Page 152 of Secrets Beneath the Waves

Dante was crouched next to the pool, directing a large, rectangular, floral raft with rippled bottom and raised sides out onto the surface of the water. When he saw her, he stood and trapped the floatie against the edge of the pool with one foot. “Want me to hold it for you so you can get in?”

“Sure. Thanks.” Feeling slightly self-conscious, Jules tossed the towel onto a chaise lounge before removing the cover-up and flip-flops. Dante grasped her elbow lightly to keep her steady as she stepped into the middle of the floatie. When he let her go, she lowered herself to the bottom and stretched out, her head resting on a blow-up cushion.

“You good?”

“Mmm.” Jules reached over one side to trail her fingers through the cool water. “So good.”

He chuckled. “All right, then. I’m off to chop wood. Enjoy.”

She pressed the side of her hand to her forehead to shield her eyes from the sun. “Thank you, Dante de Marco.”

“You’re welcome, Jules Adler.” He flashed her that grin of his before strolling away.

Jules lowered her arm to the side of the floatie and closed her eyes. The raft bobbed on the tiny ripples of water that a warmer-than-usual breeze for this time of year stirred up. Yep, she could get used to this.

She floated until the gentle movement and warm sunshine got to her and she drifted off. When she opened her eyes again, Jules had no idea how much time had passed, only that she had never felt more relaxed or peaceful in her life. Her skin was hot. Time to get out of the sun. Rather than paddle to the edge of the pool, she climbed over the side of the raft and splashed into the water. The coolness embraced her, and she swam several lengths before backstroking to the metal steps in the corner of the deep end, grasping both rails, and hauling herself up the stairs to the deck.

After drying her hair and body as much as possible with the fluffy towel, Jules threw on the cover-up and started for the pool house. Halfway along the side of the pool, something caught her eye. Aww. Dante had set a bouquet of wild daisies next to the pool while she was sleeping. How sweet was that after the story she’d told him the night before about how much she and Lou had loved picking them and making necklaces and crowns?

Jules scooped up the bouquet and held the dainty white and yellow flowers to her chest as she continued on to the small building. After setting the daisies on a bench in the middle of the room, she dressed and ran her fingers through her hair. A clothesline had been strung from one wall to the other, and Jules hung the suit, towel, and cover-up on it, securing them in place with clothespins. Then she gathered up the flowers and headed outside.

The thunking sound of wood being chopped led her to a shed at the end of a short pathway through a stand of trees. As she watched, Dante set a small piece of wood on a stump, held it in place, and brought a hatchet down to split it into two. He’d rolled up the short sleeves of his black T-shirt, and his arms, considerably more muscled than she had realized, glistened.

Jules took another step. A twig cracked beneath her sandal, and she stilled as Dante glanced over. His eyes met hers, and for a moment she couldn’t move. Or breathe. Something passed between them that she wasn’t nearly ready to try and interpret but that sent more warmth flowing through her.

Then he broke the intensity—thankfully—by glancing down at the bouquet in her hand. His brow furrowed slightly. “Where did you find those? I’ve never seen any daisies growing on this property.”

CHAPTER

SIXTEEN

Although her nosewas pink from the sun, Jules’ cheeks paled as she thrust the bouquet away from herself and into the trees as though it were a hissing, venomous snake.

Dante strode toward her. “Jules? What is it?”

She looked up as he approached, horror swirling in her eyes. “You didn’t give me those?”

“No, I…” A sick feeling struck him as he reached for her hand and glanced around. “We need to get out of here.”

She nodded, woodenly, clinging to his hand as they started along the pathway. When they reached the opening in the trees, Dante stopped and scanned the pool area and the lawns around the house. Nothing moving that he could see. Was that psychopath in the cottage? Whether or not he was, Dante needed to get inside to grab his car keys and his gun, if nothing else. Should he take Jules with him? Either way, she would be in danger but maybe slightly less if she were with him. “I have to get my keys.”

Jules nodded. “I’m going with you.”

“All right, but stay behind me, okay?” He kept his grip on her cold fingers as he started toward the building.

Jules nodded and crept after him as they reached the patio and crossed it to the sliding doors. Still clutching the hatchet, Dante let go of Jules’ hand and held his arm out to keep her from walking in front of the glass as he pressed a shoulder to the wall and peered around the frame. No movement in the living room or kitchen areas.

God, help us. Please. Keep us safe. Especially Jules.Giving her a slight nod, he passed in front of the doors and grasped the handle to slide one open. Upon entering, he took a closer look around, straining to catch any noise or movement before motioning her in and closing and locking the door behind her.

Thankfully, his bedroom was on the main floor, off the living room. Dante tiptoed across the area rug, Jules at his heels. He pushed open the door and took stock of the room before grabbing his keys, weapon, and wallet from the bedside table drawer. The fact that all three were still there was a good sign, although he and Jules were far from out of the woods. He wouldn’t let his guard down until they were safely in his car and on the way to Calgary and the police station there. Maybe not even then.

As they stole through the living room toward the front door, Jules snatched the brown leather bag she’d set on a chair and slung it over her shoulder. Any other belongings could be collected later, once the perp was rotting in prison. With that pleasant thought driving him forward, Dante led the way to his car. No one made any attempt to stop them as they jumped in, and he tossed the hatchet onto the floor behind Jules and accelerated out of his spot and down the lane.

Neither spoke as he wheeled onto the road and pressed harder on the gas, his gaze shifting from the road to the rearview mirror. After a minute of driving, he tugged the work phone from his shirt pocket and called 911, filling the dispatcher in quickly on the situation and requesting that as many officers aspossible be sent to his parents’ property and the surrounding area in an attempt to catch this guy before he disappeared. He also asked for heat-seeking drones to fly over the trees.

When he finished with that call, he phoned his superintendent and updated her on what was going on. As soon as he returned the device to his pocket, he checked the rearview mirror again. Nothing suspicious on the road behind them. From the corner of his eye, Dante caught Jules staring into her side mirror. When they’d driven for twenty minutes without seeing a single car following them, his muscles relaxed slightly. “I think we’re good.”

“How on earth could he have found us up here?”