Page 11 of Hearts on the Line (The Maverick Key #1)

Scott

I lean back in my chair with my coffee, watching the team as they fall into their usual cadence.

At the far end of the table, Garrett is discussing research findings with Dr. Elaine Fischer, the sharp-eyed academic that has just been aligned with the project.

I like her. She’s got a cool head and seems to be here for the science not the fame.

“Scott, you look very nice today. Blue is your color.” Ms. Connor’s lips turn up as she puts a honeybun on my plate. I thank her and take a bite.

Maddie’s gaze moves between the maps and the people around the table, like she’s deciding whether to speak up.

Her fingers fidget with her napkin, folding it into shapes.

It makes me want to grab the napkin so I can take away her anxiety and feel her skin.

I’ve noticed she has a habit of fidgeting when she’s thinking about saying or doing something.

It’s cute. Hannah leans in and whispers into Maddie’s ear, coaxing a smile from her.

Sitting across from Maddie, my eyes linger on her face, her soft lips moving as she speaks in a low hush to Hannah.

I follow the long lines of her neck to the edge of her collarbone, partially hidden beneath her white linen button-down.

She’s wearing a gold necklace with a jade elephant pendant, cradled against her heart.

I imagine her pulse softly beating there.

It makes me want to get closer to her, to erase the few feet of distance between us.

She doesn’t quite fit into the chaos of our world yet, but she’s determined to join us.

Wes strides into the room.

“Morning.” He walks over to the coffeepot and pours himself a cup without waiting for an invitation.

I keep my expression neutral, tightening the grip on the mug. Wes isn’t part of the team. He doesn’t belong at this table. But he’s got a knack for inserting himself into things—including our breakfast.

Standing beside him, Ms. Connor gestures to the table. “Make yourself at home.”

“Thanks. Just for a minute. We’re about to head out to the reef to get some pretty pictures of the coral and the tourists.

” He kisses her cheek and grabs a bagel.

Then he pulls out an empty chair and slides it in next to Maddie.

I can’t hear what he’s saying to the women, but they burst into giggles.

Frowning, I finish my food and give Garrett a wave, signaling that it’s time to start.

Garrett clears his throat, silencing the chatter. “All right, everyone, let’s focus. Scott, walk us through the plan.”

Wes excuses himself, clearly not interested in the minutia we’re about to jump into. He gives Maddie a quick squeeze on the shoulder, and leaves.

I set my mug down and point at the map. “We’ve identified two stable main entry tunnels with signs of prior exploration. It’s not conclusive who the diver was, but there’s a strong chance it was Nathan.”

Maddie’s eyes snap to mine. I swallow, my words stumbling out. I force myself to slow down and lean forward.

“We’ll do another recon on Thursday. We expect the currents to be the calmest this week. On this dive, we’ll focus on charting and continue to look for leads to identify the chambers most worth pursuing.”

“That’s logical. So what about tomorrow?” Elaine asks.

“Shallow dive. Near the surface.”

I was glad to find out Maddie would join our team in a consultation role—a good move on Garrett’s part for once.

The woman’s as smart as she’s beautiful, and the insight she’ll bring from Nathan’s private research will be immensely valuable to the project.

But damn. I just want an opportunity to see her underneath the water. I’m going to ask her to get in.

“Another day in the open ocean. I’ll take it,” Jamie says.

“Don’t get too comfortable. Thursday’s dive will make up for it.”

Maddie’s fingers fidget as they play with her cup. She clearly has something on her mind she wants to express. When she speaks, her voice is steady.

“I’ve gone through more of Nathan’s research.

” She opens a small notepad filled with a neat, bulleted list. “You all know he believed Carter’s Drop might hold evidence of an ancient civilization.

I’ve learned he believed they were the actual descendants of Atlantis—people who escaped when their homeland sank into the sea.

He found evidence that supports this theory in Carter’s Drop. ”

The room stills. Garrett’s gaze locks onto her with an intensity that borders on predatory. I don’t like it.

“Atlantis? He never talked about Atlantis. That’s ridiculous. What kind of evidence?” he asks, his tone condescending.

“Hey.” I give Garrett a stern look and he closes his mouth.

