Page 76 of Secrets Beneath the Waves
One thing was for sure. If Matthew had aligned himself with the enemy, this wasn’t just betrayal, it was a death sentence. His.
Mark had pickedthe perfect restaurant. One that seemed designed to make her forget everything outside its doors. But as they waited for their table, Ellie instinctively clocked the exits. One by the kitchen, another near the restrooms. Her gaze swept over the other diners and lingered on the man with his back to the wall and the couple who spoke in hushed tones.
Threats? No. Just her imagination running wild again.
The salty tang of the ocean mingled with the rich aroma of garlic and butter wafting from the kitchen. The muted clink ofsilverware and low murmur of conversation filled the air. Dim light spilled from overhead fixtures, casting a romantic glow on the white tablecloths and soft linen napkins.
On any other night, this might have been soothing, but for Ellie, the sound of waves crashing against the shore reminded her of her own life, calm on the surface, chaotic beneath.
A thought occurred to her that a bullet could come through one of those open windows, and no one would know where it came from.
Her mother had said,The bullet that kills you will be the one you don’t see coming.
Why did she have to think about her mother now?
Mark was adorable. He was cute. Charming. A perfect gentleman. She really liked him. She hated that she was ruining the evening that he had so carefully planned.
“You’re quieter than usual,” Mark said, his head tilted to the side in confusion. “Work stress?”
Ellie nodded as she swirled her glass of water. “You could say that.”
He reached across the table and covered her hand with his, careful to only touch the top of it. “You know you can talk to me, right? I’m here for you.”
She smiled. His sincerity was genuine, but the risk of letting him in was too great.
“Thanks, Mark. That means a lot.”
He didn’t press the issue or ask what had distracted her at work. Thankfully.
Their food arrived, and for a while, Ellie found herself relaxing somewhat. Mark had a way of making her laugh, but as Ellie’s eyes flicked toward the waiter behind him, she felt a moment of panic.
Was his hand lingering too long near his pocket?
Mark pulled her attention back to him, waving his fork in front of her. A perfectly seared piece of steak glistened in the restaurant’s dim lighting. “Earth to Ellie. You’ve got to try this. Best steak I’ve ever had.”
She forced a smile, nodding as though nothing was wrong. “Yeah?”
“Here, try it.”
Ellie hesitated, her mind still tangled in a web of doubt from earlier. Was Matthew watching her, now?
Forcing herself to stay in the moment, she leaned in, letting Mark feed her the bite. The rich, buttery steak melted on her tongue.
A mischievous thought crossed her mind. She was tempted to lean across the table and kiss Mark, if only to get under Matthew’s skin. It would serve him right.
“So, funny story,” Mark said, cutting into his steak. “I ran into someone the other day who knows you.”
Ellie’s stomach clenched. “Oh? Who?”
He shrugged, his tone light. “Some guy named Luke. Said you work together.”
Her heart dropped. “Luke?” she echoed, struggling to keep her voice even. “What did he say?”
“Small talk. Although . . . kind of weird questions, you know? He said he saw us together and wondered if we were dating. It felt . . . odd.”
Ellie’s mind raced. Luke knew about Mark? How did they meet? Who initiated the conversation?
“Sorry about that.”She wasn’t sure why she was apologizing.
