Page 112 of Sing with Me

Skye smiled. Ran a finger down his arm. “No?”

He chuckled. “No.”

“If you want to go with Ivan, then ask Malik to send along some bodyguards. Matt and Ben are with him, but they’re taking separate trucks.”

“How do you know all these things?”

“I know you’ve got a lot on your mind.”

“So you kept up with Ivan for me.” Diehl sounded…jealous?

“Not Ivan. Matt. He texts me with updates, but I haven’t heard from him in a few hours.”

“Matt. Should I be worried?”

And her phone pinged. She checked it. “Okay. Tristan says one of his patients saw a girl about that age going into a Walmart in Brunswick. They called Detective Jeong, but Hayden lives in Brunswick near the Walmart, so he’s checking it out.”

“Add me to that loop.” Diehl retrieved his phone. “I’m out of battery again.”

“Right now, I need to finish making this cheesecake to keep Ethan occupied.”

“I need to keep busy too.” Diehl pecked Skye’s cheek before she realized what happened. “Sweaty.”

“I told you.” She stepped away. “I don’t want to get too far ahead before Ethan shows up. He’ll be upset or something. I don’t have time to start over with a second cheesecake.”

“Text Cara to bring him back.” He gave Skye Cara’s number. “I’ll have to charge up my phone.”

“Well… He needs to spend time with his other grandparents.” Skye retrieved the pan of graham crackers from the fridge. “This is the longest time I’ve taken to make a cheesecake. And it needs to set overnight, besides.”

“Do you keep all these recipes in your head?” Diehl asked.

“Well, only those I make often.” Skye looked around. “Could you help me find an electric mixer?”

“I can’t believe you’re cooking again. Don’t you get tired of it?”

“Not most of the time. Occasionally, I do get tired and need a break. That’s why I take weekends off. If I don’t do that, I’ll burn out.”

“Like me,” Diehl said. “I worked every day of the week non-stop.”

“That’s bad for your health.”

“I burned out, as you know. And got banished to this island…” Diehl stood near her at the island, but he did not touch her. “Where I met the most beautiful woman in the world, who doesn’t judge my past nor my present—but treats me fairly.”

Skye didn’t know what to say.

“I believe God brought you into my life.” His eyes looked pained. “I hope you’ll stay. Don’t go.”

“You mean right now literally or do you mean figuratively?” Skye asked.

When Diehl didn’t reply, Skye said, “Are you projecting someone else’s behavior on me?”

Diehl bristled. “What do you mean?”

“I’m still here, Diehl. I haven’t left. In fact, I’ll probably always be living here on this island until the day I grow old and die. The question is whereyouwill be.”

Diehl couldn’t answer her, and it told her all she needed to know.

Chapter Thirty-Two

---