She set her purse on the table and scanned the empty plates and remains of his birthday cake as she sat. “You had more people here when I came in. Were you celebrating something?”

“My birthday.”

“Oh. I didn’t realize.” She smiled, though it lacked its usual power. “Happy birthday.”

He nodded in lieu of a thank-you.

“Were they relatives?”

“Not by blood, but family nonetheless.”

Her smile faltered and she ducked her head. “Well, it looked like you were having a good time.”

Odd. He’d only been with her on two exceptional nights, but he’d never seen her hold herself so rigid. As if she was braced to bolt at a moment’s notice. From someone in his crosshairs, he’d expect such a behavior, but coming from her it was unexpected.

She’s afraid of you.

The second the thought whispered through his head, he knew it was true. The question was why. “I followed your stories after we last saw each other. It seems you got a good deal of traction from Alfonsi’s downfall.”

She peeked at him from beneath her lashes, then lifted her chin. “I got a good deal of traction because you got the ball rolling. I’m not sure I’d have had the same success if it hadn’t been for you.” She hesitated all of a heartbeat, and her lips curved in a soft, but sincere smile. “I never really thanked you for that, but it was very much appreciated.”

Interesting. A thank-you and fear all rolled into one visit. “Is that why you’re here tonight? To thank me?”

She shook her head and wrinkled her nose. An adorable gesture that made him wonder what she’d looked like doing it when she was little. “Not exactly. I mean, I am grateful and wanted to tell you so, but...” She clasped her hands tighter in her lap and took in a long, slow breath. “I wanted to apologize, too.”

“For?”

The shy hesitancy disappeared in a blink and she cocked one eyebrow high to match the dry humor in her voice. “Really? I ignored at least five voice mails from you. You have to ask what I’m apologizing for?”

There it was. The spunk and wit he’d so enjoyed for too brief a time rising above everything else. “I would have preferred something less evasive, but a rebuff is hardly something that requires an apology.”

“It is when the same person calling me did a lot to help me get a leg up.”

The chatter, music and early weekend energy around him never wavered, but everything inside Kir got eerily still. “I merely assumed you got what you needed from our...acquaintance.”

A flush crept up her neck and she pursed her mouth like she’d bitten into a sour grape. “I suppose it would look that way. And believe me—you really did help me a lot. Not just with my job, but with my family, too. But no. That’s not why I didn’t call you back.”

He forced himself to keep his face impassive. To hold himself completely still even though his instinct was to lean forward and demand she get on with her explanation.