He remembered what Clancey had said about his carrying a weapon all the time; that her grandfather had always worn one, and she had no issues with it. He compared that with Grace’s attitude. She seemed to live in a world of her own, where violence and danger didn’t exist, and career criminals could be turned around with soft words and counseling.

“Well, enough about Mike. I’ve moved on. I think about him from time to time, but I’m sure he’s in a better place,” she said with a soft smile. “It’s so good to see you again, Colt.”

“It’s good to see you, too, Grace,” he replied huskily, his black eyes sketching her pretty face. “I hope you’ll have a little time to spend with me, while you’re in town,” he added.

“I’m sure I can manage a few hours,” she replied. “We could go to a movie.”

“I’d like that.”

“Me, too. I miss movies most of all. I saw this incredibly sweet religious movie when I first got to the States. Of course, it was in a small, independent theater,” she added irritably. “Religious movies don’t appeal to most people in this country, do they? There’s so much sex and violence. And the language!”

Banks ground his teeth together. “It’s the culture.”

“It’s a sick culture,” she replied with obvious distaste. “I prefer the area our mission works in, over in South America.” She shook her head. “It’s so different from here.”

“No theaters, obviously,” he mused as they got to their feet.

“No. We have storytellers. We sit around fire pits at night and the old people tell tales of the way the culture was when they were young. It’s quite fascinating. We even have films of it. You might like to watch one with me.”

His expression lightened. “I’d enjoy that.”

“Great! We’re showing it at the mission house here in San Antonio on Friday night! It would be great to have you there!”

He almost swallowed his tongue. He’d thought of being alone with Grace to watch it.

She was looking in her purse, oblivious to his disappointed expression. “Want a mint?” she asked. “I always carry them.”

“No, thanks,” he said. He smiled at her. She smiled back, but without any real feeling. He’d expected so much more.

He turned and went to pay the bill.

He was out of sorts when he got back to the office, after a meeting with Marquez at police headquarters on a kidnapping they were both working. It was almost quitting time. He didn’t notice Clancey’s restlessness, her worried face. He was too concerned with his own situation, with Grace’s lack of involvement with him. He’d missed her, hungered for her, for so many years. Now, here she was, back in Texas, and she was a stranger.