But if she wanted to know for sure whether that something between them was more than just a side effect of genetics, of breeding, then she had better force her reluctant feet forward and at least try, wrong time or not.
"No. Let's do it now, then I can sleep the rest of the day."
He raised his eyebrows. "And the apology lunch?"
"Can become an apology brunch." She leaned forward and programmed the nursing home's address into the autodrive.
The car shot back into traffic and drove on.
He didn't comment, just nodded. She wasn't getting much from him at the moment—not even little insights via body language, which meant he was controlling himself very tightly.
No surprise, really. He'd been doing that from the first time they'd met.
"So," she continued, "what did you actually learn about Blaine?"
"Not a great deal. Basically family and education stuff.
Information all but froze when he went into the military at eighteen."
"Did he go straight into Hopeworth, then?"
"No. Records show he enlisted into the army and went through basic training. The records are listed as high security after that."
"I thought Stephan's security listing was high enough to get access to such records."
"He has access to all but Hopeworth. It is a law unto itself."
She snorted. "I'm thinking that's not exactly wise."
He grimaced. "The military would argue that given the sensitive nature of much of their research, it is a necessity."
"So, if Stephan has access to all but Hopeworth, why haven't you got the rest of it?"
"Because Stephan is currently home with Lyssa and his new son."
"Lyssa's had her kid? Hey, send her and Stephan my congrats. What did they name him?"
"Devyn Charles Oswald Stern."
She blinked. "That's one hell of a moniker for a little kid to carry."
He grinned. "He's the first grandson, so he was destined to carry the first name of both grandfathers. It's something of a tradition."
"And a nice one. The past is never forgotten that way."
There was sudden sympathy in his expression and she knew he was thinking about her lack of a past. Given she didn't particularly want to dwell on the reasons for that right now, she rushed on before he could say anything, "She didn't have any problems, then?"
"Not as many as we expected. She's had a bad pregnancy and isn't strong—as you know, because you've met her—and it was an extremely long birth. But she's fine. Tired, but fine."
What she knew was that Lyssa was stronger than her family was giving her credit for. She had met the woman, and beneath that pale, frail build was a steel determination that was breathtaking. Anyone who could handle being kidnapped and isolated for six months and still come out of it sane could certainly cope with anything else life threw at them.
"So, has the proud uncle been to see the newest addition to the family yet?"
He hesitated, and darkness flashed through his eyes. "Not yet."
"Why not?"
"Because sometimes there are things more important than family."