Melody's Six

“Same.” At least when it came to gear. With Mel, he had no idea if things were good or weird or something worse. Once they were both buckled up in the truck cab and he felt he could speak freely, he said, “You saw something during that flight.”

“Not anything with a big red target on it,” she said, clearly disgruntled. “There are some containers at the property line, well away from the dude ranch facilities. Looks like a standard construction or storage setup.”

He could tell by the edge in her voice she didn’t believe it was that simple. “Go on.”

“I saw a fork in the service road near that area. Granted, it makes sense based on the improvements Atwell has in progress.”

“Anyone else see that?”

“Spalding. He got all impatient that the drone was off the ideal target area.” She unzipped her jacket and fidgeted with the inner pockets until she found her phone. “Once we’re away from the ranch, I’ll send Beck a text and ask her and Roman to look at the footage. I can’t be sure, but things didn’t look quite right to me beyond that fork in the service road. Maybe they can take a closer look somehow while we’re away from the ranch.”

“Smart.” They couldn’t do that kind of digging and maintain their cover. “Just warn her Atwell might be hanging around. I don’t think he’s joining Spalding at the park.”

“Good point.”

He waited while she drafted the messages. She’d send them once they were definitely clear of Atwell’s Wi-Fi network. “Can you please charge our phones?” he asked. “I’m not happy we’ll be separated.”

“I picked up on that.” Her amused smile, the one that tilted up at one corner, flickered then disappeared.

Hopefully, if the others noticed his irritation, they’d blame it on newlywed status. “Yeah, well. Goes along with the affection routine we’re presenting. And after that weird chat at breakfast, I’m even more on guard.”

“I understand.”

She rested her hand on the console between them and he covered it with his own. Not for appearances, but because he needed the reassurance of their connection. He started to ask about the kiss and shut his mouth. That was edging toward personal territory and they both needed to be at peak focus while they were separated.

“I don’t suppose you spotted Atwell’s car in the vicinity of those service roads?” he asked.

“No. I guess he stayed back at the lodge or took care of other dude ranch business.” Her hand tensed under his. “We need to get a GPS tag on his car tonight.”

They should’ve done that last night. “We can definitely do that.” It was a far more practical use of their time than meandering through the ranch for the best make-out spots. “I’m sure there must be a cleared access road between his home and the ranch.”

“Agreed. He wouldn’t let his unwed daughter live anywhere but under his roof and he’d make sure she had the best protection twenty-four-seven.”

“So you’re saying that road will be guarded.”

“One way or another, I’m sure.”

“Good.” He grinned. “Gives me something to look forward to.”

Something other than how he was going to avoid kissing her again.