Page 36 of Hearts on the Line (The Maverick Key #1)

Maddie

Ding and I are heading home to the Driftwood Inn.

Even though I’ve been keeping myself busy, during the quiet times, it hurts.

I really screwed up. It’s been more than a month since my diving accident.

Even though life has settled back into a routine, I’m untethered, like a compass spinning endlessly without ever finding north.

I want to take away the pain I’ve caused and just start over. But that’s not the way life works.

Scott is a storm cloud hovering in the room at the dive meetings.

His eyes only meet mine once in a while.

And when they do, their coldness cuts deep.

He speaks with clipped words in a formal tone.

Like I’m nothing more to him now than another person he has to manage.

The tenderness and love we shared is buried, smothered by my betrayal.

“Cheer up.” Hannah’s voice jolts me from my thoughts as I walk into the dining room. She links her arm through mine. “Scott’s just being a grumpy old soldier nursing his broken heart. He’ll come around soon. I promise.” She gives me a peck on my cheek.

I try to smile, but it feels thin and forced. “I’m not so sure.”

“He will,” Wes says, sliding into the conversation as he appears at my other side. “The guy just needs time. He’s scared. He thought he lost you. Until he comes to his senses, you’ve got Hannah and me to keep you company.” I give him a nudge and grab a water bottle from the side table.

The dive crew is gathering, their voices carrying across the inn as Garrett and Dr. Fischer prepare to speak at today’s meeting.

Members of the Coast Guard are also present.

They’ve started attending the meetings and taking part in the dives.

Considering the increased public interest and scrutiny of the recent incidents, they are closely monitoring all activity at the Drop.

Everyone is on edge, with the thinly veiled threat of shutting down the project looming over us.

I take the opportunity to finally introduce myself to Mark.

“Mark?”

“Hello, Maddie.” His kindness softens his rigid demeanor.

He looks like he’s in his thirties, which is about right since he and Nathan went to college together.

“I’m sorry I never got back to you. It’s been so busy I let the time get away from me.

Are you feeling better?” He gives me a look of concern.

“Yes, that’s okay. And I know you’re working now, but I hope we can have lunch one day to talk about Nathan. Hannah told me you knew each other well. There’s so much I don’t know about his last years.”

“We were best friends.” His eyes seem to shroud, like he’s remembering something he had forgotten.

“Did everything in college together, but when we moved to the Key—life got in the way.” A sad expression crosses his face.

“We grew apart. He was a good man.” He pats me on the back.

It seems like he’s eager to finish the conversation.

“My wife Crystal and I will have to have you over for dinner one night. I’ll share some of those college stories.

” He winks. “I’ll have her call you.” He excuses himself and walks to the table to start the meeting.

I catch Scott watching our conversation. He turns away, like he’s uninterested.

“We’ve logged three unauthorized dive attempts this week alone,” Mark announces as he gestures at the map pinned to the wall. He speaks in a measured tone. “We’re lucky no one else has been hurt, but until this madness dies down, only pre-approved authorized dives are allowed.”

Scott adjusts the dive schedule. Even as I bristle at his coldness toward me, I have to admire how he commands this space. When the meeting ends, I linger on the Driftwood Inn’s porch, watching the waves crash against the shore.

“Maddie,” Elaine’s voice startles me. She approaches, the streaks of silver in her hair gleaming in the late afternoon sun. “Do you have a moment to talk?”

“Of course.” I step aside to make room at the railing.

“Somewhere private.”

We walk to my cottage, where I invite her to sit, then fix us both some tea. After sharing a few pleasantries, Elaine talks.

“There’s something about your brother you should know.”

A nervous knot tightens in my stomach. Another secret. “What is it?”

She hesitates for a moment before speaking. “Did you know Nathan was in love?”

I’m surprised, this wasn’t the topic I expected. “Yes. But I know nothing about her.”

She frowns. “Well, I’m sorry I haven’t come to you sooner.

Nathan and I were working in the university offices one day when I noticed a picture lying on his desk—a beautiful young woman.

I teased him, and he shared something with me.

It was like he wanted to get it off his chest with someone he could trust. He told me she was his fiancée.

I, of course, was thrilled for him and asked who she was.

He said he couldn’t tell me or anyone who she was yet.

He was hiding something, but I didn’t want to pry.

Later, he left the photo on the desk and…

never had the chance to pick it up. It was clear how much she meant to him.

” She pauses, giving me a moment to soak in the information.

“I thought you should know. I’ve been looking into it, hoping to find her and share this with her.

There’s a lead. I’m meeting a man tomorrow who claims he knew about the relationship.

He’s asked I keep his identity secret for now.

But he’s someone we can trust. I’ll let you know what I find out afterward. He was close friends with them both.”

She slips me a small photo.

I turn it over, and a shock jolts through me. It’s the pretty blond woman from the general store and the airshow. The one with a hidden bruise and a little girl. The little girl who had to have been born just months after Nathan disappeared.

Should I tell Elaine about her? No. I’ll wait until she meets with her contact. I want to trust her, but I have to be careful.

“Thanks, Elaine.”

Elaine squeezes my arm gently. “You remind me of him. In all the best ways.”

“I have something to share with you, too.” I lay Nathan’s maps across the table.

“These are the entrances he explored,” I explain, tracing a line with my finger.

