Touch of Red (Tracers #12)(28)

“Do me a favor and check that file for me.” Sean took out a business card. “If you find anything—”

“I’ll let you know.”

? ? ?

Brooke left the lab feeling drained. And totally uninspired by the mountain of laundry she had waiting for her. She’d meant to tackle it that afternoon, but between the doughnut shop and the Delphi Center, she’d barely been home.

She eyed the clock. Seven thirty already. She hadn’t heard from Sean all day. She decided to check in, and he answered on the first ring.

“I wanted to see if you went by the doughnut place today,” she said.

“I was there this morning. No sign of him. You?”

“I went by twice this morning and once this afternoon. No one fit the description.” She paused, suddenly feeling awkward about calling. The last time she’d seen him, he’d kissed her breathless. “So . . . I’m on my way home. Anything new with the case?”

“A lot. We got our first suspect.”

“Really?”

“It’s not panning out, though. His girlfriend came in for an interview, and his alibi holds.”

“Damn.”

“I know.”

“I take it you’re at work, then?” she asked.

“Nah, I’m headed to Gino’s to get a pizza. Want to join me?”

“Oh. I don’t know.”

“Well, are you hungry?”

“Yeah, actually.”

“You could meet me there. Or I could pick you up.”

She didn’t say anything, and the quiet stretched out.

“It’s just pizza, Brooke.”

He sounded amused by her reluctance. And he was so laid-back about it, why was she hesitating? She’d called him. It wasn’t like he was pressuring her.

“You don’t mind driving?” she asked.

“No problem. I’ll be by in a few.”

By the time Brooke pulled onto her street, she was having second thoughts.

She shouldn’t get into something with him. She needed a break from relationships and sex and all the twisty dynamics that went along with everything. She needed to stand on her own. She’d made a promise to herself when she broke up with Matt that she’d take some time to get her footing back. So what the hell was she doing with Sean?

Just pizza. Last night had been just beer, and look where that had gotten her. All day she’d been thinking about kissing him. She was thinking about it now, too, as she swung into her driveway and spotted his headlights turning onto her street. So much for dashing inside to change clothes or do her hair or maybe put on some makeup—which was for the better.

Sean glided to a stop in front of her house, and she went around to the passenger side and climbed in.

“Whoa.” She looked him over. “What’s with the suit?”

“Funeral.” He pulled away from the curb.

“Already? That seems fast.”

“It was. Think they were trying to dodge the media.”

Brooke glanced around. She’d never been in Sean’s truck before. It was toasty warm and filled with guy clutter. She noticed the muddy work boots in back, the gym bag, the skateboard.

“It’s my nephew’s,” he said, noticing her noticing. “Although I do know how to skate, in case you were wondering.”

“I wasn’t.” She smiled at him, all GQ-looking in his dark suit, and she couldn’t picture him on a skateboard.

He glanced at her. “You’re one of those girls, huh? I bet you stayed away from skaters. We were the troublemakers.”

“I think it’s more accurate to say skaters stayed away from me. I was a science geek.”

“Yeah, I bet you were.” He smiled. “In a good way.”

“Hmm . . . I don’t know if it was ‘good’ for my social life. I didn’t go to a single dance in high school.”

“You’re kidding.”

“No.”

Why had she just told him that? She wished she’d kept her mouth shut. She glanced over, and he was grinning.

“Those guys must be kicking themselves now.”

“Yes, I’m sure not a day goes by.”

“Seriously, look at you. You’re beautiful and successful. You’ve got a cool job at a world-famous crime lab.”

She darted a glance at him.

“What?”

“You’re so full of it.”

“I’m just stating the obvious.”

She shook her head and looked away as he pulled into Gino’s parking lot. They got out, and Sean took a moment to shrug out of his suit jacket and stash it in the back of the cab. Meanwhile, Brooke skimmed the parking lot for Matt’s oversize pickup.

When she glanced back at Sean, he was watching her. He stepped closer, looking concerned. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

They walked to the restaurant in silence, and Sean held the door for a family going in ahead of them. It was a little thing, but she definitely noticed. So many guys didn’t bother with manners.

Gino’s smelled like roasted garlic, and Brooke’s mouth started to water as she read the menu board posted above the counter.

“I’m thinking we need a large,” Sean said. “What kind do you want?”