placed was ransacked? Did you call Chief Carr?”
“Of course, who else would I call?”
“Did they take or steal anything?”
“Not that I could tell, but they had to be looking for something.”
“Do they know who did it or have any suspects?”
“No.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t call,” he said, “but how can you think I would ransack your place?”
Her gut clenched when she thought about him, and she tapped her fingers on the table. She pursed her lips, frowned, trying to stay stern. Was he another smooth-talking liar, like Matt?
“This isn’t the time or place to talk about last night. How about if we take our time when we can discuss it to death if you’d like, but not right now,” Dave said while tapping his fingers on the table loudly.
They glared across the table for a few moments.
Tory broke the stare down. “Actually, I don’t have any plans, but I don’t want to go out. Would you like to come to my place?”
“How about seven?” he asked.
“Seven will be fine.” Tory stood. “My place at seven. If you don’t show up, then don’t expect another chance.”
* * * *
Dave sat for some time in the corner booth after Tory left, wondering about what to say later. He felt adrift after last night and still couldn’t believe he actually saw her with another man. He had only met Matt one time at the bank when they had run into each other. He wondered about her relationship with him. What about their relationship, or did they even have one? He really screwed her over bad last night, but it couldn’t be helped. He wasn’t able to tell her the entire truth, so what kind of relationship could they have? She wasn’t being honest with him, and in all fairness, he couldn’t tell her everything he was doing. Would their secrets drive them apart? Did he want a relationship with her? She was unlike any woman he’d been with before, in so many ways. They were good together—the easygoing way they fit was almost too simple, and he wanted that feeling back. Would talking to her fix their problems and get them back on track? But he couldn’t tell her about his mission. Could he make something up that was believable? Should he?
Chapter 18
Dave arrived at Tory’s at seven sharp. He was anxious and rang the bell with sweaty hands. He waited a few minutes for her to answer the door. He wasn’t exactly sure what to say to her. He would have to wing it.
When she opened the door, her wholesome beauty stunned him speechless. She was dressed in a short beige skirt, a light blush top, and barefoot. She looked very much at home.
Maybe it was because of this he wanted her so badly, and his feelings were mounting faster than he could manage. He looked at her flushed face and smiled.
“I’m glad you could make it tonight,” she said, talking faster than usual. “Have a seat.”
“Hi, Tory,” he leaned in to give her a kiss on her cheek, and when she moved away from him, he decided to sit down and take a chance. “I’m really sorry about last night, but as I said at Lana’s something came up that I couldn’t get out of and I couldn’t call.”
“Fine,” she said.
“What did you do Tuesday night?”
She stiffened. “Why do you ask?”
After a moment of quiet, he said, “On Tuesday I thought I saw you in a car heading out of town with Matt Wilson, that’s why.” He hadn’t intended to blurt that out, but with her he couldn’t seem to garner any self control.
“Is this an interrogation?”
“I guess it is. I want to know what you did Tuesday night and with whom.”
“Oh, really? What business is it of yours who I see? Are you jealous? Or is this professional curiosity?”
“Why don’t you answer me?” He stood before her, his hands on his hips.
She stood facing him, looking him in the eye, her hands on her hips. “So you saw me with someone else and got jealous. Is that why you stood me up?” Tory asked as she whisked her hands through her hair.
He thought a minute or
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