Page 14 of Shades of You

“Let me be the judge of that, okay? I do this kind of thing for a living.”

And I used to do a whole lot more than this.

She hesitated, her gaze dropping before meeting mine again with a glint of resolve. “He lives at 436 Driftwood Lane. And works at the Dove Key boatyard.”

“Thank you. I’ll let you know what I find out.” I gave her a reassuring nod before turning on my heel and leaving her shop. I hurried down Main Street and trotted to the alley behind the KeyMark building, then slid into my Range Rover and pulled out. Driftwood Avenue was in the residential district of Dove Key, and it wouldn’t take long to get there.

After leaving my SUV parked on the street, I could feel the weight of each step as I headed toward Knox’s apartment.My hands balled into fists at my sides. When I arrived, I took a moment to collect myself before knocking, trying to stifle the drumming of my heart against my ribcage. I loosened my hands, pushing down the urge to throttle him as soon as I saw him.

The door swung open, but the face that greeted me wasn’t Knox’s. The guy wore a dirty T-shirt and shorts, his hair all messed up. Behind him, the apartment was in disarray—clothes strewn about, dishes piled high. “I need to talk to Knox.”

“Haven’t seen him in days,” he said, a wary look creeping onto his face as he stared up at me—at my clenched jaw and tense posture.

Without another word, I turned around and left, the mess of Knox’s life imprinted in my mind. Refusing to let frustration seep in, I checked the Dove Key boatyard next. After parking in a utilitarian dirt lot, my pace picked up as I edged around a long one-story building, thoughts racing faster than my feet. What would I say? What would I do when I found Knox?

But the answers never came. The bastard wasn’t at the boatyard either.

“Called in sick the last two days,” his boss informed me with a frown.

That didn’t sit right with me. Neither his job nor his roommate had seen him. The fact that he was hiding out raised every red flag in my gut. “Thanks,” I said tersely, returning to my SUV as my frustration mounted.

Knox was in hiding, and that meant Brenna wasn’t safe. My jaw set in a hard line, and determination replaced any uncertainty I had felt before. Memories came crashing down and I inhaled a deep breath through my nose beforeletting it out through my mouth in a rush. “No, dammit. I won’t let it happen again.”

This time, I wouldn’t be too late. Not for Brenna. Not ever again.

When I entered the bookstore, she was unpacking a box of the latest bestseller near the front window. The sight of her stirred a whirlwind of worry within me. Her green eyes, wide and questioning, locked onto mine as if searching for answers. Then her gaze skipped over my face and down my body. Probably looking for signs of a fight.

I scanned the shop, confirming it was empty, then approached her with a grim set to my mouth. “I couldn’t find Knox. He’s gone underground or something. His roommate hasn’t seen him in several days, and he’s not at work.”

Brenna’s frown deepened, that little crease between her brows telling me more than words could. She shook her head slightly, disbelief etched into every feature. “Knox can be an asshole. But dangerous?”

I leaned in closer, dropping my voice to a hushed tone. My protective instincts clawed their way to the surface. “Look. We can’t afford to take chances.”

She processed my words, and hesitation flickered across her face. In the silence that stretched between us, she peaked a delicate brow. “What are you suggesting? If he left, maybe that’s for the best.”

“Except I’m not sure he’s gone. I’ve seen this before.”

A case in South Beach flitted through my mind—a woman who couldn’t believe her estranged husband was capable of harm. Until I caught him trying to sneak through a locked window. I straightened to my full height and folded my arms over my chest. “You’re staying with me until I find him. It’s not safe for you to bealone right now.”

Brenna’s eyes widened, shock painting her features as she took a big step back. The gears in her mind churned visibly as she absorbed my statement. “What?Stay at your place?”

Chapter Seven

Brenna

“I can’t movein with you, Hunter! I haven’t seen you in over ten years.” The words tumbled out of my mouth like a cascade of marbles, each one clattering against the next. I straightened, trying to keep my jaw off the floor. The rush of emotion I’d felt when he walked in the door turned to numbness as shock rolled through me. Over the past few days, I’d half convinced myself he wouldn’t be as gorgeous, or as alluring, certainly not as magnetic.

He was all of that and more.

And as shocking as his proposal was, the idea of it didn’t frighten me. Stun me a little? Yes. Intrigue me a bit? Maybe. Because this new Hunter who had strolled back into my life was very intriguing.

Except that the whole idea was ludicrous.

Hunter’s jaw clenched before he exhaled slowly, his chest deflating beneath the fabric of his fitted black shirt. “Brenna, I’m not trying to be some kind of predator here.” A twinge of exasperation sliced through his otherwise calmdemeanor. He raked a hand through his dark hair, which only seemed to enhance the bad-boy aura that clung to him like a shadow. “I have two bedrooms, so you’d have your own space and privacy. It’s a simple offer.”

“Simple?” I asked, incredulous. The idea was anything but simple. My heart hammered against my ribcage, and I couldn’t shake the worry knotted tight in my stomach. I still wasn’t sure if Knox was dangerous, but he could be lurking anywhere.

Hunter took a step closer, his gaze holding fast to mine. “Brenna, I just want you to be safe. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

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