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“I left that book you lent me at the lodge. I know it’s a lot to ask, but can you bring it to me. If not, I’ll ask one of my men to drive out there to get it.”
She could call Billy and ask him to get coverage for her shifts for the next couple of days. “I’ll bring it.”
“Good. I was hoping you’d say that.”
“Why?”
He hesitated. “I’m not sure I have an adequate answer to that question.” But she thought she might. They’d connected in a way that rarely happened, and he needed the comfort of her friendship now. Someone to lean on. And, like a pararescueman diving into a storm, she would jump in and provide for his needs even if it cost her everything.
Chapter Thirteen
GavinsatbesideGraysonin his brother’s hotel suite. Scott used the spare key Gray had given him to let himself in.
“Please tell me you found her,” Gavin said.
“Not yet, boss. I’ve get everyone looking.”
“That isn’t good enough.”
A text came through, so he glanced down to read it.
Sam: Valet is parking my car. Meet me in the lobby.
“I need to head down to the lobby. A friend of mine just drove three hours to bring me something that may or may not help.”
“Why didn’t you take the jet back to Benton. Don’t they have an airport?”
“There airport isn’t meant for jets. I’d have to fly into Avoca. I don’t know why I didn’t, except that maybe I thought my presence here was necessary.”
“Bring this girl up here. I want to meet the woman who has fried my brother’s brain.”
“All I can think of right now is Cate. Once she’s home, if Samantha is still in the picture we can discuss whether or not she’s affecting my mental capacity, but now is not that time.”
“You’re right. I apologize. Let’s see if this book she brought can somehow help us find our sister.”
Gavin took the elevator down to the lobby, and his eyes lit on Samantha. She lifted the book for him to see, but in that moment, he was more concerned with seeing her. He stepped forward and drew her into his arms embracing her in a crushing hug and clinging to her like a lifeline. After a couple of seconds he realized she probably wasn’t ready for the display of affection. “Sorry. Got carried away.”
“It’s fine.” Her eyes searched his, and he was pretty sure she found what she was looking for when she stepped close and kissed his cheek. “I didn’t just come here to bring the book.”
He lifted her chin so he could see her beautiful eyes. Then he kissed her gently on the lips. An acknowledgment that she was more than an employee and a friend. The last time he’d gotten mixed up with an employee had been a mistake, but Sam wasn’t a regular employee, and he’d twisted her arm to get her to sign the contract. And he wasn’t above firing her either. He didn’t think she’d mind much.
Samanthastudiedthefacesof the men surrounding her. She was the sole woman at the table. Scott had suggested they convene a meeting in the rotunda of the Fisher Fine Arts library. It was a place Cate frequented, so he surmised that some of her friends might pop in and out allowing them the chance to question them and find out if they knew where she might be. His logic made sense, but she was exhausted and hoped to get a room so she could catch a quick nap.
While she had every intention of staying up with Gavin, she also recognized that without a twenty-minute reprieve, her brain would cease to function at its best. She studied the grand space while listening to the men talk. The high, arching windows flooded the space with late afternoon light.
Grayson droned on about the names he was reading in her book. It seemed he knew many of the historic figures in the book and how they connected to the drafting of the constitution among other things. “I’ve seen this symbol before.”
“Yeah. What is it then?” Scott asked.
“It’s clear from Samantha’s book, that it is the logo for a secret society that calls themselves the Continental Alliance. But that’s not why I recognize it. It was on an invitation I received to join a fraternity back when I was attending university.”
“You never mentioned that.”
“I never was the frat boy type. When I refused to join, I was given another invitation to join a chess club. I chose to politely decline.”
“You don’t even play chess.”
“Hence my reason for declining.”
