Page 37 of Meant to Be
“Persistent how?”
“He kept asking me to eat with him. If I was having a meal with other people, he’d join in. That was annoying, but not concerning. But he showed up in New York a month or so after I got home. Said he was looking for work there and wanted to know if I wanted to get together.”
Mitch kept his face impassive, even as his brain thought of cruel and unusual ways to hurt Doctor Singer. “Did you?”
“I met him for lunch, but I brought Patrick with me. I figured if Doctor Singer thought I was seeing someone, he’d leave me alone. And it worked. At least I thought it did. I haven’t heard from him since.”
“Did Patrick know he was a decoy date?”
“Yes. I’ve known Patrick since I was a child. I’m sure I talked about him and Julia when we were in college. They were with me at the fair this weekend.”
Mitch nodded. “If the same guy attacked you and Jenny, we have to look at who has been both in New York and here. I’ll see what I can learn about this Doctor Singer, but what about Patrick? Maybe he didn’t like being a decoy date. Maybe he wanted more. If I remember correctly, he’d once had more.”
Sydney shook her head and waved Mitch’s comment away. “No. He’s like a brother to me.”
“Is he still in town?”
Sydney’s jaw tightened and her eyes flashed with annoyance. “He and Julia left this morning. Long before the attack.”
Mitch nodded but made a mental note to check on Patrick’s whereabouts at the time Jenny was assaulted.
As if she knew what he was thinking, Sydney said, “Patrick is a good man. He’s the one I stayed with after the attack. He took care of me.”
“Where were your parents? And I thought you weren’t hurt badly.”
“They were on safari in Africa. I couldn’t reach them. And my wound wasn’t fatal, but I was hurt and needed help for a short time.”
“So you and he never rekindled your high school romance?” Mitch inwardly kicked himself. It wasn’t a relevant question.
“No.” But there was hesitation in her response.
“You don’t sound so sure.”
She sighed. “I think there have been times he’s been interested in rekindling our romantic relationship.”
“Why don’t you?” Mitch took a sip of milk, hoping she didn’t call him on his prying.
“He’s not y—” She stopped short. “He’s not the type of man I see myself with.”
Mitch watched her as he set down his milk and wiped his mouth with his napkin. A part of him hoped she would finish her first thought. Not in a I’m-glad-you-like-me-so-I-can-hurt-you-the-way-you-hurt-me kind of way, but in a I-wonder-if-this-thing-between-us-is-real kind of way. The thought both terrified and excited him. But since he still didn’t know what to do about it, he ate another bacon tater.
“I’ll need to talk to him.”
Sydney didn’t argue. “He’s at a conference in Washington, D.C.”
“Where is he staying?”
“A Marriott. I think it’s on Pennsylvania Avenue.”
Mitch worked to keep his voice unaffected, professional. “What about Jagger? He’s from New York, and he’s here now. Hasn’t he asked you out yet? He told me he would.”
Sydney’s eyes narrowed. “Why were you talking about me?”
“He wanted me to give him the okay. He seemed to think there was something between us. I assured him there wasn’t.”
She sat back. Anger and hurt flashed in her hazel eyes. “He stopped by yesterday. I reminded him that I couldn’t go out with him because of Julia.”
“I don’t get that.” Mitch pushed the half-eaten plate of grease, bacon, and potato aside. “Jagger and I are friends, and I’m okay with him seeing you.” Mitch hoped Sydney didn’t hear his brain scream, “LIAR!”
