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“Would you like to talk to Dr. Oliver?”
At her quiet question, he cocked his head. “Why?”
“He can give you his read on my mental stability.”
“I never said I doubted it.”
“You didn’t have to.” She finished the last of her shortbread, brushed the crumbs off her fingers, and reached for the purse she’d slung over the back of her chair. “In your shoes, I’d have plenty of doubts too.”
When she rose, he tossed his napkin onto the table and stood. He’d vowed to tell her about Clair before this meeting ended, and if he didn’t speak up fast, she’d be out the door.
“Can you give me ten more minutes?”
She remained by the table. “Aren’t we done?”
“With business.”
Her fingers flexed on the strap of her purse, her expression wary. “What does that mean?”
He took a steadying breath, trying to dispel a sudden case of nerves.
He could use her Dr. Oliver about now. The man was no doubt excellent at mediating true confession sessions and calming stormy waters.
“I’ve been wondering since the day we met why you’ve given me the cold shoulder. I think I figured it out Sunday.” He fisted his hands at his sides and braced. “I saw the photo of you and Clair on your refrigerator door. She never told me your last name, or I’d have made the connection sooner.”
Lindsey inhaled sharply, her features slackening as comprehension dawned. “I should have realized you’d seen that.”
“I’d like to talk to you about her.”
The sudden shimmer in her irises ate at his gut. “Did you know we were best friends?”
“Yes. I also understand why you’d blame me for what happenedto her. If it’s any consolation, I blame myself too. And nothing I’ve done for the past three years has helped ease that guilt. All I’m asking you to do today is listen. You don’t have to say anything.”
The sudden faint indentations on her brow telegraphed her indecision.
If she bolted, he’d let her go and hope that once the shock wore off, she’d reconsider and be more receptive when he broached the subject again.
With every second that ticked by, his hopes diminished. She wasn’t ready to—
“Ten minutes.” She retook her seat.
Shifting gears, he sat again too and plunged in. “I assume Clair told you about me?”
“Yes.” Her features hardened. “In case you didn’t know it, she was falling in love with you.”
The pasty he’d eaten congealed in his gut. “I began to suspect that in hindsight, but we only dated for four months.”
“It doesn’t always take long to know when you meet the right person.”
“Is that personal experience speaking?” The question was out before he could stop it.
Interestingly, she didn’t take offense.
“No. That’s what I’ve observed.”
“Is that how it was with your parents?”
She stiffened. “You want to waste your ten minutes talking about my parents?”
