Page 28 of Unforgotten

“Well, Officer Mulaney is a mouthful.” And it was, he supposed, though that wasn’t exactly the entire reason. The majority of it had to do with him watching out for her and needing for her to trust him. No way was she going to stick close if she didn’t feel comfortable around him.

“I guess it is,” her father replied. He sounded grudging, though. After a second’s pause, he added, “My name is Wayne.”

“It’s good to meet you, Wayne.”

Wayne stuffed his hands in his pockets. “I didn’t tell Dora this, but I’m relieved that you’re accompanying Candace as much as you are able. She acts like she’s an independent woman, but she’s never been on her own. Not really.”

“I’m happy to help.” He was more than happy, actually.

The door swung farther open. “Dad, who are you talking to? Oh! Hi, Ryan.”

“Hey, Candace.” It was a true struggle to act as if her beauty didn’t affect him. Today she wore a silky-looking, pale green dress and knee-high suede boots with a two- orthree-inch heel that made her legs seem even longer. “Are you ready?”

“I think so. Hold on. My stuff is in the duffle bag in the hall.”

“I can grab it. If it’s anything like last time, it probably weighs a good fifty pounds,” he joked.

“It’s not that heavy.”

Stepping into the entryway, Ryan got a brief glimpse of creamy light gray walls, dark wood, and a blue braided rug covering the floor. It all looked neat and clean. The duffle bag was in the entry, next to the stairs. Sure enough, it was heavy.

When he walked back out, Wayne stared at the duffle as if he was noticing it for the very first time. “What is in there, Candace?”

“A change of clothes. Snacks. And a bunch of stuff from the chamber of commerce.”

“How come you have items from the chamber?”

“Because they’re my sponsor, Dad,” she said in thinly disguised impatience, like it was obvious that she’d told her father that more than once or twice. “They held the contest.”

“Oh.”

After kissing her father’s cheek, she smiled at Ryan. “I’m ready now.”

“Let’s go, then.”

Walking to Ryan’s side, Candace lifted a hand. “Bye, Daddy.”

“Bye, sweetheart. You have your cell phone?”

She tapped the side of her purse. “It’s right here.”

“Call if you need anything.”

“I will. Bye!” she called out over her shoulder as she headed to Ryan’s SUV.

“It’s good to meet you, sir. You take care now.”

Wayne nodded, but his expression remained serious. “All I care about is you taking care of my daughter.”

“I promise I’ll do that.”

“Good.”

Heading to his vehicle, Ryan thought about her father’s protective tone. He wondered if he’d always been that way, or if this was something new.

After he joined Candace in the SUV and they punched in her first destination in his GPS, he pulled out and headed down her street. “How are you?” he asked.

“I’m good. Thanks again for taking me around today.”

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