He was in the kitchen when she emerged from her room.She watched him wash a bunch of grapes and pack them in an insulated bag.His weekend attire consisted of a short-sleeved, Safari-style shirt, tan pants, and brown work boots.The casual clothes accentuated his tall, lean physique.The last time she’d seen him, he’d been lifting weights, shirtless.The memory of his bulging biceps sent a thrill down her spine.His eyes glinted with approval as he studied her appearance in return.
“You look nice,” he said.
“Thanks.”
“So, we’re doing this?”
“I can’t resist a picnic at a gravesite.”
“We can go somewhere else, if you’d rather.”
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, self-conscious.“No.I’m interested in your investigation.”
He added several frozen drinks to the insulated bag, along with some mystery items, before they walked outside to his truck.She didn’t give him the chance to open the door for her, though he probably would have if she’d let him.She hopped in the passenger seat while he climbed behind the wheel.A flurry of awareness tingled through her.She was nervous, despite their familiarity with each other, and the intimate conversations they’d had.She studied him from beneath lowered lashes as he drove.He showed no signs of unease.
“Do you mind if we stop by the library first?”he asked, glancing at her.“I have to do some research for my John Doe.”
“Is that the victim?”
“He’s not officially a victim.”Wade couldn’t share the details from the coroner’s report, so he kept it vague.“I’m looking for a local kid, maybe an athlete, who went to Texas A&M.It’s possible that no one ever reported his disappearance.Sometimes that happens.”He arched a brow at her.“People leave small towns like this and never come back.”
“Are you sure he’s local?”
“No, but it’s a place to start.The library has microfiche copies of theLost Lake Gazettefrom the eighties.I’m betting there will be graduation announcements and mentions of students accepted into various schools.”
“How do you know he went to A&M?”
“The evidence suggests it.”
She examined his handsome face.“Why are you doing this on the weekend?”
A muscle in his jaw flexed.“My boss doesn’t consider the case a high priority.We’re backlogged with other investigations.”
“That’s too bad,” she said.
“It’s typical in small departments.”
“Are you a workaholic?”
He seemed surprised by the question.“I’m ambitious, and I like what I do.Areyoua workaholic?”
“I like to stay busy.”
“Whatever my mother pays you, it’s not enough.”
Instead of responding, she watched the blur of cactus and sagebrush go by.
“What’s your plan, Meadows?”
“My plan for the day?”
“Your plan for life.”
She gave him a puzzled look.
“Are you going to hide forever?”
“Maybe I will.”
