“Do you know where she lives now?” I asked, hopeful.
He glanced at me briefly and shook his head. “We lost touch with her when she moved.”
After a long time, I walked Beckett back to his room at the Bed and Breakfast, convincing Sabrina to make us some root beer floats with the homemade root beer I knew she and her husband kept a ready supply of. When it came time to say goodnight, I hesitated. I wasn’t ready to part with him yet, but I also wasn’t ready to invite him back to my place. An idea formed in my mind, and suddenly I couldn’t wait for our next adventure.
“Set your alarm for 4:00. I’ll pick you up.”
“Okay. You have a lot of work to get done in the morning, I’m guessing?”
It took me a moment to realize he thought I meant four in the afternoon.
“4AM. Before the sun’s up.”
The look on Beckett’s face was a mix of horror and shock. I couldn’t help but laugh.
“I’ll bring coffee,” I encouraged.
“Four in themorning?Are you nuts, Ry? I thought you said you weren’t a morning person?”
“I’m not, but it’ll be worth it, I promise. Oh! And bring a camera, if you have one.”
“I’m a P.I. Of course, I have a camera.”
“4AM then.”
“Okay,” he confirmed, shaking his head with an amused smirk. “Whatever you say, Eagle Eye.”
***
Faint light was peeking through the trees as I maneuvered my Subaru Crosstrek through the winding backroads. Beck couldn’t suppress another yawn.
“There’s more coffee,” I said, gesturing to the thermos.
“I’m surprised you’re not drinking it,” he admitted, taking another swig. “It’s the butt crack of dawn. I can’t believe you got me out of bed for this.”
I reached over and pinched his sweat pants. “Barely.”
“Hey, you said I could go casual. This is casual.”
I laughed again. “Ten more minutes, promise. Just sip your heart attack in a cup and enjoy the ride.”
“Seriously, how are you not drinking this?”
I blushed slightly as I admitted, “I don’t drink coffee. Besides, when I come here, it’s usually after an all-nighter so I’m already awake.”
“All-nighter? Oh, your art?”
I nodded.
“But you got up for me?”
My blush deepened. “You’ll love it. Trust me.”
I felt Beck’s eyes on me as I pulled off the road onto a flat, open field that went on for miles. I continued to the right, parking in front of an old gate, then reached behind his seat for the blankets.
“Hurry, the sun’s already breaking through the night. We only have a few minutes.”
He hauled the camera bag over his shoulders and followed me in the dim light to the edge of the clearing. We made ourselves comfortable on an old log, wrapped snugly under the warm blankets. He caught my eye and was about to say something when I put my finger to my lips to stop him. I tapped my ear, signaling he should listen. Beckett nodded.
