Page 75 of Things We Hide from the Light
Her eyes got even wider and I wondered if they were about to pop out of her head. Just in case, I moved my salad out of the pop and splatter zone.
“Could I get some extra dressing, please?” I asked when she finally managed to pour the coffee.
“Extra creamer. Got it,” she whispered dreamily and wandered away.
“Great. Now I’m never going to get my extra dressing.”
Lucian’s smile had the bite of frost to it. “I’d hoped this conversation wasn’t going to be necessary.”
“I love it when men track me down and open with that line.”
“Nash Morgan,” he said.
I raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
“He’s going through a difficult time. I’d hate to see anyone take advantage of that.”
I pointed to myself. “Me?”
“Anyone,” Lucian repeated.
“Good to know.” Not about to make this chat easier on him, I speared another bite of salad with my fork. I chewed thoroughly, not breaking eye contact with Lucian, who didn’t move a muscle.
We stared each other down, willing the other to break first.
These were the kinds of social situations I excelled in. Making small talk about normal girly things? Nope. But going head-to-head with a cagey man when there was important information on the line? This was my Olympics and I was a goddamn gold medalist.
I took a theatrical sip of iced tea. “Ahhhh.”
His lips quirked.
“Are there any other vague statements you’d like to make or are you just going table to table issuing warnings?” I asked.
“We both know you’ve got ulterior motives for being here. I am aware of your employer just as I’m aware of the interesting timing of your arrival in town.”
I feigned shock. “Is there some town ordinance that makes it illegal to work in insurance?”
“Must we play games?”
“Listen, pal. You’re the one who decided to play cat and mouse, hunting me down out of town just to prove you can. I don’t like being toyed with any more than you do. So cut to the chase or you’re going to piss me off,” I said with a mean smile.
Lucian leaned in and interlaced his fingers on the table. “Fine. I know who you are, who you work for, and what happened on your last job.”
I kept my expression one of marked boredom even though that last bit impressed and unnerved me.
“Despite your low profile,” he continued, “you’ve built an impressive reputation for finding things that others couldn’t. You’re known for being fearless to the point of recklessness, a trait rewarded by your employer. You’re not in town for a weeks-long visit with your old pal Knox. You’re here looking for something…or someone.”
He let the accusation hang between us. I took another casual bite of dry salad.
“Why are we having this conversation now? Why not when I first came to town?”
“Because there’s the damage a bullet wound does and the damage a broken heart does.”
I pointed my fork at him. “Speaking from experience?”
He ignored my question. “Not only do you arrive in town just before Naomi and Waylay were abducted, now you just so happen to move in next door to Nash.”
“You don’t look like the kind of man who’s spent any significant time in roach motels, so I won’t waste time trying to explain the move. Though given the fact that you’ve got more money than some state budgets, you should really think about buying the motel and fixing it up…or maybe just burning it down.”
