Page 29 of Hearts on the Line (The Maverick Key #1)

Maddie

The sky darkens throughout the afternoon until it becomes an ominous slate pressing down on Maverick Key.

This morning’s calm, turquoise waters are unrecognizable.

They’re now a churning, furious gray. I stand on the front porch with Ding planted by my side.

Fat drops of rain spatter on the wooden planks beneath my feet, and the salty, static-laden air makes the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.

The wind picks up, tugging at my loose hair as I stare at the horizon, the surf roaring against the beach with relentless force.

Rows of palms along the shore beds lean unnaturally, their fronds straining against the wind as if they might snap at any moment.

Ms. Connor steps out from the inn, a towel draped over her arm.

“Come inside, honey,” she urges, raising her voice over the howling wind. “This is just the beginning. It’ll get worse before it gets better.”

Ding runs inside, plopping down next to the couch. When I follow, a sharp gust slams the door shut behind me, making my pulse quicken. I’d experienced my share of storms in Sarasota, but they’re always different. Each is a unique monster, bringing its own brand of mayhem and destruction.

Ms. Connor moves with an efficiency honed by the countless storms she’s weathered. She’s already cleared all the outdoor furniture. Hannah’s securing the shutters upstairs.

“How bad do you think this one will get?”

“It won’t be a direct hit, thank the heavens.

” She’s already turned on a battery-operated lantern in case we lose electricity.

Extra batteries ready to go. The warm glow softens the edges of the dim room.

But it’s close enough to give us a beating.

“Best to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.”

Scott had promised to check on us before the storm hit, but hours have passed without a word. I tell myself he’s okay. He can handle himself, but a knot of unease in my stomach tightens with every crash of thunder.

The inn is quiet. Garrett and Elaine are staying at a hotel on the mainland, and Wes and his crew are securing his boat.

I head upstairs to assist Hannah in fastening the last of the shutters, their old wooden frames creaking under the relentless pressure of the wind. Rain lashes against the windows.

Hannah flops onto the edge of the bed, pushing damp hair out of her face. “I hate this part,” she mutters. “The waiting. It’s like the storm is taunting us until it slams us.”

I sit beside her, and the coiled tension in my chest threatens to snap with each passing moment. “At least we’re not alone.” I’m unsure whether I’m trying to reassure her or myself. We lay and chat, catching each other up on recent events.

“Did you ask Scott about cave diving?” Her face gives her away. She’s hoping I’m going to give this up.

“Yes. He said no.”

Hannah frowns. “I’m sorry. I know you had your heart set on it… maybe he’ll come around after he has a little time to process. You can still be an important part of the work… share the maps with Scott… he’ll help you.”

“I’m not giving up on this. I’ve found someone else who’s willing to help me.”

She bolts up. “Who?” Her face flushes with anger. “That asshole—he wouldn’t.”

“Please don’t tell Scott.” I swallow, ashamed of asking her to be a part of this. “He doesn’t need to know. I’m in good hands with Wes.”

“I’m going to kill him.”

“No, you’re not… because you love me.”

She huffs, then pulls me in a hug. “I do. Please be careful… and tell Scott. It won’t be good to wait. He’s falling for you. Hard. Tell him.”

I swallow the guilt and tell her I will.

By evening, the storm is in full swing.

The wind screams through every gap in the shutters.

We’re watching the progress of the storm on the television.

The power flickers twice before shutting off completely, plunging the inn into darkness.

The glow from the lantern is our only light.

After a few minutes of sitting in the dark, Hannah jumps up.

“All right, it’s time to play. I’ll get the wine. ”

Ms. Connor pulls some old board games from under the coffee table, and we all gather around the dining room table.

“Go straight to jail. Don’t pass go,” Hannah commands.

I frown. I’m terrible at this game. We’re on our third round, and while it’s kept the boredom at bay, I’m a nervous wreck.

Still no Scott.

A thunderclap rattles the walls.

Ding jumps up, rushing to the window, barking his lungs out.

“It’s ok—it’s just more thunder.” He doesn’t stop and instead barks more insistently.

“What is it?” I mutter. I walk over and pull away the curtain, peering outside.

Movement.

A man wearing a raincoat stands near some bushes along the driveway. I yelp and drop the curtain. The darkness of the night hid his features, but it has to be him. With my heart in my throat, I open the curtain. Nothing.

“Honey, what is it?”

“Someone’s out there.”

Ms. Connor walks to the pantry and retrieves a shotgun. She walks to the door to put on her raincoat.

“Stop. You can’t go out there. It could be dangerous… what if it’s…”

What if it’s my stalker?

“It’s okay. I’ll be careful. Call the police if anything happens.” She walks out the door, leaving Hannah and me unsure what to do.

