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I walk through Shaw’s office and stop at Gail’s desk, lifting her out of her chair in a bear hug. She slaps at my back, mumbling something into my shirt as she tries to squirm away.
When I put her down, she straightens her blouse and pinches one cheek roughly. “Such a showboat.”
“Not at all, just glad to see you.”
“Glad to see me or trying to gain an ally?” She slants her head with a knowing twinkle in her eye.
Gail has been Shaw’s assistant since he started at the agency. She’s an extended part of our family, and he couldn’t make it one day without her. Even if she doesn’t admit it out loud, I’m convinced I’m her favorite.
“Nah, he’s already cussed me out, but it was worth the verbal beat-down to watch him. You should have seen it!”
Her face spreads into a wide motherly smile. “I wish I could have been there.”
“Is he busy?” I glance over my shoulder at Shaw’s closed privacy blinds.
“Never too busy for you. He was on the phone, and I suspect it was with Bizzy because he closed the blinds on his own.” She winks, and I grab my stomach in disgust.
“Stop! I don’t even want to know what that conversation could have been about. Those two are ridiculous.”
“Being in love is not ridiculous. Still, you should probably knock first,” she warns, pushing me toward his door.
I knock then poke my head through when Shaw yells to come in.
“Got a second?” I close the door and go to his sofa.
“This is a surprise. Everything okay?” He stands and comes around the desk, leaning against the edge.
“I need a favor. An off-the-books, keep your mouth shut, don’t breathe a word type favor.”
He raises an eyebrow, crossing his arms. “I’m listening.”
“I need to find someone, someone special.”
“Anyone specific or are we talking blind date type of thing?”
I jerk my head at him, wondering what the fuck he’s saying. Then it hits me. “No, you dumbass. It’s someone from my past, someone I lost touch with, and I think she’s in Miami.”
“Oh.”
“You thought I’d come to you to find me a date? Are you insane?”
He shrugs. “Stranger things have happened.”
“Well, this isn’t like that.”
“What is it like?”
I fall back and tilt my head to the ceiling, knowing I’m going to regret this. “I met a girl in college. We had a great date, and then she disappeared. Something happened, but I don’t know what. I never saw her again until the Foundation Dinner a few nights ago.”
“You want me to find a girl you had a date with? Is that code for fucking?”
“No, asshole! This is different. We met at a party and spent the whole time talking. By the end of the night, I asked her out. The second night, I took her on a date, and it was much the same. The chemistry was insane. You know I didn’t date, but she was the exception. She was incredible. When I left her, we had plans for the next night. Except, I never saw her again. She didn’t answer her phone, and by the third day of not hearing from her, I learned from her roommate there was a family emergency. I received one text then not another word. Then came the draft and graduation, and I got caught up in the hype. But I never forgot her.”
“Why would she be in Miami?”
“I don’t know, but I saw her. It was a brief second, but there’s no doubt it was her.”
“It’s been a while since you left Tallahassee, and you were drinking. Are you sure it was her?”
