Entwined with You(109)

“I’d like that. Are you seeing someone in particular?”


“Gideon and I are working things out.”


“Gideon Cross? Well, if anyone can hook him, it’d be you.”


I laughed and wished I had my ring on. I didn’t wear it around during the day the way Gideon wore his. He didn’t care who knew he was taken or by whom, but I still had everyone in my life to tell. “Thanks for the vote of confidence. What about you? You seeing anyone?”


“Lacey and I are dabbling. I like her. She’s a lot of fun.”


“That’s great. I’m glad to hear it. Listen, if you talk to her today, can you ask her to let me know how Megumi’s doing? She’s out sick and I just want to make sure she’s all right and doesn’t need anything.”


“Sure thing.” The receiver filled with a sudden rush of noise, the unmistakable sound of him stepping outside. “Lacey’s out of town, but she’s supposed to give me a call tonight.”


“Thank you. I appreciate it. You’re on the move, so I’ll let you go. Let’s plan on getting together next week and we’ll work out the details in the next couple of days.”


“Sounds good. I’m glad you called.”


I smiled. “Me, too.”


We hung up and because I felt like reaching out, I sent a text to Shawna and another to Brett. Just quick hellos with smiley faces.


When I looked up, I caught Clancy looking at me in the rearview mirror.


“How’s Mom?” I asked.


“She’ll be fine,” he said, in his usual no-nonsense way.


I nodded and looked out the window, catching sight of a gleaming steel bus stop shelter displaying Cary’s billboard. “Family is so hard sometimes, you know.”


“I know.”


“You have any brothers or sisters, Clancy?”


“One of each.”


What were they like? Were they tough as nails and deadly like Clancy? Or was he the black sheep? “Are you close, if you don’t mind my asking?”


“We’re tight. My sister lives out of state, so I don’t see her much, but we talk on the phone once a week at least. My brother’s in New York, so we catch up more often.”


“Cool.” I tried to picture a relaxed Clancy tossing back beers with someone who resembled him, but couldn’t pull it off. “Does he work security, too?”


“Not yet.” His mouth did that little lip twitch, almost-smile thing. “He’s with the FBI for now.”


“Is your sister in law enforcement?”


“She’s in the Marines.”


“Whoa. Awesome.”


“Yes, she is.”


I studied him and his military crew cut. “You were in the service, too, weren’t you?”


“I was.” He didn’t volunteer any more than that.


When I opened my mouth to pry further, we turned a corner and I realized we’d reached the former warehouse where Parker had his studio.


I grabbed my gym bag and got out before Clancy could open the door for me. “See you in an hour!”


“Knock ’em out, Eva,” he said, watching me until I got inside.


The door had barely closed behind me when I saw a familiar brunette I would’ve rather not seen again. Ever. She stood to the side, just off the training mats, with her arms crossed. She was dressed in black workout pants with a bright blue stripe down the sides that matched her fitted long-sleeve shirt. Her brown curly hair was scraped back into an unforgiving ponytail.


She turned. Cool blue eyes raked me from head to toe.


Facing the inevitable, I took a deep breath and approached her. “Detective Graves.”


“Eva.” She gave me a curt nod. “Great tan.”


“Thanks.”


“Cross take you away for the weekend?”


Not exactly a casual question. My back went up. “I had some time off.”


Her thin mouth quirked on one side. “Still cautious. Good. What does your dad think of Cross?”


“I believe my dad trusts my judgment.”


Graves nodded. “I’d keep thinking about Nathan Barker’s bracelet if I were you. But then, loose ends make me twitchy.”


A shiver of unease ran down my back. The whole thing made me twitchy, but who could I talk to about it? No one but Gideon, and I knew him too well to doubt that he was doing everything in his considerable power to solve that mystery.


“I need a sparring partner,” the detective said suddenly. “You’re up.”


“Uh, what?” I blinked at her. “Is that … ? Can we … ?”


“The case has gone cold, Eva.” She stalked onto the mat and began to stretch. “Hurry up. I don’t have all night.”


GRAVES kicked my ass. For such a rail-thin, wiry woman, she packed some strength. She was focused, precise, and ruthless. I actually learned a lot from her over the hour and a half we sparred, most especially never to let down my guard. She was lightning quick and swift to exploit any advantage.