Page 50 of Breached

“I used to run in college,” Jenny added and tossed Keith a flirty smile, not that he noticed. The guy was great, but he sure did miss the female cues.

“And you couldn’t have shared that three days ago when we signed up?” Liza glared at her.

“Where would the fun be in that?” Jenny winked at Keith and then clapped her hands. “Come on, Liza, it’s five minutes back to the car, and then you’ll be rid of me.” She turned and began to jog.

“Fine,” Liza called and dropped her head back with a sigh as she looked at Keith. “Great to see you. Are you doing okay?” She leaned in for a quick hug, her face full of concern.

“I’m fine,” Keith assured her.

“I’m glad. I know it must be terribly hard. I’m thinking about you,” she glanced at me, “all of you,” she added and left it at that. “Now, where was I? Oh, yes! My death.” She grinned, then waved and ran off.

I lowered my head and tried to hide my smile, but it was no use—Keith could feel it.

“Liza is a really great person,” he huffed.

“She is.” I looked at the ladies running up the street, and Keith joined me.

“Not a word,” he warned.

“I never said a thing.”

“You didn’t need to—I could hear it.” He pointed to his head.

“I’m just surprised you noticed.”

“Noticed what?” He picked up a box and ignored me while we finished loading up. Then we climbed into the SUV and headed toward Shadows.

I drove this time and kept one hand on the wheel and the other on the gear shift as my wheels spun. It had been fun witnessing another woman put herself out there for Keith and him not knowing how to deal with it. I eyed him and felt a little Mark Lopez come over me.

“So, are you thinking about the teacher?”

“No?” he said a little too quickly.

“Mm,” I nodded, “’cause I could have sworn you were pining over her, you know, JLo’s long-lost twin.”

His head snapped toward me. “No, she⁠—”

I cut him off. “Just don’t be fooled by the rocks she’s got.”

Silence.

“You did not just say that.”

I glanced over like he just accused me of committing a war crime. “What? Man, I’m just making conversation.”

“Mmhm, sure.”

“All I’m saying is if you like her, love don’t cost a thing.”

He rolled his eyes, and I chuckled, impressed that I even remembered the lyrics to a Jennifer Lopez song.

I knew he was still interested in Liza, but it was fun to give him shit here and there.

“I think we need a break from Mark,” he muttered, and I laughed, thinking how much we all needed that man in our lives.

We pulled through the checkpoints and eventually drove up and around to the house. We saw the kids at the top of the hill. The wind had come up, and they had their kites out. That reminded me I should test out the drone. I’d been waiting for a windy day to see how it performed. I pulled out my phone and texted West to get him and the guys to come outside with it. I knew that would make them happy.

“Hello?” Keith answered his phone and hit my arm at the same time. “Ah, yeah, but the last time I saw her, she was in town.” He listened and then looked at me with confusion written all over his face. “Okay, keep an eye on her and give us a few—we’ll head down on foot. Thanks, Peter.”