Page 8 of Hearts on the Line (The Maverick Key #1)
Ms. Connor sits at the head of the table, charming everyone as she pours wine and makes sure all the guests are comfortable.
Her down-to-earth nature provides a balance to the eclectic mix of personalities at the table.
Dr. Elaine Fischer sits poised to her left, sipping her wine between comments.
She’s a tall, elegant woman in her late forties.
Her dark hair sprinkled with silver streaks and styled into a bob.
Dr. Garrett Harlow sits across from Elaine, his relaxed posture belying the shrewdness in his eyes.
If it weren’t for those eyes, he’d be the embodiment of a gentile college professor, a spitting image of Henry Higgins from My Fair Lady .
His fingers tap against the stem of his glass.
Hannah beams, her beautiful hair catching the chandelier’s light as she leans in toward Wes Harrington, who sits beside her.
Her doing, of course. Wes, seated directly across from me, splits his attention between us.
Although his charm radiates like a second skin, exhaustion lingers in the shadows beneath his eyes.
He catches me looking and offers a slow, sleepy smile.
It’s going to be an interesting year.
The rest of Wes’s team sits at the far end of the table and engages in their own conversations.
Their chatter juxtaposed with the more serious discussion among the scientists.
One young man gestures with his fork, entertaining the woman beside him.
Another quieter member of the group adds a dry, well-timed comment, eliciting jokes from the others.
Ms. Connor clears her throat, setting her wineglass down with a clunk.
“All right…” Her expression is playful. “Now that everyone’s fed,” she announces, “let’s talk about all the excitement that’s gotten this island buzzing.
Carter’s Drop. Lost treasure. With all the scientists and treasure hunters—and let’s not forget the celebrities…
” She winks at Wes. “You’d think our tiny island is the world’s next wonder. Who wants to start?”
Dr. Fischer dabs the corner of her mouth with a napkin, her serene expression focused.
“Well, that may very well be true for Carter’s Drop.
The cavern system is extraordinary—an intricate network of passageways and chambers stretching farther than anyone’s been able to map physically.
We can glimpse its beauty on sonar, but Nathan’s finding may be one of this century’s most remarkable archaeological discoveries. ”
Garrett leans forward, his fingers steepled in front of him.
The expensive, woodsy fragrance of his aftershave drifts toward me—pleasant but cloying.
“What he found before his final dive laid the foundation for this current expedition.” He looks at each of the faces around the table, double-checking that everyone is paying attention.
“Finding the hole itself was nothing short of a miracle—hidden by an outcrop of coral and shell, sitting just at the right depth on the shelf to remain invisible from aerial scans.”
He takes a sip of water and clears his throat. “The fossilized remains he discovered in the cavern alone are groundbreaking. Even a speculative link to a cultured civilization could redefine our understanding of ancient human history.”
“What kind of remains?” Hannah asks, tearing into a piece of bread. A crumb sticks to the corner of her lip until she brushes it away.
“Human bone fragments, so far,” Dr. Fischer replies, eyeing Garrett. “Enough to confirm civilization, though the evidence is tenuous. It doesn’t yet indicate sophistication—they could be primitive human remains.”
Wes leans back in his chair. I can’t tell whether he’s listening intently or bored with the conversation. Candlelight flickers across his face. For a split second, his pensive stare reminds me of my brother’s. I feel a tug on my heart.
A brief lull in the conversation gives me an opening. I take a breath and speak.
“Nathan believed they were more than just bones.” My voice comes out as a whisper. I clear my throat and continue. “He believed that the people he was searching for were ancient and intelligent. He was looking for the truth, and I believe he found it.”
I think of the stone, warm and marked with distinct, complex patterns. It must be important. I’ll keep the stone and map to myself until I know who I can trust.
The room falls silent, my words hanging in the air. Even Hannah stops mid-bite, glancing toward Garrett as if waiting for his response. I fold the ends of my napkin, hesitating before speaking again.
“I’ve been going through his things. There are dozens of notebooks and journals in his cottage. He was getting close to finding what he was looking for.”
Garrett’s eyes gleam. “Unpublished work?” He leans in. “What kind of information is in his notes?”
I hesitate. “Observations and sketches. He was meticulous about documenting each of his dives.”
