Smiling widely, Harper lifted her hand and tucked the wayward strand of hair behind her ear and nodded. “I’d like that. I’d like that very much.”
He stepped closer. “Perhaps we could have lunch together.”
If possible, her smile beamed brighter. “I’d like that even more.”
“How about today?” he pressed, holding his breath, hoping he was reading her correctly.
She laughed out loud, the sound bright against the dark interior of the garage. “I won’t have my evidence by lunchtime, but I’d love to have lunch with you... anytime.”
“Do you like Mexican?” Gaining her emphatic nod, he said, “How about we meet at Don Valero’s. About one o’clock?”
“I’ll see you then.” Smiling, she twisted her head toward the kitchen and called out, “Goodbye, Detective Miller!”
Jonas popped his head out and waved, winking at her and wiggling his eyebrows at Sean. Laughing, Sean flipped him off behind Harper's back, then watched her walk down the driveway to her car.
“It’s about fuckin’ time,” Jonas said, stepping into the garage.
Not giving his partner the satisfaction of knowing he agreed with him, he just smiled.
10
Lunch could not come early enough for Harper, but she detoured to the lab before heading to the restaurant, hoping she would have some information to share. Rushing inside, she waved toward John as she moved to his station.
He threw his hand up in greeting as she approached. “I haven’t had time to run anything from this morning.”
“I know. I was just hoping maybe you had something from the warehouse. It’s no longer one of my cases, but... well... I’m having lunch with one of the detectives, and I wondered if I might have something I can share with him.”
“Oh, a date?” he asked, brows raised.
“No! Not a date. Just a... um... business lunch together.”
“Still, that sounds like a date to me.”
John had never asked her out, but she had an uncomfortable feeling that he wished he had asked her first and was grateful when he turned to his desk, once more focused on business. He handed her a folder.
“I actually sent this to your email this morning, but since you’ve been out and about, I have a copy for you here.”
She looked it over and then lifted her gaze to his. “Just as we thought. Gasoline.”
“Out of curiosity, why is it no longer your case?”
“The city doesn’t own the warehouse anymore, so it’s out of our hands.”
John nodded and turned back to his desk. “I did some further testing on the shed fire that you brought to me last week. I initially said that it was carbon disulfide but found traces of phosphorus as well.”
Her head cocked slightly. “Phosphorus? Along with the carbon disulfide?”
“Yeah. My guess, possibly solid phosphorus dissolved in carbon dioxide. Put it on anything flammable, then walk away. Or,” he shrugged, “you can throw in an added heat source and the fire really takes over.”
Nibbling on her bottom lip, her gaze moved over the report. “Can I take this with me?”
“Sure. Hope to impress your detective friend?”
“I’m sure there’s nothing I can find that he hasn’t already found.” Tossing a small wave, she walked out of the lab, anxious to get to Don Valero’s.
Sean waited outside the restaurant, a combination of excitement and nerves moving through him. Before he had a chance to think about his reaction to his lunch date, he looked up and saw Harper walking swiftly toward him. She was wrapped in the same wool coat with a woolen cap pulled over her head, her long hair flowing from underneath. Smiling as she approached, he was suddenly uncertain how to greet her.
She stopped directly in front of him, her head leaned back to hold his gaze, and smiled brightly. “Is it crazy that I’ve been looking forward to this all morning?”
Thrilled with her honesty, he chuckled. “No crazier than me doing the same.”
They walked through the door of the restaurant, his hand resting lightly on her back as they moved to the hostess stand. The inside of the restaurant was a riot of color and the booths were deep red leather. Following the hostess to a table near the back, they settled in. With both working, they declined the server’s suggestion of a margarita and ordered iced tea as they continued to look over the menu.
Glancing up, he noted she closed the menu quickly. “Already know what you want?”
“I don’t come here often, but when I do, I always get the Enchilada Supreme. That way, I get a little bit of everything.”