“I don’t need anything. I was just walking by and noticed you were still here. I’ll walk you out.”
Well, she didn’t want to be rude. They were teammates, and while he gave her the shivers, she felt safe with him. She should at least make an effort to get to know him, right? So they could work together far more effectively? “Thank you.”
“I am going to Smokey’s—some friends are meeting up tonight. Jaynice will be there, and I want to catch up. Would you like to join me?”
It sounded almost formal. And something about it…nope. Not going to happen.
Every instinct she possessed was telling her to wheel herself out of there as fast as she could. That this man was dangerous to her very way of life. Not to her life…but…
Nope. It just wasn’t going to happen.
She wasn’t even going to think about it. “I…”
“From what I understand, Cam Lake is going to be singing an original song he wrote tonight.”
“Oh, heaven save us all. I can only imagine what he’ll be singing about. Probably something completely embarrassing to his wife.” Cam’s wife was heavily pregnant—and Cam—Dani’s closest friend in the entire FBI—was practically worshiping at Kyra’s feet right now. It was getting hilarious. It was their second. Dani had babysat little Kimber multiple times. But she had thought Cam and Kyra were on their way to Texas for some family thing soon.
“His brothers are in town visiting, I heard. The one is a doctor—he’s supposed to stay at Kyra’s side for the entire flight to Texas. Or so Cam informed me. He’s going on PTO and heading to Texas with his wife in the morning. From what I heard, Kyra kicked him and his two brothers out for the night. Her sister-in-law is staying with her. I’m sure it’ll be a riot or something. I can drive you to Smokey’s, then I’ll drive you home.”
She did not think that would be her smartest option here, even though she lived close enough that most days she just took a taxi to work so she didn’t have to worry about maintaining a car. Alone. In a car. With Ian Ward. “I?—“
“Are you afraid of me, Danielle?”
“Of course not. Don’t be ridiculous.”
“It’s just a night out between team mates. I swear. I’m not after your virtue or anything like that.”
Well, somehow…she thought he was lying about that little fact. But… “Don’t be a jerk, Ward. I didn’t think you were.”
“Sure about that?”
“Maybe it’s just that you act all weird around me? Ever considered that?” Dani wasn’t the type to waste time. That wasn’t her at all. And she would really like to figure out what it was about this guy that freaked her out so much.
She was going to go with him, make notes in her head, and then talk to Miranda. See if a profiler could figure this man-creature out. It was really the only option.
“How do I act weird?”
“You are always staring. Think I can’t tell? It’s not like I don’t get stared at on a regular basis.”
“If I do, I don’t mean to be rude. I’m just trying to figure you out.”
“What is it you want to know?”
“Come with me to Smokey’s and find out. Friendly colleagues. Nothing more. If nothing else—you can protect me from listening to Lake sing an ode or dozen to his wife. I’ll buy the onion rings.”
Dani just looked at him. She just knew he was planning something. But why?
“Come on. Or…are you really afraid of me?”
“Hardly, Ward. You don’t have anything I haven’t seen before.”
“You sure about that?”
What exactly was she doing here?
She really hoped she didn’t regret it.
Epilogue
