“Happy Henry Lives Beside Boron Cottage. That’s all I remember of the periodic table.” Wulf smiles for the first time tonight.
Holy shit, his dimples rival those of Hugh Grant. He is so, so friggin’ hot, for a moment I forget all about the hospital and imagine me and him on a vast king-sized bed with…
Whoa, stupid.Thinking of my ex, my life’s hugest mistake, I return to a much safer version of chemistry. “Near Our Friend Nelly Nancy Meg Allen. I can’t believe you learned the mnemonics too.”
“Chem class in college. Couldn’t’ve passed without ’em.” Stopped by another red light, his gaze drills a hole into my defenses. “Did you say your coworker had cardio problems?”
His question is innocuous enough. Still, it worries me. “Henry lives in his basement, never goes out, and eats like shit. I told him he needed to at least walk around the block every day, but he just laughed. He literally was a heart attack waiting to happen.”
As I speak, I try to forget the weapon I think I saw. My ex often claimed I have an overactive imag-Gwen-a-tion.
My bitter laugh makes me cringe. “It’s ironic. My employer insisted he come to our retreat because of his health. I can’t believe she’s not picking up.”
This time, I leave a message. “Hi, Callie. Henry had a heart attack. He’s on his way to the hospital, and I’m following him. I’ll text you the address when I arrive. The doctors may insist on his emergency contact info too.”
After I hang up, my self-appointed chauffeur fiddles with the radio and settles on a pop-rock station. “Are you from around here?”
“No, I live in DC.” Before he asks, I add, “I do freelance IT project management. Boring stuff.”
Not wanting to say more, I hone in on Mr. Nosy Parker. “How about you?”
“Consultant. I’m taking the summer off.”
I could call bullshit, but of course, he’d do the same. It’s obvious we both hide the true nature of our occupations, but I havevalidreasons. I’m betting he's unemployed.
Bear whines in the back of the SUV, so I unbuckle my seat belt and pat his nose. It’s funny how the dog and his man have similar sleek and muscular builds.
Wulf barely broke a sweat while the paramedics strained to lift Henry into the ambulance.
Uncomfortable in the ensuing silence, I blurt out the first thing to come into my head. “I had a collie-shepherd mix as a kid. He looked a lot like Bear, only not quite as thick. He’d bark like crazy if anyone came near me.”
His face softens. “I had a corgi.”
Now relaxed, we talk about our childhood pals. The traffic thins, and he turns off the four-lane highway.
Before I visit Henry, I must know the truth. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure.” Eyes on the road, he yields at a roundabout and avoids my piercing stare.
“Why did your dogreallyrun after the stranger?” Because I expected some reaction, I’m disappointed when not one of his facial muscles twitch.
“I already told you.” Staring across the cupholder, he appears earnest, but I’ve been lied to by the best.
“And I don’t believe you. Bear saw a weapon, didn’t he?” As I speak his name, the collie barks. At leastheis on my side.
Mr. Silver Wulf purses his lips. “Well, if you thought so, why didn't you mention it to the police?”
I am not playing this game. “Why didn’t you?”
“I didn’t see it. Your turn.”My God, he is annoying.
I decide to tell him the truth, leaving out what is necessary. “My ex-husband says I'm a drama queen. We have joint custody of my daughter, Abbie. If I made a mistake and the gun turns out to be nothing, he'll use it against me to take sole guardianship. He already tried it, and it almost worked.”
My phone bleeps. “This is probably him, now.”
I open the text and gasp for air.No, no, no. My five-year-old sleeps peacefully in her bed. Anyone else would think the call came from their ex,but Farid would never be so thoughtful or considerate.
The message comes from an unknown number and disappears seconds later.
