Page 234 of A Matter of Time

“I did care,” I said softly. “I still do.”

His eyes were locked on mine.

“They said you’re working homicide now. You like it better than vice?”

He nodded.

“Good. That’s good. I’m glad you’re happy. I wish nothing but the best for you, Sam, you know that.”

He exhaled slowly. “I do know that.”

“So, see?” I grinned as I walked by him back toward the office. “Everything worked out.”

“Hey.”

I turned at the door.

“Would it kill you to eat with me?”

I smiled at his phrasing. “No. When?”

“How ’bout tonight?”

“Sorry, I’ve got a date. How’s tomorrow?”

“Date, huh? With who, that guy from the hardware store yesterday?”

“Yeah. How did you know?”

He shrugged. “I saw ya talking… I figured, ’cause of the way he was lookin’ at ya.”

“Okay.” I had no idea what to say.

“So you’re just dating right now? Nobody serious? I figured by now there’d be somebody serious.”

“I’m picky.” I smiled at him.

“What about Aaron Sutter?”

My head snapped up. “How do you know about Aaron?”

“I’m a detective,” he said, giving me the crooked grin.

“That’s right,” I said over my pounding heart.

“So what happened there?”

I just looked at him, feeling my brows draw together.

“What?” He chuckled. “We’re just shootin’ the shit, right? Spit it out.”

I shrugged. “He wanted me to move in, and I thought it was too soon.”

“You still friends?”

“No.” I shook my head. “It was an all-or-nothing deal, and when I picked nothing, that was pretty much it.”

“I find that hard to believe.”