Cassie took her time following him. She saw him head back up to the house and for a second, she worried he’d leave, but he returned, coming back with his arms full. He laid a tarp on the sand and then a blanket. After one more trip in and out, she realized he was cooking them dinner on the fire. Jack opened a bottle of cabernet and poured them each a glass. He motioned for her to take a seat next to him by the log. Gathering her into his arms, he held her tightly. Quietly, they watched the fire.
“Now it’s my turn,” he said, “Exactly which law school are we talking about?” He sucked in his breath.
Cassie took a quick glance at his face. It was twisted around, not looking thrilled. She hid her smile. Oh, so that was it.
“The U. I want to be a Husky.”
He let his breath out. “Great, so we can be together.”
“Yes, but for the moment, we’ll be apart.”
“I don’t want to be apart. I want us to be together.” His voice was smooth but insistent. “I thought with Koslov dead, you’d be returning to Seattle with me.”
“Jack, some people are together, but in reality, they’re very far apart. We’ll be apart but together. I’m going to stay up here and study for the entrance exam, and I can take online classes from the U. We can be together on the weekends.”
“Honey, I don’t like the sound of this at all.”
Cassie laughed, and Jack glared. He poured the remaining wine in their glasses.
She took a big breath. “Well, if you don’t like the sound of that, you’re not going to like what I have to tell you next.”
“Oh?” He looked at her. “What?”
She bit her lip and let out a deep breath. “I killed Sergei.”
“Whoa. Where did that come from?” He cocked his head and raised his brows, looking intently at her.
“It’s my fault he’s dead.” Her voice broke.
Jack got up and put the steaks on the fire. With a metal poker, he turned the foil wrapped potatoes that nestled in the coals. “How is it your fault?” He sat back down next to her and wrapped his arm around her.
She explained what she’d done. Twice, Jack started coughing and asked for a clarification. When she finished, Jack rubbed his jaw and shook his head.
“You didn’t kill him,” he said. “The asshole did it to himself by not taking care of business. By not changing passwords, he showed his laziness and arrogance. In structures like the mob or a cartel, it’s a test. He flunked. They didn’t want him anymore, and that’s what happens. They eliminated him.”
“You’re not mad?”
“No.”
“Good. I’ll be right back.”
Cassie headed up to the house and returned with two small collapsible lap tables, decent plastic plates, steak knives, and forks. With the food served up, Jack loaded up the fire with wood, opened another bottle of wine, and joined Cassie up against the log. In the cool night air, under the stars, with the moon rising, they enjoyed their steak dinner and drank their wine. When they finished, Cassie put everything away in the cooler and set it behind them. Jack opened his arms and gathered her up.
“I love our date.” She sighed and rested her head on his chest so she could listen to his heart.
“So tell me,” he said.
She gazed up, her mouth slightly parted. The reflection of the fire highlighted his face.
“When will we be together?”
“That’s easy. You’ll know.” She took her left hand and wiggled her ring finger.
“I was afraid of that.” He kissed her long and slow and then hard, demanding with a hunger that exploded inside of him. Under the moon, he made love to her by loving her.
About the Author
Tracie Ingersoll Loy grew up in the Pacific Northwest and graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts, which included creative writing. Deep Into the Night is her second book in the Hartz Island series, taking place in Seattle and the San Juan Islands in Washington State.
Tracie lives in Northern Illinois with her husband and two dogs; a sassy Cock-a-Poo and a determined Border Collie.
www.tracieloy.com
Deep Into The Night (Hartz Island Series) Page 33