I’d walk to her right now if I didn’t think my dad would read too much into it. I’d pull her into my arms for a comforting hug the way I’m doing with her mom. But I don’t feel like giving him fodder to get in my business. My feelings for Jess and our relationship are far too complicated to explain, and besides, my mind is rightfully focused on other things.
“He’ll get caught,” I assure her. “The police will do their own thing, but Bebe has facial-recognition software that’s beyond belief. It identified a French fugitive in Antigua from traffic cams, so we’ll be working on this too.”
Jess nods, her expression still deeply troubled, but I can’t provide her more than that right now.
Glancing at my dad, I ask, “Can I use your office for a bit? I’ve got calls to make.”
“Sure,” he says easily and then says to Claire and Jess, “Ladies… why don’t we get Thea and let her swim in the pool? I’ll have my housekeeper whip us up a big breakfast with cocktails. That will take the edge off.”
Without a word, Claire leaves my side and precedes my dad out of the office. Jess starts to follow but then hesitates. Turning back to me, she says, “You saved my life.”
I lift a shoulder, downplaying such a statement.
“Since the day we met, you’ve always looked out for me.”
“I always will, JJ,” I reply.
“Even when Chase was…” Her words drift off, eyes sliding away as if she’s embarrassed to bring him up. But she inhales, lets it out, and then locks her eyes with mine. “Even when Chase wouldn’t commit, you were looking out for me.”
I blink in surprise. I never shared with her my opinions about Chase. I wanted to preserve the sanctity of our three-way friendship.
“I saw you two the night before he left to go back to California, out on the back patio. You were pressuring him to commit to me, and he wouldn’t. He said he didn’t want to be pinned down, and you were so pissed, I thought you were going to hit him.”
I don’t know what to say. I’m afraid if I try to make sense of our argument, I might admit that deep down, I was glad Chase didn’t propose. Because somewhere in my warped brain, I was holding out hope that Jess would be mine one day.
“If only Chase had one-tenth of the loyalty you do…” Again, her words trail off as if she doesn’t want to finish that sentiment. She instead walks up to me, puts her hands on my chest, and rises up to kiss me on the cheek. “I’ve never said it before, but I love you, Dozer. No one could ask for better in their life than you.”
Christ, my damn cheeks fire up in a blush, as if I’ve just been asked to the prom by the prettiest girl in school. Her kiss has my head spinning, and the fact she said I love you has rendered me mute. I can do nothing but smile at her. She turns on her heel to leave, and I touch the place where she kissed me, remembering the softness of her lips, trying to analyze the reason behind her words because surely, she meant she only loves me as a friend.
When she walks out of the office, she shuts the door behind her, and I blink out of my stupor. Jess is complicated and much needs to be figured out, but there are more pressing things to attend to.
I need to call Bebe.
CHAPTER 5
Dozer
Alone in my dad’s office, I move to his desk. It’s glass and chrome and faces large windows that overlook the dock and a very nice boat moored there. I didn’t know my dad was a boat guy, but I suspect there’s a lot about him I don’t know.
I sit at his desk, pull out my phone, and start to dial Bebe when my eyes catch on a picture frame. It’s one of those with spots for three photos.
Warmth spreads across my chest when I focus on the pictures and note they’re all of me and my dad. One of me and him on the football field after he’d won a game in Miami—I look to be about four or five, and I don’t remember it. He has me up on his shoulder, his helmet in one hand and his other holding me tight so I don’t fall. The middle picture is of me after winning first place in a science camp project. I do remember that one—I was in fifth grade, my grin full of metal braces as I hold up the trophy. And the last picture is of me, my mom, and my dad, taken at my high school graduation. Mom had already moved out of the house and had a scarf around her head as she’d lost her hair from the chemo. But all three of us are smiling broadly, and I dare say, my father looks proud.