Chapter 3
THREE
X anthe exited city hall and walked down the concrete steps onto the sidewalk, riding a mild wave of exhilaration even though her feet were killing her. Damned sadistic heels pinched her big and pinkie toes and made the balls of her feet ache.
“I think that went well.” It felt like she had solidified local sentiment against the resort. Lots of nods around the room as she’d spoken.
“You killed it,” Allistair said beside her.
“I didn’t overdo it?” She’d seen some blank looks when she’d gone into the data analysis bit, though she’d kept that brief and tried to explain everything in layman’s terms.
One of the most important things in public outreach was to present science in language appropriate to the audience. Research and data were useless unless it could be clearly understood by the people looking at it.
“Well… Maybe a bit with the t-tests and p-values,” he said with a shrug. “Don’t get me wrong, I was into it.”
She frowned. “I purposely used the t-tests because they’re the simplest.”
“No, yeah, I get it.”
“I just wanted to make sure everyone could see that my calculations were based on real data and math. Hard science instead of emotional hysteria that some people accuse us of, to show some of what we actually do.” Public perception was important for funding and support.
People needed to understand something in order to care enough to get behind it.
“Absolutely. You were incredibly professional. Very scientific.”
“Okay, good.” The evening air was cool and crisp and delicious, scented with the earthy spice of damp soil and fallen leaves. “I just wish I could have spoken after him instead of before.”
“Slater?”
She stopped herself from making a face at the mention of his name. “Yes.” She didn’t even like hearing it said aloud.
“His arguments were straightforward enough, but all economic driven. He’s got a clear agenda.”
Yes. “And he conveniently left out the part about all the money he and his buddies stand to make personally if the resort gets approved.” Funny how that worked.
“You gotta give people the benefit of the doubt,” Allistair said with a shrug. She envied his natural ability to be so relaxed about everything. “They’re smart enough to figure that part out themselves.”
“Let’s hope so.” She’d done everything in her power to show that this development absolutely could not move forward. All she could do now was wait and hope for the best.
“He’s hot though. Just saying,” he quickly added when she shot him a hard look.
She grunted. He was. She wasn’t sure which annoyed her more, him being hot, or that, against her will, she’d noticed the way the muscular contours of his chest and shoulders filled out that dress shirt as he’d spoken.
Bah. “It just enrages me that rich assholes like him and his pals think they can just walk in and buy up chunks of the island to line their already bulging pockets without a thought to how it would affect the people and animals already living here.” The arrogance and audacity were mind-blowing, yet it continually happened all over the world.
Shortsighted, man-made destruction and catastrophic consequences in the name of money.
Humanity was going to make itself extinct from stupidity.
“I’m so glad I wasn’t the only one to notice his bulge.”
Xanthe blinked and smothered a reluctant chuckle when she got the double entendre. “Not funny.”
“No? Not even a teensy bit funny?”
Maybe she had noticed it. For only a split second before she’d caught herself. “You’re just trying to make me laugh to get me out of avenger mode.”
“Yep. Not gonna lie. You’re a little savage when you get like that.”
“Savage?” She’d never thought of herself that way.
“Savage like an orca. Intimidating apex predator, but also sleek and graceful and highly intelligent.”
She smiled. Intimidating? Apex predator? Hell yeah. And the rest was just lovely icing. “Allistair, that might be the nicest compliment I’ve ever received.”
He laughed. “That’s because you’re weird.”
She didn’t argue as they continued up the sidewalk. All scientists and artists were a bit weird. “Can I buy you a drink? It’s the least I can do for dragging you to this after work.”
“Throw in an appie or two, and you’ve got yourself a deal.
Because I’m starving, and last I checked there’s nothing in my fridge except an overripe avocado and a wrinkled apple.
Aren’t avocados the worst? I bought it green and hard three days ago.
It still wasn’t ripe enough for my quesadillas last night, and yet then this morning it was so mushy I couldn’t even use it for my smoothie. ”
“I hate that.”
“Right? It’s like, ‘Oh, I’m sorry you slept through the six-hour window in which I was ripe, but now it’s too late because I’ve turned to shit.
Apologies for the disproportionately large amount of money you wasted on my tropical instability, and better luck next time.
Sucks to be you.’” He shook his head. “My only consolation is that I’m making it into compost in revenge. ”
She laughed under her breath. He was so cute and always great company. “I wouldn’t want to be responsible for you having to eat that, so appies it is. Where do you want to go?”
“The Skelly’s got half off appies and cider tonight.”
“Sounds good. I love it there.” Best food and atmosphere on the island. The iconic pub was housed in an historic building dating back to the founding of Whalebone Cove, and decorated in a charming blend of cozy old British with gothic Victorian vibes.
