He set both hands on the table, caging me in without quite touching me. “Roof’s been leaking for three years, ever since a big ice storm hit. Insurance keeps denying the claim, so he keeps patching it. They have a baby now. They deserve a good roof over their heads.”
I could feel the heat of him where he hovered. My breath went shallow as I tried to focus on the images in front of me instead of the solid wall of man behind me.
“The damage pattern suggests ongoing water intrusion that predates the hail damage,” I managed, my voice coming out steadier than I felt. “If they’d addressed it earlier…”
“They tried. The insurance company said it was maintenance, not storm damage, so Winslow patched it himself, which meant they denied the next claim, too.” His breath stirred loose hair at my temple, and I resisted the urge to tamp it back down in place. “Funny how it always lands in the insurance companies’ favor when the homeowner can’t afford a lawyer. But when they hire a lawyer to fight,suddenlythe claim is valid again.”
I didn’t have a response to that because he wasn’t wrong. There were all kinds of dirty tricks in my industry, and we were pressured to use them all.
We stayed there in charged silence, looking at photo after photo while I pretended my heart wasn’t racing. When I clicked the next image, my elbow brushed his forearm, and neither of us moved away.
“Can I ask you something?” His voice was quieter now.
“Depends on what it is.”
“Why do you insist on wearing those heels out on inspections? You nearly broke your ankle twice today.”
I let out a surprised laugh, some of the tension bleeding from my shoulders.
“You think I’d wear these if I had a choice? “
Then I admitted, “My luggage got lost at the Tulsa airport.” I gestured down at my mud-stained slacks, the same ones I’d been wearing since I arrived. “I normally keep a pair of sturdy boots and clothes for country properties, but everything was in my checked bag. All I have is what I’m wearing and what was in mycarry-on, which was mostly my laptop, my work files and a set of pajamas I bought at the airport gift shop.”
“But why the heels, anyway? Who flies in high heels? I’ve never seen a claims adjuster dress as fancy as you.”
He was digging into my secrets now. “I… had a job interview. There wasn’t time to change before my flight.”
“Oh,” his tone lightened, going from grim to buoyant in a flash. “So you’re not planning on working for the devil forever?”
I cleared my throat. “Uh… the job is with a different insurance company.”
“Fuck. Seriously? It figures.”
He stepped away and leaned against the counter, studying me, his dark eyes intent on my face, distrust etching his features into stone.
I missed the warmth of him hovering at my back. “Insurance is what I do. I don’t know anything else.”
He frowned at me. “You like living out of a carry-on?”
“Welcome to my life.” The words came out more bitter than I intended. “I spend more time in hotel rooms than I do in my own apartment. Losing luggage is just part of the job. I’ve learned not to get too attached to things.”
“Is it the same with people?”
I knewexactlywhat he was asking.
Staring down at the photos on my laptop, I told him, “I can’t exactly get attached when my life is spent shuttling around the country.”
For once in my life, I wasn’t sure I wanted that anymore. I thought back to Mrs. Andretti sharing her pot roast and Mrs. Patterson with her tray of peanut butter cookies, and I had to fight hard to keep tears at bay.
After this set of claims was done, I was going to take some time off. Go home and visit my folks. Sit on their fugly couch and eatmy momma’s green bean casserole. I suddenly wanted nothing more than human connection in my life.
Clayton was quiet for a moment, and when I glanced up at him, there was something thoughtful in his expression. Something that looked almost like concern.
He crossed his arms over his broad chest. “About Mrs. Andretti—”
“Clayton…”
“Hear me out.” He held up a hand. “I know we already talked about this. But you need to understand… she hasno one. Her husband died eight years ago. Her only daughter moved to California, and she’s got her own issues. When that ice storm tore her roof open, Loretta called the insurance company, and they told her it would beweeksbefore anyone could even come look at it.”
