Living spaces for an extended family member are always handy. A good spot to build one is over the garage.
—HAMMER GIRL BLOG
The dark sky glittered with stars in a beautiful canopy overhead that Grayson could see through the windshield of his SUV. He glanced at his phone. Midnight. The lights at the Saltwater Point house had just gone out, so he hoped Ellie was able to get some rest. Man, she had looked so beautiful in that dress. He grinned and laid his seat back a bit to get more comfortable. The deputy’s car was on the other side of the street and down about half a car length.
He turned the key on and ran both front windows down a few inches. The night temperature hovered around forty-five, and the ventilation would be enough to keep him cool. Ellie would be embarrassed to find him camped out here, but he’d felt uneasy knowing she was in there by herself. Maybe he should crash in a sleeping bag in the garage. He’d be able to stretch out his bum leg. She’d really flip out if she knew he’d camped out here both nights since she’d stayed here.
His iPad rested on the passenger seat, and he grabbed it to go over his notes. A shadow flitted across the yard, and he grinned when moonlight illuminated Ellie’s face. She’d seen him out here and had marched out to confront him.
He opened his door and got out. “I thought you were asleep by now.”
She wore a silky aqua nightgown decorated with lace around the neck. Her hair was down around her shoulders, and those glasses were nowhere in sight. He shoved his hands in his pockets to take them out of temptation’s way. For an instant he had imagined testing the softness of the fabric billowing around her.
Crazy thoughts.
She put her hands on her hips and glared at him. “You can’t stay out here all night.”
He made a show of looking up and down the street. “Isn’t this a public street? I don’t see any deputy coming out to tell me to mosey on my way.”
“You know what I mean, Grayson. The deputy is there.” She pointed.
“Uh-oh, I’m really in trouble if you’re not calling me Gray.”
A smile emerged, albeit a feeble one. “I hate that you’re not getting any rest.”
His grin died. “One deputy was all the office could spare, and he’s nearly retirement age. I don’t think he’s up to the challenge of dealing with this kind of threat. I don’t want you to be unprotected when that time comes.”
She sighed and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “You can’t stand guard every night.”
He folded his arms across his chest. “I’m not leaving you unprotected.”
She folded her arms across her chest to mirror his action. “You’re stubborn, you know that, right?”
“So my sister has told me. Isabelle, I mean.”
She tipped her head to one side. “What does she have to say about all this change in your life?”
“She was taken aback too. I really should call my parents. I haven’t talked to them since I left.” His mother had texted a couple of times and he’d responded, but things were strained.
“Are you mad at them?”
He shrugged and looked away from her perceptive stare. “A little. I need to get over it.”
Her gaze linked with his for a long moment before she moved away. “Well, I guess I’d better go inside. I wish you’d go home.”
“Not gonna happen. I can sleep right here in the SUV. I’m a light sleeper. If you hear anything, just call or text me and I’ll be right there.”
“I know you’re right—I just hate being dependent on anyone.” She hesitated. “It’s a mess in there, but there’s another air mattress in the basement. I could throw it down for you.”
Something about her pulled him like no other woman he’d ever been around. Her loyalty and sweet spirit combined in an enticing physical package to make her nearly irresistible. Maybe once this was all over he could think about getting to know her better.
“I wouldn’t say no to a bed in the garage. I’d be right there if anyone tried to go up those steps.”
She huffed, then smiled. “I guess I’ll get that bed set up. I hate being someone who needs to be taken care of.”
“Believe me, anyone up against these terrorists needs help.” He grabbed his laptop and bag from his vehicle and followed her inside.
“What’s with the shadows under your eyes?” Shauna stirred the spaghetti sauce on the stove and speared Grayson with a concerned stare.
Grayson liked looking at his new sister and figuring out if they had any similarities. Their coloring was different, but he thought he could see himself in the shape of her lips and the widow’s peak in her black hair. He had one of those himself. She was very short and he was tall, but her fingers were long like his.
“You’re staring at me.” She wiped her hands on her jeans and gave him a cheeky grin. “Is that supposed to distract me from the way you’re not answering my question?”
He sent her an answering grin. “Sorry, lost in thought. I camped out in the garage of the Saltwater Point house to make sure Ellie was all right last night. I don’t like her staying alone.”
“I don’t either. We’ve got a spare room, but it’s not furnished yet. Let me get some furniture for it tomorrow, and she can stay with us. Alex will be staying with his grandmother this week.”
