“For a guy who just trouted it in a parking lot, he seems all right.” Jim looked over at her as he did up his seat belt. “You holding up okay? Talking to the cops is not a party.”

“Did Vin tell you? You know about the security tapes and…”

“Yeah, he did, and thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” She put on her directional signal, checked her mirrors, and pulled out after an SUV went by. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“How long have you been sleeping with his girlfriend?”

Jim tightened his shoulders and narrowed his eyes. “Excuse me?”

“The night before last, I saw you leave with his girlfriend after she’d spent about an hour staring at you. Same thing last evening. No offense, but I’ve been watching people do stuff like that for a while now, so I doubt there was only a lot of hand-holding going on in the parking lot.”

Well, well, well…she was smart. This Marie-Terese was smart.

“What do you think of Vin?” he asked.

“Not going to answer me? I don’t blame you.”

“What’s your last name?” He smiled grimly as silence reigned. “Not going to answer me? I don’t blame you.”

As she flushed, he eased off with a curse. “Look, I’m sorry. Been a rough couple of days.”

She nodded. “And it’s none of my business, actually.”

He wasn’t so sure about that.

“Just out of curiosity, what do you think of him?” As Jim waited for her to answer, he thought, Jesus, since when had he turned into a modern-day, dick-swinging Ann Landers? Next thing he knew, he’d be getting facials and ironing his clothes.

Or…cleaning his clothes.

Whatever.

“Well, anyway,” he said, aware she hadn’t replied, “I don’t know him all that much, but Vin’s a good guy.”

She glanced over. “How long have you known him?”

“I work for him. He’s into construction and I have a hammer. Match made in Heaven.” Jim thought of the Four Lads and rolled his eyes. “Literally.”

As they came up to a stoplight, she said, “I’m not looking for him. For anyone.”

Jim glanced up at the sky through its frame of skyscrapers. “You don’t have to be searching to find what you need.”

“I’m not going to be with him, so…yeah. That’s it.”

Great. One step forward. Two steps back. Vin appeared to be on board; Marie-Terese was not interested—in spite of the fact that she was clearly attracted to the guy and that she cared about him enough to worry how he was going to make it back home safely.

As they went along with the traffic, they passed by a couple who were walking side by side, their hands linked. They weren’t young lovers, though; they were old. Very old.

But only in the skin, not in the heart.