“Is that all that’s heating up?”
Cara gaped at the phone.
She knew her sister—and based on Bri’s playful inflection, the eldest Tucker sibling suspected that romance had entered the picture.
Seriously?
How on earth had she jumped to that conclusion right out of the gate?
“What are you talking about?” She maintained a calm, cool, collected tone.
“The only time my usual methodical, dot-all-the-i’s MO gotout of whack was after I met Marc. Sparks can be a powerful distraction.”
Dang.
This could be tricky.
Bri was even more adept than Jack at sniffing out romance. But it was too soon to mention Brad. If she did, Bri would want details—and a first date had yet to happen. Yes, Brad’s interest appeared to be sincere, but he could end up backing off like all the other guys she dated.
So why create expectations in her family until there was a solid foundation under the relationship?
“Your silence is telling. Come on, Cara. Spill it.”
“You’re jumping to conclusions.”
“Am I wrong?”
Short of telling an outright lie, she was stuck.
But maybe Bri would be satisfied with a few crumbs.
“More like premature. I did—”
“Sorry. Hold a sec.” Background noise that came across as static filled the line for several seconds until Bri spoke again. “I have to go. I’m at a fire scene and I think a clue has emerged from the rubble. We’ll pick this up later. I’ll call you sometime over the weekend. Whoever this guy is, I hope he’s a good one.”
“No worries on that score.”
“Happy to hear it. And I’m glad for you. We’ll talk soon.”
Once again, the line went dead.
Lips tipping up, Cara stowed her cell. Although her siblings’ overprotective leanings could be stifling, it was also comforting to know they had her back.
Like Brad did.
She wandered over to the table and picked up her things.
While their fledgling romance could peter out after a few dates and she’d be back on the social sidelines, somehow she didn’t think that was going to happen. Deep inside, this felt right ... and meant to be.
Of course, that could be nothing more than wishful thinking. With Bri and Jack both meeting The One, romance had been swirling through the air around the Tucker clan for a solid year. No surprise it would be on her mind.
And in her heart.
But that wasn’t all that was in her heart this time.
There was also hope.
So she’d savor the sense of possibility that had begun to brighten her days despite the disconcerting undercurrent of danger at Natalie’s place.
