“Ask for Monday and Tuesday, too.”
Her gaze dropped, and she turned back to the keyboard. “I have an interview planned for Monday. I don’t think I can change it.”
“How about if I book the flight one way only? We’ll see how it goes once we’re in Seattle.”
“Works for me as long as I get this story finished first.”
He booted up his laptop and checked the flights. “There’s one with space at noon. If we leave here by ten-thirty….”
Wylie whined and put a paw on his knee. He’d promised the dog a walk.
“Crap.”
Her head swiveled. “What now?”
“The dog.”
Her eyes softened as her gaze dropped. “He’s awfully cute, begging for a…crap.”
“Exactly. What’re we going to do with him?”
Her brow furrowed. “Either Rachel or my mom and dad would take him. Maybe one of them would pick him up later today. My sister has a spare key.”
“Can you call her?”
“I hate to make her drive all the way into the city.”
“I’m pretty sure Rachel won’t mind under the circumstances.”
She picked up her cell phone. When she set it down a minute later, a grin stretched her lips. “Jed is here for some meeting this morning and is driving to Vine Haven afterward. I should be able to catch him before he leaves.”
“Jed?” The name sounded familiar.
“Kane’s brother.”
“The one you decided not to date because it would make holidays awkward if it didn’t work out?”
“Did I tell you that?”
He nodded. “Go ahead and call him.”
Humor brightened her eyes as she spoke on the phone, and her voice softened once or twice. By the time she hung up, Travis was in a pissy mood.
“Well?”
“He’ll be here in an hour. Maybe you could take Wylie out before he arrives?”
“As soon as I book the flights and pack. Finish your story. At the rate we’re going, we’ll barely make it to the airport on time.”
An hour later a brisk walk had burned off some of his ill-humor, and he arrived back at Grace’s apartment by a circuitous route just as an older model SUV pulled into a parking spot directly in front of the building. There was never a parking spot in front of the building.
The man who stepped from the vehicle had to be Jed. The resemblance to Kane was striking, though his brown hair was a shade or two lighter. In sharp contrast to his brother’s serious demeanor, an air of lighthearted good humor radiated from him. The guy had a face that probably made every woman he passed on the street take a second look, and Travis suspected six-pack abs were hidden beneath his T-shirt.
Pasting on a smile, he held out his hand in greeting. “I’m Travis.”
“Nice to meet you.” Jed glanced down. “Is this my passenger for the drive to Vine Haven?”
“Yeah, that’s Wylie.”
“No offense, but he’s one ugly dog.”
“Grace loves him.”
He stuck out a hand for the dog to sniff. “Grace has a soft heart under that take-no-prisoners exterior.”
“Come on up. Lucky you, getting a parking spot.”
Jed grimaced. “Karma tossing me a bone after kicking my ass to the curb.”
“Oh?”
“Long story.” He followed Travis up the stairs and waited while he unlocked the door.
Grace walked out of the bedroom pulling a wheeled, carry-on bag behind her. A smile lit her eyes as she dropped the handle and rushed forward to hug Jed. “You look great.”
He took a step back. “So do you, but then you always look like a million bucks.”
Travis cleared his throat, and Grace turned to touch his arm.
“You two met?”
“Unofficially.”
“That’s good enough for me. Damn, I wish we weren’t on such a tight schedule.” She turned back to the other man. “How’d your meeting go? Rachel mentioned you had an issue with the camp.”
“Not good. When I took over Granite Lake Retreat—God, ten years ago—it included the remainder of a ninety-nine year lease from the government. I figured I’d be able to renew it, but the Forest Service wants that land returned to a natural state since it’s in the middle of a wilderness area. All my pleading that the retreat has very little environmental impact fell on deaf ears.”
“I’m so sorry. What’re you going to do?”
“Finish up the summer before the land reverts back to the government. After that…” He shrugged.
Grace slipped an arm around his waist and squeezed. “I don’t know what to say. I know how much you love running that place.”
He sighed. “Maybe it’s time for a change.”