“And here, these were areas he thought were worth investigating further,” I tell her what I found in Nathan’s stolen notes and the warning.

Elaine studies the maps, her gaze sharp and focused. “This is remarkable. Nathan’s work on these maps may help us find what he was searching for.”

“I’ve been careful about who I share this with. It’s hard to know who I can trust.”

“You’re right to be cautious,” Elaine says. “After hearing about what you’ve found in Nathan’s notes and these maps— what he was hiding.” She hesitates. “I’m worried that someone may have harmed him, and they don’t want us to find out who they are.”

A creak at the cottage’s front door makes us both freeze. My heart pounds as I slowly look.

“Did you hear that?” I ask.

She pales. We walk over, and I carefully open the door and peek outside. There’s dirt on the front step and fresh footprints on the ground below the stairs, large footprints—a man’s size. We can see the footsteps trail around the corner of the inn. A chill runs up my spine.

“Someone was here,” I whisper hoarsely, dread coiling in my chest.

Elaine, fearful herself, places a steady hand on my shoulder. “Lock your doors. Have someone stay with you at the cottage. Be careful. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

Unease clings to me. Whoever was listening at the door heard everything we said.

I approach the marina slowly—Scott’s boat rocks gently in its berth. My heart is pounding hard and fast as my gaze lands on him, wiping down Adeline ’s railing. The sunlight frames his figure, painting his broad shoulders in amber and shadow.

Ding trots beside me, his tail wagging like this is an ordinary walk. I envy his blissful ignorance as I stop at the edge of the dock. Ding barks, once, eager to get Scott’s attention. I draw shaky breaths, forcing myself to steady my nerves before calling, “Scott?”

He bristles and straightens his back, turning to face me. His beautiful eyes are guarded, and his expression is unreadable. He grips the cloth before speaking.

He clears his throat. “What are you doing here?” My heart sinks. He doesn’t want me to be here. My chest tightens as I approach the boat. I take a deep breath. Stumbling, I catch myself and push forward.

“Can we talk? It won’t take long.”

Scott sets the cloth aside and jumps off the boat’s ladder to stand beside me. His posture is relaxed, but there’s tension in his face. “I’m listening.”

Clasping my hands in front of me, I force myself to hold his gaze. “You deserve an apology,” I begin, my voice trembling. “A real one. No excuses. What I did. It was wrong. I should’ve been honest with you from the start.”

His face remains unreadable, but the silence between us presses down like a weight, urging me to keep going. I move my gaze from him to the dock, unable to fix on him for too long.

“I was scared—scared that if I told you, you’d try to stop me…

or walk away. I know I wasn’t fair to you.

I hate what I did.” My voice trembles, but I push forward.

“You’re everything to me. I know I ruined it.

” I look up, hoping he’ll tell me it isn’t over.

He doesn’t move. He’s listening. “I’m so sorry, and… I love you.”

My confession hangs in the air, raw and exposed. Heat floods my face, but I don’t back down. He needs to know how bad I feel, even if it changes nothing.

Scott tightens his jaw and swallows. I think he’s going to turn away. Then he sighs, running a hand through his hair as he approaches me.

“Maddie…” His voice is softer than I expect, and the ache in my chest deepens.

“I won’t lie. What you did… it hurt. It’s hurt like hell.

” Anger flashes across his features. “But I understand why you did it. You’re searching for answers.

I know how much Nathan means to you. I share the blame for what happened between us.

” He takes a breath and looks back at me, his eyes filled with sadness.

“I shouldn’t have dismissed you so quickly.

I should have listened. We could have met in the middle. ”

His hazel eyes shine. “We didn’t ruin everything. Not completely. But this…” He gestures between us, his hand dropping back to his side without touching me, his eyes dimming. “I won’t go there again. What I can give you is friendship and protection.”

The tears I’m holding back are stinging my eyes. “I understand.” I take a deep breath, my voice shaky. “It’s just, I… I hope that maybe someday we might be able to…” I stop, unable to say anymore. I’m too scared.

“No. I’m sorry. I just can’t.” He stares at me with unyielding eyes, destroying any hope that we can get back what we had.

His expression softens, yet the distance remains. “I still care and will help you find those answers you’re looking for.”

The blend of relief and heartache is overwhelming. “Thank you,” I whisper, my voice shaking.

Scott reaches out, his hand brushing against my face. It’s fleeting. Not the embrace I long for. The softness of his touch only makes me want more. “No more secrets, okay? If we’re going to work together, you need to trust me as much as you trust yourself.”

“No more secrets. I promise.” I force my voice to remain steady even as a few tears fall.

He pretends he doesn’t see them. I pull the maps from my purse.

“I want to give you these. They’re Nathan’s.

He charted the tunnels he explored. I think he was close to finding what he was looking for. Please use them.”

He takes the papers from my hands, careful not to touch me.

“Thank you for trusting me. I’ll take good care of them.

See you tomorrow.” He glances down at Ding, sprawled out on the dock.

Scott crouches to scratch behind his ears.

Ding eagerly licks his hands and when Scott stands, Ding circles his feet. He misses Scott and wants him to stay.

Taking one last look at us, Scott waves goodbye before returning to the boat.

I try to find hope in what he’s offered me, even if it’s not what I want. I turn and walk away, my steps heavy.

Scott’s gaze burns through my shirt to the skin on my back. I imagine him standing at the railing, his grip tight as he watches me leave.