*
That night they headed first to the western waterfront, where one of Hannah’s friends was performing, for a round of predinner drinks. After that, they dined at Turtle Crawls. It was an amazing evening. Hannah realized that she’d forgotten how to have fun, and suddenly it felt so good simply to be alive and out on the town.
Better yet, to be out on the town with Dallas. She couldn’t help smiling every time she looked at him. He was...
Thoughtful, intense—sometimes too much so—more than a little bit autocratic, capable of apology, always ready to explain and, she thought, perfect. For her.
He caught her looking at him at one point and tilted his head at an angle, slowly arching a brow.
“Spinach in my teeth?” he asked her.
“We didn’t have spinach,” she told him.
“Ketchup on my chin?”
She smiled and shook her head. “I just...I was just thinking that it was nice to talk about movies. And music. And that...”
“I could sound normal?” he asked her.
She flushed. “And even nice.”
“Hey!” he protested, and then grinned. “And may I return the compliment?”
“I haven’t been normal?” she asked him.
“No—I mean that you can be nice, too. You know—friendly, without attitude.”
“Hey, I wasn’t the one who came in like a thunderstorm.”
“No, but...” He slipped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. “Let’s face it, we didn’t meet under normal circumstances. And yet I wouldn’t trade having met you for anything,” he finished softly.
She smiled and touched his cheek, and she wasn’t even worried that she was certain he had to have seen the wonder in her eyes.
Back at the house, they retired early, made love—and talked. He liked black coffee, rare steaks and really hated wearing a tie. They were both into history.
“Will you stay down here?” she asked him.
“I don’t know, but...I’ve spoken with Logan. Apparently I’ve been on his boss’s radar for a while. I suspect I’m going to be asked to join the unit.”
“And that means...D.C.?” she asked.
“Just outside. In Virginia,” he told her.
Hannah kept silent. She didn’t want to think about him leaving.
It would be the right thing for him to do.
“Have you ever thought of leaving?” he asked her.
“I could never sell this house.”
“But other people could run it.”
That was as far as they got. He’d been running his fingers lightly down her back. Now, eager to avoid a difficult topic, she slid closer to him and moved provocatively. That stirred something in him.
In seconds they were making love again and for a little while the real world fell away.
*
The backhoe and a small crew of workers arrived by the time Hannah had the coffee brewed in the morning. Kelsey was in the kitchen with her, and they went together to look out back, where Logan was standing with the foreman and a copy of the original plans for the pool.
There was also a reporter in the yard. Hannah had seen her before, the morning she’d found Jose Rodriguez’s body.
Today Dallas was talking to her.
He really did want everyone to know about the dig.
“Do you think this will ever really be over?” Hannah asked.
Kelsey slipped an arm around her shoulders. “Do you know why the Krewes are so well respected even though they like to joke and call us the ghost-hunter division?”
“Why?”
“Because we haven’t failed yet.”
“That’s good. So...I hear Dallas might join you guys.”
“He and Logan work well together,” Kelsey said. She smiled at Kelsey. “But then, so do he and you.”
“I, uh...I’m sorry. I should have said something to you.”
“Why?” Kelsey asked, laughing. “It was obvious from the beginning!”
“You mean you knew when we...?”
“Of course. The house isn’t that big,” Kelsey told her.
Embarrassed, Hannah fell silent as Dallas came in.
And he was all business. “All right. Liam will be here with a few officers to keep an eye on things. Logan and I are going to take a boat out of Marathon. We’ll have our phones and try to stay in touch.” He smiled at her. Finally. “Can you talk to Maria and Jose? See if they’ll come with us?”
She nodded. “Yes, of course. Follow me.”
They were still in the back room and readily agreed to help. Yerby insisted on going, too, having developed something of an attraction to Jose.
Dallas looked at Melody and Hagen. “Okay, officially we’re leaving Liam in charge, but—”
“Don’t worry about a thing,” Hagen said. “We’ll keep an eye on everyone. We won’t fail you again.”
“Can Kelsey and I come, too?” Hannah asked.
Dallas smiled. “What the hell. I don’t like leaving you, so yes, come on.”
*