Page 71 of Breached

“I guess I wore you out.” He kissed my jaw with a dark chuckle. “You really are my favorite workout.”

I stepped out of his hold, knowing where his touch could lead. “Behave, Paul,” I warned.

“I never once agreed to that.” He shrugged playfully but stepped back, knowing we had much more important things to deal with. “All right, so, we’ll head into town around sixteen hundred. Does that work for you?” he asked.

“Yes,” I checked my watch, “let me touch base with Jack, and then I’m all yours.”

“Great. I need to get back to my team, and I’ll meet you at the garage.”

He lifted my chin with his finger and kissed me. Then he smiled and left as I hurried off to make my call.

Though spring tried her best to make herself be felt, the sun still grew tired early. It sat low in the sky, its golden glow a promise that the moon would soon take over. Cradled in the mountain peaks shooting different colors of orange and red across the cotton candy clouds, it was glorious to look at.

I leaned my head against the truck window and spun my finger in the air as if to wrap the whipped sugar around it.

“Are you nervous?” Paul broke my moment, and I repeated his question in my head.

“No,” I sat up, “more just uneasy, as I haven’t been back since…” I trailed off. “It’ll be a good thing.”

“It will be for Zack.” He nodded, but I could see his discomfort too.

We made small talk until we arrived in town. Paul avoided the lot at the restaurant and parked down the street. The others were never far from our thoughts.

“Let’s take a short walk around before we go in,” Paul suggested. “Do you think you’ll be warm enough?”

“Yes, it’s a good idea.” I buttoned my coat and took his arm. “I’m not in a hurry to go to Zack’s. I wonder if it will ever feel the same again.”

“He’s a good guy, so we can’t avoid his place. We’ll get past it, and⁠—"

“What?” I tried to see what Paul saw, and the hair on my neck rose at the sight of a couple of guys smoking next to the post office. “Do you recognize them?”

“I’m not sure, but somehow they don’t fit,” he replied, and I shivered as his grip on my hand tightened. We crossed the street together and avoided looking at them. “Let’s head to Zack’s.”

“Hey,” Paul said as we stepped inside, “don’t leave my side for any reason, okay? That includes the restroom.”

“Copy that.” I knew how quickly a situation could turn serious.

Zack found us immediately and shook hands with Paul and gave me a hug. Then he led us to a table in the far back corner that allowed Paul to face the restaurant but kept us out of view of any windows. My back was to everyone, and I didn’t like it, but I knew it was his way of protecting me and keeping an eye on everyone around us.

“Your order is almost ready.” Zack smiled. “It’s so good to see you both.” He swallowed hard, and Paul gave his forearm a solid squeeze before he went back to the bar. Paul had ordered ahead for the two of us, and I was starving. I bit into the turkey and happily chewed. The sandwich with gooseberry jam and savory spices made me moan, and Paul chuckled at my happy face.

“Where have you been all my life? Because you and I can never be apart again.” I addressed the sandwich. “I’ve never even heard of a gooseberry until today, but you know what? We’re going to be best friends from now on.” I smacked my lips as I spoke to the two pieces of bread like they were puppies. I looked over at Paul, who had suddenly gone quiet. His gaze was fixed on something. I shifted in my chair, about to follow his line of sight, when his legs suddenly squeezed mine and held me in place.

“Don’t move.”

“What do you see?”

Paul reached for his water glass. “Three years into my time in Rosarito, Bruno hired a couple of idiot brothers to watch over some cocaine he brought up from El Salvador. I remember them well because one of them had a messed-up birthmark that ran from his right eyebrow across to his ear—inherited defect from their father, I was told.” He smiled as if we were just in normal conversation. “Anyway, they dipped into the product one night, and when I came by looking for Bruno, I found them strung out in the pool with a bunch of women. Bruno fired them, but the fact I’m seeing them now, I think he just might have rehired them.”

I put my sandwich down. “What?”

“Yup, they’re on the other side of the restaurant, trying very hard not to look at us.”

I brushed my fingers clean on a napkin, then grabbed my purse and started to stand. Paul reached for my hand. “No, Paul,” I said clearly, and his face fell. “You’re not the only one who might recognize Bruno’s people. Let me order a drink from the bar and have a quick look around. It’s twenty feet away from you and in clear view.” Slowly, his grip loosened, and he sat back with a quick nod of agreement.

Scanning a room for danger was like breathing for me; it was what I did. I constantly searched for trouble in my line of work. The only difference was this time I didn’t need to angle my body to help my cameraman get the right shot.

“One lemonade, please,” I asked Zack, who had quickly stepped up before the bartender could.