“We can’t let her go out there alone. Let’s go.

” We brace ourselves and step outside into the storm.

The wind slams into me like a wall. Rain pelts us in stinging sheets, and I nearly lose my footing in the mud.

Ding walks beside us, barking defiantly into the gale, trying to chase it away.

We catch up to Ms. Connor as she’s assessing the ground around the bushes where I spotted the man.

“It’s a man’s footprints. But no man.” Ms. Connor’s voice shakes, and her brows knit tightly together.

“Listen up if you’re out there. If you get near us, I’ll blow you away.” She waves her shotgun. Once we’re satisfied there isn’t anyone still lurking around, we go back inside.

Soaked and shivering, we peel off our raincoats in the kitchen. My fingers are numb, trembling, cold, and my body’s full of adrenaline. We call the police to report the stranger.

There isn’t anything they can do.

Where’s Scott?

We all jump when we hear someone opening the front door.

Wes walks in with his crew. His brows raise and the corner of his mouth turns down after taking one look at us. We’re all huddled together on the couch around the lantern. Our eyes stare back, wide from fear. All three of us exhale in relief.

“What’s going on?”

We fill him in on the Peeping Tom and the evidence we found near the bushes. He goes outside with his men to investigate. A few minutes later, the lights flicker and come back on.

Wes is back. “We got the generator running. It should be okay.” He walks over to the alarm on the wall. “Let’s get this back on.” He fiddles with the alarm and turns back to me.

“I don’t like this. We’ll have to step up the vigilance and monitor this place twenty-four-seven.” He looks around.

“Where’s Scott?”

“We haven’t seen him all day. He said he’d come by, but hasn’t. He’s not answering his phone.”

“I saw him at the marina. He left with Liam about an hour and a half ago. I’m sure he’ll be by soon.”

A sudden knock at the door startles us.

Wes peers through the peephole and opens the door.

“Speak of the devil.”

Scott standsthere, drenched to the bone.His hazel eyes lock onto mine before he steps inside.Water drips from his jacket, but he shrugs it off and runs a hand through his soaked hair.

“Do you forgive me?”

I rush over to him and give him a huge hug.

“We’re fine.” I mask my relief with a hint of exasperation.“But you look like you took a swim out there.” I cross my arms. “And then there’s this thing called a cell phone.”

“Yeah, I’m sorry about that. My phone died, and Liam needed a ride home after we secured Adeline . When we got there, he needed help with some windows that had blown out.” He puts his arms back around me.

“You worried me.” I squeeze him tighter.

Then he notices everyone standing around, looking spooked.

“What?”

After the others settle into their rooms for the night, Scott and I sit alone on the couch.The wind is still howling outside but losing its strength, and the rain is virtually gone. The storm is moving off the island.

Scott spent the last hour and a half worrying about me and strategizing on our next steps to find out the identity of the stalker.

I rub his shoulders. “You’re too tense. Let’s do something about that… get you more relaxed.” I smile at him coyly, kissing his neck as I move my hands down his back.

“Yeah, I like that idea.” He lets out a soft groan. “Mmmm… that feels good.” I continue the massage and keep chatting. Before long, his shoulders soften, and he moans deeply. I sigh, a warm jolt of pleasure shooting to my core.

“That’s it.” He pulls me over his lap and takes my mouth, his tongue searching mine.

I kiss him back. We move our hands all over each other.

He fondles me under my shirt and groans.

I’m not wearing a bra. He pushes his hip into my thigh to show me how turned on he is, then sits up and pulls off my shirt and his own.

Now we’re just daring someone to catch us.

We keep roaming—a hair’s length from fully giving in to temptation. When we stop to catch our breath, it occurs to us what we look like. We’re almost completely naked in the middle of the living room, with an inn full of visitors, including Ms. Connor, who could walk in any minute.

“Damn.”

“Take me to the cottage.”

Scott scoops me up to go, then his face drops. We forgot he has to check on the boat. Disappointed, we put on our clothes and try not to make too much noise as we stifle our laughter.

“I have the worst timing. Ever.”

“Thanks for coming,” I whisper.

He smirks. “Oh. I wish.”

I smack his arm.

Scott pulls me into his arms, squeezing me in a playful bear hug and kissing me deeply. “You’re mine to protect now. Can I… come back after I check on the boat?” He inhales against my neck.

“Please, I’ll be in the cottage.”

He brushes his fingers through my hair, his eyes lingering on my face.

“I can’t wait. And I’ve got something fun planned for us tomorrow,” he murmurs and gives me one last kiss before he lets go and steps out into the rain.

That’s when we hear a loud call over the wind.