"It''s nothing, really. I just happened to be having dinner at a friend''s ce-lives in the same neighborhood, so it only took a few minutes," Eleanor said with a smile.


    "A friend?" Joel asked, curiosity piqued.


    Eleanor saw no reason to hide it. "Someone you know-Xavier."


    Joel looked surprised. "You and Xavier live in the same neighborhood?"


    Eleanor nodded. "Yeah. Cloudcrest Manor''s the best ce in the old part of town -better security and all that."


    Suddenly, Joel realized whyn had seemed so distractedst night. What had his ex-husband so on edge? Was it because his best friend and his ex-wife were now neighbors? Did that make him ufortable?


    "Joel, what are you thinking about?" Eleanor noticed Joel''s absent-minded expression and couldn''t help butugh.


    "Oh, it''s nothing." Joel smiled, letting the thought go. He knew Xavier-always the perfect gentleman. Eleanor was single now; she had every right to be friends with whoever she liked.


    Still, Joel hoped that, whoever she chose, it wouldn''t ben.


    After Joel left, Eleanor and Callie headed to theb.


    At Goodwin & Co.''s executive office, Gavin Young was giving his report. "Mr. Goodwin, the schedule for the university anniversary is all set. Would you like to make any changes?"


    "Of course. I''ll coordinate with the university."


    "What about the afternoon roundtable? Is Eleanor attending?"n looked up at Gavin.


    Gavin hesitated. "I''m not sure, sir. It depends on Dr. Sutton''s avability."


    After Gavin left,n checked his watch and turned to Byron. "Get your engineers together. Meet me at theb."


    "On it! I''ll arrange it now."


    In theb, Eleanor was carefully adjusting the focus on a microscope while Callie took notes beside her.


    "There''s something off with the data in sample group three," Eleanor said as she worked. "The values are way outside the expected range. We''ll need to run more tests."


    "Understood." Callie nodded and went to prepare new samples.


    Eleanor rubbed her temples, trying to focus, when she caught sight of Gwenda waving to her from outside theb. Eleanor opened the door. "What''s up?"


    "Joel''s asking for you there''s a meeting," Gwenda replied.


    "I''ll be there in a minute."


    Once she''d passed on instructions to Callie, Eleanor slipped off herb coat, tidied her hair, and hurried down the hall toward the conference room.


    She pushed open the door. Ian was at the head of the table, Byron was setting up with the engineering team, and Joel waved her over. "Over here-grab a seat."


    Eleanor sat down naturally beside Joel. Byron started the meeting and powered up the projector. "Everyone, today we''ll be discussing how to define the technical milestones for our civilian project."


    "Dr. Sutton, I''d like to hear your thoughts," Ian said, addressing her directly.


    Eleanor looked up at the screen. "I think safety should be the top priority. Medical- grade equipment can sometimes be invasive, but for a civilian product, it needs to bepletely non-invasive."


    Eleanor took Joel''s tablet and cast a set of data onto the screen,unching into her exnation. Joel chimed in with additional technical details, and the discussion quickly grew more lively and focused.


    Partway through,n''s phone buzzed with a message. He nced at it, his brows drawing together, then stood up. "Excuse me, I need to make a call."


    A few minutester,n returned, pushing open the door. "Something''se up-


    I have to leave early. Please, carry on." He looked over at Eleanor, but she was absorbed in her notes and didn''t seem to notice his departure at all.


    After all, when it came to technical discussions, her conversation was with Byron and his engineers. Ian only ever came to listen.


    Without another nce,n turned and strode out.


    Just then, Eleanor''s phone vibrated-Joy Thatcher had sent her a message. "Eleanor, there was a traffic ident about an hour ago on Summit Avenue. The media''s reporting that Vanessa Shannon''s nanny van collided with an SUV."


    Eleanor clicked on the link. Sure enough, there''d been an ident. Both vehicles had front-end damage, but nothing too severe. The passengers were likely just shaken up, maybe a few minor injuries.


    So that was whyn had stepped out-Vanessa must have called him, and he''d gone tofort her after the scare.