Page 25 of Obsession

“Don’t worry. But I would appreciate knowing what you find.”

“Maybe, if you’ll tell me who your client is,” she said.

He gave her a crooked grin. “I’ll be in touch.”

“Why do you suppose the client doesn’t want the project to go forward?” Sam asked when Corey returned to his table. He also noted even though the attorney had told them he was almost finished with his meal, he was in no hurry to leave.

“He won’t say, but I suspect whoever it is fears I’ll disturb the graves. He doesn’t understand the new equipment, and that using the GPR machine will be like taking an X-ray of the ground. I won’t have to dig.”

Just then Norma Jean arrived with their food. “Y’all enjoy,” she said and refreshed Emma’s cup. “How’d you like the coffee?”

“It’s delicious.”

“Told you so.” She laid the bill on the table.

They both reached for it, but Sam beat Emma to it. “My treat,” he said. But his mind was still on Corey’s client. Could that be who attacked Emma last night?

12

It seemed odd to be sitting across from Sam like the last ten years had never happened. Except his remark about dealing with their past had filled her with dread. Emma didn’t want to discuss anything personal with Sam Ryker.

“You never said how we were going to get my truck home from Mount Locust.”

“I didn’t, did I,” Sam said, looking up from his plate of golden fried fish and onion rings. His dark eyes gave nothing away. “Are you going to eat?” he asked and bit into an onion ring.

She picked up her fork with her left hand. This should be interesting.

After Sam took a bite of the fish, his eyes widened. “Wow! I’d forgotten how good their food is.”

Just when she thought he was going to ignore the question about her truck, he said, “I thought we had that settled. You heard the doctor. I’ll get Clayton to help me get it to your apartment tomorrow. Okay?”

“Good.” She gingerly picked up a slice of lemon with her left hand and managed to get it between her finger and thumb. She squeezed it over her fish, shooting juice on Sam’s cheek.

“Oh no!” Emma dropped the wedge on her plate and grabbed a napkin, dabbing at his face. Wrong move, as her heart leapt into her throat. “That didn’t get in your eye, did it?”

“No damage done,” he said softly and took the napkin from her fingers.

Electricity arced between them. Once again it was as though ten years had not passed.Stop it.Her track record with men was terrible. No need to make it worse by even thinking about starting up a relationship with Sam again.

“What just happened is a good reason for you not to drive,” he said. “You’re not very handy with your left hand.”

No. Ryan had been the lefty.

“Let’s eat,” he said, “and then we’ll talk.”

“About...?”

“I don’t want to be Captain Obvious here, but I think we have unfinished business, and we might as well address it.”

“Do we have to talk about it now?”

“No, but we need to clear the air so we don’t feel like we’re tiptoeing around our past. How would you like to take a walk downtown after dinner? I don’t think it’ll be too cold.”

“I meant do we have to talk about this at all tonight?” Realizing she had unresolved feelings for Sam scared her.

“Look, we’re going to be thrown together until the case is solved, and that might stir up old feelings. We both know giving in to those feelings would not be a good idea. We have too much baggage, but I would like for us to work together as friends, at least.”

She looked down at her food. His words about baggage stung, but he was right. They would be working together, and it would be better if their past didn’t hang over them. Emma simply didn’t know how to do relationships. Never had, or she wouldn’t have ruined the one between her and Sam.

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