Page 23 of Forged in Secrets

Grace stuck out her tongue at him. “That was one time!”

“Or what about Dolly? None of the other admin staff play hide and seek with her.”

She laughed, giving him another ineffectual punch on his muscled bicep.

Dolly, their head of security, was a mixture of kindly grandmother and pitbull. She and Grace respected one another, but every so often, Grace’s chaotic management style got her into trouble with the older woman.

“Hey, to be fair, I only hid that one time. Usually I just avoid.”

Ben chuckled. “You mean the time that you accidentally popped out of Gabe’s office closet during a meeting with the San Antonio chief of police?”

Before Grace could smack him again, he started walking back toward the boardwalk, and she had to take several hurried steps in order to catch up.

“Can those stubby legs move any faster?” he teased.

“It’s not my fault you have legs like a giraffe. Or maybe an elephant.”

They continued to joke around as they continued along the beach, watching as more and more college students began laying out towels on the sand and arranging coolers full of alcohol. The sun was beginning to set in earnest, and Grace knew the party was only just beginning.

She wasn’t a fan of drinking, and she doubted she’d appreciate the kind of dancing these kids would be doing, but she couldn’t help but to be swept up in the happy energy that surrounded them. Even Ben seemed to be enjoying their walk.

She glanced up at him, once again struck by his mountainous height. His reddish hair gleamed in the light of the setting sun, and he looked even more handsome than the dozens of clean-cut fraternity guys that kept almost bumping into them on the boardwalk.

Just then, he stuck his hands into the pocket of his gray cargo shorts, and Grace caught a glimpse of the Sig he kept holstered at his belt.

The sight of the weapon reminded her that they had more than turbulence and faulty wiring to deal with.

While they were enjoying the beauty of the island, Donald Fairman was worrying about his daughter.

Katie could be anywhere right now, and Grace was determined to find her.

BEN

“What time are we supposed to be meeting Jade tonight?” Grace asked.

“Not until nine,” he said, trying to stop himself fromfrowning at the thought of being forced to interact with Jade again.

The last hour or so had been perfect.

He had enjoyed a leisurely walk, great tacos, and perfect weather. Even the writhing mob of college students and the presence of sand hadn’t been enough to sully his good mood.

He glanced over at Grace without really meaning to, taking in the way her tanned skin seemed to glow in the evening light. He didn’t see her like this very often. Usually, she had the vibe of a typical career woman, carrying some kind of designer bag that could fit a toddler, making phone calls, and just generally swirling through life like a tornado.

She was different now, with her cheap flip-flops and hair messy from the breeze. She looked so carefree and happy, like some kind of angel who happened to be wearing Ray-Bans.

He stuck his hands in his pockets and looked down at his feet, not wanting her to know he was staring.

He had no reason to be thinking so much about her.

They were here to find a missing girl, not for him to fantasize about what could happen between him and Grace if they were in an alternate universe. He needed to get back to reality.

“How long do you think we have until the dance music starts?” Grace asked, raising a hand to her brow and looking out over the expanse of bodies. “I know you’ll love that.”

The entire beach looked about three times busier than it had been when they left the hotel, and it was only eight o’clock.

“Yeah, right,” Ben said gruffly. “I’d rather listen to Asher’s playlists. And that’s saying something.”

“These kids could benefit from one of your boring lectures on the glorious music of Western civilization–”

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