Page 50 of Truth, Lies, and Second Dates
“Nevertheless, we need to proceed as if someonehaspoisoned you and behave accordingly.”
“We, huh?”
“Yes, we. I—ah.” In half a second, Tom had gone from confident to diffident. “I thought we might join forces.”
She studied him. “Why?”
He just sat there for a few torturous seconds, then replied, “Because I cordially despise the thought ofanyonesabotaging you, never mind a murderer. And… I regret doubting you.”
“Oh. So it’s a guilt team-up.”
“If you like.”
“I don’t like anything about this. Not one thing.”
“Understandable. And you won’t like this, either: I need to remain by your side.”
“Huh?”
“You’re being targeted by a clever killer who knows your routine and how to strike at what you love most while simultaneously stirring up your worst fears and regrets of the past, and we have no idea who it is or what, precisely, they hope to gain from this. And so I’m not inclined to let you out of my sight.”
“Well, you’re gonna have to,” she said, equally startled and, it must be said, a smidge thrilled by his determination. “I’ve got work tomorrow.”
“But you’re ill,” he exclaimed. “You should be resting rightnow. And all of tomorrow. You’ve been through a great deal in a shockingly short time.”
Mental note: never tell Tom how much those words meant to me.“But I’m getting better. I’m pretty much empty now, and I won’t eat anything out of a vending machine—oranysolids—until I get to the airport tomorrow. I’ll just push fluids tonight.” He opened his mouth and she cut him off. “Listen, if I’m not much improved in the morning, or if I think whatever-this-is will impact my flying, I’ll ask for a reassign. I’dneverput my passengers and crew at risk. If you know anything about me, you know that, at least. But I hope I don’t have to.”
“As it happens, I was flying out tomorrow as well,” he admitted, “though I had planned to ask Abe to forgive my absence in favor of staying close to you.”
She shrugged. “If this was a movie, I’d be assigned to pilot your flight, but…”
“It’s flight 420 to BOS at eleven thirtyA.M.”
“Oh my God.” She groaned, and had to laugh. “So… we’re in a movie, apparently.”
“Really?” The man’s face lit up like someone had dumped an unusual death on one of his tables. “I’ll get to see you work?”
“You’ll get to keep out of my way while I work,” she warned him. “Captain Capp and Ava are entirely different people. This is going to get weird, I think. Well. Weirder.”
“Or it’s a sign we’re fated to stay close to one another.”
“Let’s not get carried away.”
“It’s settled, then.” Tom stood, banged his upper thighs on the underside of the desk, sat, pushed the chair farther back, managed to stand again without hurting himself. She managed—barely—to trap her giggle before it escaped.
This hunky klutz wants to guard my body? Pretty sure he’s solid bruises from thighs to ankles. Argh, don’t think about his thighs… or his ankles…
“I will remain with you the rest of the evening and take you to the airport,” he pronounced, which was annoying, but she was tired and let it slide. “Your rental car may be compromised.”
Her annoyance disappeared. “Jesus. I didn’t even think of that.”
“We’ll all fly to Boston—”
“All?”
“Abe and my niece are traveling with me.”
“Ah. No longer horrified at the thought of exposing your family to me?”
