Chapter Seven #2
“And that’s okay,” he said. “If you’re done, you’re done. You’ve worked for the FBI for how long?” he asked.
She considered it.
“I was twenty-five when I was recruited to start there after college, and I’m turning fifty, so…”
He was to the point.
“You earned that reward, then, Elizabeth. Make that twenty-five-year mark, and call it quits. There’s nothing wrong with that—or maybe give up a job. Just be the Deputy Director. Let the division you created carry themselves.”
She laughed.
“I’m a control freak. I’d rather do that job and say fuck being the boss. Only, we know that’s not happening.”
No, it wasn’t.
Gabe made sure of that. The irony was he was going to leave office in the next three years, and she’d still be trapped in the job he’d tricked her into.
He was a dick like that.
As they pulled into the parking lot in the village, he found a parking spot. When he’d pulled in and turned off the vehicle, he pulled a hat from his pocket. After passing it back to her, he pulled his cell from his pocket and texted out a message for the castle security.
For whoever showed up to see it.
“We are going to get some food. Have something to eat, put some weight on, and heal. You’re entitled.”
She said one thing.
“I hope you’re right.”
Taking the hat, she tucked all of her hair up under it, and put on some sunglasses. She was not wearing makeup, so she hoped the au natural look would help her blend in. The media always got her in makeup, or wearing lipstick, but never freckles out, and just being herself.
That’s why she picked these clothes out of Gabby’s things. It was the least likely outfit she’d wear. The last thing she wanted was to put on cowboy boots and jeans—not that she had any there with her.
That was her signature look.
And a dead giveaway.
Getting out, both men put her between them as they headed into the village. As they did, no one even looked at her. Between the two men, who were very familiar to the people there, she was ignored.
“I can’t believe I’m not getting a single look.”
Michael was to the point.
“I told you. You can be you here. Without your hair out, or red lipstick, and your boots, you look like someone from here. Use that to your advantage. Pick out things that help you blend.”
Oh, she was.
“I might just shave my head bald.”
He snorted.
“I mean, don’t go that far,” he said, almost saying ‘the men won’t like that’ when he realized that was part of the problem. “Then again, you’d look hot as a redhead.”
She laughed.
“A redhead, huh? I think your husband has a fantasy,” she teased Graham.
The man ignored that.
“Well, if I see him with a redhead, man or woman, and it’s not you after a makeover, I’m kicking his ass. I’ll hand the ‘hand of God’ his ass.”
Michael snorted.
“Kinky.”
That made her laugh.
“You two are too much. Neither of you would win. You’d give each other puppy eyes and start making out. Who are you kidding?”
It wasn’t like she was wrong.
How could he not want to make out with his husband? That would never happen, and Michael knew it.
“I’m serious, though,” Michael said. “Get a makeover. Change you. It’s your hair. Why are you not doing what you want?” he asked.
She rattled off the reasons.
“Time, time, more time, and the husbands like my hair,” she admitted.
And Michael stopped her.
“You just said you want to find you. Know what you can always do after a change to your hair? You can dye it back if you don’t like it. Crazy, right? Cut it if you want to. Hair grows back. This is your chance to do whatever you want.”
She considered it.
“Plus, it would hide you here.”
She was thinking about the gray in her hair that was popping through. She’d had no time, but now…she did.
“Maybe,” she said.
Graham got in on it.
“You have pale skin, and with those freckles, you’d look like you are part of the crowd here. You’d look damn near Irish,” he admitted.
She laughed.
“Well, I’m Scottish, so we might have to die on that hill for now.”
Michael kissed her on the cheek.
“Think about having fun. That’s all,” he said, not pushing the issue for a reason.
It was her choice.
As for Elizabeth, she would consider it. What he’d said was accurate. Hiding here in plain sight…
That had an allure to it.
As they got to the café, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He suspected what it was.
“I’m going to check to see if I turned on the security,” he said. “You know how I’m always forgetting that.”
Graham knew he NEVER forgot that, but he suspected it had something to do with Callen’s car heading toward the castle.
“I’ll take our date in to find Gabby.”
He smiled.
“Thank you, Babe.”
As they headed away, he saw that the security had most definitely been accessed from the gate right to the house. Plus, now, he could see who was there. It was Ethan, and he appeared to be alone.
Perfect.
This was exactly what she needed.
He’d sent that message suspecting as much, and hopefully, he heard the beeping and checked it out. It appeared that Elizabeth was getting exactly what she needed.
Her prince had returned.
And just in time.
Tucking away his phone, he followed into the café to catch up with them.
As he entered, he was just in time.
