Page 4 of Tracking Payton
“It’s not stealing when it’s personal property.”
“That is government data. Something beyond your clearance level. Give me your father’s possession, then I’ll give you the report.” The general stepped around her not waiting for her response.
“To hell with your security clearance, General, and it will be a cold day in hell when I give you the contents of my father’s car,” she yelled after him. “Useless people,” she mumbled to herself as she started pacing with her hands on her hips before noticing Alex standing there. Their eyes locked. It was like being sucker punched right in the solar plexus.
“Alex,” she whispered his name in disbelief.
“Hello, Payton.” Well, this just got more complicated.
Chapter 3
Payton just stood there gawking at Alex, wondering if she was hallucinating. She hadn’t seen him in fifteen years. Fifteen years without a single word or visit. Not since he enlisted in the army and went off to basic training. “What are you doing here?” she asked, though she already knew the answer. Her father. They had always been close. Closer than she had been to her own father.
“Colin told me about the accident. I flew out on the first flight I could get,” he said, sticking his hands in his pockets. She remembered him doing that a lot when they were younger. A tell he was nervous. To see her? She didn’t know why. He’d done everything in his power to avoid her their entire adult life. As soon as she’d hit puberty, she never saw him anymore.
It was a shame; he looked damn fine. He was cute when they were teenagers; every girl in their school was half in love with him. Her included. But now he was devilishly handsome. He’d lost that youthful face, his cheeks now more angular. His lips were still plump, and he still had bright emerald-colored eyes. Alex’s form had changed a lot since high school too. He had filled out, and she couldn’t stop staring at his wide chest and muscular biceps.
“I didn’t know you still spoke to my father.” She was proud her voice stayed steady when inside she felt breathless.
Get a grip. Alex Grant doesn’t care about you. He’s only here because of your father.
“Not as often as I’d like. How about you?”
“What about me?”
“Are you still close with the colonel?”
Payton almost laughed. Still close? She’d never been close to him. It wasn’t from lack of trying. She’d stayed in Colorado Springs to be closer to him, and she still saw little of him. “As close as we ever were.”
“I’m glad to hear. You look good.” His eyes roamed over her body.
Payton tried not to beam under his praise. She shouldn’t care what he thought. “Thank you. You look fine as well. I see the army is treating you well.”
Alex gave her a boyish grin that made her stomach somersault. “I can’t complain. Well, I could, but what good would it do?” He looked over at Colin who returned his grin as if they were sharing a private joke. Something they used to do regularly.
She had known Colin since he and Alex had met in high school. They’d become fast friends and inseparable. She had seen him from time to time, but they never hung out or talked often.
“Hello, Colin. It’s good to see you, though I wish under better circumstances.” She held her right hand out to him to shake. She wasn’t squeamish about prosthetics. He had lost it serving their country, for that she owned him her thanks, not disgust.
“Payton, I’m sorry about your father.” He ignored her outreached hand and stepped forward to hug her. She was startled for a second, not used to them hugging, but it was nice to find some comfort since she’d gotten the call that her father was in an accident and missing.
She’d been in detective mode since the call, trying to get as many details as she could, but she was getting road blocked by military personnel left and right. All with excuses about security clearance. To hell with clearance. She just wanted to find her father. Why was the government making her life harder?
“Thank you.” She smiled warmly at him after pulling away.
“I’m sorry we haven’t hung out more since the colonel got me a post here.”
“When Dad’s found, we’ll plan a dinner. It will be nice to catch up.” Colin had always been kinder to her than Alex. With his warm, caring green eyes, she noted he’d aged well too. Despite being out of active duty, he still looked every inch a soldier. She could see scars on his face and arms, but it in no way hindered his appearance. If anything, it made him more handsome.
Colin had always been broader than Alex’s leaner frame. Now they were about the same size. She couldn’t help but compare the two as they stood side by side.
“So what report were you demanding?” Alex asked her, stepping between them and blocking her view of Colin. If she didn’t know better, she’d think he was jealous.
“My father’s accident report.”
“Why?”
“I want to help,” she said as if it should be obvious. They weren’t close, but he was still her father, and someone had tried killing him. Investigating was what she did for a living. She wasn’t about to let the military push her out of this.
