Page 14

CHAPTER 14

R aven awoke early, just as she always did. She enjoyed mornings to herself—having time to drink some coffee and center herself before things got too crazy.

The fact Jake was sleeping in her living room made her linger in bed longer. After they’d eaten their ice cream last night, she’d told him there were two spare bedrooms. He’d insisted on taking the couch, had said it was the best place to keep an eye on things.

Then he’d grabbed some extra pillows and blankets and made himself comfortable.

Cassidy had also stopped by to pick up the bomb remnant so she could keep it at the station. Raven had run her initial testing on it. The rest would be done at a lab.

She felt better knowing the evidence was safe.

Though Raven really wanted to get some coffee and go about her normal routine, Jake had thrown all that off. If she allowed, he could send her emotions into another tailspin.

Just pretend I’m not here.

Yeah, right.

She still couldn’t believe they’d run into each other again. This wasn’t supposed to happen. She wanted to put that part of her life behind her. But it appeared she’d have no such luck.

Finally, after lying in bed entirely too long, she decided to get dressed.

She hopped in the shower and then threw on some black jeans and a white top—an outfit that was professional yet functional.

With a touch of hesitation, she opened her door and stepped out.

It was only 7:30, so there was a chance Jake could still be asleep. However, back when she’d known him, he’d never been much of a sleeper either. Maybe things had changed.

When she walked into the living room, Jake was sitting on the couch with a steaming mug of coffee in front of him and a book on his lap.

She paused and squinted. That was a Bible, wasn’t it?

Back when they’d been together, he’d said he was a believer, but he hadn’t gone to church consistently or ever even talked about his faith or the Bible.

Raven’s faith had always been the most important thing to her, and she’d known there was an imbalance between the two of them.

However, she’d still allowed herself to get swept up in the moment.

Now she knew without a doubt that faith was the most important thing she could have in common with the person she fell in love with. In the time that had passed since they’d last seen each other, she’d matured.

And, apparently, so had Jake.

Jake glanced up at her, and a slow smile spread across his face.

Her heart pounded harder.

Why did he have to be so handsome? Just the sight of him made her throat go dry. And when she smelled that sandalwood and citrus cologne . . . she forgot everything else.

That wasn’t a good thing . . .

She pulled herself together and nodded. “Good morning.”

“I made some coffee if you’d like some.”

“That sounds great. I’m just glad there was some coffee here.” Raven hadn’t been sure how stocked the kitchen might be, and she hadn’t had time to go to the store, as Jake had pointed out last night.

“I had one of my colleagues bring some by along with cream and sugar. I was operating under the assumption you still made your coffee that way. If not, I apologize.”

Something about his thoughtfulness made her nearly stumble over an imaginary log on the floor. “You remember.”

She couldn’t hide the shock from her voice.

“Of course, I remember.” His voice dipped low.

Heat rushed to her cheeks, and she turned away before he saw it.

“I also had him bring by some muffins,” Jake continued. “I figured you might want something to eat.”

Carbs . . . they’d always been her weakness. And not the healthy kind of muffins either. No, she preferred the kind made with bleached flour and filled with sugar and other tasty—but highly processed—ingredients.

“Sounds good,” she finally said. “Now that you mention it, I am a little hungry.”

She hurried into the kitchen, grateful for the chance to be away from Jake.

But as she started pouring her coffee, she felt his presence in the room.

She glanced over her shoulder and saw him leaning against the door, watching her.

Her breath hitched.

Would the two of them be forced to make small talk? Could there be anything worse?

Then he said, “I have an update for you.”

Suddenly, everything else was forgotten.

Jake waited for Raven to get her coffee and then to grab a blueberry muffin—he’d known that was the one she’d pick.

Then he sat across from her at the kitchen table.

“Cassidy called this morning,” he started.

Her eyes widened. “And? Did they find out who did this?”

He shook his head, hating to disappoint her with the news. “No, unfortunately they didn’t catch the guy. However, another ordnance washed ashore on Emerald Isle—another coastal community south of here in North Carolina.”

“What?” Raven sat up straighter, her coffee and food seemingly forgotten.

Jake offered a curt nod. “Thankfully, this time someone didn’t take the ordnance home with them. They simply reported it to the local authorities.”

“And?”

“The local police chief asked me to come down and check it out.”

“I’m going also.”

Raven’s statement didn’t surprise him. In fact, if she hadn’t insisted Jake would have been shocked. “That’s fine. I’ll need to make sure it’s safe first, of course.”

A spark returned to her gaze. “Do they think it looks like a World War II relic?”

“From everything I’ve been told, it looks very similar to the one found yesterday.”

Raven nodded quickly. “So it could be a modern-day replica.”

“That’s a distinct possibility.” He nodded toward her muffin. “As soon as you finish your breakfast then we can head out.”

She grabbed it. “I can take it with me. We don’t have any time to waste.”

He glanced at his watch. “It’s about a three-and-a-half-hour drive—it’ll be a little longer because of the ferry, of course. So go ahead and finish. Since you’re already dressed, we can leave afterward. I’ll need to swing by Blackout headquarters first to clean myself up and grab some equipment anyway.”

“You want me to wait here while you do that?” Raven asked. “It might save some time.”

“No, I’d feel better if we stayed together.”

She shrugged. “Okay then. I’ll be fast.”

Relief washed through him when she didn’t put up an argument. The situation was already complicated enough.

Five minutes later, Raven was ready to go. She’d gulped down the rest of her muffin and coffee.

It was impressive, really. Jake knew she was anxious to check out this new ordnance.

So was he.

They stepped outside into a balmy seventy-degree day. The sun shone brightly in the cloudless sky, seagulls swooped overhead, and the ocean crashed on the other side of the dune.

In other circumstances, Jake would want to slow down and enjoy this weather.

Not today.

Instead, Jake glanced around, not wanting to take any chances.

He didn’t see anything.

Still, he wanted to be cautious.

He led Raven downstairs toward his truck.

But just as he reached it, a car squealed to a stop in front of the driveway.

The window came down, and a masked man with a gun appeared . . . aiming his weapon right at them.