Chapter 26

CHAPTER 26

W averly walked into her lab for the first time in a month. She'd changed so much in that time and she thought this would recenter her. It didn't. Everything felt off, foreign.

Kelvin had touched her things and moved them around as if he had a right to her work. Elwood, while being the same supportive friend, was slightly more independent than he'd been before. Garvey was treating her as if she'd fall apart at any moment.

"You can work a half-day if you want. I don't want you pushing yourself too hard," Garvey told her as she went about cleaning and organizing her equipment.

"Garvey, I'm good. I'm all healed and I'm ready to get back to work. Speaking of which, I need to get caught up on what everyone is working on."

"Come to my office when you're done. I've been filling in for you while you've been away."

Waverly smiled at him and finished cleaning her station. She got Elwood to show her what he was working on but didn't bother with Kelvin before she went to meet with Garvey.

Garvey was smiling as he talked on the phone, but motioned for Waverly to take a seat. "She just walked in. Of course, I won't forget to ask her. Okay, see you tonight. Love you."

Garvey hung up and turned to Waverly. "Maria wants to make sure you're coming to our Halloween party on Friday night."

"I wouldn't miss it. You know it's my favorite party of the year." Maria went all out for Halloween. It was a costume party and the decorations were perfection.

"Excellent. She's been so worried about you. I had to stop her from descending on you with baskets of food more than once. Don't be surprised if she sends you home with more food than you could ever eat."

"Why do you think I love her Halloween parties so much?" Waverly teased.

Garvey looked serious for a moment. "Are you really okay? I must admit I didn't handle your disappearance well. It was if I shut down so I wouldn't have to think about what you were going through."

Waverly took a deep breath. "It was hard, Garvey. I won't lie." She wanted to tell Garvey everything. About the leak, that she wasn't using the company lawyer, and filing for her patents on her own. But it had been decided the less she told them, the better. The FBI was doing its thing in the background and didn't want anyone to know about it. "But I'm glad to be back. What's been going on in the lab?"

Waverly directed the conversation back to work and got caught up on the various projects she would be overseeing. Waverly sighed as she looked at the latest from Kelvin's work. "Garvey, you should fire Kelvin. He's not a good employee and he's horrible at his job."

"He has potential, Waverly."

"Had. He had some potential but his work is sloppy and, if he follows through with this, he'll blow up the lab because he wrote down the wrong chemical component."

She turned the file back to Garvey who closed his eyes and sighed. "I'll put him on probation. See if you can straighten him out. We don't give up on each other."

"Unless you're kidnapped," Waverly snapped. Garvey's face paled and she felt horrible for saying so, but it had been true. Lark and Kane had told her about it.

Why don't you start your own lab ?

Kane had asked her that and that question hadn't left her mind since he'd done so. She would need money. Lots of it. She would need good people to work there. She glanced out the office window. Elwood would be the only person from this office she'd ask to join her if she left. There were three women from various other companies she'd either gone to school with or met at conferences who she would want to come on board too.

Wait, was she seriously thinking about this?

"Waverly," Garvey said, sounding gutted. "I told you I didn't handle it well. I'm so very sorry you felt as if we let you down. I'll handle Kelvin. You work with the others."

Waverly stood up. "Thank you, Garvey."

Waverly watched the clock. At noon, she got up from her desk and headed for the door.

"Wave," Elwood called out. "Want to go to lunch together?"

"Sure," Waverly said, smiling at her friend. "There's something I wanted to run by you."

They headed out of the building together, talking about their day. They'd gone to lunch a million times before and it was habit to get into Elwood's car as they headed to their favorite spot.

"What did you want to talk to me about?" Elwood asked.

"Have you ever thought about leaving this job and maybe starting at another lab?"

Elwood snorted. "Daily."

Waverly turned with surprise. "Really? You never told me you were unhappy."

Elwood shrugged. "I figured everyone was. The only reason I've stayed is because of you. Because of working with you on the radar. I've had offers from three other companies, but they all want to pigeonhole my research area. I want more freedom in my research. Does that mean you're thinking about leaving?"

"Let's just say, I'm thinking of a lot of things right now."

"Well, let me know what you come up with." Elwood cleared his throat. "So, you and this Kane guy? I didn't think he'd be your type." Waverly smiled just thinking of Kane. "But it's clear you both are crazy about each other."

"We are. Do you not like him?"

Elwood smiled then. "You had to know I had a crush on you, but Kane actually set me up on a blind date with a really wonderful woman. He's a good guy, and like you, I found myself really liking someone I never would have imagined myself with."

