Part 28 (2/2)

Her head turned to him. ”It's a comfort object. You can't just buy another one, because they're not interchangeable. It wouldn't smell the same, feel the same, be the same.”

”Creepy. You're making it sound like Russ has a relations.h.i.+p with a square of fabric.”

”And it's probably more meaningful than the ones you have with the people in your life,” she retorted. ”Russ doesn't hesitate to become attached.”

He blinked. ”Hostile.”

”I'm not hostile, I'm being honest. And honestly, Griffin, you need to be careful or people are going to get hurt.”

He retreated from the doorway.

Tess pointed at him. ”That's exactly what I'm talking about. You back off when things get a little too real.”

”I don't know what you mean.”

”Let me be clear.” She huffed out a sigh. ”It's going to hurt Jane when she sees how easily you can walk away from her.”

The back of his neck felt hot. ”We're colleagues. Professional colleagues.”

His sister skewered him with a look that she'd learned from their mother. A look only the female half of the population could deliver. ”Cut the c.r.a.p, brother dear.”

”Fine,” he said, defensive. ”But it's just s.e.x.”

”And I suppose you'll tell me Jane sees it exactly like that,” Tess replied, a wealth of doubt in her tone.

”Of course she does.” He'd told her from the beginning that he didn't have anything more to offer than temporary fun and games. Besides, it was pretty clear from their recent encounter with Ian Stone that Jane was still hung up on her ex, though Griffin didn't know why the thought bothered him so much.

Tess shook her head. ”Then I suppose it's best. Go chase after the carrot that Gage dangled in front of you. If you're going to get out of Jane's life, then you should do it now-the sooner the better.”

He refused to let her older-sibling act unleash his hold on his temper. It was a beautiful day, he'd heard his brother's voice so he knew Gage was safe, and Bossy Big Sister and her minions would be out of his hair by the afternoon. He should be able to get a lot of work done today if he could just locate the missing governess.

He stomped out of No. 8 and surveyed the beach, scanning the sand for her. When she'd left their place that morning she'd had a lacy white cover-up over that yellow swimsuit. A slender piece of lemon meringue should be easy to spot.

The only figures in the vicinity were Private and the munchkin mafia. Duncan and Oliver were on their knees, their expressions intent as they...

A little chill ran down Griffin's spine. What were they doing? They both held short shovels that weren't the customary plasticware that kids used at play. These had wooden handles and metal blades and looked exactly like what a hit man would have in his trunk in order to bury the evidence.

Griffin drew closer, then stopped, gaping. ”What the h.e.l.l?”

Jane's head, the only part of her that hadn't been laid to rest-so to speak-turned toward him. ”Don't use that word in front of the boys.”

”Yeah,” Duncan said. ”'Cuz me or Oliver will say it by mistake at school and then get sent to the princ.i.p.al's office.”

Griffin figured that wouldn't be a new experience for them. ”Sorry, boys. What the heck are you doing?”

Oliver cackled as he upended a plastic bucket of sand over the mound that covered Jane's body. ”We's burying her alive from her crumpy bitty toes to her scrawny chicken neck.”

The kid was wigging him out. Seriously. ”Uh, Jane?”

”I think it's from a book,” she said. ”At least I hope it's from a book.”

Oliver nodded. ”A book about a pirate.”

”And buried treasure,” Duncan added.

”And dead bodies,” Oliver said in a sinister voice. Then he turned to his brother. ”You know what we need, Dunc?”

The older boy appeared puzzled, then his eyes sparked and his face split into a gap-toothed smile. ”I know exactly what we need,” he said, raising both fists to tap them against Oliver's. They followed that up by taking a running leap at each other to b.u.mp scrawny chests, yelled ”Crabs!” in unison, then swooped up their buckets to race toward the surf. Barking in happy abandon, Private followed in their wake.

Shaking his head, Griffin crossed his arms over his chest and returned his gaze to the librarian's head. She bit her lip, her eyes darting from Griffin to the boys and back again. ”Crabs? Maybe you should help me out from under here.”

”Having a problem with your crumpy bitty toes?”

”No. I'm just not sure I like the idea of being pinned under here when the minions come back with crabs.” She bit her lip again. ”I actually loathe the idea of being pinned under here when the minions come back with crabs.”

Griffin sat cross-legged beside the Jane-sized mound of sand and grinned at her. ”There's something about you being restrained like this that I kinda like. Later, we'll get in the bathtub, and I'll help you get the sand out of all those pesky places it's sure to be hiding, like from between your crumpy toes and from between your-”

”I get it, I get it,” she said hastily. Then her gaze s.h.i.+fted away, and her voice turned casual. ”I heard you got a call from Gage this morning.”

”Yeah.” Probably his Big Mouth Big Sister had let it be known, just as she'd told his twin about Griffin's involvement with Jane. ”It was good to hear his voice.”

Though his brother had gone bossy on him too. Gage thought he should cut the strings with Jane, and p.r.o.nto. It doesn't sound like you, bro, shacking up with some chick.

Jane was not some chick, d.a.m.n it!

You breaking more hearts, bro?

He and Jane had an understanding, not that his siblings could comprehend that. Everybody just a.s.sumed he was on his way to harming the smartest, s.e.xiest- ”Gage's offer sounds perfect for you. You should take him up on it.”

-most annoying and most troublesome woman in the world. ”What the h.e.l.l do you know about it?” he demanded.

Inside her sand tomb he could discern her shrug. ”I picked up bits and pieces. David said it's an in-depth piece on a new rebel training camp in Somewhere-istan.”

”Somewhere-istan,” Griffin muttered. ”Everybody's a comedian.”

”It sounds right up your alley. And it's a chance to work with your brother.”

”I've already got work,” he said. What was wrong with her? Didn't she remember that this project was necessary to recoup her reputation? ”Not to mention a dog.”

”Tess and family would take Private. I will, if it comes to that.”

”Tess's minions keep her busy enough. And I can't leave him with a talking head.”

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