Page 42 of The Bombshell and the Bodyguard
“Stop this. I’m serious.” The words were guttural and close to my ear as Wilder drew me back to him.
“So am I. You can’t tell me what to do. I’m not a child, Wilder.” With a hard kick and a wriggle, I was free and swimming away once again.
This time when Wilder grabbed me, his grip was like iron. “Then stop acting like one.”
He dragged me back against his chest, one powerful arm clamped around my ribcage as he stroked the water with the other. In spite of my best efforts to kick and splash my way free, I found myself being towed to shore.
“Why are you going all caveman on me?” I demanded. “I was only having some fun.”
“And I’m only doing myjob—which is thereasonI’m here.”
When we reached the shallows, a crack of thunder sounded, and I looked up. Dark clouds were moving fast overhead.
Oh.So Wilderhadn’tjust been making an excuse to keep from swimming with me.
And what he’d said had been entirely true—he was only on the island with me to keep me safe. Today, the sunrise and the beautiful hike with the butterfly bush, it was all just part of his job.
Any discomfort or struggle I’d believed I’d detected in him was a figment of my imagination. Wishful thinking. The stupid dream of a stupid little girl who somehow still hadn’t outgrown her stupid crush on her big brother’s best friend.
The two of us trudged onto the rocky bank of the lagoon, dressed in silence, and started for the house. I had to hustle to keep up with Wilder’s long-legged pace. But he looked back over his shoulder every few seconds, making sure I hadn’t fallen behind.
Doing his duty.
Twenty minutes into the hike, the sky opened and pelted us with rainfall so hard it was difficult to see the path. Wilder stopped and put a hand on my arm. He leaned in so I could hear him over the din of raindrops hitting the thick jungle foliage around us.
“Hold onto the back of my shirt. I don’t like not being able to see you, and I want to know you’re still with me. I can’t be turning around constantly. I need to look out for the safest footing for us.”
“Okay,” I sputtered against the water running down my face in sheets. “Wilder... I’m sorry. For pretending to be in trouble in the water—and for not listening when you said it was time to get out. I was acting like a brat.”
For a second, he stared at me. “Let’s just get home. Grab my shirt and don’t let go.”
He turned around and forged ahead without another word—without accepting my apology.
At first when I’d spotted Wilder swimming toward me, I’d thought I’d won a major victory. I had finally gotten his attention—and gotten him into the water.
In my imagination the scene had played out like one of those romantic movies or TV shows where a couple is stranded together and finds a beautiful lagoon where they splash and play and flirt. And kiss.
In reality, I’d only succeeded in irritating him, and now, in getting us both stuck outside in a potentially dangerous storm.
Ugh.I was such an idiot. I was embarrassed, too.
When were the police going to catch that stalker? Was it really necessary to keep hiding away like this?
I made up my mind to talk to Wilder when we got back to the house and were safe and dry again. The truth was, Iwasemploying him, and it was my decision whether to stay here or go back.
At the moment I wanted nothing more than to be far, far away from Wilder Lowe.
Chapter Fifteen
Nurse Jessica
Jessica
Holding onto Wilder’s shirt like a kindergartner in line for recess, I squinted against the pelting rain and trudged along behind him.
He occasionally gave some direction or other, but for the most part the walk home was quiet. It gave me far too much time to think about the error of my ways.
I was through trying to get his attention. I was through being pathetic.
