Seductive Suspect - Page 25
As if on cue, Isabel announced her intentions to go to the kitchen for a glass of water. I nodded in acknowledgement and continued. “Our pool of suspects is growing smaller. I’d prefer not to share much with them, either.”
Adam’s full grin made its appearance, along with those endearing dimples. “So you’ve ruled me out, then?”
I pretended to focus on the chess set. “I didn’t say that.”
“I shouldn’t push my luck.” He slid another piece closer to the center of the board. “What do we do next?”
“Not much other than what we’ve been doing.” I studied the board to determine my next move. “Sit here and try not to die.”
“It’s better than any plan I can come up with.” Folding his hands in front of him, he reclined in his chair while I deliberated. “We could also attempt to act like there’s nothing sinister going on and just talk, like we did the other night.”
I tried to hide my smile and hoped my face wasn’t turning pink. “We could,” I said, finally moving my other bishop. “Since there isn’t much else for us to do.”
“Even if there was, I’d choose learning more about you.” Adam captured one of my pawns and placed it on his side of the board. “Tell me more about the fascinating world of graphic design.”
He managed to elicit a genuine chuckle from me. “Fascinating. Yeah, right.” I reached for a knight but changedmy mind. “I’m sure you want to hear all the details about how much time I spent designing a new logo for a client’s business per his specifications, only to have him try to argue for a reduced fee because he wanted the letters to be blueish-green and not greenish-blue.”
“Yes. That is exactly what I want to hear about.”
“Liar.” I settled for the safe choice of moving another pawn forward. “But since, as we’ve pointed out, we have nothing better to do, I guess I can humor you.”
He inched his pawn toward mine. “Or tell me what you do outside of work instead.”
“My sister is under the impression I do nothing but read and fill out the daily crossword puzzle in the newspaper.” Rolling my eyes, I shrugged. “She might not be too far off base.”
“Hey.” He moved back, the chair squeaking beneath him. Dipping his head, he caught my gaze across the board. “We’re not talking about her. We’re talking about you.”
A pleasant warmth flooded my cheeks again. “Well, I do like to read. But I’ve been trying to get out of the house more. I’m considering taking up hiking or something along those lines.”
“After this extended weekend, I’d think you’d want to avoid mountains for a while.” A roguish twinkle lit up his hazel eyes. “Though, if you’re up for it, I’m familiar with some local trails near my place.”
“We’ll see.” I swiped his pawn off the board and pursed my lips. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves here.”
Isabel returned with a full glass of water, and I realized I hadn’t been concentrating on all the ways she could die while out of the library. Maybe chess did have its merits after all. If letting my guard down around Adam proved to be a mistake, at least I wasn’t spending my last moments in terror, hiding in a ball on the couch.
I continued our breezy conversation in an effort to furtherignore our surroundings. “Your turn. Not in the game, I mean. It’s your turn to captivate me with tales of what’s bound to be your glamourous, fast-paced marketing job.”
He stared into my eyes, making me feel like the only other person in the room. “Oh, I think I can manage that. Whatever it takes to keep improving your opinion of me.”
We chatted and played, laughed and shared. Truthfully, I had little interest in the outcome of the game and didn’t care when he captured more of my pieces. “Checkmate,” he said as the clock struck one.
The others stopped what they were doing and looked up. “Lunch?” Laura offered with a shrug.
We assembled some paltry sandwiches with what we found in the fridge. “What’s the food situation?” Dylan asked. “Like, I know we’re not going to starve here, but if we don’t need to limit ourselves…”
Laura handed him another piece of bread without saying anything. Isabel glanced out the window. “The weather wasn’t too bad today. Hopefully, people were able to start repairing the bridge, or even the cell towers, and we can get out of here soon.”
“Not soon enough,” I muttered. Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw Adam’s shoulders sag, and I felt a twinge of guilt.
If my words disappointed him, he recovered quickly. “Dylan, if you want another sandwich, I doubt anyone will hold it against you.”
Dylan shoved his phone in his pocket and picked up a plate. “Maybe later. I just wondered.”
We ate in our usual silence. The lack of conversation bothered me less than the prior days’ disputes. Arguments were dangerous diversions, I’d decided, and the tentative peace fanned those relentless flames of optimism.
“I’ll clean up in here,” I said once everyone finished. “It’ll give me something to do.” No one else made a counter offer,and I rinsed off the dishes in the sink as they filed out of the room. Through the window, I gazed at the rear of the property. A neat little garden sat beyond the back door, though the heavy storms had torn apart the few remaining plants. Beyond the dirt square, curling vines climbed up a trellis to the balcony outside our rooms. Aside from the gruesome events I’d witnessed, I acknowledged the quaint beauty of the lodge and surrounding property. I wished I’d been able to enjoy it under different circumstances.
Adam waited for me inside the library. This time, I didn’t jump when I opened the door. “I’m going to run to the restroom really quick,” he said, “and then how about a rematch?”