“Let me see.” He knelt and probed the tender flesh with gentle fingers. “It’s already starting to swell. You need to prop it up and put ice on it.”
Ellie glanced out to where she’d last seen Candace and saw that Terrance had joined her. They stood only a few feet away, but the shadows hid her and Gray from view. She opened her mouth to call to them when she heard Terrance say her name.
“Did you see Ellie Blackmore?”
“I thought I saw her here. I haven’t had a chance to talk to her. Why, what’s wrong?”
Gray swooped Ellie into his arms and stepped farther back into the shadows. His breathing slowed, and Ellie matched his light inhales and exhales.
“She came with a Coast Guard investigator. Try to stay out of her way. I think she’s only here to ask questions. You’d think her sister would serve as a warning to let things be, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.”
Ellie’s blood roared in her ears. Was he saying he had something to do with Mac’s death?
Gray pressed his lips to her ear when she started to struggle to be put down. “Quiet.” His breath barely puffed against her skin.
She relaxed against his chest. They needed to get the information any way they could. Now wasn’t the time for confrontation.
Candace’s voice got softer. “Do you think she knows you were told to make sure the flotilla came here?”
“I don’t see how she could. There was nothing fishy about it.”
“You need to get her out of here,” Candace said. “I don’t want to talk to her.”
“The party’s nearly over. You cut the cake, and it’s almost gone. Half the guests have left. Maybe they did too. I haven’t seen them for a while.” He took his wife’s arm.
“What about Mackenzie?”
“I haven’t been able to find her. Her disappearance wasn’t my doing. You thought I had her hauled off?”
Candace shrugged her slim shoulders. “It made sense after she waylaid us with all those demands about stopping the flotilla. Why were you told to get it here anyway? It seems like a small thing.”
“It doesn’t matter. Let’s just get through tonight and put it behind us.”
“So who do you think took her?”
“She stole some cocaine. That’s all I know. She’s not our problem.”
Hot tears flooded Ellie’s eyes. Mac wasn’t a problem—she was a living, breathing person. To hear these two discuss her possible death so callously took her breath away.
Someone called Candace’s name, and she turned and waved. “Be right there.” She turned back toward her husband for a moment. “Make this go away, Terrance. This cannot derail us after all these years.”
“It won’t, my dear.” He retreated toward the house, then disappeared into the last of the guests milling in the great room.
“Let’s get out of here,” Grayson whispered in her ear. “There’s a lot to talk about and to investigate.”
“You can put me down. I can walk.”
“You don’t weigh anything, and I don’t want us to be seen. We’ll skirt the side of the house and have a valet fetch my SUV. Hang tight.”
His long legs ate up the yard, and she clung to his neck with both hands. While she’d dreamed of being in his arms, this wasn’t quite the way she imagined.
Terrance had been asked to make sure the flotilla came here. What did that mean?
Chapter 34
Put investment pieces front and center in a room. You want visitors to notice the room’s best assets.
—HAMMER GIRL BLOG
Two ice packs swaddled Ellie’s swollen ankle, and she sat nestled on the sofa in a bright-red throw Grayson had found in the hotel room closet. Cooler air had blown in with a storm tonight, and it was pleasant with the window open. The FBI had stationed several agents in the hallway, but he was still on high alert.
The Robbs’ callous conversation had convinced him dangerous forces were swirling closer to them. Who would have asked him to make sure the flotilla didn’t get canceled? The FBI? Maybe they thought if it got canceled, the terrorists would escape them and set off the bomb in a more highly populated area. This might have been their best shot at catching a big cell.
She yawned. “I’m pretty tired. I’d better get to bed. The agents are still out there?”
“Yeah, I checked when I locked the door. I’ll be here, though.”
“Why, Mr. Bradshaw, are you trying to get rumors started by staying here alone with me all night?” The teasing light in her eyes faded, and she shook her head. “On second thought, I doubt that would happen. People would take one look at you and know I’m not your type.”
He grinned and leaned over to capture a curl grazing her cheek. “What’s my type?”
“You know, tall, willowy blondes with some kind of fashion sense. A gorgeous woman who looks good on your arm.” Her voice shook and went husky.
That rankled. “I think you need to get to know me better. I like someone real and fresh with glowing skin that doesn’t need makeup. Someone who knows her way around a hammer and crowbar.” With every word, he moved closer until he could run his fingers down the side of her face. “Someone with skin as soft as silk and amber eyes that show her soul.”
Her lips parted, and her eyes were luminous. “I-I think you’re teasing me.”
“I might be, but that doesn’t mean it’s not true.” He tipped her chin up, then brushed her lips with his. Her lips were incredibly soft, and she stirred all his senses.
He dropped his hand. “And you’re way too tempting. I’d better help you to bed before I lose my morals.” He scooped her up in his arms and carried her out of the living area into the bedroom and laid her on the bed and tucked the covers around her.
He kissed her on the forehead, his lips lingering for a moment, backed away and shut the door behind him, then headed for the sofa where he pulled out his phone and called Lance.
“Bradshaw, you have a death wish? It’s after midnight.”
“And you don’t even sound sleepy.”
