Chapter 34: Had that been a deflection?

They had arrived at her apartment building and turned into the quieter, darker street at the rear where he yanked hard on the handbrake and cut the ignition; he was not just dropping her off. A man with something on his mind. Elisabeth had hoped it would take longer to come. His hands were on his thighs, fingers drumming. He turned in his seat. He wanted to see her. 'Are we pretending it never happened? If we are you'd better tell me. Because I can't stop thinking about it.'

Her chin was on her chest. He had to strain to hear. 'No, we're not pretending. I didn't mean for it to happen. But I don't wish that it hadn't.'

There was no encouragement in it for him to touch her. Which was what he wanted. 'So, why this?'

Against the lighter exterior he saw her chin lift. 'I've got other things on my mind right now.'

He tried to be reasonable about that. 'Russell Montgomery.'

'Yes.'

He took a deep breath. 'Work is more important.'

Her chin dropped. 'Right now Russell is, yes.'