He plated dinner while I poured two glasses of wine.
We ate and talked about inconsequential things like buffleheads and whether the Indian Summer would hold through the weekend, and how the bread Anna had served with dinner the night before would’ve gone perfectly with thecacio e pepe.
We were finishing puttingthe dishes away when Bishop’s mobile buzzed.
He picked it up, read the message, then handed it to me.
It was from Henry, saying the evening card game would commence as soon as we arrived. It went on to say that everyone was seated and waiting for us.
“What do you think?” he asked.
I handed the mobile to him. “It doesn’t sound as though we have much choice.”
We kissed a few minutes more, put our jackets on, and returned to the main camp.
When we walked in, Henry was already shuffling.
14
BLACKJACK
Dagger’s message came in at zero five hundred.
Something you need to see.
I lay there for a full minute, looking at the ceiling before I got up.
I was already half awake, thinking about waking Katarina up with my tongue between her legs.
Instead, I rolled out of bed and got dressed in the dark, hoping I wouldn’t disturb her. Once I had my boots on, I was ready to head out, but stopped in the doorway.
My kitten was on her right side, with her head resting on her arm. Her dark hair was loose across the pillow, and her cheeks were flushed from the room’s warmth.
Three seconds later, I crossed to the bed, sat on the edge, leaned forward, and kissed her.
She roused, opened her eyes, and was about to wrap her arm around my neck when she blinked.
“You’re dressed.”
“There’s something Dagger wants me to see.”
She groaned and used my shoulder to pull herself up.
I kissed her again. “Sleep. If it’s important, I’ll let you know.”
“He wouldn’t have sent a message this early if it wasn’t.” She covered her mouth when she yawned. “I’ll shower quickly, then join you.”
This time, I groaned.
“What?” she asked.
“You, naked in the shower. Me with Dagger in the command center.”
Katarina laughed. “Go to work, Blackjack.”
Outside,the cold came off the lake through the trees. Two of the three lanterns along the stone walkway were lit. The third was out, and I made a mental note to replace the bulb when I returned later.
I walked with my hands in my jacket pockets and my head down on the path that was starting to feel like a commute. Three days at Onteora, and the ground under my boots was already starting to feel familiar.
