“I came over here to ask you something, but now all I can think of is how lovely you look.”
“You like it?” Pam blushed and gave her head a little toss to show the blue base underneath.”
“I do. It suits you.”
***
Adriel watched the exchange with interest. As much as he liked sparring with her, she could see Callum had a soft spot for Pam. Maybe a little push in her direction would bear fruit. No matter what Pam wanted to believe, Adriel had no interest in dating the man. She’d make sure he was aware of it before the night was over.
“I was thinking we could walk, if you don’t mind. The weatherman says it’s going to be a supermoon tonight.”
“Like with a cape and tights?” Supermoon was a term Adriel had never heard.
“No, like when the full moon is at or near perigee or apogee so it looks bigger and brighter than normal.”
“Ah, I see.” Adriel did a quick calculation in her head, “so roughly every seven months.”
“Sure.” His information came from the TV weatherman; he couldn’t have spelled perigee if his life depended on it. “Some people would find it romantic.”
“And some people eat crickets. There’s no accounting for taste.” Nevertheless, she let him lead her toward town and Athena’s. His mind might be on romance; she would keep hers on ham and pineapple pizza.
“Tell me about it. We could have gone anywhere. You’re a cheap date.”
“You asked for a conversation over dinner. That’s all this is.” She pushed the door open without waiting for him to do the gentlemanly thing. Over her shoulder, she tossed an airy, “I don’t date.”
“I do.”
“Well, that will be one of the things you do alone tonight.”
“Ouch.” He mimed, getting an arrow to the chest. “That’s cold.” He followed her inside where he surprised her by ordering a twelve-inch meatless. Adriel stuck to her choice of pineapple and ham, but in the six inch size normally reserved for kids. The half hour they waited for their pizza was spent with him asking her a series of questions to which she had no believable answers. Adriel found it difficult to concentrate on skirting his questions about her past—too many things whirled around in her head.
When her patience ran out, she skewered him, “Why are you so intent on this being a date? I’d like to be friends with you, but nothing romantic can ever happen between us. I’m not looking for that in my life.” For so many reasons; none of which he would understand.
“I’m drawn to you, Angel. I can’t explain it. It’s just chemistry.”
“Callum, you need to put the test tubes back in their holders, because I’m not feeling it. I’m sorry. I think I need to leave now.”
“No, please. I’ll stop, I promise. Look, can I tell you something? Something private? And you’ll never tell another person?”
“You have my word.”
Callum leaned toward her, “I’ve got this reputation around town for being a lady’s man.” Athena’s had filled up with people. Callum pitched his voice low enough so no one else would hear. “You’re gorgeous and new in town, so my buddies expect me to, you know—bag you.”
“Bag me?” A raised eyebrow accompanied her similarly low tone. For once, she got the gist of the slang. “That’s…well, it’s…the most disrespectful thing anyone has ever said to me.”
“I know.” Callum dragged a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry. I really do like you, though. It’s not all about my reputation.“
“I’m about to do you a favor, then.” Adriel popped the last bite of pizza into her mouth.
“You’re going to pretend this is a date so I can save face?” Callum grinned in anticipation—a fake was better than no date at all.
“Not even close.” Adriel raised her voice to make sure everyone in the place could hear, “I’m sorry if you thought this was more than a meal between friends, but you’re not my type. I don’t go for shallow men who spend more time thinking with what’s in their pants than what’s in their head. So do yourself a favor and leave me alone.” Adriel sailed out the door.
A red-faced Callum caught up with her halfway to the cabin, “Was that absolutely necessary?”
“Yes, it was. You are a forty-year-old man with a lot to give to the right woman. I’m not that woman, but I figured I’d do you both a favor and take your reputation off the table so you can finally grow up. Pam deserves so much more than a shallow playboy.”
“Pam? I don’t even…what?” Surprise stopped him in his tracks.
“I saw how you looked at her today, and did you know you smile every time you talk about her?” Her eyes searched his face, and what she saw brought on a chuckle. “I’m sorry, my mistake. You aren’t a shallow playboy; you’re just in denial, and maybe a bit socially inept.” It takes one to know one, she thought.
She left him standing there with a dazed look on his face.
Chapter 15
If anyone drove by, they might wonder why three full-grown adults were seated in a circle on a patch of grass near a newly dug ditch. None of them would see the figure of the boy sitting cross-legged in the center of the circle.
Adriel hated to put him through this, but there was no way around it. If she was going to help him move on, she had to help Zack solve Ben’s disappearance. Ben’s description of his death sounded like an accident followed by a panicked driver hiding the body to cover up the crime. Zack needed to hear the details first hand. BTF—before the fall—opening a channel between them would have been child’s play. Now, the only way was a circuitous route involving Kat.
Finding Ben’s killer was the key to sending him home to be with his family. If there was anything useful in his memory, they needed
