Page 44 of Shallow Remains

Allistair looked at Xanthe, who was technically his boss, face brightening. “Oh my God, could I?”

“I recently heard about a rescue dog that can detect whales by sniffing out scat floating on the water. If you can find one that does that, I’d be open to it. We could take it with us on research trips,” she said, setting her pencil down to examine her drawing.

“So coldly logical, even when it comes to pets.” He shook his head. “What about you, Mads? Got any dating horror stories to share?”

“I don’t date much.” Or ever, really.

“But? I sense a but.”

Maddy darted a glance around the table, unsure what to say, if anything. She was a shit liar, everyone knew that. Plus she’d just asked about Lachlan.

Allistair’s eyes lit up. “Oh, there is someone. Tell.”

She shifted in her seat, shooting a guilty look toward Xanthe. This kind of conversation was totally foreign to her. She wasn’t sure what the etiquette was, and this was complicated because everyone here knew him.

Watching her intently, Xanthe raised her eyebrows a fraction. “Are you seeing someone?”

“I… Sort of.” Nothing serious or even spelled out clearly, but she liked him enough to risk seeing where it went.

Xanthe’s silver eyes widened in understanding. “Oh my God, is it Lachlan?”

TWENTY-ONE

Allistair gasped in the sudden silence. “Is it?” he demanded, and grinned at Maddy like a maniac. “Girl, spill. Right the hell now.” He set an elbow on the table and propped his chin on his fist, full attention riveted on her. “This is amazing. That man is fine.”

“I second that,” Bronwyn said, plunking her brush into her water jar and folding her arms. “We’re gonna need all the details.”

“Good for you,” Willow told Maddy with an approving nod. “Now tell us everything.”

They were all watching her expectantly. Waiting for details she didn’t want to give. “There’s not really anything to tell, I⁠—”

“When did this start?” Allistair asked.

“Um, yesterday.” That hug at the door before he left had shifted everything.

Xanthe made an exasperated sound and swatted her arm. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me. What happened?”

“Nothing, I just went with him to the San Juans this afternoon and⁠—”

“And?” Allistair prompted when she stopped short, hanging on her every word. It seemed like they all were.

She opened her mouth. Closed it because Lachlan might not want anyone to know. Now she wished she’d kept her stupid mouth shut and not said anything at all.

“Did he kiss you?” Xanthe asked.

She could feel the blood suffusing her face.

“Hell yeah, he did,” Bronwyn said with a satisfied grin. “Look at her. Girl, never play poker for money.”

Maddy cleared her throat. “I only asked about him before in case you knew of any red flags or whatever,” she said to Xanthe, wishing this whole conversation had never happened. Her sense of timing sucked, and her girl talk game wasn’t much better.

“I can’t think of any reason to warn you away from him. Love the guy. Except he hasn’t been in a serious relationship for a long time, for obvious reasons.”

The look in Xanthe’s eyes said something more. Concern. Maybe because she was aware of Maddy’s lack of experience with men. Or maybe because Lachlan wasn’t and never would be over his late wife.

“Okay. Thanks.” It wasn’t like she wanted to marry him. She didn’t even know if she was capable of falling in love.

Thankfully, the conversation switched over to Willow and Tripp’s wedding while everyone painted. Maddy kept quiet, bringing Oscar to life little by little. Enjoying the process more than she expected.