“Worse.”
“It isn’t easy out there,” he said.
“It’s hard to find a good man.”
Brent looked at Selena.“You should tell this one that.”
A small heat touched the back of Selena’s neck.“Leave me out of this.”
Tanya looked between them, interest sharpening her face.“I thought you two were building up to something.”
“So did I,” Brent said.“But ever since she came back from Harlan County, I don’t get a look in.”
Selena kept her expression even.“It’s not like that, Brent.”
“No?”
“You’re hardly Mr.Monogamous.”
“I could be.”
“That’s a theory with no evidence to back it up.”
Brent smiled, taking the hit without losing confidence.“Then let’s test it.Tonight.You, me, a bottle of wine, and a good movie at my place.”
Tanya’s mouth opened, seemingly delighted by the audacity, and more than likely happy someone else’s love life was on display rather than hers.
Selena saw Meg Calloway before Brent did.
Section Chief Calloway had stopped two feet behind him, gray hair pulled back cleanly, arms relaxed at her sides, a file tucked beneath one elbow.Her expression barely moved, which made it worse.
“I hope that’s a joke, Mr.Mayfield,” Meg said, “or you could end up reprimanded for inappropriate behavior towards a fellow agent.”
Brent’s posture changed so quickly it almost became a separate person.His hand dropped from the cubicle wall.“No, boss.Just joking.”
“Good.There’s a stack of paperwork with your name on it at your desk.Get to it.”
“Aye, aye, cap’n.”
Brent gave Selena a look that tried to be amused and wounded at the same time, then moved off down the aisle.
Tanya watched him go.“He walks like he thinks we’re all salivating over him.”
Meg turned to Tanya for a moment.“And Ms.Bell, save the dating autopsies for lunch.”
Tanya nodded.
Meg’s gaze shifted to Tanya, then to Selena.“Raven.Walk with me for a moment.”
That tone closed the subject.It was business now rather than office banter.
Selena gave Tanya a friendly smile and followed Meg away from the cubicles, past a row of desks where agents looked busy enough not to look interested.
“Thanks for intervening there,” Selena said once they were clear.“Brent can be a handful sometimes.”
“Don’t gettoothankful.You might want to throw something at me in a second.”
Selena looked down at the file beneath Meg’s arm.“What’s that?”