“Change can be good.” She glanced at Travis and smiled.
“Uh, if we’re going to make our flight…”
“Right. Wylie’s food and other things are in the box by the door. I really appreciate this, Jed.”
“Hey, I’m just the shuttle service. Your sister’s keeping the dog.”
“I still appreciate it.” She dropped onto her knees and hugged Wylie. “Be a good boy. I’ll be back to get you in a few days.”
“I’m sure he’ll survive.” Travis held out his hand. “Nice meeting you, Jed. I’m sorry about your camp.”
“Life has a way of working out for the best.” He took the dog’s leash. “See you, Grace. Maybe at Thanksgiving.”
“You bet. Take care of yourself.”
“I always do.” Hefting the box, he left with the dog in tow. The door shut behind him with a sharp click.
Grace raised a brow. “You have something against Jed?”
“He seems like a nice guy. Why would you think I didn’t like him?”
“No reason. Uh, are you ready to go?”
“Yeah. Wait. I have to put my laptop in its case.”
She turned away. “I shut your computer down and put it in for you.”
“Thanks.” He let out a sigh. “Was I that obvious?”
She glanced over her shoulder. “To me, but Jed doesn’t know you the way I do.”
He scowled and grabbed the handles of both their carry-ons. “You seemed to like him so much.”
Laughing, she stepped into the living room to retrieve their laptops then slung her purse over her shoulder. When her gaze met his, her eyes sparkled. “I do like him. Jed’s funny and charming and…well…great.”
“I got all that.” He grunted. “Good looking, too.”
“Are you jealous?”
“Maybe a little. I feel like an idiot, but I can’t help it. I wouldn’t have minded if he was a jerk.”
Grace opened the door then locked it after he pulled the bags through into the hall. “Nothing ever happened between us. Well, we made out once at Rachel and Kane’s wedding, but isn’t that mandatory for the maid of honor and the best man?”
“How the hell would I know?” He hefted the bags and practically ran down the stairs. “I don’t want to hear any more.”
In the lobby, she touched his arm. His skin quivered beneath her fingers.
“I don’t want to be with Jed.”
He let out a long, ragged breath. “No?”
“I only want to be with you.”
* * * *
Grace smiled the whole way to the airport and through most of the flight. Knowing Travis cared enough to be jealous made her day. In fact, it made her week. Maybe their relationship would endure beyond the current situation, after life went back to normal. She certainly hoped so.
Her optimism faded. Maybe it would have, but once Travis discovered her duplicity, he’d dump her faster than week old trash. Guilt ate at her, but his laptop had been sitting on the table, taunting her, daring her to take a peek…
The address of the safe house where Casey Sutton waited for Estrada’s trial to begin was there in an e-mail from Fritz requesting Travis’s help with perimeter security when they were ready to transfer him to
the courthouse. She’d intended to badger—or seduce—the information out of Travis over the weekend. Now she wouldn’t have to. On Monday, she’d get the follow-up interview her editor had begged for. She owed him that much. Despite his irritating qualities, Hank had been nothing but good to her. Because their readership had been slipping lately, her boss was counting on this story to shore up the sagging numbers. It could cost him his job if she didn’t produce results. Grace had a sneaking suspicion Hank’s career wasn’t the only one riding on this interview.
Letting out a long sigh, she rubbed the back of her neck. She’d do her job and do it with style. So why did she feel like crap? Ethics and bending the rules hadn’t stopped her in the past.
“Something wrong?”
Her head snapped around. “Huh?”
“You were glaring at that taxi like it was going to jump the curb and take you out.”
“Just thinking about—work.”
“I’m not looking forward to the client meeting Donna set up for this afternoon. One of my agents screwed up.” His eyes darkened. “I may have to fire him, and he has a wife and three kids to feed.”
“That sucks.”
“Yeah, it does, but I’m not going to let the agency’s reputation go down the crapper because an employee got lazy and careless. I have to be able to trust the people around me.” He touched her arm. “There’s our ride.”
