Page 10 of Shades of You (Calypso Key #4)
Chapter Ten
Hunter
The next morning, I sat downstairs at our group of desks with the scent of fresh coffee in the air. I used my office when I needed solitude, but I liked being in the middle of the space. In the thick of things. Across from me, Brenna leaned against a metal bookshelf with arms folded, her eyes clouded with concern that mirrored the morning fog drifting in from the shore.
“Garrett will stake out your shop today,” I said, and my friend nodded.
“How am I supposed to operate my business with a bodyguard around?”
“I’ll stay in my car,” Garrett replied, leaning back in his chair with an easy confidence that came from years of military discipline. “I’ve already found a spot that will give me a view of both the front and the back. No one will get in who shouldn’t.”
She pressed her lips together, then nodded slowly. “That works, I guess. Thanks.” The tension about Knox’s whereabouts was a shadow clinging to the corners of the room.
“I’m hoping to hear back from some of my sources today or tomorrow,” I said. “Then I’ll have some more places I can check out.”
She shook her head, a loose curl falling across her forehead. I wanted to get up and brush it back. “And what if you can’t find him?”
“Hey,” I said softly, finally reaching out to gently nudge her forearm and doing my best to ignore the ball of unease in my gut. That craving need to protect her. “People don’t usually disappear into thin air. Give me a couple of days.”
Brenna offered me a brief nod, then turned toward the stairs. “I’ll get my things and be down in a few minutes.”
Her frame was stiff and halting as she left—worried. I hated seeing her move like that, and it only made me more determined to find the son of a bitch.
“What’s going on between you two?”
Garrett’s voice snapped my head around. “Nothing.”
He lifted a brow, a smirk rising. “Your eyes follow her everywhere. That’s not nothing.”
I scowled, pissed I wasn’t doing a better job of hiding my feelings. “She’s an old friend, okay? I’m worried about her. And shouldn’t you be getting ready too?”
Rolling his eyes, Garrett pushed to his feet. “Fine. Keep your secrets.”
I didn’t reply as he moved to the back of the room, where we each had generous-sized lockers to hold our belongings and supplies. After stuffing what he needed into a bag, he shut his locker. “Enjoy your morning out at Calypso Key.”
“I will.”
I hoped. But his comment brought back the earlier conversation we’d had with Myles before our day shifts started and Myles went home for rack time. We all agreed on what needed to be done at the resort, security-wise. Now I had to convince my family.
Brenna stepped softly down the stairs, a backpack slung over one shoulder. “Let’s go, Garrett.” She caught my glance, and a silent exchange passed between us, a flicker of something deeper than concern for Knox or the day’s tasks. Or was that just wishful thinking on my part?
“See you tonight,” I told her.
The door clicked shut behind Brenna and Garrett, leaving an empty silence. The air was laced with a subtle, floral scent I tried not to notice. I paced back to the staircase, each step heavy with thoughts I shouldn’t be entertaining. Upstairs, my apartment was quiet too.
As my eyes landed on the guest bedroom, I padded down the hall without thinking about it. I peered through the open door at a sliver of Brenna’s world—neat and clean, just like her. And not unlike me, either. I took several steps inside, and as I breathed in her scent that lingered in the room, guilt gnawed at my insides. It wasn’t right to be here without her okay, but something pulled me—the same gravity that had been pulling me since the day I moved back. Spinning around, I reached the doorway in two large strides, then halted.
“Shit.” Before I knew what I was doing, I whirled around and stalked to her bed. Her pillow sat neatly atop the bedspread. My hand reached out, fingers grazing the fabric before gripping it and lifting it to my face.
As I inhaled deeply, she filled my senses—a crisp scent like the ocean breeze mingling with the soft floral hint of her shampoo. It was clean, invigorating, and utterly Brenna. I smashed my face into the softness as a surge of desire rocketed through me, so potent it could’ve lit up the island. I sucked in another breath, and her fragrance wrapped around me like a siren’s call. My mind painted her image—her world-class breasts, her slim waist, the curves I’d only allowed myself to skim in my dreams. Goddamn, how I wanted to trace those lines in reality, to taste her lips and claim them as mine.
With a groan that came from deep within, I released the pillow and smoothed it back in place. Like I might restore order to the chaos inside me. Then I stomped out of her room, my body tense, and my footsteps leaden with the weight of longing I couldn’t—shouldn’t—indulge.
Stepping out into the late-morning heat, I shook off the remnants of Brenna’s scent clinging to my thoughts as I got into my SUV. The drive to Calypso Key was brief, but it gave me enough time to switch gears from overprotective would-be lover to professional security consultant. And brother.
Always brother.
