Page 97 of Last Chance

Jesse tracked them down a minute later. “How did our operative-in-training do?”

“She did great.”

Janie rolled her eyes. “After Sawyer pointed out the landmarks I should have recognized.”

“Cut yourself some slack,” Jesse said. “You’ve only been outside in the backyard for five minutes. We spend hours walking the grounds or staring at monitors where we see the same views for hours.”

“Do you get bored?”

“Sure, but we recognize any change in the terrain because we spend so much time studying it.”

“I’ll remind myself of that when I’m falling asleep watching the unchanging picture on the screen.

That’s what Sawyer wanted, a night so boring and uneventful that Janie could rest another hour or two before the trek to the shop.

“Unless you need me, I’ll go back to the kitchen. Simone is sending me a few files.” Jesse’s intense gaze told Sawyer the files were linked to David Moran.

“We’ll watch the monitors for another hour. If things are quiet, I’ll teach Janie what we look for on perimeter checks.”

“Works for me.” Jesse patted Janie’s shoulder and left.

Sawyer glanced at Janie. She was staring at him. “What?”

“You’re expecting trouble.”

“We always expect trouble.”

“How often does it happen?”

Too often. “Enough. Do you need to work on anything for the shop?”

“Changing the subject on me?”

“Maybe. Did it work?” He didn’t want to add to the worry and stress on Janie’s shoulders. She had enough to handle as it was.

She laughed. “Yes, it will. I wanted to explore fresh scents for soaps and bath bombs we might offer in the shop. I didn’t have a chance last night. So, Mr. Chapman, what scent reminds you of summer?”

“Strawberries and peaches.”

“Good choices. I’ll see what I can do about that.”

“Wait.” His eyes narrowed. “That’s for women. Men don’t want to smell like fruit after a shower.”

Amusement lit her eyes. “That’s disappointing. I wanted to breathe in the scent of strawberries when you kissed me. Now what will I do?”

“Not nice, lady.”

More laughter. “Since strawberries and peaches aren’t high on your list, what do you suggest for men?”

“Ocean breeze and mountain air. Not pine,” he added quickly. “Reminds me of the household cleaner my mother used to use.”

“Got it. No pine. Is there a laptop I can use?”

“Watch the monitors. I’ll get mine.” He took the stairs two at a time, dug his laptop from his Go bag, and carried it to the security room, where he set the computer in front of Janie. “Anything happen?”

“Does seeing a fox trot across the backyard count as an event?”

He chuckled. “Sorry I missed it.”

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