Not long enough, thought Parker, as he shook his hand. “Roger Dawson, an inferior adversary at best; still playing the devil’s advocate?”
The man laughed and glanced back at her. “I hope you know what you’re getting into.”
She smiled a nervous smile and looked at Parker.
“Don’t let him scare you away,” he said and winked at her.
The man laughed again. “I’m sure you can manage to do that all on your own.” He patted Parker on the back and walked away, and even though it had seemed more like harmless