I crossed the causeway between the two islands, and a reluctant smile graced my face at the huge billboard advertising Stella and Orchid. I hardly gave the Big House a glance as I drove by. Continuing down the hill, I passed the Barn, where Gabe, April, and Gabe’s daughter, Hailey, lived. It was a busy hive of activity, construction workers buzzing all over it as an addition took shape that would give them more room with the extra family member on the way. The sight made even my cold heart warm. Gabe had been a real lifeline for me after I got out of the Corps and moved to South Beach. He’d lived in Miami at the time. When he and Hailey returned home, I’d felt his absence acutely, but I couldn’t resent his obvious happiness at the life he’d created here. And the new addition was proof of it. I smiled at the double meaning.
After parking in the sand employee lot, I strode toward the resort lobby, squinting against the glare of the sun reflecting off the pristine white fa?ade. The large, airy room I entered still held the sharp scent of its recent remodel, and I quickly scanned the room—an automatic assessment of potential threats and multiple exits. My motions were so ingrained, I was hardly even conscious of them. But this was just my family’s lobby building. No terrorists or insurgents in sight. Or displaced civilians just trying to survive. Frowning, I pushed the thoughts away as I crossed the tile floor.
Evan’s office at the end of the hall was a cool sanctuary with air conditioning humming softly in the background. I forced my slowly coiling body to relax as I tried to convince myself this was just another business meeting.
But it wasn’t.
“Morning, Hunter,” Evan greeted from behind his desk, his tone cordial yet distant. He stared at me with inscrutable blue eyes, and his clean-cut appearance was a familiar one. I hadn’t seen him in all the years he’d worn a beard. The fact that he’d recently shaved and looked remarkably different to everyone else was yet another reminder that I was an outsider.
“Evan.” I kept my voice even as I took a seat in an armchair in front of his desk. Gabe was already seated next to me and offered a subtle nod that eased the tightness in my gut. He had a way of bringing calm to any storm. After a few pleasantries, it was time to get down to business.
“Let’s talk security,” I said as my gaze flicked to the window, and I took in the view of families enjoying the resort grounds. “I think it’s time to scale back. ”
“Scale back?” Evan’s brow furrowed slightly. “You were the one who wanted an on-site presence.”
“I did. Because I wasn’t sure the thefts wouldn’t continue.”
When small items had started turning up missing, Stella had immediately suspected Ben Coleridge. I’d kept an open mind and set up a sting to catch whoever the thief was. And it had been a member of Stella’s own staff, not Ben. But I needed time to ensure he hadn’t had a partner. I leaned forward, hands clasped. “Matt’s been behind bars for months now, and there hasn’t been a single incident since. I think we’ve got our man. Security seven days and nights per week is overkill.”
Gabe’s dark eyes were thoughtful as he watched me. “You sure about this? Security at the resort was the whole reason you set up shop down here. Can you afford to lose the contract?”
“Doesn’t matter,” I said firmly. “I won’t charge a client for services they don’t need. It’d be a waste of your money. And I’m picking up plenty of jobs. I’ve got one right now that’s keeping both me and Garrett busy.” I didn’t add that it was a non-paying job. I had plenty of savings if it came to that.
“Money aside,” Evan interjected, “we can’t risk our guests’ safety.”
“Absolutely not,” I replied. “But with the camera system I’ve installed, if anything suspicious happens, we’ll see it. Plus, Myles, Garrett, and I can swing by for random, on-site visits to maintain a presence.”
Evan studied me. Maybe I imagined it, but I thought I saw a flash of respect—or perhaps understanding—in his eyes.
“Sounds like you’ve got it worked out,” Gabe said. It still felt strange not to have Dad at this meeting. But Gabe was the majority shareholder of the resort and island now. He was the one in charge, while Dad enjoyed leading fishing charters.
Evan still had his poker face on. “You’re sure about this?”
“It’s not like I want to cancel everything. The resort needed a camera system and we’ve got that in place. And on-site security will still happen too. This is what I’d recommend to any client in the same situation. I’d never put the resort at risk if I wasn’t confident.”
A long look passed between Evan and me, but I didn’t look away. Finally, Evan gave me a nod. “If you’re okay with it, then so am I.”
“Okay. Go ahead and pull them,” Gabe said before turning to face me fully. “You’ll be at the game tomorrow, right?”
“Oh yeah,” I replied with a nod, feeling a twitch of excitement for the normalcy of a local game. My gaze slid over to Evan, catching the slight clench of his jaw, the tension that never quite seemed to leave his frame when I was around.
“There’s always a spot for you too, Evan,” Gabe added gently.
I tried not to stiffen as Evan’s eyes flickered to me. “I’ve got a lot on my plate, but thanks for the offer.” His nod was stiff but accepting. And just like that, the topic was closed, the meeting over.
The evening found Brenna and me in my apartment, an easy, domestic scene straight out of some idyllic fantasy. We sat side by side on the couch, lost in our books after sharing a meal we’d cooked together. The aroma of garlic and basil still lingered in the air, mingling with the salt breeze that drifted in from the open window. I had to admit the Clive Cussler book had reeled me in from the first page when I’d started it last night. Brenna was nose-deep in my copy of The Sun Also Rises , perhaps an homage to the kitten who purred on my lap. I stroked his head absently.
