His eyes flashed in disbelief. “Yes, you absolutely could’ve done that. I’ve been trained. You haven’t. Also, what were you going to do with that lamp? Offer it to him as a parting gift if he agreed to leave peacefully?”
“I was going to hit him over the head with it if he came at you with the knife.” Lucas was still looking at her incredulously, so she added, “I’d hit him with the bottom part, not with the lampshade. I do realize that whacking someone with a lampshade wouldn’t do a lot of good.”
His jaw worked on choosing his words for some time before they actually came out of his mouth. “I appreciate the sentiment. I really do. But I need you to promise that you’ll never insert yourself into a crime scene again.”
He could have managed a little bit of appreciation that she’d been concerned. “I’ll try,” she said. “But the siren call of some crime scenes might be too much to resist.”
He made an unhappy grumbling sound. “Also, Kathy never would’ve trotted out with a bonus lamp if you hadn’t come out first. You put her in danger too.”
Riley had been trying to be self-sacrificing, and he was just making her feel stupid. “Ok. I’m sorry I attempted to help you.” She folded her arms and tapped a foot against the floor. “What did you want to speak to me about?”
His eyebrows dipped in confusion. He had no idea what she meant. “We’ve covered staying out of crime scenes. That’s probably enough managerial feedback for the day, isn’t it?”
“Maybe,” she said. “Is that what you wanted to talk to me about after my shift? If so, consider that box checked.”
Realization dawned on his face. “Oh. I forgot all about that.” He ran a hand through his hair, looked at the ceiling, and returned his gaze to her. “Now I’m wondering if this is the best time to have that conversation. You’re staring at me all prim and offended.”
“And you’re standing there all ungrateful that I nearly sacrificed an expensive lamp to save your life.”
Kathy appeared from the dining room entrance and swept over to Lucas. “With all the crime-fighting, I forgot to get the food ready for your dinner date tonight. So sorry. I’ll do that now and bring it to your room.” She glanced around the lobby. “I guess it’s a good thing your date hasn’t arrived yet.” She headed off to the kitchen, humming.
Date? Riley’s breath had hitched in her lungs during Kathy’s monologue, and breathing was still hard. She lowered her voice to an angry whisper. “You have a date tonight? You kissed me this morning, and you’re seeing someone else?” Her hands flew up in exasperation. “How did I become the other woman again? What is it with you and Jace?”
Before Lucas could answer that question, Riley added, “Ok, I know I wasn’t actually the other woman for Jace. It was just you lying to me. Because apparently that’s what our relationship is.”
She spun on her heel and stormed to the back room to get her coat. She wasn’t going to do something horrible like cry in front of her coworkers. She ripped her coat from the hook and shoved her arms into it. When she turned around to go, Lucas stood blocking the doorway.
“On second thought,” he said with annoying calmness, “I’ve decided we should have this conversation right now. You don’t need one more reason to be angry at me.” He strolled over to Riley, took her hand, and while she was still processing that he was holding her hand, he led her from the room.
Curiosity got the best of her. Curiosity and hope. She hoped that Lucas was about to tell her that Kathy was mistaken and his date was actually with his sister. He was, after all, holding her hand. That meant something, didn’t it?
Riley assumed he was taking her to his office, but they went past that room to the elevator. He let go of her hand to press the button and motioned for her to get in with him. It was small, only big enough for two people.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
He pushed the button for the third floor. “We’re going to have a conversation that we should’ve had last year.” Then he didn’t say more.
Ok. A conversation. They definitely should have one of those. Only he wasn’t speaking. “Well?” she asked as the elevator rose.
He looked straight ahead. “Be patient.”
Patience was not her strong point.
The door opened on the third floor, and they headed across the hallway until they reached the stairs to the fourth floor. He trekked up them, hardly checking to see whether she followed.
So they were going to his apartment. He was no doubt taking her there so he could prove her wrong somehow. She would walk inside and see that he was actually having dinner with a sixty-year-old woman who was partnering with the inn to raise money for an orphanage, and then he would give her one of his talks about jumping to conclusions.
And that would be fine because it meant he didn’t have a date with someone else.
After they reached his door, Lucas opened it and made a sweeping gesture for her to go inside.
She did and noticed a draping tablecloth covering his kitchen table. Flowers from the wedding reception mingled with a grouping of pillar candles in the center. Two place settings waited on either side of the table.
So definitely a romantic date.
Her stomach dropped with disappointment. Why had he kissed her this morning if he had a date with someone tonight? Also, whoever his date was, that woman hadn’t just charged into danger, armed only with a lamp, to protect him.
“Can I take your coat?” Lucas asked.