Page 40 of Nora
“No need,” she said. “I’m just fine on my own.”
She took her keys from him, then walked into the residence hall. Through the glass doors, he watched her turn and head up the side stairwell. Her words echoed in his mind.
She might very well be fine on her own, but she wasn’t happy about it.
CHAPTERSIXTEEN
Despite the waythe investigation dragged, Saturday afternoon came faster than Nora expected. Which was an odd observation, because it was time, and in reality, time happened at a steady pace.
Lying on her bed after the end of the last session, she stared at the ceiling and went over everything again. For the seven thousandth time. There wasn’t much else she could do, though, other than replay everything in her mind. She had no new information from Ben, Sabina, Franklin, or her friends. And she definitely hadn’t been able to suss out the killer among them. She’d had a number of conversations with the participants over the past few days, but nothing had come of any.
She sighed and pulled a throw blanket over her legs. Sabina had promised she’d have something in the next day or two, and her friends were digging into all the victims. New information was on the way, but she was getting more and more antsy with each passing day. And feeling more and more guilty about doing little more than just talking to people.
She was grateful for her friends’ assistance but couldn’t help but feel that she was passing the buck a bit. Compared to her tasks, they were doing so much more. If the situation were different, she wouldn’t think twice about stepping in and helping her friends. In fact, she’d expect them to ask. Even so, the situation was…uncomfortable. She didn’t like that Sabina and her friends were doing so much work for her.
A knock came at her door, and there was only one person it could be because everyone else texted.
“Come in, Lucian,” she called.
He walked in, dressed in a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved Henley. His dark hair was still wet, no doubt from a hot shower. In the past two days, the temperatures hadn’t crept above thirty-four.
He paused. His eyes traveled over her, then he leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. “Violetta wants me to go into Boston with you tonight.”
Nora arched a brow. “Six is always harping on me to get out there and meet someone. What she really means is have sex. But even though she seems to have made that her life’s mission, I have a hard time believing she’d suggest a ménage à trois.”
He studied her. She couldn’t tell if he was considering it or if he was appalled at the idea and trying to think of a graceful way to respond. She smiled, then laughed. “Come on, Lucian, twenty years ago you would have laughed or offered to convince me it was a good idea. I was teasing you.”
If anything, his expression darkened. She rolled her eyes, then shifted to her side and swung her feet to the floor. “I assume you have a reason to be in the city?”
“I do. But you make a good point. I’m not into a ménage à trois, and sharing has never been anything I’ve been interested in. Butyoumay have plans for the evening that…don’t include me.”
She’d showered after coming in from the session, too, and was wrapped in her robe. She tightened the belt. “I haven’t changed that much, Lucian. Sex on the first date isn’t my style. I don’t judge those who do, it’s just not me. Especially not with a man my father set me up with. I plan to have dinner, maybe a long one depending on Emil, and then drive back here so I can be ready for tomorrow’s session. What’s taking you into town?”
He hesitated. “There’s a couple who own a breeding facility just south of Boston, toward the Cape. They’ve been wanting to meet with me for a few years about doing some cross-breeding between their dogs and mine. Now seemed a good time to do it.”
He didn’t take his eyes off her, but judging by the way his hands were now shoved into his pockets, and he was rocking back on his heels, he was nervous. He wasn’t sure if he was intruding or if he should have asked. She didn’t relish spending two hours in the car—each way—with him. Especially not when he’d know exactly what she had on under her dress. But she’d been telling the truth about Emil. She had zero plans to spend the night with the man. What would it hurt to share the drive?
“Leave at five?” she asked.
He nodded and pushed away from the wall. That gave her an hour to tame her hair and apply some form of makeup. The makeup she wasn’t too worried about. Her hair on the other hand…
“Are you sure?” he asked when he reached the door.
“Yes,” she said. She appreciated his consideration, but she was sure.
“I’ll meet you downstairs in an hour then.”
She nodded and three seconds later, her door closed behind him.
* * *
The elevator door hadn’t even shut behind her when she heard a catcall in the hallway. A fond one, but a catcall, nonetheless.
“Damn, you clean up good,” Collin said, striding toward her with Raum at his side. Her opinion of the dog hadn’t changed—he was still too stoic for her liking—but he was a magnificent beast. “Willa said you had plans for tonight. Big date?” He came up alongside her, and together they walked toward the lounge.
“Dinner with a friend of the family,” she answered.
“Well, he’s definitely a lucky bastard.” Collin held the door for her, and they walked through. To more catcalls. Even Willa joined in, making Nora laugh.
