“My apologies, Agent Keller,” the First Lady said. “I’m not myself today. You’ve proven yourself dedicated to our family on more than one occasion. I don’t believe I ever got the chance to thank you. Or to apologize for Farrah’s behavior.”
Griffin was uncomfortable with the woman’s words. “No need, ma’am. It’s part of the job.”
The First Lady’s face relaxed. “Well, not all of it. But I’m glad you’re such a good sport. I’m also very grateful that Marin has you to watch over her.” She patted him on the shoulder.
“Mr. President,” the president’s chief of staff interrupted them. “We’re ready to brief you on how we’d like to spin the story of the art thefts once the details reach the media.”
Both the Mannings sighed. The First Lady gave her husband a smile that clearly conveyed a silent message because he nodded briefly before leaning in to kiss her on the cheek. He followed his chief of staff into the center hall.
“Arabelle,” the First Lady called to her granddaughter. “Let’s get you into the bathtub. Your daddy will be home from the hospital soon.”
The little girl jumped up off the sofa. “Good. We have to tell him about Grandma Bita.” Arabelle stopped in front of Griffin, looking up at him with her big, earnest eyes. “Maybe Daddy can go with you and Marin to get her?”
Marin stood behind the child, clutching the book she’d been reading to her chest. She wore a stricken look on her face. Griffin crouched down on his haunches so he was eye level with Arabelle. “Your daddy would be a big help tonight, that’s true. But he gets to be a hero every day at the hospital. How about if tonight he stays home and keeps you company? Then us other guys will get a chance at being a hero. Okay?”
Arabelle’s bottom lip trembled. “Only if you promise that Grandma Bita and Marin will be here tomorrow.”
The First Lady bent down and wrapped an arm around her granddaughter. “Sweetheart, we need to let Agent Keller go now.”
“But he hasn’t promised yet,” the child said mulishly.
Damn.It was one thing to be evasive with the First Lady. Dodging a preschooler was a hell of a lot trickier. No way Arabelle was going to let him get away with an “I’ll do my best.” Griffin crossed his fingers behind his back. “I promise,” he said, hoping he hadn’t just coopted the whole stinking op.
Arabelle threw her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder.
“Thank you,” the First Lady mouthed before she pulled her granddaughter away.
* * *
Marin blinked back the tears in her eyes watching the exchange between Griffin and Arabelle. Griffin was a man who didn’t make promises. Especially about the future. She knew that point only too well. But he’d told the child what she needed to hear, and for that, she loved him just a little bit more.
“Jesus, I hope my sister has a boy.” Griffin dragged his fingers through his hair as he got to his feet. “Little girls have some scary powers.”
“And then they turn into big girls,” Marin said softly.
The air in the room seemed to evaporate when Griffin’s smoldering gaze collided with hers. His eyes were dark and his body tense. Still, he kept his distance. Marin was grateful for his self-control because she would likely shatter if he touched her.
“Yes,” he murmured, “yes, they do.”
Five feet separated them as they stood staring at one another in the charged silence for a long moment.
“How are you?” he finally asked.
“I’m not sure,” she admitted. “Numb probably best describes it. I feel as though I’m living in an alternate universe where nothing is as it seems. Every day, this whole thing just gets more and more unbelievable.” She placed Arabelle’s book on the table before wrapping her arms around her midsection. “This man wants to kill me because I saw his face. But Arabelle has seen him too. What will happen to her?”
She began to tremble. Griffin quickly closed the distance between them, but Marin took a step back when he would have taken her in his arms. He swore.
“Nothing is going to happen to Arabelle, because this ends tonight.”
“And Bita? What will happen to her?”
Griffin arched an eyebrow. “She’s a thief. One who, as you just pointed out, put her innocent granddaughter in danger. Not to mention you, too.”
Marin turned toward the window. “I know. Like I said, none of this makes any sense. Except I understand now how you thought I might be the thief. Because I never would have suspected Bita. I still can’t believe it.”
She felt the warmth of his body at her back as he came to stand behind her. Thankfully, he kept his hands to himself. They stood like that for a few minutes watching as dusk turned to darkness.
“The admiral has arranged for you to call and talk to your parents before you have to go back to the safe house.”