Lance gave a low chuckle. “Caught me. I’m up binge-watching war movies.” The man studied war games like some people studied poker moves.
“I had an interesting conversation with Terrance Robb tonight. He claims he was told to make sure the tall ships flotilla went off as planned this weekend. Who would have ordered that?”
“Strange. You have a theory?”
“I wondered if it was the FBI. Could he be working with them? Maybe they didn’t want to scare off the cell and thought it was better to try to catch them here in a lower-population area.”
“I haven’t heard any rumors like that.” There was a distant ding on the other end of the phone. “Oh, hey, that query on Robb came back already. He’s not working with the FBI, but we’ve suspected him of selling information to the North Koreans.”
“So if we didn’t tell him to make sure the flotilla exhibition took place, it might have been the North Koreans. Maybe he’s part of the plot.”
“He’s on a watch list. I’m going to report this.”
“Thanks, Lance.” He ended the call.
The door to the bedroom opened, and a tousled-haired beauty peered out. “Who were you talking to?”
“Lance.” He told her what he’d found out. “Think about who might be good friends with Terrance. You’d know that better than I do.”
“I will. Good night.” She closed the door again.
Just in the nick of time. He’d been about to cross the room and take her in his arms again.
Ellie’s ankle was much better by morning, but she still limped a bit as she held on to Gray’s arm while walking to a table at the Rainshadow Brewhouse. The aroma of espresso and pastries made her mouth water. She hadn’t eaten much at the party last night, and her stomach was protesting.
“I’ll get us coffee and bagels,” Gray said.
She watched him head for the long line at the counter. He stood a full head above most of the other people
waiting, and several women turned toward him and smiled. Since last night she’d felt shy and uncomfortable. She wished she could believe the sweet words he’d said to her.
The door opened, and she caught sight of a familiar uniform. Sheriff Burchell scanned the crowd, then nodded when he saw her. He must have come inside looking for her because he headed straight for their table.
He pulled out a chair and joined her.
Her pulse surged. “Have you found anything?”
“Sorry, no, but Gray left me a message saying he had some things to talk over. I was about to call him back when I saw you guys in here.”
Grayson balanced the coffee and bagels on a tray as he joined them at the table. “I saw you come in, Sheriff, so I got you a black coffee. That okay?”
“Great.” Everett took the cup and set it down. “What’s going on?”
Gray put down the tray and lowered himself onto a chair, then launched into what they’d found out last night. The sheriff’s expression stayed impassive, though he nodded several times.
He took a sip of coffee and huffed out a breath. “So why am I just now hearing that terrorists may be targeting my town? The FBI should have told me about this weeks ago.”
Ellie paused as she reached for her breakfast. “You didn’t know?”
“Nope. I only knew about the missing cocaine. Now you’re telling me we might be dealing with an EMP bomb. Tomorrow?”
“You’ve lived here your whole life. How well do you know Terrance Robb?”
The sheriff took a sip of his coffee. “Pretty well, actually. Candace is my cousin. Might as well tell you that right up front. She’s a hard woman to please—likes the best of everything. Terrance has been a saint dealing with her. He’s a good guy. I wouldn’t want you to suspect him.”
“Do you know who his good friends are?”
“He’s got lots of friends. I couldn’t even begin to count all the committees he’s been on through the years. Anyone needs a little help with something and Terrance has always been right there. I always thought he had political aspirations, but he’s never run for office.” He chuckled. “Maybe he thought the power would go to Candace’s head.”
Everett snagged a spare bagel. “Have you seen the tall ships? They’re still out in the straits, but man, they’re beautiful. White sails billowing in the sun and hulls gleaming.”
A kernel of a thought rolled around in Ellie’s head. “I haven’t gone that way. We’ll take a look.”
The sheriff, his cheeks bulging with bagel, took his coffee and rose. “Later,” he mumbled past the food in his mouth.
As soon as he was out of earshot, Ellie leaned closer to Gray. “What if we took a skiff out and asked to look around the ships? You think they’d let us? I could pretend to be Mac. They’d all know her name. Maybe it would work.”
“They’re not going to let you into any cabin with a bomb in it.”
“We could split up. I could keep them distracted while you looked around.”
“Ellie, those boats carry quite a few sailors. I’d be caught the minute I went belowdeck.”
He was right, and she knew it. “So we’re back to working with the FBI.”
Gray’s gaze held hers. “I’d like you to leave the area until Monday when this is over.”
“You know I can’t do that, Gray. The people I care about are all here. And why haven’t the authorities ordered an evacuation? Why hasn’t anyone told the sheriff what’s going on?”
“The threat is too nebulous. We don’t know any specifics, not even where this is supposed to happen.”
“Mac was convinced the ships were a threat. That has to mean something.”
Without realizing it, she’d reached for his hand, and his fingers curled around hers. “I don’t want to lose you, Hammer Girl. Not when I’ve just found you.”
“I-I don’t want to lose you either.” She couldn’t look away from the intensity of his gaze. His blue eyes held more warmth than she’d ever imagined to find.
“Tell you what—let’s get a tandem kayak and paddle out to the tall ships. Maybe we’ll hear something. I’d like to take a look at Elyssa Marie.”