Gabby had spotted Elizabeth and rushed her. She hugged the woman, and they were both in tears.
Gabby because she missed her friends, and Elizabeth because she needed a friend.
“Hey,” Gabby said, holding her tight. She knew how hard Elizabeth was struggling. “Girl, did you steal my things?” she asked, busting her ass.
Elizabeth wiped her eyes.
“Yeah, sorry about that.”
She smiled at her.
“Bitch, they look better on you. What’s a girl have to do to out pretty you?”
She snorted.
“Just wake up, apparently. You look refreshed and like Scotland has been good to you.”
That it had been.
Specifically, Finn.
Elizabeth tucked one of her cocoa brown curls behind Gabby’s ear.
“I missed you, Cupcake.”
Yeah, Gabby missed her, too.
“Same, Boss Lady. Same. Hey! I got us a table,” she said, as Elizabeth checked the café out.
Elizabeth didn’t miss that the whole place was adorable, and more importantly, it was quiet.
“We missed the breakfast rush,” she said, hugging both men next.
Elizabeth was still astounded that she was in a restaurant and no one was standing guard.
“And we can sit wherever?” she asked. “Even by a window so I can people watch?”
Gabby nodded as she took her hand.
She, too, liked people watching. It was one of her favorite things to do in town.
“Absolutely. This is our normal spot, but if you don’t like it, choose.”
It was actually a good spot.
It was by a window, and she could see the other shops.
“This is perfect.”
Well, then, that worked for them.
“Park it, Cookie. We’re about to fatten you up. I feel bones under that sweater. I don’t know how you go without wanting to eat nonstop. It’s my pastime.”
She laughed
“Well, serial killers try to kill and eat me, so I have to keep running or be a snack. That burns a lot of calories.”
She stared at her.
“I know that’s a factual statement, and I’m horrified it is,” she admitted.
That amused Elizabeth.
Oh, Gabby wasn’t the only one.
That was for damn sure. If anyone questioned her life, it was most definitely her.
When the waitress headed her way, Gabby helped Elizabeth find something on the menu. As she did, the waitress made pleasant chitchat.
“Are ya new around here, Lass?” the older woman asked.
Elizabeth nodded, and Michael came to her rescue, helping her cover for her.
“Yeah, this is my mom,” he admitted. “She looks young, but she’s an old hag,” he joked. “Right, Mom?” he asked.
That amused her to no end.
Oh, someone was funny,
Hag her ass.
She simply snorted, smiled, and kicked Michael under the table. He was just lucky she wasn’t in her boots, or that would have hurt far more.
“I certainly am old and tired of my son’s antics,” she joked. Then, she changed the subject. “Scotland is absolutely gorgeous. I love it here. There hasn’t been one thing I didn’t fall in love with,” she admitted.
The woman beamed.
“Oh, well, I hope you have a good time and come back to see your son again. How long will you be staying?” she asked.
She shrugged.
“Maybe until Christmas. Maybe until Halloween. I haven’t decided. My schedule is pretty open. I do know leaving will be difficult.”
Hearing that, the woman grabbed her a big scone from under a glass dome, put it on a plate, and put it in front of her.
“On me as you visit. Enjoy.”
Yeah, Elizabeth loved it here.
“Man, had I known they were going to throw pastry at me, I would have come here sooner,” she said, offering to share it.
Michael stopped her.
“We got big breakfasts, trust me. I don’t need more food. Eat it.”
He wanted her to because she was thin.
TOO THIN.
Elizabeth was one step from skeletal herself. The last few weeks had not been kind on her.
From where she sat, Gabby agreed.
“So, while you get fat,” she said, grinning evilly, and making Elizabeth laugh, “Tell me how was the first night at the castle?” she asked, keeping her voice down.
Oh, Gabby was just as funny as Michael. She hoped they’d still be laughing later when she got them both back.
“Oh, well, the castle is something,” she stated. “That’s for damn sure.”
Gabby went to go there, but just at that moment, they had company again.
When the waitress brought coffee out for them, and tea for Graham, they waited until she was gone.
When she was, Michael said one thing—before Gabby could say anything else.
“Apparently, the mystery is back on. It’s not done yet.”
That was all she had to hear.
Gabby slammed her hand on the table. As soon as she did, she caught them all off guard.
Including Elizabeth.
“Hot damn!” she said, making Elizabeth nearly choke on the scone.
Michael had to pat her on the back.
“You good?”
She nodded and sipped the hot coffee.
“I just didn’t expect excitement regarding that clusterfuck,” she admitted.
Honestly, she was trying not to die from the scone.
Gabby lowered her voice.