Page 82 of Midnight Secrets

He waved a hand, coming up the drive. “Not from Kellerman’s.” Passing me, he continued toward the door. “Let’s eat.”

Chuckling, I followed him. As I raised my fist to knock, I heard Pebbles sound the alarm inside.

Ellis chuckled. “Who needs an alarm system with that around?”

I grinned. “She’s effective, that’s for sure.” And probably why someone tried to take her out of the equation.

Thirty seconds later, the door swung inward. Pebbles barked from between Claire’s feet, her little tail alternating between wagging when she looked at me and going rigid when she spotted Ellis.

Claire gave us a confused smile. “Hi. What are you two doing here?”

I raised the bag of crab. “Dinner.”

“Oh.” She looked over her shoulder, then back to us. “I have a lot of work?—”

“You can take a break for food. The work will be there when you’re done, and I promise to leave after we eat if that’s what you want. Ellis wanted to go for beers, but I convinced him to come here instead. He and I can go do that after dinner.”

Her mouth pulled to one side, but she soon stepped aside and let us in. “I suppose a quick break won’t hurt.”

“You can tell him to shove off,” Ellis said as he stepped inside. “It might be good for his ego.” Grinning, he cast a quick look at me.

Claire chuckled, sparing us a glance. When her back was turned, I flipped my brother the bird. His grin only widened.

“I was sorry to hear about your office. Oz said one of your employees was there and suffered some smoke inhalation. I hope she’s all right.”

“She’s doing well. Back to limited duties. Emails and such. The doctor told her to take it easy for a week or so. Talking still irritates her throat. Makes her cough.” Claire led us to the kitchen. Pebbles trotted along, her nails tapping on the wooden floor.

I set the bag on the counter, then bent to scratch her head in greeting.

Claire took several plates from the cabinet and some utensils from a drawer, and we divvied up the food. While she retrieved cans of soda from the fridge, I carried her plate and mine to the table.

“So, tell me more about yourself, Ellis,” Claire said, settling into her seat. “Ozzie’s mentioned some, but we actually haven’t talked too much about our families.”

My brother sent me a quick, sly look before he offered Claire a polite smile. “Not much to tell. I’m older and wiser?—”

I snorted and picked up a crab leg. “In your dreams.”

He narrowed his eyes in a mock glare. “Anyway, he’s probably told you I’m in the Coast Guard. My enlistment ends injust a couple of weeks, and I’ve decided not to re-up. Gonna try my hand at commercial fishing.”

Claire cracked open a leg and dipped it in the buttery sauce that came with the meal. “Why fishing? And why are you leaving the Coast Guard? You’re only a few years away from being able to receive retirement, aren’t you?”

“Yes and no. I get some retirement no matter when I separate, but it would be higher if I stayed another four years.” He shook his head. “I just can’t, though. It’s all just become… ridiculous.”

At the tweak of Claire’s brows with an unspoken question, he elaborated slightly.

“Things have changed. It’s not the same Coast Guard I signed up to. Plus, this fishing opportunity sort of fell into my lap. I took it as a sign.”

“Fair enough,” she said.

“I’m still in the market for a house too. I haven’t forgotten. But it can wait until you’re less stressed. My lease isn’t up until September.” A wicked smile formed on his face as he cracked a leg open. “I can always move in with Ozzie if necessary.”

“Again, in your dreams.” I would happily open my home to him, but no point in not giving him grief first.

“Oh, come on, Oz. You’d let your own brother go homeless?”

I rolled my eyes, a smile toying with my mouth. “You can put your stuff in storage. Most of the time you’ll be on your boat, anyway.”

Claire’s mouth tipped up on one side as amusement danced in her pretty eyes. “In any case, I can probably put a list of properties together next week. We’ll find you something so you don’t have to rely on Ozzie to have a change of heart.” She grinned at me, softening her words.

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