David put his hand on the bartender’s shoulder and squeezed. The poor guy looked pretty miserable. “You okay, man?”
“I’m sorry I didn’t figure out what she was up to sooner. Every night, it was like she’d turn into a pumpkin if she didn’t make it back to her room on time. Never understood why.”
“We’re grateful you found her at all.” Vic stepped forward and shook Griffin’s hand. “Thank you. If you’d like to cruise again, or come to Fantasy Mountain, it’s on us.”
Griffin managed a dull smile. “Thanks. Um, I think you might want to do some more checking up on Peyton, though. My gut tells me she didn’t do this on her own. For one thing, how’d she get an iPad on board? They practically did a body cavity search on us. Anything electronic got checked and put in a bag with our name at port.”
“Do you have any ideas?” Brett asked, joining the little congregation.
Griffin shrugged. “Nothing concrete. But I do know she’s highly motivated by money. I bet somebody was paying her to do this. Judging by what I read in her posts, somebody who doesn’t like you much.”
“Back to that again,” Brett muttered. “We’ve a PI in Salt Lake. Perhaps we’ll see what he can dig up. Thank you.” He also shook Griffin’s hand. “You’re a fireman?”
Griffin nodded. “Just got a promotion to lieutenant.”
Brett smiled. “On the fast track, then. Well, should you ever grow tired of life on the outside, we could certainly use a man with your knowledge at Fantasy Mountain. Right now, our fire team consists of yearly emergency training for the security guys.”
Griffin cringed. “That’s a pretty remote location, isn’t it? Maybe I could come do some consulting.”
“That would be fantastic, as well,” Brett answered. “Say. Would you care to join us for dinner at the captain’s table? Honorary guest?”
Griffin took a step back. “Sorry, but I’m not really up to it. Some down time sounds pretty good tonight.”
Man, he really had fallen for that rotten little blogger.
Vic nodded. “Email me directly if you’d like to come see us. We’ll make all the travel arrangements. And thanks again.”
Griffin turned to David. “Come see me tomorrow before you leave.”
He wasn’t sure if he could face Griffin, now that his real identity was out in the open, and the identity of the couple he’d been talking about. But maybe he’d better–it’d give him an idea whether the info was safe with Griffin. God knew it was some juicy shit to go back and share around the firehouse. He nodded. “Deal. Hang in there, huh?”
Griffin mock-punched his biceps, then turned and walked away. Mark and Carmyn smiled at him on his way out.
When he’d gone and the door had shut behind him, Vic said, “Nice guy. That little witch broke his heart, didn’t she?”
“I think so,” David answered.
“You two seem pretty tight.” Vic cocked an eyebrow at him. Damn, it was like she could see into his soul. And after he’d been such a dick to her for telling Carmyn about them, what could she be thinking?
“He’s uh…a good bartender.”
Vic nodded. Was it possible she understood how much he’d needed to talk to somebody about their situation? Could she know how much he felt, that this hadn’t been only sex for him, not since waking up in their bed the first time?
Britt cleared his throat. “Right, then. Shall we dine?”
* * * *
Could this dinner possible take any longer? David was seated with Britt on his left, Carmyn on his right, and Vic directly across from him. While her foot in his lap had provided the high points of the night, he didn’t much like watching Rafe whispering things in her ear. Judging by her eye rolls, she wasn’t wild about it, either. “Should change his name from Wyndham to Wyndbag,” he muttered.
Britt shouldered him in an effort to show good humor. “No doubt.” Rafe had spoken to Britt twice, once calling him “Bert” and the other “Brent.”
On his other side, Carmyn completely missed their conversation. She’d been stuck with endless questions from Mick most of the night. How that dumb reporter had managed to get seated right next the captain…oh. The captain did seem to share a hell of a lot of looks with Mick. Eww. Must be what Vic had meant about the captain being busy. How did she know so much?
And how did she manage to give him the foot job of a lifetime under the table, without giving it away at all on her face?
Sitting still was hard as hell.
“Hey, I know who you are.” Rafe tilted his head at David, narrowing his eyes. Shit, here it was. “Auditions for the movie about the surf contest.”