They turned the corner to find Mae waiting down the sidewalk with Willow and Tripp. “Well done, young lady,” Mae called out.
“Thank you. And thank you both for coming too,” she said to the others. “Felt good to speak my mind and put out all the facts in front of everyone for once.”
“I’ll bet.”
“We were just headed to The Skelly. Do you want to join us?”
“I would, but I need to go home and feed my pack of neurotic rescue mutts before they turn on each other,” Mae said.
“Ah. What about you guys?” she asked Willow and Tripp.
“We only have one neurotic rescue mutt, but we need to get home to feed and walk him too,” Willow said. “Another time though.”
“Sure.”
“You free this Saturday night?” Mae asked her.
“I think so. Why?”
“Good. Dinner, my house. Six sharp, but you’re welcome to come earlier if that suits you.”
“I would never pass up the chance for a homecooked dinner by you, Mae.” The invitation was a badge of honor. Mae was known for her hospitality and kindness.
“Wonderful. What about you?” Mae said to Allistair.
He blinked, seemed caught off guard by the offer. “Oh, that’s so nice of you, but?—”
“He’s got a hot date that night,” Xanthe finished for him.
Mae’s eyebrows lifted. “Is that right? Well, good for you.”
“Thank you,” Allistair murmured, and Xanthe swore his cheeks flushed.
“Good night, Mae.”
“See you then.” She turned, stumbled. “Dammit,” she said, catching herself just as Tripp lunged over to grab her arm and steady her. “Thanks. Damned seams in the sidewalk are tripping hazards.”
Xanthe didn’t see a seam.
“I’ll walk you to your car,” Tripp said to Mae.
“You don’t need to fuss over?—”
“I’m not. Come on.” Tripp gallantly offered his crooked arm. Mae took it reluctantly and walked off with him.
“Can I bring anything on Saturday?” Xanthe called after them.
“Just yourself,” Mae answered.
“All right then,” Xanthe murmured to herself, always a bit bemused by Mae. “Figure she’ll want to talk about next steps of the campaign?” she asked the others.
“Probably,” Willow said with a wry smile. “Mae loves to stand up for a good cause.” Her gaze shifted to something behind Xanthe.
“Well, this particular one is a great cause.” She glanced over her shoulder to see what had caught Willow’s attention.
Stiffened when she saw him coming toward them.
Wearing an expensive-looking wool pea coat that emphasized the powerful breadth of his shoulders.
Whatever else he was, he was in damned good shape.
She couldn’t help her biological hard wiring to notice or appreciate that.
“Hello again,” he said, his deep voice as hot as the rest of him.
Too bad he’s an asshole. She stayed silent while Allistair and Willow greeted him.
His gaze cut to her and held for a moment before he passed them. And for some stupid reason, for that second or two, it felt hard to breathe. When she finally did pull in a lungful of air, it carried the delicious scent of spices and cedar.
She yanked her mind back to the present, kept watching as he strode toward the sleek, no doubt crazy expensive Audi parked up the street.
“What do you know about him?” she asked Willow, low enough that he couldn’t hear.
The online search she’d conducted on him hadn’t turned up a lot beyond his tech startup and some investment deals.
Nothing about his personal life or professional background.
She hadn’t been able to find any social media accounts for him either.
“Blaine? Not much, he’s pretty private.”
Because he was hiding something, no doubt. Probably a cave where he hoarded his gold coins and rolled around in them Scrooge style. “How do he and Tripp know each other?”
“They met overseas while Tripp was there as a military contractor.”
Xanthe hid a wince, feeling bad for asking now. Willow’s brother had been killed during a mission with Tripp. “So they served together.”
“Not really, but their paths overlapped. Blaine worked in military intelligence, was in the Marines before that.”
She blinked in surprise. Marines? Military intelligence? Interesting. It explained his bearing and confidence. “Really.”
Willow nodded and glanced over her shoulder to watch Tripp help Mae into her car. Slater was holding the door open for her. “I’d better go.” She flashed her and Allistair a smile. “See you later.”
“Bye,” Xanthe said.
Slater shut the door after Mae got behind the wheel, then moved to the sidewalk to talk to Tripp and Willow. His deep laugh filled the air a moment later.
“Military intelligence? Hot,” Allistair said to her. “It’s not too late. Want me to invite him to The Skelly with us?”
She shot him a warning look. “Don’t even dare.” The first time she’d met Slater had been there, and it hadn’t gone well. She’d told him and his cronies exactly what she’d thought of them buying the land and essentially evicting her and her team from the research center. “Let’s go.”
The less she had to see of Blaine Slater around town, the better.