Page 109 of Sapphire Sunset

“Yeah, I hear they can pack a lot into one pill these days,”Gloria said.

“Hey, as long as they aren’t talking about my uncle, he can goon all afternoon.”

“Are you sure about that? He’s been describing thecurriculum at the Marine Corps Water Survival Course for twenty minutes,Connor.”

Now that Connor gave them a closer look, some of thereporters did look bored.

“I’ll get him.”

When Connor was within earshot, he could hear what Logan wassaying. “And when I say PT, it’s not water aerobics, now, okay, you hear me? We’retalking a crawl stroke that doesn’t involve the legs. Then once you reach theother end of the pool, you hoist yourself up out of the water with both—”

“Guys, thanks so much, but we need to get Mr. Murdoch off hisfeet.”

He took Logan’s arm and guided him away from the cameras.

“I should really tell them more about my training because wedon’t want people who saw the news to just dive into the water when—”

“Or you should get off your feet for the rest of the daylike the doctor said.”

One of the reporters shouted after them. “Hey, how ’boutthat kiss, guys? Any comments on that?”

“Indeed,” a familiar voice said from several steps away.“How about that kiss?”

Connor’s mother was standing right next to Gloria, in thevery spot Connor had occupied seconds before. Had she been holding back andwaiting to strike? No doubt she’d seen the video of the water rescue, but hercrossed arms and pinched brows said she had a lot more to say about thelip-lock that followed. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and she wasdressed entirely in canary yellow. Which was always bad news. Ponytails andmonochromatic outfits were Janice Harcourt’s code forI have serious workto do today, most of it on you.

“Connor, I have a table reserved for us out on the pooldeck,” she said.

“I’mkindabusy right now, Mom.”

“That’s correct. You have a meeting with your mother.”

Logan cleared his throat, trying to seem way more sober thanhe looked. “Mrs. Harcourt, given Rodney’s actions, we need to make sureConnor—”

“I’m aware of the new security directive, Mr. Murdoch. And Ihave Brandon watching over the table for us and Scott ready to escort you guysup to your room before he takes Connor back to the pool. To meet with me.” Sheleveled Logan in a glare that had once been capable of blasting a confessionout of the most difficult of high school students. “That is where you’restaying, isn’t it, Mr. Murdoch? In Connor’s room?”

In the tense silence that followed, Gloria actually winced.

“When he’s not saving three-year-oldsfrom drowning,” Connor said.

“Uh huh. I’ll be waiting,” she said, and it sounded like athreat.

Logan turned to Connor. “Let Gloria take me up, and then gowith Scott.”

“Are you sure?” Connor asked.

“Yeah. I don’t have any experience with moms, but that looksserious,” Logan said.

“Okay. I’ll be up in a bit. Stay off your feet like thedoctor said.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“No, not,yeah, yeah. If you can’t bring yourselfto follow the doctor’s orders, follow mine.”

“Well, you are my boss.”

It was a joke Logan might not have made so directly if hehadn’t been chemically altered.

Logan leaned forward, and when he dropped his voice to awhisper, the effect of the pain pill was even more pronounced. “Okay, fine. Butonly if you promise to ride me like a cowboy later.”

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