Page 22 of Shades of You

As my eyes landed on the guest bedroom, I padded down the hall without thinking about it. I peered through the open door at a sliver of Brenna’s world—neat and clean, just like her. And not unlike me, either. I took several steps inside, and as I breathed in her scent that lingered in the room, guilt gnawed at my insides. It wasn’t right to be here without her okay, but something pulled me—the same gravity that had been pulling me since the day I moved back. Spinning around, I reached the doorway in two large strides, then halted.

“Shit.” Before I knew what I was doing, I whirled around and stalked to her bed. Her pillow sat neatly atop the bedspread. My hand reached out, fingers grazing the fabric before gripping it and lifting it to my face.

As I inhaled deeply, she filled my senses—a crisp scent like the ocean breeze mingling with the soft floral hint of her shampoo. It was clean, invigorating, and utterly Brenna. I smashed my face into the softness as a surge of desirerocketed through me, so potent it could’ve lit up the island. I sucked in another breath, and her fragrance wrapped around me like a siren’s call. My mind painted her image—her world-class breasts, her slim waist, the curves I’d only allowed myself to skim in my dreams. Goddamn, how I wanted to trace those lines in reality, to taste her lips and claim them as mine.

With a groan that came from deep within, I released the pillow and smoothed it back in place. Like I might restore order to the chaos inside me. Then I stomped out of her room, my body tense, and my footsteps leaden with the weight of longing I couldn’t—shouldn’t—indulge.

Stepping out into the late-morning heat, I shook off the remnants of Brenna’s scent clinging to my thoughts as I got into my SUV. The drive to Calypso Key was brief, but it gave me enough time to switch gears from overprotective would-be lover to professional security consultant. And brother.

Always brother.

I crossed the causeway between the two islands, and a reluctant smile graced my face at the huge billboard advertising Stella and Orchid. I hardly gave the Big House a glance as I drove by. Continuing down the hill, I passed the Barn, where Gabe, April, and Gabe’s daughter, Hailey, lived. It was a busy hive of activity, construction workers buzzing all over it as an addition took shape that would give them more room with the extra family member on the way. The sight made even my cold heart warm. Gabe had been a real lifeline for me after I got out of the Corps and moved to South Beach. He’d lived in Miami at the time. When he and Hailey returned home, I’d felt his absence acutely, but I couldn’t resent his obvious happiness at the life he’d createdhere. And the new addition was proof of it. I smiled at the double meaning.

After parking in the sand employee lot, I strode toward the resort lobby, squinting against the glare of the sun reflecting off the pristine white façade. The large, airy room I entered still held the sharp scent of its recent remodel, and I quickly scanned the room—an automatic assessment of potential threats and multiple exits. My motions were so ingrained, I was hardly even conscious of them. But this was just my family’s lobby building. No terrorists or insurgents in sight. Or displaced civilians just trying to survive. Frowning, I pushed the thoughts away as I crossed the tile floor.

Evan’s office at the end of the hall was a cool sanctuary with air conditioning humming softly in the background. I forced my slowly coiling body to relax as I tried to convince myself this was just another business meeting.

But it wasn’t.

“Morning, Hunter,” Evan greeted from behind his desk, his tone cordial yet distant. He stared at me with inscrutable blue eyes, and his clean-cut appearance was a familiar one. I hadn’t seen him in all the years he’d worn a beard. The fact that he’d recently shaved and looked remarkably different to everyone else was yet another reminder that I was an outsider.

“Evan.” I kept my voice even as I took a seat in an armchair in front of his desk. Gabe was already seated next to me and offered a subtle nod that eased the tightness in my gut. He had a way of bringing calm to any storm. After a few pleasantries, it was time to get down to business.

“Let’s talk security,” I said as my gaze flicked to the window, and I took in the view of families enjoying the resort grounds. “I think it’s time to scale back.”

“Scale back?” Evan’s brow furrowed slightly. “You were the one who wanted an on-site presence.”

“I did. Because I wasn’t sure the thefts wouldn’t continue.”

When small items had started turning up missing, Stella had immediately suspected Ben Coleridge. I’d kept an open mind and set up a sting to catch whoever the thief was. And it had been a member of Stella’s own staff, not Ben. But I needed time to ensure he hadn’t had a partner. I leaned forward, hands clasped. “Matt’s been behind bars for months now, and there hasn’t been a single incident since. I think we’ve got our man. Security seven days and nights per week is overkill.”

Gabe’s dark eyes were thoughtful as he watched me. “You sure about this? Security at the resort was the whole reason you set up shop down here. Can you afford to lose the contract?”

“Doesn’t matter,” I said firmly. “I won’t charge a client for services they don’t need. It’d be a waste of your money. And I’m picking up plenty of jobs. I’ve got one right now that’s keeping both me and Garrett busy.” I didn’t add that it was a non-paying job. I had plenty of savings if it came to that.

“Money aside,” Evan interjected, “we can’t risk our guests’ safety.”

“Absolutely not,” I replied. “But with the camera system I’ve installed, if anything suspicious happens, we’ll see it. Plus, Myles, Garrett, and I can swing by for random, on-site visits to maintain a presence.”

Evan studied me. Maybe I imagined it, but I thought I saw a flash of respect—or perhaps understanding—in his eyes.

“Sounds like you’ve got it worked out,” Gabe said. It stillfelt strange not to have Dad at this meeting. But Gabe was the majority shareholder of the resort and island now. He was the one in charge, while Dad enjoyed leading fishing charters.

Evan still had his poker face on. “You’re sure about this?”

“It’s not like I want to cancel everything. The resort needed a camera system and we’ve got that in place. And on-site security will still happen too. This is what I’d recommend to any client in the same situation. I’d never put the resort at risk if I wasn’t confident.”

A long look passed between Evan and me, but I didn’t look away. Finally, Evan gave me a nod. “If you’re okay with it, then so am I.”

“Okay. Go ahead and pull them,” Gabe said before turning to face me fully. “You’ll be at the game tomorrow, right?”

“Oh yeah,” I replied with a nod, feeling a twitch of excitement for the normalcy of a local game. My gaze slid over to Evan, catching the slight clench of his jaw, the tension that never quite seemed to leave his frame when I was around.

“There’s always a spot for you too, Evan,” Gabe added gently.

I tried not to stiffen as Evan’s eyes flickered to me. “I’ve got a lot on my plate, but thanks for the offer.” His nod was stiff but accepting. And just like that, the topic was closed, the meeting over.

The evening foundBrenna and me in my apartment, an easy, domestic scene straight out of some idyllic fantasy.We sat side by side on the couch, lost in our books after sharing a meal we’d cooked together. The aroma of garlic and basil still lingered in the air, mingling with the salt breeze that drifted in from the open window. I had to admit the Clive Cussler book had reeled me in from the first page when I’d started it last night. Brenna was nose-deep in my copy ofThe Sun Also Rises, perhaps an homage to the kitten who purred on my lap. I stroked his head absently.

---