“Can I sleep on your sofa?”
She grinned. “What, you don’t trust Zach and me to protect her?”
“It’s this control thing I have.”
“Zach is the same way. I was only teasing.”
“And she hates having to ask for help.”
Zach entered the kitchen and dropped a kiss on her head. “Sounds like someone I know.”
She made a face at him, then lifted the spoon for him to taste the sauce. He gave it a thumbs-up, then went to make a fresh pot of coffee.
A slight smile played at Shauna’s lips. “I’ve seen the way you look at her.”
He rolled his eyes at her. “I admit I like her. She’s spirited and fun, and she’s pretty darn cute too.”
“She is.” Shauna wound her long black hair on top of her head and stuck a pencil in it. “Thanks for being so patient in church today when I introduced you as my long-lost brother.”
After church all Shauna’s friends had crowded around to shake his hand and introduce themselves. He couldn’t remember a single name after they walked out, but he’d started to get to know them. “I enjoyed it. It’s fun to get to know this place. I like it.”
“I thought we might go out to the old cabin after we eat. If you want to, of course. You said you’d like to see where we used to live.”
“That would be great.”
Ellie entered the kitchen with Alex in tow. “What would be great?”
She’d changed from her pretty peach dress to jeans and a lacy green top. She was entirely too beautiful.
He got up from the stool at the kitchen bar to pour a cup of coffee. “We thought we’d go out to the place where Shauna and I lived as kids. I was hoping I might remember something.”
She glanced at Shauna. “You want me to stay behind with Alex?”
He didn’t want anything of the kind. “No, I’d like you to go.” When she brightened, he looked away. He needed to rein in his growing feelings for her and remember the job he came here to do.
Zach ruff led Alex’s hair. “I can stay here with Alex. We’ve got a Pac-Man game calling our names, don’t we, buddy?”
“Yay! I was hoping you’d say that, Dad.” Alex grinned as he emphasized the word Dad. “It’s sad to go to Grandpa’s house. I miss him.”
Shauna and Zach must have given him the go-ahead to call Zach Dad. A good decision in Grayson’s opinion.
Shauna finished the last touches on the pasta and carried it to the table, a wooden farm-style type that had a few scratches and crayon marks. “Let’s eat. Alex, you can say grace.”
They chatted about different people Grayson had met that morning as they ate, and he caught himself stealing glances at Ellie, who sat beside him. The night had gone quietly, and he’d driven home to grab breakfast and change for church before she came out to shoo him away again.
“I saw you talking to the sheriff and Felicia this morning,” he said between mouthfuls. “Anything new to report?”
Ellie shook her head. “I asked him about Hodges’ murder, but he was pretty tight-lipped.”
“The FBI probably got to him.”
Shauna rose and began to clear the table. “If we’re all done, we can head out to the cabin.”
“Alex and I will take care of the dishes.” Zach took the plates out of her hands. “After our Pac-Man marathon, he and I will whip up sandwiches for supper.”
Shauna kissed him. “You’re wonderful. We’ll be back in a few hours.” She glanced at Grayson. “You want to drive?”
“Sure. My Tahoe will eat up the miles with no trouble.” Did it make Ellie uncomfortable to realize he wanted her with him?
She didn’t seem to think anything about it as Shauna climbed into the back seat and told her to take the front one. She fastened her seat belt and stared out the window.
The drive out to the cabin was quiet. Shauna tried to keep up a conversation, but she soon went silent when he only answered in short replies. His stomach tensed more and more as he drove along the rutted track that meandered through hills and valleys and over rocky soil.
He sucked in his breath when he first spied the cabin with its mossy roof. A tree swing still clung to its fraying rope, and he spied the remains of a tree house in the branches of the same large oak. He braked without thinking, then sat back and stared.
Shauna leaned forward. “You remember something?”
What did he remember? The soft sound of a woman’s voice maybe. “A little. You used to swing me, didn’t you?”
“It was your favorite. You want to get out and walk around?”
After coming all this way he could hardly say no, but he wanted to turn around and go the other direction. He turned off the engine and pocketed his key, then got out. His gut clenched as he approached the cabin, but the inside was nearly empty now, both of belongings and memories.
He needed to call his parents, but every time he started to place the call, he couldn’t do it. The betrayal was too great. He wasn’t sure what to say.