But as I turned the page, my mind wasn’t really on the book in front of me. Instead, all I noticed was the warmth of Brenna’s presence. I enjoyed the comfortable silence we existed in together, and how her brow furrowed in concentration. I wondered what it would feel like to trace those lines with my fingers, my lips. It made me yearn for so much more.
My phone buzzed with a security notification, disrupting the peaceful tableau. A sinking feeling hit the pit of my stomach when I saw who had used her personal code to enter and was on her way up. “Oh, shit. Stella’s here.”
“Your sister’s here?” Brenna looked up with a mix of curiosity and alarm.
“I don’t keep the apartment door alarmed when I’m in here awake, and she loves to waltz in whenever she feels like it.”
The door swung open, and my sister breezed in. “I can’t believe I missed you at the resort today!” Her casual clothing meant it was Stella’s night off from Orchid. Her glossy dark hair swung around her shoulders as her gaze swept the room. And landed on Brenna. She stopped dead in the middle of the living room, her eyes growing huge.
“Hey, Stella,” Brenna greeted, her voice steady, but her stiff body language betrayed her discomfort.
“Brenna? What are you doing here?” Stella’s voice was tight as she turned her wide eyes to me.
“Stella, this isn’t—” I started, stumbling over my words, trying to figure out how to explain why Brenna was here.
“Isn’t what?” Stella arched an eyebrow as she took in the cozy scene. Her shock was visible, disbelief written all over her face as her gaze alternated between us.
“Brenna’s staying with me for security reasons,” I said, scratching the back of my neck awkwardly. And while there was nothing to hide, per se, I couldn’t help but feel exposed under my sister’s scrutinizing gaze.
“Riiight.” Stella’s tone was laced with skepticism, and she turned back to Brenna. “And what security concerns would cause you to move in with my brother?”
“Knock it off, Stel,” I warned.
Brenna bolted to her feet. “I’ll just give you two some privacy.” Holding her book in a death grip, she scurried down the hall and shut her bedroom door behind her.
“That was out of line. She’s my guest.” The air was thick with tension as I rose and padded over to the kitchen counter, needing to be in motion.
My sister snorted and crossed the floor to me. “Guest? I remember you two were close in school. And family war or no, I’m sure she wouldn’t mind getting her hooks into you. In case you haven’t looked in a mirror lately, you’re quite a specimen, you know.”
“Stella, seriously. It’s not like that,” I tried again, but even I heard the falter in my voice. I was usually better at this—keeping my cool, deflecting concern. But with Brenna here, everything felt different.
“What am I supposed to think?” Stella demanded, her eyes flashing.
“Look, I’m just keeping an eye on her.” I raked a hand through my hair. “Her ex has been causing trouble. It’s precautionary.”
“Precautionary,” she repeated flatly. “And that’s the only reason she’s here?”
“Yes. There’s nothing romantic going on,” I lied, the image of Brenna’s soft neck flickering behind my eyes, the curve of her hip.
The doubt in Stella’s expression didn’t waver. She took a step closer, and I braced myself for the onslaught. “Are you sure you can keep things friendly? Because a relationship between a Coleridge and a Markham would set off shockwaves in both families.”
“Nothing’s going on!” I hissed in an attempt to keep my voice down. “And if it were, it would be none of your goddamn business. Besides, you’re not exactly the best judge of Coleridge character, are you? You zeroed in on Ben as the thief from day one. And guess what, Stella? It. Wasn’t. Him. So back off.”
She held my gaze a moment longer, then held a palm out toward me. “You’re right. I was wrong about Ben, but there’s a lot more history here than just him. There are a lot of Coleridges, you know.” Stella was almost a foot shorter than me but had never had any trouble asserting herself. Finally, she took a step back and nodded. “Fine. I made a mistake accusing Ben—I admit that. But you and Brenna together is a very different situation, okay? If you want to play knight in shining armor, I can’t stop you. But I won’t stop worrying about you, either. I can’t help it, Hunter. I just hope this doesn’t blow up in your face.”
Then she turned and left, leaving me in my living room with my head spinning.
I stood motionless. With each thumping heartbeat, I became acutely aware of Brenna’s presence down the hall. The last thing I wanted was to talk about this right now. I got flustered and tongue-tied around her at the best of times. I stomped to my room and shut the door loudly enough to ensure she’d hear it. Pedro sat up in his bed and eyed me curiously.
Ignoring him, I started pacing. How could I deny what was happening inside me—the visceral, magnetic pull toward her? I’d thought about her for years, and now only the walls of my apartment separated us. Every moment in Brenna’s company was becoming a test of self-control. How perfect her bookshop was, the warmth of her smile, the way her collarbone arched delicately—it was all etched into my heart with precision.
As I flopped onto my bed, I rubbed my temples and tried to soothe the brewing confusion. This was all supposed to be about protection, keeping her safe. That was the job, and I’d never had trouble keeping business and pleasure separate before. But those situations had never involved Brenna. She had slipped past my defenses and denying it felt like trying to hold back the tide with my bare hands.