Page 29 of The Engineer

“I’ve got Eli putting out feelers. I’ll let you know if anything relevant comes up. Stay safe.”

“Will do.”

The line clicked dead as Leo hung up. Griff blew out a slow breath. He pocketed his cell, turned back to face Jo. Hope filled her gorgeous eyes. Hope that he’d keep her safe from the mess Raptor had stirred up around her. That was where his fucking focus should be.

He tucked his shirt in. “Leo will arrange pickup of the car. We were almost there when we went off the road—we’re close to Skarsvag. We can hike from here.”

She folded her arms across her chest, scuffed the floor with one foot. “Oh… Okay.”

“I’m sorry. Before my cell rang…that was unprofessional. That shouldn’t have happened.”

Her eyes stretched wide before she neutralized her expression.

His gut spasmed. Fuck, I’m making a mess of this.

“Of course. You’re right.” The line of her mouth compressed. “What were we thinking? Hunger must be making us delirious.” She turned her back on him and busied herself with shrugging on her jacket. She zipped it up with a violent tug and headed outside without a backward glance.

Outside, he caught her elbow.“Jo.”

She turned, firing a scorching glance at where he held her.

He instantly released her. “I’m sorry. I never meant to overstep the mark.”

“It’s fine. This is business, right?” Her forehead wrinkled. “I hired you.”

Business. “Yes.” He swallowed, his throat tight.

She gave him a clipped nod, pivoted away from him. Dust danced in the sunlight where she’d only stood moments ago.

Business only. Keep her safe.

But that kiss…

Griff quashed the thought, turned his attention to the familiar task of navigating the ridge. “This way.”

Do the job she hired him to do. Nothing more.

* * *

The sun was at its zenith when they finally drew close to the outskirts of Skarsvag. Much of the previous night’s snow had melted, and the ground was muddy and treacherous. Griff’s steps found an easy pace and the pain in his shoulder had diminished to a dull throb courtesy of some Advil, but inside he was in turmoil. Conflict over the morning’s kiss made a leaden mass in his gut.

“Wow.” Jo halted, taking in the small town spread beneath them. The sun cast an ethereal glow over the town, perched on the precipice of the Barents Sea. “It’s beautiful.”

The town itself was a huddle of colorful houses, brick red, azure blue, corn yellow, their roofs patchy with snow that glinted like diamonds in the sun. Behind the houses, the surrounding cliffs stood sentinel, ancient faces weathered by countless storms. Wood smoke teased Griff’s nose.

His heart rate slowed, and he rolled his shoulders, breathing in the harsh beauty of the landscape. Fishing boats painted in vibrant colors bobbed gently in the harbor, a sharp contrast to the modern infrastructure of what he assumed had to be the submarine base on the far side of the town.

The entrance was carved from the heart of a towering cliff face. Black water lapped the bottom edge of enormous blast doors disguised as natural rock formations. Once they would have guarded the base from prying eyes, but now they were open, giving a tantalizing glimpse of the cavernous chamber inside.

Jo’s stomach rumbled noisily. She clutched at it, then burst out laughing and the stress of what had happened between them earlier melted away.

Despite the difficulty of their predicament, he couldn’t help but chuckle, too. “Guess you need some breakfast.”

“Yes. Come on.” She took his hand and urged him on, hurrying toward the cluster of houses.

His heart gave a ridiculously happy beat at the clasp of her hand, but he wouldn’t read anything into it. They were working together.

19

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