He’d never seen anyone do that.
“And what’s between us?” He unwrapped the complimentary mint and popped it in his mouth.
“You know. It’s there,” she said. “Now it’s on the table.”
“Honestly, I kind of liked the dance.”
She smiled. “Oh, we can keep dancing. Don’t worry.”
Then her gaze drifted up and zeroed in on something over his shoulder. Nothing was behind him except a mirror.
“What?” He stared out the window to see what the mirror reflected.
“That’s the guy who followed me. He was at the store where I bought my laptop.”
“I see him.” Hackles raised, Braden watched the man. What was he up to? If he was following Cressida, he might not have realized that Braden was law enforcement, or else why tail her so closely, even wait for her in a small parking lot?
The guy was six foot tall, which Braden had guessed from the image she’d sent him. Dressed in jeans and a brown jacket, the man leaned against a silver crossover SUV and talked on his cell. The region had a small population but lots of tourists. Could be coincidental, though Cressida sounded convinced he’d followed her, and now there was the fact that he was here at this strip mall.
And so was Cressida.
“Aren’t you going to do something?” she asked. “Question him?”
“I’m going to watch him and see what he does.”
“You don’t believe me?”
“I absolutely believe you.” She believed he was following her. And likely he was.
“You work for the county sheriff. You could ask him for ID. Something.”
“And if he gives me a reason, I will.”
“What?Igave you a reason.”
“Which he could brush off.”
She pushed the chair back to stand. Remaining seated, he caught her wrist and stared at her. “I want to know why he’s following you and who he’s working for. Let me handle it my way.”
“Well, you’d better make it quick because we have to get to the marina. I’m meeting Diggins.”
“I’ll get the check.” He still wasn’t sure if this was a date, and at the look on her face, he added, “It’s part of the investigation. I can write it off.”
Right. Okay. He paid, then at the door, turned to her. “Maybe head into the ladies’ room. Let me check him out. I don’t want you to be in danger.”
She frowned. “I’d love to watch and listen in on the interaction.”
“Fine. I’ll record it for you.”
“This isn’t how I like to work.”
“You usually walk up to possible danger and face it?”
“Every situation is different. If he was going to hurt me, he would have already. So, yeah, I want to face him. Ask him if he’s following me and why. Come on, you’d be standing right there.”
He lowered his voice. “You’ll get your chance. But you were attacked. Someone tried to kill you.”
“Fine.” She turned on her heel and headed to the ladies’ room while he strolled to the front of the restaurant. Braden stepped outside and casually walked over to his motorcycle. The guy was leaning against his vehicle, cell phone to his ear?—pretending to be on his cell?—right next to Braden’s ride.
