Before Lacey could answer, she found herself looking at Dean, who was watching her with hooded eyes.
"Why don't we make it a barbecue instead?" Dean suggested.
"That's a wonderful idea," June said enthusiastically. "We should invite everyone. I’ll ask Ace, Margo, Lucy, and Tom if they're available. Holt, you, your mother, and Rad and Tyler should come as well if you don’t have plans for tonight. I know this is spur of the moment."
"Tyler would be delighted," Holt said with a smile. "If you're sure you don't mind the crowd, I'll speak to my mother and Rad."
Dean told them he’d meet them at Willa’s house later and left.
As Lacey, June, and Holt climbed into the car for the drive back to Sandpiper Shores, Lacey felt lighter than she had in months. The successful wildlife survey, Dean's unexpected help, and the prospect of an evening with friends had lifted her spirits considerably.
While it was still nagging at her that someone might have deliberately run her off the road, though she was still hoping it had been just an accident, Lacey didn't want to think about that right now. She wanted to focus on the positive things in her life.
Like Dean being back in town and what that might mean for them. Or what she wanted it to mean.
It had been a year since she'd last seen or heard from him, and she had no idea if Dean still had feelings for her after the way she'd handled things the previous year. Lacey decided she would play it by ear tonight. And this time, if she and Dean got another chance to be more than just friends, Lacey promised herself that she would give it a real try.
Lacey wasn't going to let fear dominate her life anymore.
The afternoon sun slanted through the car windows as they drove back toward town, and for the first time in a long time, Lacey felt like she was moving toward something good instead of running away from something painful.
6
JUNE
The Sandpiper Inn's parking lot felt oddly peaceful after the emotional intensity of their stop at the accident site. June watched Lacey disappear through the inn's front entrance, moving slowly but steadily despite her injuries. The afternoon sun slanted through the car windows, and for a moment, June allowed herself to appreciate the quiet comfort of sitting beside Holt in Carmen's car.
Then his phone rang.
"Hello, Rad, did you get everything?" Holt answered.
June tried not to listen, but the car was small, and she caught fragments of the conversation despite Holt's measured tone.
"That's a good idea," Holt said, his eyes flicking toward her briefly before focusing on something in the distance.
There was a pause as whoever was on the other end spoke.
"Lock the original in my office and the other one in the evidence lockup," Holt continued, and June felt her attention sharpen. Evidence lockup. This had to be about the missing evidence Radhad logged the night before. There was another pause in the conversation from Holt’s side as he listened to his son.
"I have a few at the lighthouse, and they are easy to install and hard to detect," Holt said, and June found herself wondering what he was talking about installing. “Yes, there is remote monitoring. I’ll do so from my phone.”
There was another longer pause from Holt’s side as he glanced at her once again.
"June and I just got back from the Henderson farm," Holt continued. "We'll stop by the lighthouse on our way back to town. You and June can create a distraction while I install them."
June's eyebrows rose slightly at being included in whatever plan was being discussed without her knowledge, but she waited for Holt to finish the call before asking questions.
"Okay, son, we’ll be there in about fifteen to twenty minutes," Holt finally said, then ended the call.
"What was that about?" June asked as Holt slipped his phone back into his pocket. “I’m only being nosey because I heard that I was being included in a diversion plan.” Her eyes narrowed suspiciously wondering what he was up to and if they were both going to need attorneys.
Holt was quiet for a moment, his hands resting on the steering wheel as he stared through the windshield. When he finally spoke, his voice carried a weight that made June's stomach tighten.
"I’m going to let you in on a secret,” Holt said quietly. “No one can know about this. Not Tom or anyone.” His eyes locked with hers.
“Of course,” June said. “You have my word.” She frowned. “I thought we already covered the covert-just-between-us pact.”
Holt gave a soft laugh despite the serious look on his face. “We did.” He nodded. “But this is about Rad.”
