Page 39 of The Mouse and the Maestro

“Somewhere safe,” he said.

“And that is…” she prompted.

He was tempted to shake his head, to keep her as in the dark as he was. But she’d learn soon enough where they were headed.

“My parents’ house.”

Jane sat up. “Are you sure that’s safe? I don’t want to put them in danger.”

“It’s safe,” Blue assured her, but she still looked concerned. “Hey, it’s safe.” He patted her knee, and she did the flinching thing again. His lips pressed together, concealing his smile.

“Don’t be smug,” Jane snapped.

“Smug, me? Why would I be smug? Because you jump at the mere brush of my hand on your body? Because you have no way of hiding your undying attraction to me? Why would that end in any sort of smugness?”

“You’ve got it all wrong. Iusedto be attracted to you. Now I’m annoyed.”

“You jumped because you were annoyed by my touch?” he asked.

“Yes, and the more you push it, the more it’s veering into repulsion,” she said.

“You’re a bad liar,” he said.

“I’m an amazing liar,” she said, so deadpan he glanced at her with narrowed, speculative eyes. “Look at you, looking at me. You’re still not convinced I’m not a terrorist, are you?”

“I’m mostly sure,” he said uncertainly. “There’s only like a one percent doubt. Maybe two.”

“Unbelievable,” she said, facing forward with a huff of frustration.

“Hey, at least I’m being honest with you. I’m not saying there’s no doubt in my mind. And I find you crazy hot even though you might be a killer. Doesn’t that count for something?”

“I am so sick of men who believe they’re doing me a favor by being interested in me. You know I have a doctorate and a dream job at one of the world’s preeminent museums? And yet I have you believing you’re throwing me a bone by being physically attracted to me and Nick thinking he’s king of the castle because he keeps coming back to me between episodes of cheating.”

“That guy cheated on you? Seriously, Jane, you can’t marry him. And for the record, I would never cheat on you. That’s completely wrong.”

“You think I cheated on the entire United States Government,” she exclaimed.

“Only a little. And I’m more than physically attracted to you. Is that all you think this is?”

“I don’t think this is anything. As for cheating, what do you think it is when you go behind my back and try to snoop on me?” she asked.

“Do you honestly believe infidelity and looking up information about a person are the same?” he asked.

“No, but I believe they’re similar. They’re both a matter of breaking trust.”

“No,” Blue said, shaking his head.

“Yes. If I had an online presence, you should have no right to it. It would be personal, private, and off-limits to you.”

“My job,” he began, but she interrupted him.

“I’m not talking about your job. Your job is to hunt terrorists, and I get that. There are bad guys and no-goodniks in the world. Have at ‘em, go get them. Peer into every aspect of their lives and destroy them forever. But private citizens are just that, private. You should not be looking; it’s a gross invasion.”

He shook his head but otherwise didn’t reply. The remainder of the ride was silent. A while later they pulled up in front of a house in his suburban Philly neighborhood.

“Jane,” he said softly. He rested his hand on her thigh and she predictably jumped. “I know you’re mad at me right now, but can you do one little thing for me?”

“What’s that?” she asked, her tone wary.

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