Water sheeted across the surface of the highway, and Faith changed lanes and altered her speed. “How is Zane?”
“He says the pain is managed with ibuprofen. But his entire life is a big headache.”
“Right. How about Gil?” Faith did care about Zane and Gil, but mostly her goal was to keep Luke talking about topics that did not involve whether he did or did not love her.
“I called him this morning. He’s hoping he gets out today. Tessa’s trying to convince him to come hang out at the hotel with Zane, but Gil says there’s no way they need to be in the same place at night. He says it makes us too much of a prime target.”
“He isn’t planning on going home, is he?”
“It doesn’t matter what he’s planning. We don’t have the manpower to protect him at home, so home isn’t an option.”
They drove in silence for another mile. “I honestly thought he was dead.” The words flew out of her mouth before she could stop them. They hadn’t talked about that horrific afternoon. The gunfire. The fallen friend. The fear.
“Me too.” Luke reached his hand across the console and squeezed hers for a second. Then he released it. “I don’t thinkI’ve thanked you. Not properly. But you ... you were amazing. Absolutely amazing.”
Something warm spread through her. It started with her fingers, the same fingers Luke had touched, and flashed over her in a sensation of belonging and something she did not want to deal with.
She was standing on the edge of ... something. A lake? An ocean? Whatever it was, currents and forces were pulling at her the way ocean waves tunneled the sand out from under bare toes. She could walk in, and it might be wonderful. She could walk away and wonder, forever, what might have been. But the one thing she could not do was stay as she was, standing in the same spot. The longer she tried, the more tenuous her hold on ... what? What was she holding on to? Why was she resisting? It would be much easier to walk in and let the waves carry her.
She risked a glance at Luke, expecting his gaze to be fixed out the window. Instead, he was focused on her.
And somewhere in her heart, she took one step in.
She shifted her gaze back to the road, but the heat of his eyes on her sent prickles all over her skin. Had he noticed?
She pulled into the drive-through of a local deli. “Is this okay?” She hadn’t thought to ask before.
“If you’re happy, I’m happy.” There it was again. Did he mean about the food? Or about more?
They ordered, and he helped her unwrap her sandwich so she could hold it one-handed as she drove. “Okay. Let’s hear it. What did you want to talk to me about?”
Around bites of his burger, Luke filled her in on the conversation with his CI, stopping once to take her sandwich from her and readjust the paper around it so she could continue eating without dumping chicken salad into her lap.
“What do you think?” Luke asked.
“I think we need to put out some feelers and see if we can back up his story. If every crime element in Raleigh is scared of this Tiger, he won’t be the only one who can tell us about him.”
“Agreed.” He glanced at his phone. “Would you mind dropping me at the hospital instead of the office? I want to check on Gil and see what he has to say about all of this.”
“Sure.” She waited a few seconds, trying to get a feel for the water where she now stood. “Mind if I join you?”
“I’d love it.” He let the words hang there, long enough that she suspected he meant all three of them. Then he added, “Gil would too. He has a male nurse today. He’s less than thrilled.”
Relief and resignation collided. Relief that they’d moved to safer, lighter topics. Resignation, because while it had taken a bit longer than normal, there was the wall. Again.
How long did she have to keep reaching out to him? How long would it be before he made a move in her direction?
Would he ever?
And if he didn’t, did she want to move toward him anymore?
“Gil doesn’t know it, but Jacob doesn’t want him out of the hospital. He’s well protected where he is. But he’s chomping at the bit to get out.”
Fifteen minutes later they’d parked and cleared hospital security. Faith held back in the hall. “I’ll wait. He—”
“Oh no you don’t. He’s been wanting to see you. Get in here.” Luke grabbed her hand and pulled. She could have easily broken the hold. It wasn’t hostile or even demanding. It was playful, and it shocked her so much that she allowed Luke to tug her into Gil’s room.
Gil’s bruised face brightened when his gaze locked with hers. “Faith! My favorite FBI agent! Get in here and give me a hug.” She couldn’t resist his enthusiasm and did as requested. He grabbedher hands, looked her full in the face, and with no hint of humor or drama simply and fervently said, “Thank you.”
