She’d been approached countless times by men who thought she’d date them just to prove that she didn’t think she was too good for them. They were disappointed. She was too good for anyone who’d accept a pity date on a dare.
But in Cody’s case, she decided to give in, only because she didn’t want him to suspect she was on to him. If, in fact, she really was on to anything.
“One bite. The squash blossoms really do look good.”
“I ordered you another of them fancy drinks.” He pointed to the full glass where her half-drunk one had been.
Alarm zipped up her spine. Noah was roofied. By this man?
She smiled, feeling her knees begin to quiver beneath the table, and pushed the drink away. “Oh no. You just accused me of being tipsy. I’m going to eat a bite of food to absorb the alcohol I’ve already drunk. And then I have to go by to see my aunt.”
She pulled out her phone and punched in a number. “Hi. Just making sure you’re still expecting me. Yes. No more than thirty minutes. I promise, auntie.”
She hung up and grabbed a blossom. Damn. Noah hadn’t picked up that time either.
She gave Cody ten more minutes and had a second squash blossom before she stood up and laid two twenties on the table. “Got to go. My aunt will be calling if I’m even two minutes late. Thanks for a nice—er, evening.” Her voice sounded a little strange in her ears. It must be the strain of making small talk to a man she was beginning to suspect had tried to kill Noah.
“I’ll walk you out.”
“No, finish your dinner.” She lifted both hands in protest. “I’m parked just out back. Come by the store tomorrow with your—um, esti-, your calcu—your costs.”
She was relieved that he didn’t try to follow her out. Something didn’t feel right. She would try Noah as soon as she was locked safely in her car. He might agree to meet her somewhere. At the very least, she’d get to hear the soothing sound of his voice.
*
“You look a little rocky, lady. You need a ride home?”
Someone was speaking to her. She didn’t know who. He stood in the shadows.
She was saying no.
She tasted the word, felt it slide like velvet across her tongue.
But the syllable never emerged as sound.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
“You hear something buzzing?”
“Like what?” Noah slid the remains of gristle, fat, and bits of pork rib plus two slices of brisket into Harley’s bowl.
Mark patted his pocket. “Not mine. Your phone?”
“Don’t think so.” Noah reached into his pocket. “Damn.” He’d been sequestered in his home so long he’d forgotten to grab his phone when they went for food earlier.
“Sounds like the buzz is coming from the sofa.”
While Harley wolfed down the offering as though he hadn’t already eaten two generous scoops of dog food for dinner, Noah went into the family room.
Sure enough his phone, stuck down between two cushions, was signaling that he had a message. He pulled it out and looked at it. His heart began knocking uncomfortably against his ribs. There were two messages. Both from Carly.
“Family call?” Mark stood in the doorway with two beers from the six-pack they’d bought on the way home. Very few people had the number to Noah’s new pay-as-you-go phone.
Noah looked up. “Yeah. Andy. I need to call him back. Turn on the game. I’ve still got March Madness brackets in play. I’ll just be a minute.”
Without waiting to see what Mark would do, he headed down the hall to his bedroom. Harley, feeling particularly fond of his handler tonight, followed, licking Noah’s fingers for the final tastes of meat.
Noah punched Carly’s number without checking her messages. She could tell him what she’d wanted directly.
The phone rang, and rang. Finally, the answering service came on. He swallowed a curse. “Hey, Carly. You called. I was out. I’m back. Call me. Anytime. As soon as you can. Whenever. Call.”
He shook his head when he was done. He sounded like a desperate teenager.
“I don’t think that call is in your play book, Glover.”
Noah turned around slowly, intimidation in every line of his body. “You were sent to spy on me.”
Mark stood in the bedroom door, looking anything but guilty at being caught. “It was suggested that I might be able to keep you from doing something dumbass. Like talking to an eyewitness.” He did a chin-up at Noah’s phone. “Why is Carly Reese calling you?”
“I don’t know. She’s not answering.”
“Did she leave a message?”
Noah looked down. She had. Two, in fact.
Mark’s brow shot up his forehead. “Man, what are you up to?”
“It’s personal.”
Mark shook his head. “You need deniability if Durvan gets wind of this. I’m staying. I can’t hear a thing on her end from here. But I can vouch for what you said.”
“Prick.” Noah said it without heat.
“That’s what friends are for.” Mark moved to lean a hip against the dresser, prepared to wait Noah out.
Noah pushed Play.