Page 60 of A Mile of Ocean

“So you’re still planning to keep up these ridiculous patrols?” she asked as she marched out of the room.

“I don’t believe a word she said,” Tate admitted. “Whatever she’s hiding has to do with her, not Granddad. She’s trying to protect her legacy, not his or ours.”

“We need to dig intoherpast because she isn’t willing to admit it, maybe something so dark she doesn’t want anyone to find out.”

“Something buried in the past,” Tate muttered. “She almost gave it away. That’s what she said. So how do we get the safe open?”

“I’ll work on that. Let me take a few pictures of it, see if I can find a serial number, and then look it up online. How long will it take Cooper to have something for us?”

“He promised results by tomorrow. What do you suppose she’s holding back?”

“Whatever it is, it’s something big.”

“Where’s Savannah?”

“Trying to get some sleep. You should try that sometime.”

“We should all be taking a nap. We might do just that if our grandmother wasn’t so secretive and stubborn.”

“And unwilling to talk. I need a shower. So do you. We both smell like smoke. And I promised a very beautiful redhead I’d give her dinner under the stars someday. I think it should be now.”

“In the middle of this chaos?”

“Yeah. This chaos might go on for a while. I don’t want to miss this opportunity with Savannah before she hightails it out of here, away from my crazy family.”

Tate grinned. “There is that possibility. Better act fast before she decides the risk is not worth the rewards. What do you have planned, oh, brother dear? Would I approve?”

“I’m gonna give her dinner under the stars like I promised.”

“Haven’t you forgotten something? What about our resident madman?”

“I don’t think he’ll do anything tonight because he wants us to think he’s dead. So, I’m playing along before we start the patrols.”

“You’re having dinner with Savannah out in the open?”

“I didn’t say that. I might improvise.”

“Hmm. Your office does have a skylight. And a convenient bed.”

“Right on both counts. But more importantly—it offers privacy.”

“I suppose that could work. Dinner under the stars, indoors. Very romantic, brother dear.”

Trent grinned mischievously, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. “Let’s hope it impresses Savannah. So unless the house is on fire, you don’t need me for the next two hours. You take care of it. Whatever it is.”

Tate did a mock salute. “Yes, captain. I’ll go down with the ship because you’re having a romantic interlude.”

“Jealous?”

“Green with envy. But that’s another story. Go have fun.”

“Oh, I intend to.”

Chapter Eighteen

Trent persuaded Dolly to make up a picnic basket that didn’t include sandwiches. After picking up the food and grabbing a hot shower, he quickly made his way to the office, his mind already racing with ideas on how to make this the perfect romantic evening.

As he entered the room, he glanced up at the skylight, a plan forming in his mind. With quiet determination, he started to move things around, clearing a space beneath the skylight for a small table and two chairs. He added a crisp white tablecloth and set the table with brightly colored dishes borrowed from Dolly’s kitchen. He lit fragrant candles around the room, creating flickering shadows that danced off the walls. He put on music, a playlist of piano tracks that Tate had given him, promising it would create the ultimate romantic mood.

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