Chapter 8
Chapter 8
T hey followed Agron Hoxha for a half hour while he aimlessly meandered the property. It was clear to Babs he was merely out for a stroll. Darren was a good sport, seeming to take her desire to trudge in the freezing cold as a personality quirk instead of a rejection. Had it been a rejection? Babs felt like they were teetering on the edge of something monumental, and yet this morning she hadn’t even known him. And she hadn’t even begun to tell him all her flaws, to list for him her immense baggage. If he knew it all, he would surely run away, probably screaming. It would be better to make a preemptive strike than get more attached; she needed to remember that.
At last her target ended his walk and they stumbled back to the property, half frozen, teeth chattering. They stood in front of the fire, side by side, hands outstretched. Babs’s fingers had been almost but not quite too cold to text the team and let them know her eyes on their target were disappearing. She had no idea where Ethan was when she sent the message, but she didn’t think his appearance in the lobby shortly after their return was coincidence. It was likely he had either been conducting a search of Hoxha’s room or placing more listening devices.
“Babs, brother-in-law, how was your stroll?” He lounged on the couch with forced casualness. Babs had watched him in the field often enough now to realize when he was secretly on alert. She wondered if their soft-op, surveillance-only mission was about to turn active.
“Uneventful,” Babs said. “A casual stroll.” Meaning Hoxha hadn’t been up to anything she could see. “How was it here?”
“Interesting,” Ethan said. “Lots to do in this place.”
“Really?” Darren asked, turning to survey him. “It feels kind of closed down to me, like they’re on a skeleton crew for Christmas.”
“I happen to have a very low threshold for entertainment,” Ethan said.
“Oh. So glad you’ve latched on to my beloved little sister, then,” Darren said.
“Me, too,” Ethan agreed. He was smiling, but it had an edge to it.
“I’m starving,” Babs announced to cut the tension. “We must have burned a lot of calories trying to stay warm out there.”
“You must have been doing it wrong,” Ethan noted.
Amelia entered, bringing a burst of chill air and the smell of snow with her. Her appearance saved Darren from a retort, if he had intended to make one. Her arms were loaded with bags. She deposited them on the ground and leaned in to kiss Ethan.
“How was work?” she asked.
“Hum-drum. How was shopping?” he countered.
“Glorious. It’s so fun to try new places.” She folded into the couch beside him, tucking her leg beneath her.
Darren opened his mouth.
Amelia put up her hand. “Not a word from you; don’t start.”
“I was merely going to say we’re going out tonight with Blue and Jane. Want to tag along?”
Amelia’s eyes darted between Darren and Babs. “We? You’re a we now?”
“Is that a problem?” Darren asked.
“Not for me, but I like Babs. It’s going to be a shame when she eventually stops speaking to me.”
“There’s no precedent for that,” Darren said.
“No precedent,” Amelia mocked. “Why can’t you say a sentence like normal people?”
“Which normal people? Shopaholic beauticians who speak fluent French?” Darren still sounded amused, but two spots of color popped into Amelia’s cheeks. She sat up straight and gripped her hands into fists.
“I am not a beautician,” she said.
“Of course that would be what you take issue with,” Darren said.
“I was only getting started. I am not a shopaholic. We have a savings account with actual money in it. We’ve been saving for a house, not that it’s any business of yours.”
Darren toed the copious amount of bags at her feet. She darted up, arms ramrod straight at her sides.
“It’s Christmas. You’re not allowed to make me feel bad for shopping at Christmas. As for speaking fluent French, it came in awfully handy in Africa.”
“Great, four years of study so you could order croissants on vacation,” Darren said.
“What do you want from me?” Amelia demanded.
“To live up to your massive amount of potential. You don’t want to be an actuary, fine. But you could be and do so much more. You could be a translator for the UN, the World Bank, something. ”
“I don’t want to do those things. I’m happy at my job,” she said.
“You’re only twenty three. How can you possibly know what you want to do forever?”
“You’re only twenty six. How can you possibly know what you think I should do forever?” she countered.
“All I’m saying is…”
She put up her hands. “Enough. Stop, I can’t. It’s almost Christmas. I want to spend it with my husband and our friends, not fighting with you.” She hurriedly gathered her bags and stormed off.
“So I’m thinking that’s a no on supper tonight,” Ethan said before disappearing after her.
Darren watched them go, distressed. “How does that always happen? It’s like she’s determined to take everything I say in the worst possible way.” He shook his head as if to clear it and faced Babs with a smile. “Are you ready to go?”
“Yes,” she said.
He reached for her coat, holding it as she slipped her arms in and then reached to tug her hair free when it became trapped beneath her coat. He held the door to the hotel and the door to his rental car, taking care she was fully inside before he closed it. Babs watched these actions in silence, thinking. She had dated other men who observed the niceties but often got the feeling they were doing it for show, as if reading from the First Date Handbook. Look at me, I’m a gentleman. Darren seemed lost in his thoughts, unaware of what he was doing. It was as if taking care of people came naturally to him. Maggie and Amelia were the same, always looking out for the feelings and physical wellbeing of others. Maggie said once that having a special needs sibling made her a natural nurturer. Babs wondered if the same was true for Darren.
The temperature had dropped significantly since their walk and it was raining, not enough to make the roadways a hazard, but enough to require caution. Darren was intent on the drive. Babs stole glances at his profile. The trip was silent but it was an oddly comfortable quiet, as if neither felt the pressing need to fill it with mindless chatter.
They parked in the restaurant’s lot and Darren faced her. “It seems a bit slick. Stay there and I’ll come get you.”