A tan sedan eased up to the curb, and the trunk popped open. Travis stowed their luggage inside then opened the rear door. Grace climbed in and slid across the seat when he stepped in behind her.
“So now I’m a chauffeur?”
Travis grinned. “I wasn’t expecting you to pick us up. Are we so busy you didn’t have a man to spare?”
“I figured this was the only opportunity I’d have to personally brief you before your meeting with Schwartz.” The man’s glance in the rearview mirror slid to Grace. “I’d understand if you’d rather not talk business.”
“We can talk in front of Grace. Grace, meet Jim McNally, my right hand—left, too. Jim, this is Grace Hanover.”
McNally’s sharp gaze met hers before he looked away to pull into traffic. “Now I see why Travis wasn’t in a rush to come home.”
“You’re right about that, but I’d be happier if someone in San Francisco wasn’t shooting at us every time we turn around.” He pulled a notepad and a pen out of his computer case. “Let’s hear your take on the Schwartz situation. I want to go into this meeting with all the facts. How badly did Freddy blow it?”
Grace tuned out their conversation as they cruised up the freeway toward downtown Seattle. He trusted her—though she certainly didn’t deserve it. Leaning her head against the seatback, she closed her eyes. When the drone of male voices quieted, she opened them. The distinctive Seattle skyline rose along the horizon with the Space Needle spiraling into an overcast sky.
Travis’s hand settled on her knee. “What would you like to do while I’m in the meeting? We can drop you at my house, or you can hang out downtown, go shopping, whatever.”
“I don’t want to take you out of your way. I can catch a cab somewhere.”
“My house isn’t far, just off the next exit.”
“I’d prefer that. I’m not in a shopping frame of mind.”
The hand on her knee squeezed. “You sure you’re okay? You’ve been awfully quiet and un-Grace-like today.”
She smiled. “I’m not sure I want to know what Grace-like is. I’m just tired. Maybe I’ll take a catnap once I settle in.”
“I’ve got a cat you can do it with.”
“Seriously? You look like a Rottweiler sort of guy, not the kind who has a cute little kitty.”
In the front seat, McNally snorted and choked then went into a coughing fit.
“Careful, buddy, you don’t want to strangle laughing at me.”
“Who’s laughing?” He wiped watering eyes and took the off-ramp.
“Killer is not a cute little kitty. Killer would probably make mincemeat out of Wylie. He is, however, fond of napping.”
Grace’s bad mood evaporated. She wouldn’t ruin her weekend with Travis worrying about how angry he’d be when he found out about the interview. “I can’t wait to meet Killer. Do we have plans for tonight?”
“When I told my older brother we’d be in town, he invited us to dinner. I haven’t responded yet. I wasn’t sure if you’d prefer that or going out.”
“By all means, let’s have dinner with your family. I made you suffer through my mom’s grilling. Your brother can’t be anywhere near that bad.”
“Want to bet? It’ll be both my brothers, their wives and kids. Everyone’s a little curious about you.”
“Then I’ll try to be on my best behavior.”
They turned into a neighborhood composed of small, well-kept houses with trim front yards. Set on the side of a hill, they offered incredible views of Seattle. McNally pulled into a driveway in front of a home painted pale green with darker green trim. Roses bloomed along the front sidewalk. After saying good-bye to Travis’s right hand man, she stepped from the car. The scent wafting on the breeze was heavenly.
“Impressive.”
Travis shut the car door and jerked his thumb toward the house next door where a garden patch burst with color, resembling something from the pages of a magazine. “Mrs. Lindstrom takes care of my yard. She also feeds Killer when I’m gone. After she told me my gardening skills were a disgrace to the neighborhood, we made an arrangement.”
Grace grinned. “Mrs. Lindstrom sounds like a take-charge woman.”
“She’s in her eighties, and everyone’s afraid of her except Killer.”
“I can’t wait to meet both of them.”
