Saved by a Dangerous Man by Cleo Peitsche Page A

we spent the day together, doing touristy things. I’d seen billboards for a wildcat sanctuary, and Henry agreed to go, though he didn’t seem to care one way or another. During the tour, he kept ducking away from our group to make phone calls, and try as I might, I couldn’t get close enough to hear.  
    When I asked about going to Clearwater Beach, Henry seemed completely uninterested.  
    “My gramps is like you,” I said. “No sense of adventure. All he does is sit in his urn…”
    Henry laughed, then his face closed down again. “Ok,” he said. “Let’s go to the beach.”  
    The parking lot was full, and Henry insisted on dropping me off while he stayed near the illegally parked car, making phone calls that, from where I stood, didn’t seem to be improving his mood.  
    I rolled up my capris and waded out into the surf, then walked barefoot in the beautiful white sand, my sandals swinging from my fingertips. Henry seemed to have lost his attraction for me overnight. If this was permanent, it was a relief.  
    But by the time we arrived at the airport, paranoia had taken over. Impossible that Henry could know… but how else to explain his sudden contempt for me? After going through security, I changed into jeans and a sweater and wondered how concerned I should be.
    Twenty minutes before our plane was due to start boarding, Henry got a message that made him jump to his feet. He walked away without looking at me.
    I dug out Corbin’s phone. Think I’m crazy but Henry’s acting strange.
    Seconds later, he replied: In what way?
    I wrote: Distant.
    The messages vanished, and three new ones flashed up, yielding a paragraph of text. Plugged the leak. Working on some secondary leaks and related problems. Huge headache but much, much bigger disaster averted. Those numbers helped more than you know. You, “anonymous field agent,” are a hero right now.  
    A moment later, Corbin wrote: I’ll pick you up at the airport. Don’t let Henry take you anywhere.
    I smiled, instantly giddy. I hadn’t expected he’d still be in town, hadn’t thought I’d see him for a month. You miss me or something?
    New message. This is serious, Audrey. But yes, I do. Of course I do.
    Sadly, that text disappeared along with the rest of them.  
    Henry returned, looking wan. When he sat, I squeezed his arm, then bumped his shoulder with mine. “What’s wrong?”
    He shrugged, his jaw an angry clench. “Nothing for you to worry about.” The way he sounded, he might as well have been talking to a panhandler, not the virgin on a pedestal he’d been trying to sleep with for several weeks.  
    He dug around in his backpack and came out with a cable. My heart leapt as Henry plugged his phone into an outlet.  
    I stared at it, my mouth dry. This was my chance. Even though Corbin had said not to worry about the phone, I knew there was information on there that could help us. Help Corbin, rather. Henry had been on the phone all day, and something big was going down.
    It was imperative that I get that phone.
    “Henry? My head is killing me. Dehydrated, probably. Could you do me a huge favor and buy me a drink?” I massaged my temples and tried to look sickly.
    “I have water,” he said, reaching into his backpack, but his hand hung there as he looked at his phone. He was even more distracted than before.
    “A milkshake would be better.” I dipped into my purse for money. “Get one for yourself, too. My treat.”
    He wasn’t paying attention at all. If this little trip had been a true romantic getaway, I would have been pissed.
    “Never mind,” I said, standing. “I’ll get them. What flavor do you want?” Because if he wouldn’t go, I’d spill it on him afterward and he’d have to clean up.
    Henry stood. “No, you relax.” He walked away without taking the crumpled bills in my hand.
    “Any flavor is fine,” I mumbled. Good thing I didn’t have allergies.  
    There was activity near the gate, then the agent called