Page 676 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

He still had her by the wrist. “Look Syd, I didn’t mean?—”

She jerked her arm away from his grasp. “I’ve had a rough day. I don’t want to argue with you any longer. I’m going home to get some sleep.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound so … so?—”

“Heartless? Mean? Hateful?”

A smile stole across his face. “Yeah, I guess that’s what I was trying to say.”

His smile caught hers and tugged at the corners of her lips. She softened.

He reached for her hand again as if it was the most natural of gestures. “We do have a fiery relationship, Syd.”

Instantly, she was jolted back to Ginger’s call and the thoughts it had prompted. Fire, that’s what Sean was. Color warmed her cheeks. Ginger had given Sean a clean report and, despite their differences, Sean had always been fair with her. Why was she always so quick to assume that he was guilty?

Sean didn’t seem to notice the turmoil going on in her mind. He was too busy looking at her disheveled hair. She had it pulled up in a ponytail, and half of it had fallen out of the holder. He reached and pushed back a strand. His nearness was magnetic, and she felt the familiar attraction swell like an unquenchable flame.

“Look at you. Your sweats have black streaks all over them. What have you been doing?”

“Climbing a tree.”

He laughed. “I don’t doubt it.” He leaned down, and for a moment she thought he was going to kiss her. This sent a quiver of eagerness racing down her back. She was annoyed at the disappointment she felt when he stepped back and squeezed her hand and then let it go. “I’d better let you get home.” He raised an eyebrow. “Unless you’d like to go out for a late dinner?”

“At eleven o’clock at night? I don’t think so.”

“Come on, Syd. We could drive over to Glendale and get some Krystals. They’re open all night.”

Krystals was a fast food restaurant that was famous for their little square hamburgers about the size of the palm of the hand. “Don’t tempt me. I like Krystals.”

“We could have a Krystal eating contest.”

Sydney wrinkled her nose. “No thanks. I’m a little leery about going to dinner with you after our last experience. I don’t want to get mauled again in the car afterwards.”

He laughed and patted his jaw. “If I’m remembering correctly, I don’t think you have any problem defending yourself. Just ask my tender cheek.”

She shook her head and turned to go down the steps toward her jeep. “You’re impossible. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She stopped.

Sean came up behind her. “What’s wrong?”

Parked beside her jeep was the old gray beat-up Chevy pickup she’d seen at The Jam Session, the one she suspected of running her off the road. Her knees went weak, and she struggled to keep the quiver out of her voice when she spoke. “Sean, where’s your truck?” She turned to face him.

“Syd, you’re trembling all over.”

“Why are you driving this truck?”

“It belongs to the mill. Buck or one of the other guys usually drives it. My truck went belly up this morning so I borrowed this one until I can get mine fixed.”

Her head started spinning wildly, making her feel like she was on an out of control merry-go-round. She took a step back from him and then turned to get in her jeep. Sean took her arm to steady her. “Syd, what is it?”

“Nothing. I’m just tired.”

“Do you need me to drive you home?”

“No!” The word exploded out of her mouth. “No,” she said again, trying to keep her voice even. She gave him a weak smile. “I’ll be all right. I just need to go home and get some rest.”

Unfortunately,rest was the one thing that wouldn’t come. Sydney tossed and turned all night, wondering if it was indeed the same truck she’d seen at The Jam Session. Who had been driving it? Sean? She shook her head. Surely not. He seemed genuinely surprised at her shock. If it had been Sean, he would have anticipated her reaction, wouldn’t he? Maybe he was a good enough actor to be convincing. But why? Why would Sean run her off the road? What could he possibly have to do with Avery’s death? He was an outsider. He’d taken up for her when Jake accused her of being negligent on safety issues. If Sean hadn’t rushed to her defense, Jake would have probably fired her. Sean could have gotten rid of her that way. He didn’t need to run her off the road. She thought of something else. She’d found the device used to take meth after the incident with Jake and then confronted Sean about drug testing. Was that it? Was he trying to cover something up? No, she couldn’t believe that it had been Sean.

Perhaps Sean was telling the truth. If he’d gotten the truck this morning, then someone else had been driving it last night. Who? Buck? She shivered, picturing Buck’s cold, fathomless eyes. Yes, it could have been Buck. She remembered the kiln accident. Buck placed the blame on her. Buck hated her. Then there was Lewis Jackson …

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