“Of course.”She beamed and took his menu.“A man who knows what he wants.”
Declan seemed to blush a little.“That’s true.Although I don’t always get to have what I want.”
She laughed and left us alone.
“I thought you’d be on a date tonight,” I said, sipping my ale.
“Nope.”He tasted his ale and nodded as if he approved.“That’s nice.”
“It’s brewed in Astoria.”I smiled.“I didn’t know that off the top of my head.The waitress told me.”
“And here I thought you were an ale expert.”He sighed.“How disappointing.”
“Oh, trust me.There’s a lot more disappointment coming where I’m concerned.”
I expected he’d smile, but he frowned.“You put yourself down a lot.”
“I’m just joking.”I avoided his gaze, fiddling with the salt shaker.
“I hope so,” he said softly.“Because all I see when I look at you is a very accomplished guy.”
My stomach swirled a little at his compliment.“Well, that’s kind of you to say.”
“I’m not being kind.”He examined his glass of ale.“I’m being truthful.”
Our eyes met over the rim of his glass, and I hated how my body warmed.I didn’t want to be attracted to him, but I seemed incapable of staying neutral.I was going to get hurt if I got too close to him.I’d want more than just friendship if we kept hanging out.It was unavoidable.
I pulled my gaze from his, trying to think of something to say that would get him to stop watching me so intently.A thought came to me and I said casually, “I think Tess and Gil Moran are having an affair.”
His gaze immediately sharpened.“Why?”
I was relieved when he took the bait.“The other night, when we had dinner at the Rusty Anchor, they were flirting with each other before you got there.”
He frowned.“But her husband was there.”
“Yes, but when he arrived, Gil split.”I took a bite of one of my tacos.
“Are you sure they were flirting?Tess is a bartender.Talking with customers is how she makes good tips.”His expression was very serious.
“I’m sure this was more.”I wiped my mouth with my linen napkin.“The way they were with each other, it was intimate.I have no doubt Gil is grieving and maybe she was comforting him, but it was more than that.”
“Okay.”He nodded.“I trust your instincts.”
That pleased me.“Maybe that’s what Gil and Eddie were fighting about before Eddie died.”
Declan’s face tensed.“I can’t discuss the case with you, Spencer.”
I frowned.“I’m not asking you to.I’m telling you what I think.I already know they were fighting.You didn’t tell me that.I found that out from Rosa and everyone else in town.”
He nodded politely when the waitress set his plate in front of him.When he glanced up again, he looked uneasy.“Okay, I guess it is common knowledge Eddie and Gil were having issues.”
“It sure as hell is.”I went back to eating my tacos, and he picked up his fork and steak knife and cut into his filet.We were quiet for a while, just focused on eating.
Eventually, when his plate was almost clean, he set his knife down and met my gaze.“I like spending time with you.”He said it so matter-of-factly, I just stared at him silently, assuming he’d continue.He laughed gruffly when I didn’t speak.“I guess it’s not mutual?”
I grimaced.“No, it is.I… I like hanging out with you too.”
He looked pleased, but then his expression became serious again.“It’s hard though because you’re sharp.You know how to read between the lines.When I’m around you, I have to be careful not to say something that could cost me my job.”
