Page 53 of Hideaway Reunion

“We’re having a blast,” Abigail said. “This was exactly the outing we needed after a day at the zoo. But Grandma got a little tired with all the dancing, so I had to sit down with a buddy.”

Brayden grinned. “That happens. And your supervisor is adorable.” He scanned the crowd again. “Veronica must’ve been thrilled to see you here.”

“Oh, we haven’t seen her yet, though her sisters have been lovely and the food is amazing.”

A chill replaced that initial prickle of unease. “I’ll send Veronica over as soon as I see her.”

“Don’t trouble her, please. Go dance and have fun. That girl deserves a break.”

Brayden couldn’t agree more. “We’ll dance,” he promised. “And it’s no trouble. She’ll want to see you.” He pushed to his feet and managed a warm smile. “Y’all enjoy the rest of your evening.”

He didn’t go straight to the class. Spotting Jess and her husband Nash with Cav and Bobby, he walked over. He shook hands with Nash and greeted the guys and that was all Jess needed to pick up his tension.

“What’s up?”

Her casual tone was as obvious to him as his tension was to her. He willed his shoulders to relax. “Have you seen Veronica?”

“Yeah.” Cav glanced toward the dancers. “She and Celeste are in that mix somewhere.”

A few folks were off to the side, learning the shuffle and glide steps of the Carolina shag. Plenty of others were having a blast, shoes off, dancing to the music pumped through the speakers.

“Can I steal your wife for a dance?” he asked Nash.

Jess gasped in exaggerated shock, hand to her heart. “You did not just ask my husband for permission. It’s the twenty-first century, for crying out loud.”

All of the men laughed as she left her shoes behind and hurried off with Brayden.

“Is it true? Are you and Roni getting married?”

He thought about that forever comment she’d made in the kitchen. “Where’d you get that idea?”

She turned to him, taking his hand and they started dancing to the music. “Nash came home from taking that limb out of the trailer with it. Apparently, Natalie was waxing poetic about your new relationship.”

He chuckled. “She’s a hopeless romantic.”

“And you’re not?”

“Only with Roni,” he admitted. “A proposal is a ways off.” Except she’d basically proposed to him about an hour ago. “Have you seen her?”

“Smile, Leggett. Your stress is showing.” She glided into a turn and back to him as they started the cycle of steps again. “She was here. Turquoise dress, looking pretty and very, very happy.”

“They won’t have any trouble with Indigo Reef anymore. I’m sure you’ll get the full details.” He scanned the crowded dance area, spotted Celeste dancing with Evan Miller. Roni would love that.

“She isn’t here.”

“She must be,” Jess soothed. “There hasn’t been a single sign of trouble.”

“Her absence is a sign of trouble,” he said as they came together. They swung out, and back close again. “You’re not disagreeing.”

“Who would come at her here? Tonight?”

There was only one answer. “Vanbeck’s up to something. Gamble and Swann called. He’s determined to get his fake survey in front of a judge.”

“Of course he is,” Jess said, voice mild. “He’s desperate. His client stands to lose a small fortune if their plans are impeded by reality. More if their stunts shut down the development entirely. But here?”

“He must know by now she has the proper documentation,” Brayden said, thinking aloud. “And the guys we rescued told us he has some kind of enforcer who pulled that stunt with the water main. Plus, that observation point—” He swore.

Whoever had been stationed there could’ve gathered all kinds of intel on Roni and her sisters. Hidden well, he could’ve overheard all kinds of conversations while they’d been cleaning up storm damage today.