Seductive Suspect

“Personal injury,” she said.

He dealt the cards. “That must be interesting.”

“Sometimes.”

Sighing, he picked up his pile of cards. “I’m just trying to make conversation to pass the time. If we’re all stuck here, I figured we might as well get to know each other.”

Her shoulders hunched as she examined the hand he’d dealt her. “Sorry, but I don’t really want to get to know anyone who might be a criminal or a murderer.”

“Fair enough.” He turned his attention to the maid, who had also joined in the game. “Brittany, what are you studying in school?”

She lowered her hands, inadvertently offering the others a glimpse of her cards. “The basics for right now. I haven’t chosen a major yet.”

“You’ve got time, I’m sure.” Adam picked up a card from the deck and put it back down. “Any ideas so far? What are you interested in?”

Blushing, she shrugged.

This was painful to watch and listen to. Before I could come toAdam’s rescue, Ruth, who had been watching the billiards games and sipping her tea, stood. “I should clean up from breakfast and get started on lunch.”

I needed a distraction. “I’ll help, if you don’t mind.”

She raised her eyebrows.

“I’ll come, too.” Laura returned her pool cue to the rack. “I don’t think these guys can handle losing to me again.”

Adam set his cards on the table. “I’ll join you.” He grinned at me. “The more, the merrier, right?”

Those dimples made my heart flutter, but I didn’t respond.

The tension eased out of Ruth’s shoulders. “I suppose more hands will help the work go faster. Let’s go into the kitchen, and I’ll tell you what you can do.”

We followed her out of the library to the door at the back of the foyer. She opened the dishwasher and directed us to bring in the plates and glasses from the dining room. Laura moved all the leftover food to one tray while Adam and I carried in the used dishes and cutlery. Although we worked in silence, I felt better being productive.

“A nice, hot meal will improve everyone’s spirits, especially with this terrible weather,” Ruth said once we finished. “I’ll get the water boiling for some pasta.” She pointed to Laura. “Then you’ll help me with the sauce.”

“Sounds good to me.”

She turned to Adam and me. “You’ll find lettuce and other vegetables in the refrigerator. Can you two get started on the salad?”

He nodded. “Sure thing!”

Ruth showed me where to find the necessary equipment before rounding up the ingredients for her main course. I pulled a large bowl and some cutting boards out of the cabinets, and Adam returned with the produce he’d taken from the fridge. When he slid a long, sharp knife from a block on the counter, Iflinched, but he grabbed a cucumber from his pile and started slicing it.

Exhaling, I reached for a second knife and a bunch of tomatoes. We settled into a steady rhythm of chopping and dicing.

“You know,” he said, “I wanted to tell you before, but not in front of the others…”

I swallowed. “What?”

“I think it was very brave of you to confess you weren’t who you appeared to be. Or were supposed to be. Or whatever it is.”

I pushed the first sliced tomato to one side and picked up another. “Well, thanks, I guess.”

“I don’t know what I would have done in your situation. This is all so crazy, it’s hard to know who or what to believe.” His gaze flicked up at me for a moment before returning to his cutting board. “Some of the others might have found your story suspicious, but you just appeared more honest to me.”

The knife clacked against the wooden surface. I didn’t answer.

He cut a few more pieces before looking at me again. A trace of a smile teased the corners of his mouth. “I suppose it’s too much to ask for you to trust me now.”