“Why do you keep thinking of me?”His harsh whisper broke her out of her thoughts.
She turned in the seat, giving him her full attention.“What do you mean?”
“I’ve been less than hospitable, but you don’t seem to care.”His smoky eyes burned with intensity.“You keep checking to see if I’m okay.Worrying about me instead of yourself.”
“You deserve to be worried over.”
He let out a sarcastic chuff and turned the wheel into the parking lot of a fast-food drive-thru.“I don’t.I haven’t even asked you how you’re doing with the news that your apartment was broken into.How you’re feeling after the fall yesterday and if your shoulder is okay after riding on the ATV.That couldn’t have been fun.I’m not good at this.Not fond of talking with people just for the hell of it, but I still should’ve had the decency to check in with you on those things.”
“I wouldn’t be safe and warm right now, about to stuff myself with a cheeseburger, if you hadn’t rescued me from those woods.You didn’t need to speak to let me know you were thinking about my well-being.It was in the way you gave me most of the blanket through the night.Let me eat most of the tortellini this morning.I could tell by the way you were so gentle when you placed the helmet onto my head and when you repositioned my sore arm.There are different ways of conveying care and concern, and verbalizing those thoughts are just one of the many ways to communicate.You show those things through your actions, Jude—there’s nothing wrong with that.”
He stared at her for a long pause until a car honked its horn behind them.“Let’s get those cheeseburgers.After that, we can go to the field office.I want the doctor there to check you out before giving your statement to the agents.”
“If I feel like I need to be seen, I can schedule an appointment.I’m okay right now.”
Jude eased the truck into the drive-thru line.“Please.I would feel better if you did.”
She lowered her chin.“Okay.”
He held her eyes for one breath, then two, before the two-way system of the drive-thru speaker crackled.They placed their orders and drove up to the next window where Jude paid for the food.The scent of the grilled burgers and fries made her stomach growl again.Jude pulled away from the window and got back on the road.
“How are you going to eat and drive?”Jude needed a break.She wanted him to park and eat, but he was so darn stubborn.
“I’ll wait until we get to the office.”
“No way,” she said unbuckling and sliding into the middle seat closer to him.“I’m not going to eat without you when you’re equally hungry.”
“Don’t take off your seat belt while we’re driving,” he snapped, brows creasing together in concern.
“Jude, no offense, but the speedometer hasn’t gone very high on this journey.Even if you slammed on the brakes, I don’t think I’d be going anywhere too fast.”
“Okay, smart-ass.Strap in.”
She placed the bag to the side and secured the strap over her waist before digging into the containers.“Open up.”She chuckled holding an onion ring to his mouth.
He gave her a sideways glance before eating it from her hand.For some reason, the act of him taking the food from her fingers felt like a small win.She’d caught the brief glimpses of devastation in his eyes, and now that she knew the reason, there was nothing she wanted to do more than offer him support.Each time his lips grazed her fingers, or her skin brushed the stubble covering his chin and jaw, a current passed through her.She hoped the kiss they’d shared when they exited the forest wasn’t their last.
They finished the fries and onion rings as they drove and the scenery outside the window became more populated the closer they got to the city.The bright sun collided with the rain-washed glass of high-rise buildings, making them gleam along the skyline.When they neared the city center, Jude turned into a below-ground parking garage and pulled into a space close to an entrance.They made quick work of eating their burgers before Jude opened the driver’s side door.“Stay there,” he demanded and rounded the vehicle.
He was opening the passenger side when she unbuckled her seat belt and awkwardly scooted out of the seat.When her feet touched the ground, he put his arm protectively around her shoulders as they walked into the building.After moving through security, they stopped at the employee medical station so she could get her various bumps and bruises checked out.
“Thank you for humoring me,” Jude said, pressing the elevator call button.The building seemed somewhat deserted, so they didn’t have to wait long.
“Where is everyone?”she asked when they had stepped inside.Jude pressed the button for the eighth floor, and the elevator began its ascent.
“Most evening employees are on a specific team working a mission or monitoring security cameras, but the majority of the workforce operates during the day.”
The elevator dinged as they reached their floor, and Jude placed his hand on the small of her back as they stepped out.A middle-aged man with a military-style haircut and a collared shirt greeted them.He clapped Jude on the back and smiled widely before extending his hand to her.She took it, finding his grip to be assertive but not painful.
“I’m Agent Jeff Levine from the FBI.I work closely with Jude when we have reason to believe one of our cases might overlap.Come into the conference room and we can talk.”He gestured down the deserted hallway and began to walk.
Each step felt heavier as exhaustion dragged at her.They followed the FBI agent into a room that housed a large oval conference table.Two of Jude’s agents, Ross and Jon, were already seated at the table and both smiled at her when she entered.Jude pulled out a chair for her before lowering his large frame into a seat beside her.
“Ms.Nelson,” Agent Levine said resting his elbows on the table.“I want to start by saying that I’m glad you’re all right.I’m doubly grateful that you helped Director Hayes out of a tight spot during the landslide.I’d like to ask you some questions about the audio recording you obtained.”
“Of course.Ask away.”She returned his smile, then stifled a yawn, embarrassed that her eyelids were so heavy after the large meal.
Jude bristled at her side and framed the back of her chair with his arm.“She’s been through a lot in the past twenty-four hours.Anything nonessential will wait.”