"He did?" Waverly fell a little more in love with Kane. He could have been an asshole to Elwood. Instead, he'd helped him find someone he could click with. "When will I meet her?"

"Garvey's Halloween party. She's my date."

"I can't wait."

The meeting with Jack Griffin had been successful. Kane had a new client and had also managed to squeeze in a meeting he'd had to reschedule when he was helping Waverly. It didn't leave much time, but he was able to barely beat Waverly back to her house after her first day of work.

Kane was sitting on her porch going through email when Waverly pulled up. The way she threw the door open and ran to greet him had him grinning as if he'd won the lottery.

"I missed you!" Waverly called out as he caught her up in his arms and kissed her.

"I missed you too. I got you something." Kane took her hand and climbed back up the stairs. He had a small gift bag sitting there and handed it to her.

"You didn't have to get me anything." Waverly tore into the bag and pulled out an oblong box that was a very famous shade of blue. "Oh Kane, what did you do?"

He smiled as she opened the box and looked at the silver necklace. She fingered the charm on it and laughed. "A charm necklace with an I heart NY charm. Very sweet."

"I thought it might be a fun way to handle my travel schedule. Every new place I go, I'll bring you back a charm. You're always with me and now I can be with you no matter where I am."

Waverly rose up and kissed him. "I love it. Thank you."

"My friend recommends Port. Is that good for dinner?"

"Uh, you better have made a reservation weeks ago."

Kane looked a little guilty. "I would love to say I did, but I copped out. Angelica called Ryker's assistant and she got the reservation."

"That works. I'm just really excited to eat there. Plus, I wanted to talk to you about something. I'd love your opinion on me starting my own lab."

"I think you should do it," he said instantly.

"I'm starting to think you're right."

Kane knew then that today hadn't been the day she'd been hoping for at work. "What happened at work?" He listened as they drove to Port. This wasn't his decision. This was hers. It was his job to support her in whatever she chose to do. "You think Elwood would go with you?"

"I do. Would you have a problem with that?" Waverly asked as they walked into the restaurant.

"No. I trust you, Waverly. I also think Elwood might realize his crush wasn't as much of a crush as he thought."

"He said as much. Apparently, you fixed him up."

Kane smiled wide as they took a seat at their table. "I did. I have a feeling Elwood will be very happy."

"Who is it? Elwood wouldn't tell me and said I'll meet her at Garvey and Maria's Halloween party."

"Then I won't spoil the surprise."

"Oh," Waverly's face looked priceless as she blushed. "I just assumed you'd go with me. I should have asked. Are you free Friday night?"

"I am. What should we go as?"

Dinner was delicious and the time flew by. He felt so alive with Waverly. Every part of him was invested in this relationship. He had been worried that Waverly was trying to put distance between them, but it was clear she wasn't. If anything, he was feeling closer to her as they told each other about their weekend.

The night didn't end with dinner. He didn't know what would happen when he dropped Waverly off at her house, but he was thrilled when she invited him into her house and into her bed.

"I love you," she whispered as they lay naked in each other's arms after making love.

"I love you too." Kane kissed the top of her head and fell asleep with her head on his chest. That is until his phone woke him up.

"What?" Kane asked at three in the morning.

"Franklin St. Germain has been taken," Angelica's voice said over the phone.

"Where, when, how much?" Kane slid from the bed even as Waverly began to wake up.

"From his Mexican beach house. Thirteen hours ago. Ransom of ten million received ten minutes ago."

"Did Juan take him?" Kane asked, already seeing a plane flight in his future.

"He did. Straight from Franklin's bed. Franklin's local hired security turned out to be Juan's men."

"Dammit. I hate dealing with Juan. Nice enough guy for a kidnapper, but he always wants to do this in person and drags it out just to be dramatic."

"You leave in two hours. I sent you your travel information."

"Thank you. Call me with any more details." Kane hung up and found Waverly watching him. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. Work calls."

"Be safe. Text me when you can."

Kane paused. No hysterics. Instead, Waverly was smiling at him. "You're smiling?"

"Oh, I guess I am. I like watching you work. You're going to go save someone. That's amazing. And I know what it feels like. You're a silent hero, Kane Allen Townsend. Now, go do your job. I'll get us costumes for Halloween. If you make it, great. If you don't, I'll send you pictures but I won't save you any of Maria's food. I will eat it all myself."

Kane chuckled. "Motivation to get these negotiations over with quickly then." Kane finished getting dressed and leaned down to kiss Waverly goodbye. "I'm sorry my life can be chaotic at times."

"I rather like it. My life was so predictable. It needed shaking up."

"I'll text you when I land. Love you."

Kane hated leaving but work called.