She gulped the last of her coffee. “That’s a great idea. What time do we have to be back to meet the FBI?”
He grimaced. “Four. I’ve ordered some drone pictures of the cabin on Gandy Lane. That should tell us a lot about what we’re up against.”
Chapter 35
A beach theme makes everyone relax. There’s nothing better than reconnecting with the water.
—HAMMER GIRL BLOG
Ellie inhaled the scent of the sea—kelp, salt, and sand. The sun glimmered on the waves. A ferry blew its horn on its journey to Whidbey Island, and she returned waves to several of the passengers leaning on the railing.
Their oars dipping into the placid water calmed the nervous energy zipping up and down her spine. She let her oar rest atop the kayak and exhaled. She stared at the way Gray’s hair curled at the nape of his neck. His muscles flexed as he paddled, and she had to restrain herself from leaning forward and laying her palm on his back. Even from behind, he was so doggone handsome.
He pointed his oar at a small, uninhabited island. “I’m thirsty. Can you hand me a water?”
“Sure.” She lifted the lid of the cooler and grabbed them both a bottle of water.
A dolphin leapt from the water to their right, and it startled her enough that she overreacted. Gray tried to correct the kayak’s bounce at her sudden movement, but his jerk amplified the kayak’s movement, and when she reacted as well to keep the kayak from tipping, her hand flew across the side of her glasses, and they flew off her face into the water.
“Easy, Hammer Girl. We’re all right.” With a few deft strokes, he had the kayak settled and turned sideways in his seat. “You lost your glasses.”
Her hands flew to her face. “You’re right. I’ll never find them.”
“Uh-huh.” His hand almost hid his smirk.
There was too much pleasure in his noncommittal grunt, and she stared at him suspiciously. “It sounds like you’re glad I lost my glasses.”
His grin was wide. “You don’t even need them. I’ve seen you take them off when you’re concentrating and need to see really well. Why do you do that?”
Her cheeks heated, and she took a sip of her water. “Let’s eat our snack now and catch our breath. That scared me.” She handed him a baggie of cookies and took one for herself. If a man could be beautiful, he was, though he’d frown at such a term. But beauty meant perfection, and everything about his physique was unmatched by any other man she’d met in her life.
“You said you’ve never dated much, but do you have a girlfriend now?” She put her hand to her mouth. “Sorry, did I just say that out loud?”
He swallowed the last bite of his cookie. “You sure did. And I’ll answer it if you tell me why you wear glasses when you don’t need them.”
“I shouldn’t have asked.” She balled up her plastic bag and reached for his.
He caught her hand in his and turned it over so it was palm up. He took the baggie away and tossed it into the cooler. His thumb made circles against her palm, and he made no move to release her.
“I told you I’ve traveled around too much to date very often, but there’s a little more to it than that. I was a bit of a freak in Japan. My size and all.”
“I can imagine you towering over all your friends. That had to be a bit intimidating.”
His touch on her hand was making it hard to keep her breathing in an even pattern, and her pulse was jumping all over the place.
His gaze never looked away as he brought her palm to his lips in the gentlest and most tender way possible. “Then I went to college, but I knew I wanted to be in law enforcement so I was pretty focused on that, though I dated a bit. Nothing serious, though. I’ve been moving around a lot, and I’ve never really met anyone who tugged at my heartstrings.”
He kissed her palm again, then moved up
to her wrist. “Until now, that is.”
He lifted his head and reached for her at the same time she moved toward him. His lips covered hers with a gentle yet masterful touch, and she was lost.
Grayson had kissed other women before, but kissing Ellie was like coming home to a place filled with stability. He cupped her cheek in his palm and kissed her again. Her arms were around his neck, and he never wanted to let her go.
But he needed to.
Pulling back, he rested his cheek against hers. The sun was high overhead and heated his skin. Or was it Ellie? Her amber eyes were huge and pensive, and her skin looked even more golden in the bright light.
“I wish I had a jacket. You’re cold.”
“I’m fine.”
In spite of her assurances about being warm enough, he could feel shudders rippling up her spine.
“I’m a little like the sea creatures here.” Her fingers curled around his hand. “You wanted to know about my glasses, and I’ll admit I wear them as a shield.”
His fingers tightened protectively around hers. “A shield from what?”
“From being seen too closely. From being known too well. The people I loved most in the world have always condemned me, and I never felt very worthy.” She made a face. “Do I sound like a crybaby? Even talking about it makes me feel raw and exposed. Believe me, that’s a sensation I’ve avoided most of my life.”
He dropped her hand, then gripped her shoulders. “You have no idea how amazing you are, do you? Loving, kind, and beautiful, any parents would be thrilled to have you for a daughter. And I’m honored to call you a friend. You make me want to be better, to give more and love more.”
Her eyes filled with tears, but at least she held his gaze. “I don’t deserve those kinds of accolades. I’m no one special.”
He grinned. “I told you that you didn’t know yourself well. I’ve never met anyone like you, and I want to woo you if you give me the chance.” Her skin was incredibly soft.
Woo was an old-fashioned word, but it was how he felt. She deserved the best he could offer.
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