Page 144 of The Deadly Shallows

“It really is delicious,” Emmy said, scooting over on the couch so Austin could take a seat.

“That would be great.”

“Three frosty root beers coming up.” Logan disappeared down the white hall on the left.

She waited until he was out of earshot. “I didn’t picture Logan’s home looking so . . . refined.” She studied the canvas travel pictures donning the right wall. “Does he travel a lot?” Had he really been to all those places?

“Yes,” Emmy said.

“I didn’t realize CGIS paid so well,” Austin said.

Caleb chuckled. “It doesn’t.” He lowered his mouth to her ear and whispered, “Trust-fund kid,” as Logan rounded the corner, three literal frosty mugs in hand.

“Three root beers.” Logan handed a vintage glass mug with a red Frostie logo to Austin. She wrapped her fingers around the handle, the cold penetrating her otherwise warm fingers. “Careful, the mugs have been in the freezer,” Logan said.

“Got it.” She wiggled her fingers. “Thanks.”

“Dinner’s almost ready,” he said.

“Can I help set the table?” Emmy offered.

“That would be great.”

Emmy stood and followed him into the kitchen.

Austin hadn’t seen Logan as a trust-fund kid, but it fit now that she thought about it. But why work as a CGIS agent when he could live off his inheritance? Apparently, he wasn’t a sit-on-your-bahookie type of guy. Her esteem for him grew even more.

“Give it a taste,” Caleb said, a line of froth donning his upper lip.

She fought the urge to reach out and wipe it away. Anything to touch his strong yet gentle lips, but she held herself at bay. Besides, after her first sip, she’d probably have the same. Lifting the mug to her lips, she took a swallow. “Wow!”

“Good, right?” Caleb said, swiping the foam from his lips—lips he had pressed to hers not long ago.

“It’s delicious.”

“If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to wash up before dinner,” Caleb said, standing.

“Of course.” Sitting by herself, she reached over for the Coastal Living magazine on the end table. To her surprise, she discovered a Bible under it. It had notes sticking out of it. She wanted to pick it up and flip through it, but respecting Logan’s privacy, she restrained herself and re-covered it with the magazine.

Caleb returned and sat next to her.

She leaned over and whispered in his ear. “Logan has a Bible on that end table.”

Caleb’s brows arched. “Seriously?”

“I took the magazine off the table to flip through, and it was sitting under it.” She tapped the magazine. “I wonder if Emmy knows.”

“That would make a big difference for them,” Caleb said.

Austin wrestled with the desire to tell Emmy, but it wasn’t really her place. If Emmy didn’t already know whether Logan had committed his life to Christ or was just searching, he would tell her when he was ready.

“Hey, guys,” Noah greeted his team via Zoom from his hotel room. He and Brooke found a hotel near the airport, but he doubted he’d be able to sleep. Too much was happening for them and his team.

“So how did your meeting with John Mirch go?” Rissi asked.

“Well, he was really helpful,” Noah said. “As a twice-decorated senior chief corpsman who did three tours in Afghanistan, you can imagine how he felt when Scott’s crimes brought disgrace on his family’s reputation, but it gets worse.”

“Seriously?” Logan gave a sarcastic chuckle. “How does it get worse than that?”