the back of my mind. That’s why I’m doing this investigation. When I escaped that day, I got out of the shack. But I didn’t escape him. He’s still out there. Until he’s put away for good, I’ll never be able to move on. Not really.”
He sighed heavily. “I was worried that might be a big part of this for you. What happens if you never find him?”
Zeus whined beside her and she realized she was unconsciously tugging his leash, transmitting her agitation to him. She forced her hand to relax and rubbed his head. “That’s a problem for future Teagan to worry about. Right now, I’m on the case, determined to do everything I can to bring this guy to justice. The real question is, now that we’re both committed to this endeavor, do we work on it together or go our separate ways again?”
He subtly shifted, resting his back against one of the live oaks lining the path. This was the longest that she’d seen him standing without giving in to his wheelchair, and he’d been out here before she’d arrived. He had to be about ready to collapse.
“How about we discuss it over dinner?” he asked.
She blinked. “Dinner? Did I miss a signal somewhere?”
He laughed. “It’s just dinner. I’m hungry, and to be honest my hip is going to give out soon if I don’t sit. Rather than fall down in an embarrassing heap on the concrete, I’m inclined to head to my car then off somewhere to eat before my next appointment which isn’t for—” he glanced at his watch “—another two hours. What do you say? Want me to drive you home so you can put up Zeus and then go eat with me?”
“What appointment?”
“It was too much to hope you’d let that pass.” He pushed away from the tree and leaned on the cane. “I’m interviewing the Brodericks tonight, a couple who used to own one of the homes that backs up to this spot on the path. They moved shortly after everything happened, to one of the homes in the back of the subdivision, on Beautyberry Circle. Tomorrow I’m interviewing some other people who live along this path to see if they’ve remembered anything in the years since your attack. But also to get more of a lay of the land, try to get more of a sense of what your abductor may have been thinking back then.”
She stepped toward him, not stopping until she had to crane her head back to look him in the eyes. “Don’t tease me, Bryson. You’re mentioning these interviews because you’re offering to let me participate. Is that right? You wouldn’t be cruel enough to bring them up otherwise, would you?”
He smiled sadly and feathered a hand across her cheek. The touch was so unexpected, so soft and gentle that she’d swear her heart skipped a beat. Even more of a surprise, he leaned down and pressed an equally soft kiss against her forehead before straightening. But he didn’t drop his hand. Instead, he left it there, cupping her cheek, his thumb gently stroking her skin as if he didn’t want to break the connection between them.
“I’m not teasing,” he said, his voice a strained whisper. “And I would never deliberately be cruel to you. I shouldn’t have been so harsh, so short with you in Gatlinburg. I thought I was being noble, protecting you. But I had no idea that instead of influencing you to go off in an innocuous direction where you’d be safe, you’d come back here to start over on your own. If the man who hurt you is still around here, and he realizes you’re back in town trying to find him, then you’re putting yourself in danger.”
She frowned, ready to argue. “But I can—”
“Let me finish. While I’m not trying to send any signals...” He dropped his hand, his face reddening slightly as if he just realized that he was still touching her. He cleared his throat. “I’ll admit that there’s something about you, something special, that has me thinking about you far more than I should in ways I really shouldn’t be thinking, not when I’m working a case. It’s hell on my focus.”
She blinked up at him. “You think I’m special?”
His gaze dropped to her lips. “No question.” He shuddered as if waging some kind of internal war with himself. Then he moved back a step. “The point I’m trying to make, and not doing very well, is that it would be really hard to work this case with you and to also stay objective the whole time and not get...sidetracked. But it would be even more impossible to work the case alone, knowing you were somewhere out there potentially putting yourself in danger with no one to watch your back. I’d worry about you the whole time and wouldn’t get anything done. So, I guess you’ve won this particular battle. To be crystal clear, no misunderstandings, I’m inviting you to work with me on your case, starting with the homeowner interview this evening. But only if we agree to keep our relationship professional.” His gaze dropped to her lips again. “At least until the case is over.”
Her stomach jumped at his last statement. She couldn’t stop smiling. But not just because she now realized he was as interested in her as she was in him. Far more important was that he was going to help her find and put away the monster who haunted her dreams at night, who cast a pall of fear over her every waking hour no matter how hard she tried to pretend that he didn’t. Bryson was the answer to her prayers. And she was going to enjoy every single minute that they were together, because the man was hopelessly fun to tease. Keep their relationship strictly professional? Pfft. Not a chance. But, of course, she wasn’t going to admit to that. He’d figure it outeventually and by then he’d be so hooked on her that he’d be helpless to do anything about it.
That was her hope at least.
“I’ll be crystal clear in my response.” She hooked her right arm around his left one as if to flirt, when really she could tell he was struggling to remain upright and was probably too proud to ask for help. “I would love to work with you, starting with dinner, and then conducting the interview tonight. But first, as you mentioned earlier, we need to drop Zeus off. Like I said, he’s my mom’s. I just borrow him when I visit.”
