"A client. Is he really." The arch to his black brow had sharpened. His expression betrayed a dozen unasked questions, quieted only by the certainty she would let nothing spill, even for him. He chewed the inside of his cheek and willed himself to silence, at least where this line of questioning was concerned. "You tryin' to tell me to stay away from him?" he asked, trying to joke, falling markedly short.