He means it, leaving me at a loss for words. This is friendship, but I’m confused by what he’s seeking. It seems to be more. But what?
“So… is there something going on between you and Scott?” He flashes a wicked grin.
I blush. “What makes you think that?”
“Um. The way he looks at you as if you’re the only person in the room.” His grin stretches wider. “It’s hard to miss.”
“It’s not like that,” I protest, though my racing heart tells a different story. “Scott’s been kind. We’re just… getting to know each other.”
“Fair enough. But for what it’s worth, Scott’s a good guy. He has some rough edges, sure, but he’s real.”
“Why do you guys hate each other so much?”
I need to know. They’ve been trading sharp jabs at each other since I got here. And if looks could kill, they’d both be dead.
“Oh, we go way back. I wouldn’t say it’s hate. We just…” he pauses for a moment. “Rub each other the wrong way, I suppose. Like the opposite sides of two magnets.”
“I wish you’d get along. You both are my people now.”
“Since you asked so nicely, I’ll give it a shot. Can’t vouch for Scott, though.”
We both laugh at that.
“Thank you for everything.”
He shrugs. “That’s what friends are for. Remember… whatever you need, I’m just a few steps away.”
Warmth blooms in my chest. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
He playfully salutes before turning to leave, his relaxed stride taking him up the stairs, ignoring Garrett, who’s still waiting for him in the kitchen.
Chapter 15
Scott
I walk into the Sand Dollar Dive Bar. The sharp tang of liquor and fried food surrounds me. The room is loud, with overlapping voices, bursts of laughter, and the soft strains of an old country tune pouring from the jukebox in the corner. Couples are line dancing in the center, surrounded by cheering onlookers.
I scan the crowd, spotting Liam waving me over from a corner table, smiling ear to ear. I wave. His earlier text about getting engaged sent shockwaves through the team, sparking this celebration, which is clearly in full swing. We knew he was dating and really into his girl, but none of us expected it to move this fast. Good for him. Glasses are raised, voices louder than usual, and judging by Liam’s smile, he’s enjoying every second of it.
Before I head to our table, I find the two faces I’m looking for sitting at the bar—Daniels and Graham, the detectives handling Maddie’s break-in. Adjusting course, I walk over to talk to them.
“Evening.” I lean against the counter of the bar. “Got a second?”
Daniels raises his beer while Graham nods with a somber expression.
“Rickter,” Daniels greets me gruffly. “What can we do you for?”
“Do you have any updates on the break-in at the Driftwood?” I keep my tone light, but my stomach is in knots, bracing for the answer.
Daniels shakes his head. “Not much. We found his footprints near the cottage. Size ten, male. Looks like he went in through the door and out the window. The strange part? We think he followed her back after leaving hours earlier.”
“What the fuck? Hours—” I exhale. “Then it’s personal? A stalker?”
“Maddie said she saw someone outside after the break-in. He was carrying a weapon, possibly a knife. He was wearing gloves, so there were no prints, and he bailed after she screamed. Probably assumed the guests in the inn could hear her.” He pauses, uncertain whether to continue. “We also found some masking tape in bushes near the cottage. That suggests he planned to take her but didn’t move fast enough.”
“Damn it,” I mutter, running a hand through my hair. My mind races, piecing together the implications. “Whoever this is, they’re not just after Nathan’s notes. They’re after Maddie.”
Daniels’s face is grim. “That’s how it looks. But we’ve got nothing definitive yet. Whoever it was knew what they were doing. Like we said, no prints, no fibers—professional, if I had to guess.”