Maddie hesitates, her grip on the glass tightening.

“Carvings on a small stone-like object he found underwater. He believed it was evidence that linked the human activity he was searching for to the myth of Atlantis. The stone appears to be made of a material that he wasn’t familiar with. But nothing is confirmed.”

Garrett squirms in his chair, taking off his glasses and rubbing his eyes.

“Did he document this in his journals?” Elaine asks.

“Some. I’ve connected the stone to a journal entry noting where he found it in the blue hole’s tunnels.

He traced the markings to text found in research about the lost city.

” Maddie takes a quick breath and continues.

“But the rest of his notes are in code. It’s like he was trying to protect some of the information. I haven’t translated it yet.”

Garrett leans forward, his voice cutting. “Coded how? What exactly did he say? Can I look at the stone?”

“Ease up, Garrett.” I cut him off. “Let her finish.” He leans back in his chair, jaw tight. He wants to argue, but he’s holding back in front of Elaine. Good. His gaze doesn’t move from Maddie.

She looks up at me, relief in her eyes.

“I’m impressed you’ve gleaned so much already,” Elaine says.

“I just want to understand what he was looking for. And why he kept so much of it to himself. I want to know why he dived alone.” Her lips quiver.

I study her for a moment. She’s composed, but the pressure of not having the answers about what happened to her brother is pressing in on her.

“Maddie, if you’re interested.” I stand and walk over to her. “You can join us on tomorrow’s dive. It’s shallow and safe—a good opportunity to get back in the water and familiarize yourself with the area. You can see the hole yourself… from a distance.”

Her eyes widen. But it’s with excitement, not fear. I like that.

“I haven’t dived in years. Not since Nathan disappeared.” She hesitates. “I’m not sure I’ll—”

“It’s like riding a bike.” I take the seat Wes abandoned and sit beside her. “You haven’t forgotten how to do it. We’ll go at your pace. Make sure you’re safe and comfortable. You’ll do great.”

Hannah nudges her. “You should go. It’ll be good for you.”

Doubt flickers across her face. She takes in an audible breath.

“Okay. I’ll come. Thank you.”

Then she leans over and gives me a big hug. My heart stops as I wrap my arms around her. She’s so soft. Her curves press against my chest and I can hear the flutter of her heart. My breath hitches, and I try to control my body’s reaction to her touch. Reluctantly, I let go when she pulls away.

After the meeting, I linger by the window and watch as Maddie helps Ms. Connor clear the table.

The sunlight catches the soft waves of her hair and highlights the freckles on her nose.

She’s stirring a promise of desire I thought was long gone.

My mind is on the hug, the sweet pressure of her body against mine, her smell. I want…

I approach her as she sets down a stack of plates. “Hey. Got a minute?”

Her light brown eyes meet mine. “Of course.”

I swallow before speaking. “I wanted to apologize for last night. It wasn’t the best introduction to our island’s nightlife. I promise the locals are decent people, and nights at the bar are usually fun.”

She shrugs it off. “That’s okay. At least it wasn’t boring. I had a lot of fun.”

“That song you played on the piano last night was beautiful. What was it?”

Her expression softens, and she glances down. “It’s a song my mom played for Nathan and me when we were young. She taught me how to play.”

“You’ve got a gift.” My pulse quickens, exciting possibilities overtaking any practical thought. I feel ten years younger.

She blushes and breathes in deeply. “Thank you.”

The words are out before I stop myself. “If you’re free Saturday, maybe I can take you fishing. A break from all this chaos. My personal welcome to the island.”

She drops the rag she was using to wash the dishes into the sink. “I’d like that.” She licks her bottom lip. The urge to kiss her hits me hard. I force myself to look away for a moment, trying to shake it off.

“Great. I’ll pick you up at eight on Saturday.” I give her a gentle caress on her shoulder. “And we’ll see each other bright and early tomorrow morning for the dive.”

“I can’t wait.” Her husky whisper tells me she may be affected, too.

We say goodbye, and I get out of there before I grab her and kiss her in front of everyone.

In my truck, I start the engine and try to clear my head. This isn’t loneliness or missing Adeline.

This is new. And it’s dangerous.

But I don’t care.