“Is there anything specific about the cave system?” Dr. Fischer asks, folding her hands in her lap.
“Admittedly, his hypothesis about the settlement of an advanced civilization in the Gulf has more merit than what many of us in the archaeological community considered.” She exhales.
“Fantastical stories of lost cities and mystical people have distorted true science for generations—sometimes with grave consequences when wielded by those with bad intentions. You can imagine why the idea of a superior civilization, absent evidence, can be dangerous.”
I nod and continue. “There’s some information about Carter’s Drop in his journals. But it’s technical and coded. I’ll need time to review everything to determine what is important. But I can do it.”
Garrett gapes.
Before he asks more questions, Wes jumps in, shifting the conversation to another topic.
“Nathan always had a knack for creating suspense.” He pours himself another glass of wine.
“And seeing potential in other people.” He meets my gaze, then looks at the others.
“I worked with him during one of his underwater expeditions in the Great Blue Hole in Belize. I was a rookie cave diver—young, cocky, a pain in the ass. Still, he took a chance on me when no one else would.” He shoots Garrett a hard look.
“Even then, his sights were on Maverick Key’s waters, following the evidence.
Everyone blew off his theories, but he didn’t stop until he found Carter’s Drop. ”
Garrett’s expression remains neutral, but there’s a threat in his eyes. Beneath his benign exterior, he’s dangerous. His cordiality is an artifice. My skin crawls.
“It sounds like Nathan left you an important legacy, Maddie,” Garrett says smoothly. “If you’re willing, working with Scott’s dive team might help you make sense of it and your access to Nathan’s research could fast-track this project.”
My heartbeat picks up. Excitement rushes through my veins. Being a part of this exploration wasn’t even on my radar. Am I qualified for this? And what about the animal clinic?
“Oh… I’m not sure that’s a good idea. I’m not a scientist or a technical diver.”
“Yet.”
Dr. Fischer jumps in, agreeing with Garrett. “Fresh perspectives are invaluable. You’ll bring that to the team.”
I glance at Hannah, seeking reassurance. She gives me a thumbs-up and mouths, “You’ve got this.”
“No pressure,” Garrett coaxes. “But by the look in your eyes, I’d say you’ve already decided.”
He’s smug. I don’t like Garrett Harlow.
Despite my misgivings, I agree to act as a consultant on the dives. We move to a more casual discussion as the dinner guests begin to excuse themselves.
Hannah leans closer to Wes, her voice teasing. “Tell me, Wes, what’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?”
Wes looks at her innocently.
“Let me clarify, the craziest thing you’ve done—on the job? Don’t hold back. I’ve seen all your videos.”
Wes launches into a story about escaping an unstable abandoned warehouse in Spain.
His voice rises and falls with the cadence of a natural storyteller, and his hands—beautiful artist’s hands, with their long, elegant fingers—move animatedly as he describes the danger and his survival.
Hannah hangs on his every word as he mimes his dodge of a falling ceiling.
“You’re insane.” Her cheeks and neck flush to a red that matches her hair. “And brilliant. How do you stay so calm in those moments?”
“Years of experience.” He casts a sexy smile my way.
“You need to tell that story again at the Blue Fin tonight,” Hannah says, her eyes sparkling. “The whole island’s going to eat it up.”
My stomach flips. “You’re going out tonight?” I glance at my watch. It’s already ten-thirty. “It’s pretty late.”
“Oh, the night’s still young. We’re all going out. Right, Wes?”
Wes leans forward into the candlelight, focusing his vivid eyes on me. “I’ll go if Maddie goes. What do you say? Are you ready to come out of your shell a little? I’ll show both of you ladies a real good time.”
Ms. Connor calls out from the kitchen. “Y’all girls, go and have some fun. This place will be waiting for you when you get back.”
I hesitate, my pulse quickening. “I’m not much of a bar person…”
“That’s fine. Come with us, and I’ll make sure no one bothers you—unless you count me.” He flashes another megawatt grin. “Can’t make any promises there.”
“Okay, I’ll go.”
My heart races with excitement. There’s no denying the pull of Wes Harrington’s charisma, even though it’s another’s face on my mind as I walk to my cottage to freshen up.