“Gerald seemed pretty convinced Sofia was suspicious,” Sam mused.“But he might have been deflecting from something he was trying to hide.Everyone’s pointing at someone else.”
“That’s usually how it works.”Aiden’s voice held a note of dark humor.“Nobody wants to be the prime suspect.So you point at the next most likely person and hope the investigation moves on.”
They drove in comfortable silence for a moment, the tree-lined streets of Sunset Ridge passing by the windows.Sam found herself acutely aware of small things again.Like how Aiden had one hand draped casually over the steering wheel, and the way he’d angled the vents so the air didn’t blow directly on her, and the faint scent of his soap or cologne.
“So,” Aiden said, and there was something different in his tone.Almost nervous.“About tonight.”
“Tonight?”Sam felt warmth spread through her chest.
“Dinner.We said dinner.”He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel.“And I’ve been looking at restaurant menus online.Which is ridiculous because I already know all the restaurants in town.After all, Sunset Ridge isn’t a huge place.”He gave a wry smile.“But I’ve been thinking about our dinner a lot.Like what I might order.Is going to a fancy place going to make things too serious?Should I just stick with a burger?”He winced.“I’m making this weird, aren’t I?”
“Not at all,” she said, a smile curling at her lips.“But you might be overthinking it.”
“I mean, it doesn’t have to be a whole thing,” Aiden said quickly.“We can just order pizza at my place if you’d rather keep it casual.”
“Aiden.”
He stopped, glancing over at her uncertainly in a way that was somehow endearing.
“Where did you want to originally take me?”
He relaxed slightly.“There’s this place in town.Ember & Oak.It’s not fancy.I mean, it’s nice, but it’s not upscale.”He tried again.“The food’s really good.Local ingredients, the whole farm-to-table kind of thing.They do this trout with herbs that’s amazing.And they have a patio with string lights if the weather holds.”
Sam felt something tighten pleasantly in her chest.He’d clearly been really thinking about this.“That sounds perfect.”
“Really?”He looked genuinely pleased.“I was worried that it might not be ...well, you’ve probably been to much fancier restaurants than anything Sunset Ridge has to offer.”
Sam said, “That’s not really what I’m looking for.I moved here for a reason.I’m not looking for fancy.”
“Right.Good point.”Aiden cleared his throat.“So, seven?I could pick you up around six-thirty?”
“Perfect.”Then, because she couldn’t resist teasing him a little, “Are you nervous?”
“About dinner?No.Maybe.A little.”He shot her a rueful smile.“It’s been a while since I’ve done the actual date thing.Usually we’re just researching murder suspects together.Acting like partners on the force.”
“To be fair, that’s been most of our relationship so far.”
Aiden said, “True.But I’d like to have one meal where we don’t discuss poisoning methods or blackmail motives.”
Sam laughed.“I’ll try to control myself.”
They pulled up in front of her house, the historic brick façade looking warm and welcoming in the late morning sun.Aiden put the car in park but made no move to rush her out.
“Thanks,” Sam said.“For coming with me this morning to talk to Sofia.And for the coffee.For everything.”She gestured vaguely.
“Of course.That’s what partners do.”
The word hung between them.Partners.Not just in investigation, but maybe in other things, too.
Sam reached for the door handle, then paused.“Thinking back to Sofia.I want to believe her.But she’s been lying about who she is the whole time.How do we know she’s telling the truth now?”
Aiden was quiet for a moment, his fingers drumming lightly on the steering wheel.“We don’t.Not completely.But her story makes sense.Her grief sounded real to me.And pointing at Dylan might not be just a way to deflect attention from herself.Everyone who’s nervous points at the most obviously angry person.”
“True.”Sam sighed.“I just feel like I’m missing something.Like there’s a piece that doesn’t quite fit.”
“Then we’ll keep digging until it does.”He smiled at her.
Sam climbed out of the car, then leaned back in through the open door.“See you at six-thirty?”
