Page 38 of Witness To Murder
“I would think,” he said, searching for the words that wouldn’t sound so inappropriate, “that sticking together in the crowd would be essential.”
She nodded. “I can do that.” She tilted her head and eyed him expectantly. “Anything else?”
“We could hold hands.” He nodded, thinking that was a good idea. Reasonable. Not over the line. “Maybe share a toast at least once.”
“What about dancing? I really like to dance.”
“Sure.” This one was a little more precarious. “Dancing would be expected, considering the venue.”
“Okay.” She smiled. “I think I’ve got it.”
He was glad, because the way she was looking at him while she asked those questions was making him wild with need.
When had merely listening to a woman talk become such a turn-on?
Maybe it was just something about her…that touch of uncertainty and naivete that seemed absolutely genuine. She might be twenty-eight, but he had a feeling she had been holding herself back for a long while now.
The way she watched him as he locked the apartment door made him wonder if she was having the same trouble he was. If she was ready to let go, he was in trouble.
Then she took off toward the stairs at the end of the corridor, and the way she moved almost finished him off completely.
The Underground
Franklin Street, 10:00 p.m.
FINDING A PARKING SPOThad been an ordeal, but nothing Owen hadn’t faced before. Living in the city, sometimes a car was a more of a nuisance than an asset. They had stopped at a favorite restaurant of his in the River North area, the Smith, for dinner. From there, they’d made their way to the club, which included round two of Find a Parking Spot Without Losing His Mind.
He and Leah held hands as they walked from the car to the club entrance. It amazed him how soft her skin felt. Forcing his mind away from the thought to prevent other, more salacious thoughts, he focused on their surroundings.
As the name suggested, the place was underground, in a basement. The style inside was very European. An elevated DJ booth overlooked the dance floor. Tables hugged the walls all the way around the space. The music was loud, and the place literally vibrated with energy. The flashing colored lights kept time with the music.
Not too crowded, but that would change as midnight neared. Leah held on tightly to his hand as she threaded through the crowd in search of an empty table. She found one and moved in for the take. Most of the tables were pub-style and made forstanding around. A few had chairs. Those, of course, were all occupied.
A waiter passed and Leah waved him down. “I’d like a vodka on the rocks with lemon.” She turned to Owen.
“Whatever you have on draft,” he said, loudly enough for the waiter to hear.
The waiter gave a nod and hurried away, weaving effortlessly through the growing crowd.
Leah leaned close and said, “Don’t worry, I always nurse a single drink for the entire evening.” She made a face. “I’m not much of a drinker, actually.”
He’d suspected as much. Anyone who liked a good stiff drink from time to time would have been doing so after what she’d been through. He hadn’t seen her go for so much as a beer. Just the wine that once.
For a while he watched her scan the crowd. Sometimes she stood on her tiptoes as if she needed to see over someone. She was far more relaxed than before. Made sense. She was no longer a murder suspect, and the man from her past who had still been haunting her was accounted for and wouldn’t be unexpectedly appearing in her life again. Not if he was smart, anyway. Once they knew who was behind the setup that included her name on an insurance policy, the investigation, from her perspective, would be finished.
Closing a case was a good thing, but somehow this felt not so good.
He rested his crossed arms on the table, primarily to be nearer for conversation purposes. “Spotted anyone you recognize?”
“Not yet.” She made a disappointed face.
She turned to him and he realized his mistake. His position put his face level with hers when she looked at him. As hard as he tried not to, he found himself studying her lips.
She smiled and his heart thumped.
“Come on.” She grabbed his hand and pulled him away from the table. She wove a path through the crowd with almost as much ease as the waiter.
Their destination appeared to be a table where three women stood huddled together. Just as they reached it, Leah called out, “Maya!”
