Page 18 of Speak No Evil

“I try,” he said. Laughter rose from a booth of teenagers. A waitress, her blond hair caught in a hairnet, passed with a tray of filled soda fountain glasses. “It’s busy in here.”

The hostess greeted them, and they followed her to an empty booth.

Gwen turned over her menu. “This chain is famous for ice cream. That’s what I want.”

“You might want to get something to eat, too. We have a long drive back.” We. He liked the sound of that.

He studied the choices and then laid the card flat to scan the restaurant for a waitperson. Gwen had been watching him expectantly but looked away now. He leaned back and clasped his hands. “Go ahead. The floor is yours.” Color swept her cheeks, the contrast with her pale skin making her even prettier. “Ask me anything.”

“Anything, huh?” She raised her dark brows. “You’re not afraid of what that might be?”

“No.”

“Actually.” She clasped her hands on top of the menu. “I don’t have a question, but I was just thinking you’re not at all how I pictured you.”

“You mean I don’t have two heads and walk with a limp?” he asked.

“That’s not what I imagined and you know it!” She laughed. “I thought you’d look more like an engineer.”

He leaned forward. This could get interesting. “What’s an engineer look like?”

“You know.” She waved a hand. “Nerdy with glasses and a pocket protector.”

“I take it you’re disappointed?”

“No!” she exclaimed and then blushed again when she realized she’d spoken loudly.

“Glad I pass muster.” Will shared a smile with her. This woman continued to surprise him, and he didn’t think he’d ever met anyone quite like her. He signaled to a different wait person, but she also ignored him.

“What did you do while in the Navy?”

“I worked in intelligence. Covert assignments.”

“Like what the Seals do?”

“In a way.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Is that all you can say because it’s so secret?”

“Something like that.” A server passed them with a tray full of drinks. She acknowledged him before serving another booth. “My dad was a career officer, my uncles had all been to the academy, so the Navy was a given for me. I wanted to make the same contribution.”

“Now that I’m getting to know you, I can see that. Then you went to college for your engineering degree so you could build ships. In fact, Erin says you motivated her to finish her degree.”

He shifted uneasily but decided to play this for laughs and slapped his cheeks. “I feel so exposed.”

She laughed, and he smiled inside, pleased to discover that not only was Gwen beautiful and smart, she had a sense of humor. He decided to use this to his advantage. “This is unfair. Now you know more about me than I know about you.”

She shook her head, her tiny stud earrings flashing in the light. “I’m not interesting.”

“Come on, give me something.”

“I work in a research lab studying viruses, most of them very dangerous. Sequencing genetic material, that sort of thing.” She raised her eyebrows as if to ask if he knew anything about that.

“I’ve read about it and seen photos. I frankly can’t imagine the patience that takes.”

The waitress with the tray stopped beside their booth. She pulled a pad from her frilly white apron. “You ready to order?”

He gestured to Gwen to go first. “I’m going to have a chocolate malt.”

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