Page 34 of An Epic Voyage

“Griffin!There you are.”

With a sigh, he pasted on a friendly smile and turned.“Hey, Jinger.”

She wrapped her arm around his and sucked in a breath.“Wow, your arms are rock hard, like stone columns.Why haven’t I felt them before?”

He assumed it was a rhetorical question, so he kept quiet while she stroked his biceps inappropriately.

“I’m going to have to get Benny into a gym,” she muttered.

Griffin couldn’t see that happening.Benedict wasn’t one to get his hands dirty doing anything, and Griffin had never seen him sweat.The man was too polished, even if it was a facade.

“Wow, what did I want to talk to you about?”

“The weather?”he offered.

“No, but I’ll need to dash if it starts to rain.”

He took a moment to enjoy the visual of her melting like the Wicked Witch of the West inThe Wizard of Oz.

“Oh, I remember.Benny told you about dinner tonight, right?”

No way did he want Indigo anywhere near the man now, especially after he’d gone to her room late last night.Griffin assumed Jinger was ignorant of that fact.“He did, and about that—”

“I won’t take no for an answer.”She continued to caress his muscles absently.He wanted to pry her fingers off, but her following words stopped him.“Indigo confirmed that she will join us.She’s pretty in a plain, girl-next-door sort of way, don’t you think?”

Hell no, he did not think that.Not that there was anything wrong with natural, approachable, unassuming beauties, and that did describe Indigo, but she was also movie-star, drop-dead gorgeous.Not plain in the slightest.Jinger wasn’t even in the same universe, looks-wise.Or kindness-wise.Or intelligence-wise.Or female-wise.

“I mean, she could use some makeup.”Jinger snorted a chuckle.Charming.“It’s amusing to me that she’s so skilled at applying mine, but not to herself.”

Another plus in Indigo’s column.

“We’ll expect you at seven.Dress in the best outfit you brought.”

She released his arm with one last pat and a sigh.“See you tonight.”

Jinger was gone before he could decline.He’d better find Indigo and let her know what was in store for them tonight.After the excitement with Van Houten visiting her room and becoming ill, he’d forgotten to text her last night.Then he’d been distracted by her sexy body at the gym.Having dinner with Van Houten and Jinger had been the farthest thing from his mind.

#

Somehow, Indigo hadavoided Van Houten all day.She hadn’t seen him again after catching him break into her room.That made her wonder if he’d searched her belongings.She wouldn’t put it past him.

Jordy had finished her dress, so they hit the arcade and played old-school video games before engaging in several spirited bowling matches.Then they ate popcorn and watched a rom-com, Jordy’s favorite, in the movie theater.She was more of an action/adventure girl.

It had been an enjoyable way to spend a day, but Indy felt guilty for playing instead of searching for the nuke, even if her hands were tied in that area.

She headed to Jinger’s room to fix her up for their dinner.She hadn’t seen Griffin all day, so she didn’t know if he would be attending.Yes, it mattered to her.Spending time with him was enjoyable.

“Indigo.”

She turned toward the voice.Speak of the devil.

“I’ve been looking for you.”

“You have?”

“Yeah, I have some bad news.”

She grabbed his forearm and almost got sidetracked.He was so solid, and she could feel the heat emanating from him.She wanted those arms wrapped around her.“What is it?Are you okay?”