Page 23 of Island Rescuer

“Oh.” He wasn’t sure what kind of reply that required. Stumped, he shook hands with Nash and wished them well as they left through the side yard.

He turned just in time to see Harper go inside through the slider. He followed, but she was already heading upstairs.

All he could do was his job, so he locked up and set the security system. Then he grabbed a Coke and started digging into Harper’s case. With luck, maybe Jess would call soon with some magical female insight.

Hours later, he was still waiting as he climbed the stairs to his room. He unpacked, stripped to his boxers, and was lying in the dark when the screaming began.

* * *

Harper climbed into bed and turned out the light. The endless day that felt longer than most weeks was finally over. She’d never been happier to think about the fresh start of tomorrow.

No one had been seriously injured—not physically—but she’d been calculating the financial and emotional blows to the fishing captain all day.

She couldn’t escape the dreadful sense that it was all her fault. No, she wasn’t responsible for another person’s actions, but the experts said the attack was because she’d been there. The crew and their livelihood would still be secure if she’d stayed in her office.

There was no one to talk to. Knox, his bosses, even Jess would tell her this line of thinking was nonsense. She wanted to rest in their logic, but her heart and body ached with the truth that she’d brought trouble to good friends.

She tossed and turned, desperate for sleep, and still her mind kept churning.

It was as if the bed was too comfortable and the sheets too soft. Because they weren’t hers. This didn’t smell like her bedroom or her linens. The smells here were different, even though she was on the same coastline. There was more marsh in the air here, mingling sweetly with the ocean breeze.

She closed her eyes. Focused on her breathing. Tried to tap into happier thoughts.

Instead, her mind wandered to Knox. He was probably sound asleep across the hall, trusting his cameras and locks and whatever backup was in place outside.

Curling onto her side, she pulled the covers up to her chin. And her traitorous mind imagined him spooned up behind her. Wouldn’t that be lovely? The heat of his body close to hers… They had never spent this much time together. Definitely never been so close. Every minute with him made her crave more. She was tempted to just put herself out there and tell him how she felt. Ask him on a date. Beg him to give her a chance.

Pitiful much? Any declarations would make things terribly awkward.

She flopped to her back. Maybe when this was over she’d have the guts to tell him how she really felt. Or maybe she was just locked in the past, a silly girl making foolish plans.

Annoyed with herself, she started another cycle of meditative breathing. She had to get some rest so she could think clearly tomorrow and start damage control.

The nightmare crept up on her slowly.

In her dream, she was looking forward to a day on the water basking in the soft early light, excited about fishing and catching up with old friends. They were all pumped about a potential deal, a collaboration on a new vacation experience. If they could hammer out the early details, she would bring the plan to the family for consideration.

Business was the one place she could count on consistent growth and healthy progress. It was only her personal life that consistently crashed and burned. Especially now with someone harassing her non-stop.

She had her phone with her—for pictures only. They’d taken a few selfies and made a couple of videos predicting who would make the catch of the day. Audrey was handling everything else at the office. If something came up that was too big for her, it would wait until tomorrow.

The boat puttered away from the dock and was soon flying over the waves, out to sea. The wind whipped through her hair, the salt-spray an exhilarating sting against her cheeks.

The smell of bait wafted across the boat as they set the lines, targeting grouper. With nothing to do but wait and chat, with no concern that anyone could find her or harass her out here, her shoulders unwound.

The fresh air and sunshine were the perfect remedy for stress.

And then it all went to hell. She whimpered as the explosion rolled through the boat, a sudden quake under her feet. Fear slicked her skin as the black cloud speared into the sky, oily smoke coating her throat.

The explosion didn’t make any sense. Everything was wrong.

The nightmare took on a life of its own, sweeping her up. Terror lashed at her mind and body.

Alone on the boat, fire rolled across the stern, biting into the deck, hunting her. Where were her friends? Gone, because of her.

Flames licked at her heels, swallowing more and more of the boat. There was nowhere to run, no escape. She surged toward the bow and the hull cracked, pitching her back into the smoke and heat. Screaming, she kicked and crawled, scrabbling for any purchase that would keep her out of the greedy flames.

The boat rocked, the fire laughed, and she could only weep over her fate.

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