her own cell phone even as she leaned to look over his shoulder.
When she was this close, the ginger and clove scents of her hair teased his senses. He ignored the enticing aroma, the way it slid over and around him, in favor of keeping her talking. âPlease tell me youâre not a crack-of-dawn type of person,â he said with exaggerated fear.
Her eyebrows puckered. âWhy do you care? Itâs not as though weâll be living together.â Then her mouth formed a perfect circle. âOh. Victoriaâs orders?â She flicked those away with a twitch of her fingers. âDonât worry about playing bodyguard. I can handle myself. As long as we find time and space to check in regularly about the case, you wonât have to follow me around.â
It was far too early to throw himself on that conversational grenade. âAre you up for a review of the situation before we call it a night?â
âSure.â The tight curve of her lips hardly qualified as a smile. âIt will give us more time on-site to scope out the area before we knock on her door.â
He couldnât argue with Frankieâs work ethic. âWe can talk in the conference room.â
âGreat.â Her smile carried little enthusiasm.
He wondered how her face and eyes might get in on the action if she ever smiled sincerely. Her outward calm didnât quite cover all the anger lurking underneath. He wanted a look at the evidence so he could gain some insight and perspective. Until he had a better grasp of the situation, her tension made him edgy, as well. Too bad he couldnât blame it all on mutual attraction, but that seemed to be entirely his problem. If she noticed him as anything other than an interloper, she hid it well.
âIâd like to learn all I can so Iâm prepared to recon your happy reunion, and know the right words for my interview on Monday.â
With a small nod, she trailed him to the elevator, her suitcase rolling along behind them. When the lift arrived, they stepped inside and he punched the button for the conference room. They decided on a pizza from a little place down the street, and he set about searching through what she knew and what she thought she knew about her mom.
An aerial view of Sophiaâs neighborhood and the surrounding blocks filled one of the computer monitors. âWhen you meet with your mother, Iâll watch the house from right here,â he said, pointing to a corner heâd highlighted.
âAre you worried Iâll do something stupid?â Frankie gave him a long look.
He stared right back. âAre you planning on doing something stupid?â
She tilted her head to the side, stretching and massaging the long column of her neck. âOf course not.â
Did she know she was irresistible? âHere.â He stepped behind her. âLet me.â
She shifted out of his reach. âNo, thanks.â
âNo problem.â He held his hands up in surrender. Though he was tempted to fib and tell her he was a certified massage therapist, he didnât want to give her any reason to doubt his word. In the short time theyâd been acquainted, her trust issues were abundantly clear.
âItâs just from the plane,â she said defensively. âI tweaked it when I dozed off.â
âIt happens.â He kept his smile easy, his stance casual. âIf you change your mind, Iâve picked up a trick or two from my massage therapist sister.â That was the truth.
âRain check.â Frankie looked back at the overhead images of the neighborhood. âIf youâre going to watch the first meeting, I assume youâll want me wired for sound, too?â
He was glad sheâd been the one to suggest it. âIf you agree, we could analyze the conversation afterward for any slips or stresses she makes.â
âShe wonât slip up. Sophia Leone is too slick, too careful.â
Aidan thought it