Kade: No. But I’ll have him give a full report later.

The next hour passed excruciatingly slowly.

Finally, Kade advised me that Willow had returned to her desk. I waited for another ten minutes before dropping by to check on her. I approached from behind and scanned her body. She seemed okay. Nothing out of place. I rounded her desk to avoid startling her.

“Hi, Willow.”

She straightened and blinked at me owlishly. “Is there something I can help you with?”

I smiled, hoping I didn’t look as tense as I felt. “I wanted to check on you after this morning and make sure you’re okay. I was worried.”

Her cheeks turned pink, and she gave me a pointed look, nodding toward her coworker, who was pretending not to listen. Willow’s reticence, and that blush, made me ache to scoop her into my arms and keep her safe. To protect her from everything and then kiss the hell out of her. I mentally scolded myself. I wasn’t this woman’s white knight.

“Everything is fine,” she said. “I had a rough morning, that’s all.”

My eyes narrowed. “Are you sure?” She’d hardly have gone to the police station without good cause.

She nodded.

There wasn’t much I could do if she wasn’t willing to share. I hesitated, then added, “Promise you’ll come to me if you need help?”

She shrugged. “If it’s something you can help with.”

I pressed my lips together. That was likely the best I was going to get. I just had to accept that I couldn’t shield her from the world if she wouldn’t let me. But I dithered. I had no reason to stay there, but I didn’t want to leave either. I liked being near her. She made me feel something I hadn’t in a long time.

If she were anyone else, I’d already have asked her on a date. But because of how we’d become reacquainted, and because of who her brother was, I’d held back. But why should that stop me? If I had real feelings for her, why not let her know? She was only doing what she thought was best to protect her father’s company, and I had no problem with that. Hell, I missed Frank every day.

“Willow.”

She cocked her head, and the look in her eyes made me think I wasn’t the only one who felt the tension between us. “Yes?”

“Would you like to accompany me to the charity gala that’s happening this Friday?” I found myself holding my breath, praying she’d agree. I wanted the opportunity to get to know her outside of a work environment and to figure out what was distressing her.

Her expression became pinched, but I thought I caught a glimpse of disappointment in her eyes. “I’m already going with someone else.”

My heart sank. No doubt she meant her brother and his crowd. “That’s too bad.”

I shouldn’t have been so disappointed, but I couldn’t help it. Tom Lennox ruined things even when he wasn’t here. At least I’d get to see her. Maybe steal a dance or a kiss—if she was up for that.