“All right,” Babs agreed, smiling.
He froze, blinking at her with a look that was familiar because she was likely wearing the same one. Was this really happening? Could it be this easy?
He shook himself out of his little trance, left the car, and opened her door, extending his hand to help her out. A blast of cold air hit her in the face, causing her to shiver as she reached out and took his hand.
He kept the hand, clasping it gently in his bigger one. Whether it was a romantic or practical gesture, Babs didn’t know. She was merely glad for the assistance; the parking lot was icy.
Blue and Jane were already seated inside. “How are the roads?” Blue asked.
“Sketchy but still passable,” Darren answered. He reached for Babs’s coat, holding it still while she eased out and hanging it on the end of their booth before taking off his own coat.
“I know it’s a cliché, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a white Christmas,” Babs said.
“It’s supposed to happen,” Jane said.
“Maybe we’ll get snowed in,” Babs said. “Maybe we’ll have to stay at the resort and drink cocoa and watch the snow fall, all cuddly, safe, and warm.” She realized everyone was watching her with matching patronizing smiles. “Or something grownup and cynical, whatever.”
Jane laughed. “No, I’m with you. There’s something about this time of year that turns me into a sap. I could do with being snowed in for a while.” She rested her head on Blue’s shoulder.
“Yes, but Jane, you forget Babs and I are here for work. If we got snowed in, Ridge would make us overhaul a system or something, just to keep us busy,” Blue said.
“You think? Because he’s seemed fairly preoccupied with Maggie lately,” Jane said.
“By ‘lately’ do you mean since they met?” Babs asked and Blue gave her a high five. It was their standard response when one of them managed a burn on another of their coworkers.
The waiter began eyeing them and Jane disappeared to the bathroom.
“You took a walk on the property today, didn’t you?” Blue asked after Jane left.
“Yes,” Darren said.
“Were there any picturesque, romantic spots?” Blue asked.
“Everywhere. It’s like the setting for a Hallmark Christmas movie,” Babs said. “Is there a reason you’re asking?”
In answer, he removed a jeweler’s box from his pocket and set it on the table between them. Babs’s gasped. “Is that what I think it is?”
“Yes. I’ve been looking for the perfect moment. I thought it might happen at the resort. Doesn’t a Christmas proposal sound nice?” He seemed to actually want her input, so she gave it.
“It sounds perfect, she’s going to love it,” Babs said. “Can we see the ring?”
He opened the box and held it out for her inspection. She and Darren leaned in. “It’s so beautiful,” she said. The diamond was massive, nestled in a grouping of smaller sapphires. They turned to Darren, awaiting his comment.
“Congratulations,” he said, smiling.
“Shouldn’t you hide this before she comes back?” Babs asked.
“She won’t be back until she’s sure the waiter is gone,” Blue said, but he hid the ring in his pocket regardless.
Someone passed by their table. Out of the corner of her eye, Babs caught sight of Agron Hoxha. She didn’t react, but she did make eye contact with Blue who seemed unsurprised by the sighting. Apparently Ridge’s supper directive had more to do with wanting them to work than it did with wanting to get Darren off his hands. Or maybe it was a win-win situation.
“I’ll check on Jane,” Blue said and eased from the booth.
“Is Jane sick?” Darren asked.
“No. She has social anxiety and freaks out a bit when it’s time to order. She’ll be fine.” Blue hadn’t gone to check on Jane, she was certain. He had gone to do whatever he was supposed to do to Agron Hoxha, probably try to use an RFID device to lift any electronic information he could. “You didn’t like his ring, did you?”
“I liked it fine,” Darren said.
She poked him.
“Is my poker face that bad?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said.
“I didn’t dislike it, honestly. But the diamond was poor quality and highly flawed. I’m judgmental about gemstones. Geology hazard, sorry.”
“But that diamond was huge. It must have cost a fortune.”
“Yes, and he got taken. Obviously I don’t know him well enough to tell him, but his jeweler is almost criminally negligent.”
“I’m sorry for your future wife. How are you ever going to find a diamond that meets your exacting standards?” she asked.
“I won’t. I would never buy a diamond, they’re far too common.”
“It sounds like you have a plan in mind,” she said.
He pulled out his phone and began scrolling. “A few years ago I mined a piece of benitoite in California. It’s one of the rarest gems in the world, and California is one of the only places they’re found. In fact it’s the state stone.” He faced the phone toward her. A giant blue crystal stared back at her. “In its raw state, it’s probably worth about thirty to forty thousand. I plan to have it cut and set, when the time comes.”
“You mined the gem yourself?” she clarified.
He glanced at his phone and tucked it away, seeming embarrassed now. “Yes.”
“And you never sold it?” She was certain he had school loans after so much time spent on his education. Doctorates weren’t exactly cheap.
“Too weird?” he asked.
“No, it’s…” sweet, interesting, thoughtful, “yummy.” She cleared her throat and reached for her water, taking a sip with shaking fingers.
Darren laughed. “Thank you.”
“I’m sorry. I’m not usually so spastic. I thought I was coming here to work, and then you showed up, and you’re all kinds of adorable and attractive and gentlemanly and ripped and you smell like a Canadian pine forest in the fall and…sorry. I’ll stop talking now. Maybe. Hopefully.”
“For the record, Babs, I think you’re pretty yummy, too.” He put up his menu, the one the waiter had neglected to take, then leaned in and brushed his lips softly to hers, so fast it might not have happened, except for all the tingles he left in his wake.