Chapter 14
Gunner wasn’t good at waiting. He wished that he was in the conference room with Lori so he could hear the autopsy results. Sitting in the waiting room was torture, so he ended up pacing the hall outside the office. He could still see inside through the glass doors.
When Sheldon and Nick emerged, the looks on their faces told the story. Gunner went in, anxious to see Lori. She was right behind her relatives, and her pained expression tore at Gunner’s heart.
Nick stared straight ahead, but as Sheldon passed, he gave Gunner a nod, his expression conveying the somber tone of the meeting. As the two disappeared into the hallway, Lori fell into Gunner’s arms. She collapsed against him and clung to his waist.
For several minutes, Gunner didn’t move. As far as he was concerned, Lori could hold on to him for the rest of the day. He didn’t need for her to tell him what had happened. His sole focus was caring for her after such devastating news.
When Lori moved away, Gunner put his arm around her to guide her out. She looked down without saying a word. When the elevator opened, Lori took his hand and stepped inside. Only then did she look up, as if grasping for answers.
“I’m not taking you back to work,” Gunner said.
Lori shook her head. “Adam will cover. I told him not to expect me back today, no matter how things went.”
Gunner’s gut twisted. He wished that things were different, that Lori had found out there wasn’t anything to worry about. Yet he wasn’t surprised that it had turned out the way it had.
Although Lori was unfamiliar with life-threatening circumstances, Gunner was not. It seemed his sense of the situation had been correct. That meant Lori would have a lot to deal with, but Gunner would be right beside her.
Once Lori was in the car, Gunner headed for a rooftop lounge that was popular downtown. He didn’t ask Lori where she wanted to go. She needed a place to talk and process what she had learned. It would be good for her to unburden with Gunner, plus he wanted to hear the details of the report.
On the way, Lori looked out the window, most likely in shock. It would take time for her to deal with the reality. Even though murder had been suspected, having that confirmed must be shattering.
The bar was in the Standard, a hotel with a reputation for good security. Gunner preferred a place where he could focus on Lori without concern for her safety. The rooftop of the big hotel was a good choice. He parked in the lot then helped Lori out.
Gunner took Lori’s hand and ushered her to the elevator, where a few other guests waited. When Lori squeezed his hand, Gunner kissed her knuckles. The door slid open and he followed her in. The other people chatted, but Lori leaned against the back wall in silence.
The rooftop was bustling, which meant Gunner could settle in with Lori without concern that their conversation would be overheard. He found seats at a table by the firepit. It was in a corner, so Gunner took the seat facing out so he could watch the area.
Lori ordered a cocktail and Gunner had a pint of beer, as the occasion called for alcohol. He put his hand over Lori’s and kept it there until the drinks arrived. Then he sat back to give her a chance to talk.
“It’s just so hard to believe,” Lori said, after a sip of her drink. “I knew all along that it was a possibility, but I held out hope that I was mistaken.”
Gunner didn’t interrupt.
“I hardly know what to say.” Lori took another sip then put her glass on the table. “The police will get involved now.”
Gunner was captivated by Lori’s beauty. She was as lovely in that moment, sitting beside the fire, as she had ever been. His thoughts were inappropriate, as he wanted to carry her off to bed and make love to her. He wanted to hold her close and make her feel so amazingly good that she would forget her troubles.
“What are you thinking?”
Gunner touched her cheek. “About you.” He held back from sharing more. The last thing he wanted was to ruin things between them. He tried to push away his desire to see her naked and feel her warmth on his skin, but he was unsuccessful.
As if reading his mind, Lori said, “I wish this was a date, just the two of us. If only my life hadn’t fallen apart, and I’d met you when I could be free to…”
“I know, honey.”
“What am I going to do?” Lori said, then took a gulp of her cocktail. “I suppose getting drunk won’t help.”
Gunner flagged the waitress for a cocktail refill, then he leaned forward. “Do you have any idea who killed your father?”
“I’ve thought of little else for the past hour,” Lori said. “But I’ve come up dry. There had to be a motive, and that’s what I can’t figure out.”
The cocktail was served, giving Gunner a moment to consider that. “The police will take time to get an investigation going. It’s not safe to sit back and wait.”
“What do you suggest?”
“You knew your father better than anyone else did,” Gunner said. “Maybe there is a clue, something you haven’t thought of yet.”