She glanced at her Fitbit. “Well, I’d better go change. Don’t want to be late. Help yourself to the Keurig, but fair warning—the cream’s probably expired.”
Almost two hours later Tyson waited in a coffee shop just down the street from the building where Jenna was interviewing. While he waited he answered some texts. One from Luke, who was excitedabout his relationship with Trinity. A couple of messages from his mom regarding a reservation for the upcoming weekend.
When he wasn’t on his phone, he flipped through a copy ofThe Alexandria Timessomeone had left on the table. But he was only skimming the newspaper. He couldn’t focus well enough to actually read the articles.
He was too nervous for Jenna. Or maybe it was just jitters from the caffeine. Yeah, that was it. Couldn’t be worry that the new job would take Jenna away from the island again.
The image of her emerging from her apartment hallway flashed in his brain. Her brow furrowed, she’d stopped and smoothed the skirt of a dress that somehow managed to appear both businesslikeandsporty. It offered a conservative view of her slim arms and tanned, toned legs.
“Is this okay?” she asked. “Is it too much? Not enough?”
He jerked his gaze from her legs. “It’s perfect. You look great.” He handed her a mug of hazelnut coffee. “Energy in a cup.”
Since creamer was his thing he’d skipped the coffee, but he was making up for it now with the large cold brew. He checked the time. Must be going well if the interview was lasting this long. She would get the job, and he’d be back to irregular visits and sporadic texts.
His phone vibrated and a notification appeared on the screen. Jenna.I’m done.
He replied,Be there soon. Want a coffee?
No thanks. Too jacked up on adrenaline!
He left the shop, and unable to wait any longer, he sent a text on his way out to the truck.It went well then?
She responded as he got in his truck.Very well! I’ll tell you all about it on the way to DC.
Chapter 25
Jenna couldn’t believe how well the interview had gone. She and Nancy hit it off from the start. They connected over the Braves, and the woman’s aunt vacationed on Chincoteague every summer. Nancy had even visited a few times herself.
Furthermore, the position seemed perfect for Jenna. She’d be responsible for overseeing the coaches of all the adult sports. She’d be accountable for the venues and equipment. The only negative was the reduction in salary, which would likely mean giving up her new apartment. But the pay was comparable to what she’d been making before the last pay raise Jason had given her.
When they’d gotten around to talking about Jenna’s dismissal from Fleming Orthodontics, Nancy seemed to accept Jenna’s explanation—and even sympathize—about the workplace romance gone awry. She’d apparently had a similar thing happen years ago. And even though she’d connected the last name with Mayor Fleming, she seemed unconcerned about the association. The interview only got better from there.
Jenna spilled every detail to Ty on the drive to DC, and retelling it only amped her up more. “She didn’t commit to anything because she still has a few more people to interview—including one person on staff. I’m most worried about that. But I’m still hopeful.”
“That’s great, Jenna. Sounds like it couldn’t have gone better.”
Jenna beamed. “It felt like a really good fit.”
“She’d be crazy to hire anyone else.”
“Thanks, Ty.” She glanced his way. It had somehow helped knowing he was just a few miles away rooting for her. “I’m glad you came with me today.”
“I’m glad too.”
But as they headed into DC proper, the pep in Jenna’s step began to fade. A job was important, but it was just a job. Their mission now was to figure out who this Gordon guy was so she could protect her mother. It was going on six o’clock and DC’s rush-hour traffic was living up to its bad reputation.
They’d put Gordon’s home address into the GPS, and now it was only twelve miles away, but it would apparently take almost an hour to get there at this rate.
“What would you think about stopping for supper?” Ty asked.
She was eager to stake out Gordon’s home, but she was also hungry—they hadn’t eaten since before the interview. “That makes sense. Maybe some of this traffic will clear up by the time we’re finished.”
The two-story row house looked much as it had online, but viewing the neighborhood granted Jenna additional perspective. The homes were well maintained, and the neighbors coming and going seemed like regular, upstanding people.
When Ty and Jenna first arrived, they simply drove past the home as there were no parking spots available. Then they parked a block away and strolled past the house. The curtains were drawn except for one upstairs window, and there were no signs of life.
A while later a parking spot opened a few houses down. They snagged it and had been surveying the house ever since. But there was no movement in or around the home that they could see. They’d talked about ringing the doorbell, but Jenna hoped to avoid that.
