Page 77 of The Number of Love
He walked backward in front of her rather than falling beside. Presumably so he could keep frowning at her. “There arewrongtelegrams?”
She sighed. The others with the night shift last night should have briefed him on procedure, though they probablyhadn’tsimplyto teach him a lesson. “They’re not all in the same code, you know. If you’re trying to find a variation for 13040 with a message sent in 7500, you’re going to get nothing but a headache for your trouble.”
“Well, how can you tell—”
“The form. Weather reports, for instance. They always appear the same. And are always in the same code.”
He muttered something that didn’t have a less offensive interpretation for her to provide for her own mind.
Drake let out an exasperated breath. “Camden! Language.”
Camden smirked. “Sorry.” He said the same thing, more or less, but in French.
He knew very well that she spoke French, too, but Margot interjected before Drake could chide him again. “I think the fellows pulled one over on you, Camden. I told you that you ought to try to get along.”
“I’m not interested in making friends.” Did he know that pain flashed in his eyes with the proclamation?
Drake certainly wouldn’t miss it.
She lifted her brows. “Then you’d best learn how to function among enemies.”
He muttered another something that would have made Maman blush.
This time Drake responded with a sigh. “Would you like to join us for dinner, Cam?”
The invitation brought the pilot’s feet to a halt, necessitating that Margot and Drake stop too. He glanced over her shoulder, his search halting quickly. Margot turned to find Dot and Holmes strolling not far behind them. “Will your nursemaid be there?”
Margot’s brows drew together. “Dot?”
“No, he means Red. Yes, he’ll be there. And do stop antagonizing him. I think you’d actually get along if—”
“As I just said. I’m not interested in making friends.” He faced them again, his face hard. And then he stepped out of their way. “Thanks for the invitation, but no thanks. The role of fifth wheel has never suited me.”
“Cam—”
“I have tomorrow off, though. I could do with a game of chess, if you’ve the time.”
Drake’s face shifted from determined to satisfied. “Whenever you’d like. I’ll be at home.”
Camden spared a nod for Drake, another for her, and then strode off as if he were going somewhere of the utmost importance.
They both watched him go. Margot shook her head. “Has he always been so ... ?”
“No. Not quite. Always gruff, always a troublemaker, but never with those shadows.”
“Has he told you what happened?” Thus far it was an unsolvedxin the equation that was Phillip Camden.
Drake shook his head. “Perhaps he will tomorrow. But I doubt it. I don’t think he’s ready for that. Sharing it with someone would mean letting go of it a little, and he’s holding it tight. It may help him just to be with someone he knows won’t judge. Won’t ask.”
A breath of laughter slipped out. “You?Won’t ask? I rather thought that your specialty.”
The way he grinned down at her made her wonder if the observation somehow equaled encouragement in his mind. That they were growing familiar enough to tease each other, perhaps. “Part of the art of asking a good question is knowing whatnotto ask, you know.”
Likenotaskingherif he could court her, perhaps? She turned her attention straight ahead. If he’d reasoned it out like that, then it was frankly a tally mark in his favor. “Could we take a turn through the park, if you’ve energy enough?”
“So eager for a few extra minutes with me?”
Teasing or flirting? Either way, she met it with narrowed eyes but the beginnings of a smile. “Don’t flatter yourself. I want to see if Williams is there or has made another play at Go. He hasn’t had the board set up for days.”