After retrieving their luggage, he led the way to the door and unlocked it. Pushing it open with his foot, he pulled the bags inside then turned to face her. “I hate to just leave you, but—”
“I’m a big girl. I think I can entertain myself.”
“Damn.” Dropping his hands onto her shoulders, he kissed her. “Make yourself at home, and I’ll see you in a few hours.”
“Or find my scarred remains if Killer lives up to his name.”
His smile made her stomach flutter.
“I’d back you against the cat and Mrs. Lindstrom. Bye, Grace.”
Broad shoulders stretched beneath a fine cotton dress shirt, and slacks hugged an ass that made her fingers twitch as he walked away. Usually he wore jeans or shorts and a T-shirt. Casual. Sexy. In business attire, he projected an aura of control and power. Equally sexy.
She sighed and shut the door after the car drove away. A few moments later, her pulse slowed. She had it bad. When Travis was near, it was all she could do not to touch him. When he was gone, she missed his laugh, the way his smile lit up his eyes. She wasn’t one of those insecure women who needed a man to be happy. Men were entertaining. They added color and amusement to her life, but she hadn’t met one who was indispensable.
Until now.
She’d never been in love. Not the comfortable, enduring love she witnessed between her parents. Not the deep, passionate love that burned between her sister and Kane. She’d always shied away from emotion in the past, hadn’t wanted to risk the pain of an inevitable ending. Travis had somehow snuck past her defenses. She’d opened her heart…and fallen in love.
This time when the end arrived, when everything crashed down to earth, picking up the pieces wouldn’t be so easy. Once shattered, her heart would never be the same again.
Chapter 23
Grace was gone. When he’d stopped the redhead from the bar in the parking garage earlier, her eyes had flashed with fear before she told him Grace hadn’t come into work that day. He’d instantly dismissed the notion she was lying. The woman didn’t have the nerve. Not like Grace. Grace Hanover had balls of steel.
When am I going to catch a freaking break?
He threw open the closet door. Several empty hangers hung on the rod between colorful shirts
and blouses. He checked the hamper. Only a couple of soiled garments, and there was no sign of the carry-on bag she’d had with her in Alaska. Barnett’s clothes were missing, and he wasn’t the type to leave a woman in danger alone.
Even if she’d pissed him off. The man probably took the abuse Grace dished out just for the sex. He’d felt the pull, the tug of desire when she flaunted herself in a pair of shorts that barely covered her ass. Not that he’d ever touch her. No way in hell would he betray his brother with the woman he’d loved. The woman who’d killed him.
Grace would pay, but not with sex. She’d pay with her life, the same as David had.
The minute she returned home.
In the meantime, he’d finish the job he’d been hired to do. As soon as Estrada’s contact inside the FBI got an address for the target, Casey Sutton would be dead. He wouldn’t screw up. Not again.
* * * *
Travis threw the horseshoe and hit the post with a clang of metal on metal. Turning, he grinned at his older brother.
Rick rolled his eyes. “Christ, you can’t miss tonight.”
“Nope, I’m feeling lucky.”
Matt popped the top on his beer and took a swig. “I can see why. Grace is something, and not just because she’s drop-dead gorgeous. She’s funny, and the lady has your number. The kids seem to like her, too.”
“She has her own nieces and nephews. They consider her their cool aunt.”
“I bet.” Rick threw the horseshoe and missed by a foot. “So, what’s the story with her? I’ve never known you to spend so much time away from work.”
“There was a situation in Alaska with the witness I went to collect and an assassin who tried to take him out. We got in the way, and now he’s targeting Grace.”
Matt lowered his beer. “Seriously?”
Travis nodded and strolled to the other end of the pit to collect the shoes. He tossed the first one and smiled as metal clanked against metal. “That’s why I’ve been in San Francisco, but it’s more than just keeping her safe.” He heaved the second shoe. “I care about her. A lot.”
“Would she consider moving up here?”
He glanced over at his younger brother. “I don’t think so.”
“Where does that leave you?”
Every Step She Takes (Who's Watching Now Book 2) Page 20