Page 59 of Nowhere to Hide

My hair fell around my face and a moment later I was being lowered to the ground. Disorientated, I grabbed onto his arms to steady myself. His iron arm wrapped around my waist, holding me tightly to his body.

“The bedroom is down there, bathroom here.” His gaze drifted over my mouth then back to meet my gaze. He jerked his chin behind us. “Down there is the other bedroom. So I’ll be close to hear you.”

I licked my lips. “That’s good.”

His jaw tightened as he stepped back and settled me against the wall so he could open the bathroom door. It was surprisingly large with a toilet and shower stall.

For one.

For both of us?

I swallowed down a groan. Not so much.

He slipped his arm back around my back and slowly eased me inside.

“Thanks.”

He nodded. “Do you want me to walk you into the room to find the bathing suit? If you have one.”

“I do. No, you can just grab it. It’s in the zipper section.”

“Good.” He looked around the small room. “Do you need...uh, more help?”

I shook my head. “I think I can manage.”

“Good. Um, right. Yeah.” He backed out and bumped into the door. “I’ll be right back.”

I laughed after he closed the door.

I only swore eight times as I got myself free of the shorts and top. My bra had been cut off me thankfully.

A light tapping on the door finally dented my sweaty struggles.

“Did you find it?”

“Yeah.” He opened the door a crack and his long arm slid inside with the hot pink bikini. No modest tank for me. I’d packed the underused bikinis. Go me.

Well, at least I’d get a shower out of the deal.

If I could wear this poolside, I could wear it around Locke. No big deal.

The boat tipped and I grabbed a hold of the sink. I instantly braced myself on my good leg, thenglanced at myself in the mirror by the commode with a gasp. The bright pink showed off all my bruises and marks. My arms, my waist, even some I hadn’t realized I had.

“Cilla?”

“I’m good. One second.”

I wanted to pick up the shirt off the ground, but it had slid away with whatever wave had hit us.

I blew out a breath. He’d seen me far worse.

It wasn’t like I really cared what he saw. I just wanted to get clean.

Sure. Okay.

I pushed my hair back. “Good as it’s going to get.”

He opened the door and his gaze locked on my face. Had to hand it to him, he kept the stoic Locke face going even though I looked like one big, ugly bruise. He held up my shampoo and conditioner as well as my body wash. “You can make me a list for the future. What you need.”