One Smooth Stone. Marcia Lee Laycock
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Alex wondered how George would look dripping with the oil-slicked water that lapped below them. He shoved his hands into his pockets.
Kenni smiled. “It’s fairly calm today. I’m sure you’ll love it, Alex.”
He scanned the sleek sailboat bobbing gently at the dock, noticing “The Angel” written in large flowing letters on its side. “Whose boat?”
“Mine.” The gray-haired man standing behind her took a step forward. He was dressed in navy and white, looking like he’d just stepped out of a sailing magazine. Alex was once again conscious of his T-shirt, jeans and shaggy hair.
“Alex, this is Drew Adams, my father.” She slipped under the man’s arm. “This is Alex Donnelly, Dad.”
The man’s handshake was firm, his blue eyes more startling than his daughter’s. “Good to meet you, Alex. Kenni has told me a lot about you.”
“Oh?”
Drew winked at Kenni and squeezed her shoulder. “She’s the best researcher we’ve got.” He dropped his arm. “But let’s stop jawing on the wharf. The day’s a-wasting.” They moved to board as Drew turned toward the bow. “Cast off for us, will you, George?”
George bent to untie the ropes securing the boat to the dock, then leaped onto the deck as it began to drift away. Drew turned the key and the engine rumbled instantly. He maneuvered the craft out of the harbor, and before Alex realized it they were out in the open, the bow cutting cleanly through the water.
“Alex, over here.” Kenni waved him toward her. He moved slowly, joining her just as she took a step down into the hold. She smiled up at him. “Come on in.”
Alex peered down the short staircase. He couldn’t see anything beyond her, just a dim space. He felt the color drain from his face as he took a step back and shook his head, his fingers massaging the raised white line on his neck.
“I’ll stay up here,” he said.
Kenni frowned slightly. “Okay. Sure. I’ll be right up.”
She returned a few minutes later carrying four life jackets and a windbreaker, which she held out to him. “You might find it cool.” Alex pulled it on and buckled the life jacket over it, pulling the straps tight. When he was done she smiled at him as she slipped into her own life jacket. “Good. Now if you fall in, we won’t lose you.”
“I can swim,” he countered, wishing he hadn’t sounded so defensive.
“Great. But the water’s a little cool for swimming, out this far.”
She must think I’m a dolt. He watched her move easily along the deck, helping George unwrap and hoist the rigging.
Drew cut the motor and tacked into the wind. “Here we go!” he yelled as the sails filled. “Watch your head, Alex.”
The boom swung toward him as the sail billowed out. The boat tilted and Alex grabbed for something to hang onto. Kenni was suddenly by his side again.
“Do you want to sit up front or back here?” She waved at a low bench in the stern.
He chose the stern. Once seated he tried to relax by watching the sails billow and snap. The boat cut the water smoothly, a fine salt spray reaching them now and then. After a while he stopped watching the sails and watched Kenni instead.
She was obviously enjoying herself, a slight smile playing on her lips. She’d pulled her long honey-colored hair into a ponytail, making her look a lot younger than she did at the office. He noticed she had a kind of turned-up nose lightly sprinkled with freckles. Her eyebrows had a reddish tinge, but her eyelashes were long and swept up with a flutter as she lifted her eyes to the sky. He’d watched her for quite a while before she seemed to notice. When she did, the smile spread.
“How do you like it so far?”
Alex shrugged. “Are we going somewhere, or just around in circles?”
“Didn’t George tell you? We’re heading for my parents’ beach house. Only a few miles up the sound, but we probably won’t get there ’til late this afternoon if this wind keeps up. Dad likes to take advantage of a day like this.”
“So you’re the boss’ daughter.”
“Well, he’s one of the bosses, yes.”
“And you’re following in his footsteps?”
She shook her head. “No. I have no ambition to be a lawyer. I like doing the research though, digging out the details and finding out about the people behind the cases.”
“Cases like mine?”
“Yes, but...actually I got roped into your case.”
“Oh? How so?”
“George. He hates doing that kind of research. I owed him one.” She sat straight. “But...well...I didn’t mean that your case wasn’t interesting. In fact, I was hooked from the first time I opened the file.”
“Why?”
She turned to face him more directly. “Because I could relate. In-between all the facts and figures, the names and addresses, the dates—I could read between the lines. Before long I’d put together the whole picture. And I knew what to expect.”
“Really. And am I what you expected?”
She tilted her head slightly, then nodded. “Pretty much.”
“And that is….”
“A hard nut with a soft streak. Someone who’s been hurt a lot by a lot of people, but still wants to be a decent person, only—maybe he doesn’t exactly know how so he hides.”
“Got me all figured out, hey?” Alex felt a biting pain as he clenched his jaw.
Kenni’s reply was soft, but firm. “Yes. I think I do. You’re also claustrophobic. I can guess where that comes from.”
Alex snorted. “And how did a girl from the Ivy League get to be so savvy?”
“Because I....” she hesitated. “I’ve learned to read people and the details of their lives. It’s surprising what you can learn from just a bunch of facts and figures.”
“Right.” Alex’s sneer was mocking. “Well, maybe you’d better try reading between the lines some more. I think you lost the thread along the way.”
He pushed himself off the bench and strode away. Thinking his stomach might need to flush out the bile he headed for the rail. He was glad for the spray that cooled his face as he took a few gulps of air. Wish I could get away, off this boat, away from these people. I should never have come to Seattle, never started this. I should’ve known what it would do to me. He was staring at the deep green surf below them when he felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see George grinning at him.
“Feeling