Page 14 of Island Rescuer

Logical? This couldn’t be happening. If he believed she was a target, then his presence wasn’t a simple coincidence. “What are you doing here?”

He scrubbed at the stubble shadowing his jaw. “My job. I’ve been hired to protect you.”

“My parents.”

“Yes,” he replied, though it wasn’t a question. “After they received some unfortunate mail.”

“Threats?” She shoved to her feet. “Someone mailed threats to my parents?”

“To you actually.” He grimaced. “But the envelopes were suspicious, so they opened them.” He paused and she nearly begged for the rest of the story. “They opened the letters and the messages distressed them enough to reach out to the Guardian Agency.”

“Of course they did.” She dropped back to her seat, feeling defeated and frustrated. “And without telling me.” The wind turned cold against her skin and wet clothing and she tried to rub it away with the towel.

The Ellington properties and the Guardian Agency had been working together for a few years now for optimal security measures. With such a wide variety of potential crimes moving through hotels and guests, it was essential for staying ahead of criminal trends. Their combined efforts had paid off already—multiple times over.

Their legitimate guests were safer. The staff was safer. And that reputation definitely bolstered the business. More importantly in Harper’s mind, the global community at large was safer when hotels took strong, effective precautions.

No, they’d never catch every criminal or preempt all crimes, but each time they prevented trouble was a win in her mind.

Knox unzipped his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. The warmth was intense and such a relief. The scent of his soap and skin wound around her, enticing as it blended with the salt air and sunshine. Her shivering eased, and for a moment, she indulged in the fantasy of being a real couple.

Him sharing his jacket, seeing to her comfort was normal. They were two people who shared everything, from inside jokes and loving affection to a passion for the ocean. Today had simply been a good day to be out on the water and they’d given in.

“I’m taking you to a safe house on Brookwell.”

His words were a wrecking ball, shattering her brief bliss. She should’ve expected such a high-handed move. Whenever she thought she might gain his attention on a personal, intimate level he jerked away, pulling the proverbial rug out from under her feet.

“No, thank you.”

“I insist,” he replied, without looking at her.

Didn’t she have a vote? It was her life. This was the kind of interference she and Trina had commiserated over last night. Someone should’ve consultedher.

“No, Knox. I mean it. I can’t go into lockdown. I’ve got business?—”

“What you have is a serious problem, Harper. One we’d hoped to eliminate without ever troubling you.

“A safe house turns the odds in your favor. As for the business, you’re going to have to deal with that remotely until we sort out the source of the threat.” He faced her and though his eyes were hidden behind the sunglasses once more, she felt the intensity of his stare. “Unless you already know who it is.”

“I beg your pardon.” She felt her cheeks heat. Thank goodness she could blame it on the wind in her face and the sunshine warming up the day. “What are you implying?”

She didn’t need to see his eyes to know he was angry. The hard line of his mouth and tough set of his jaw gave it away.

“Stop, Harper. I know you’ve been receiving threats. Someone’s been following you. And you haven’t talked to anyone about it.”

How did he know everything? “I was going to talk to Bruce,” she said, immediately defensive. She’d planned to get her uncle involved as soon as she had some idea of who was behind the harassment. “I just?—”

“Youjustgot tossed off a boat that was on fire. And shot at.”

Because of course he’d make her feel worse. “Accidents happen.”

“You mean accidents like nearly getting rear ended on the bridge last night? Have you considered how badly that might’ve ended?”

He really did know everything. Her heart sank.

“Yes.” The unpleasant possibilities had kept her awake all night. She shivered again and this time it had nothing to do with the cool air or the recent crisis. “How do you know all of this?”

“Because I’ve been on the job for a couple of weeks now. Following you. Making sure you’re safe.”

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