Breath of Scandal(135)

"Ten days."

"You nag worse than Deidre," he complained.

"Your wife is no less than an angel, Speaking of which, how are my twin goddaughters?"

Dillon came into her office just as she was hanging up the telephone. "You look happy."

"I was talking to Hank."

"Does he always make you smile like that?" he asked sourly.

"Sometimes." He harrumphed sarcastically. He'd been in a foul mood ever since the torrential rains, which had turned the construction site into a hazardous quagmire. Dillon had finally relented and called a stop to the excavation until the weather cooperated and the ground dried out.

The delay had created an understandable glitch in his schedule. He was the only one who considered that unacceptable and was now driving himself and everyone else to the limit to make up for the lost time. He smiled even less frequently than before. Today, his disposition was especially truculent.

There was a wedge-shaped sweat stain on the front of his tank top. His boots and jeans were dusty. He had left his hard hat outside, but not his sunglasses. He was twirling them by the stem. Rather than looking like an idle, relaxed gesture, it conveyed pent-up frustration. His lips were firmly clamp beneath his mustache.

He hadn't touched her since that day at the deserted plantation house. Their conversations were kept strictly to business. Nevertheless, what he had said before they parted company was still very much on Jade's mind. If she doubted the resolution behind his, "No way," all she had to do was look into his eyes now.

"Did you want to see me about something in particular, Dillon?"

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"Yeah, dinner." "Excuse me?"

"Dinner. Let's have dinner."

"Fine. I'll call Cathy. I'm sure she won't mind setting an extra place."

"That's not what I'm talking about. " He approached her desk. "Let's go to dinner together. You and I alone." "You mean like a date?"

"Exactly like a date." "When?"

"Soon.- "Why?91 "Why not?"

Their eyes made sizzling contact.

lade raised a hand to her throat and fiddled with the broach she had pinned there. He planted his fists, knuckles down, on the edge of her desk and leaned across it. "Well?" he asked crossly. "Is there something wrong with us having dinner together? Or don't you like it if the man is the one who's buying?"

She took affront at that. There was a distinct chill in her voice when she said, "I'll check with Cathy and see which night would be best for her to stay with Graham. Then I'll-" She broke off and stood up suddenly. "Dillon, is Graham here yet?"

"I don't think so."

"You haven't seen him?"

"Not today. Not since he got sick, in fact. Were you expecting him?,,

She rounded her desk and rushed to the door of the trailer, throwing it Open. Loner was dozing in the shade on the step. He raised his head and regarded her indifferently. If Graham were around, no matter how hot it was, Loner would be tagging after him, not napping in the shade. She scanned the immediate area but saw no sign of Graham or his bicycle.

"What time is it?" She was surrounded by clocks and was wearing a wristwatch; her question was reflexive. "Going on five. Why?"



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Sandra Brown



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Sidestepping Dillon, she returned to her desk and picked up the telephone. "It's been over an hour since Graham called me," she said as she punched out her home phone number. "He should be here by now."

"Maybe he didn't leave right after he called."

She shook her head. "He was chomping at the bit to get here before the crew knocked off for the day.... Hi, Cathy. Is Graham there?" Hearing the dreaded answer, her fingers tightened around the telephone cord. "Yes, I know he called, but he's not here yet."

"What did she say?" Dillon asked when Jade hung up. "Exactly what I was afraid she would say. He left as soon as he called. Cathy was standing right there. She waved him off. She's leaving now on her way here to see if she spots him along the way."

"Maybe one of his friends waylaid him."

"He's conscientious. He knew I was expecting him. He would be here ... unless something has happened to him. " Dillon caught her by the shoulders as she dashed toward



the door again. "Jade, he's fourteen years old. Boys that age are easily distracted and lose track of time. Graham can take care of himself. Don't panic."

"He's too afraid that this privilege will be revoked to waste time getting here. Something's happened to him." She worked her shoulders out of his grasp and left the portable building. She had no specific plan in mind. She was propelled by adrenaline to act, to move, to locate Graham immediately.

"Where are you going?9

"To look for him." She climbed into her Cherokee. "You can't go chasing around ain-dessly," he argued. "If he shows up, how will we know where to find you?" "Let's worry about finding him first."

As she was reaching to close the door, she spotted the El Dorado turning in off the highway. Recognizing it instantly, she sprang from her car.