23. Chapter 23 – Rae
T he safe taunted me from the coffee table. It was really more of a lock box. Probably meant for protecting documents in a fire. Which made its presence hidden in the garage odd. Jia claimed not to know about it, and I believed her.
What had my cousin been up to? Had he been watching the sunset from the bluffs, or having a late-night meeting?
With whom? And how did he get there unless someone gave him a ride?
His legitimate business partner, Brandon, claimed to be off-island.
My brothers were the next logical choice, but I couldn’t imagine either of them having the imagination for a criminal enterprise.
And if they wanted into the house, all they had to do was swing by to visit the kids.
We’d cycled through every combination Jia gave us after dinner. Watching YouTube yielded a few more tricks, but the safe stayed stubbornly closed.
“I could get a blowtorch from the garage,” Zach offered, half-joking.
I tugged at my bottom lip. “I don’t want to risk damaging the contents.”
Zach scrubbed his head, ruffling his hair until it stood up in clumps. He looked as frustrated as I felt.
“In my head, this was much more romantic,” he said .
He fluttered his lashes, his dark hair flopping over his forehead. It was impossible not to be charmed. I couldn’t imagine doing any of this with anyone else. Not the orgasms in the shower, taking care of Hana and Tae, or the safe cracking.
Zach Fenwick and I were meant to be partners.
I could feel it. I let that certainty settle into my bones.
The peace. We made a good team. Always had, whether it was in search and rescue or as neighbors.
It shouldn’t surprise me that our chemistry extended to the bedroom and beyond.
He’d awakened a hunger in me that I wouldn’t have believed existed even a few weeks ago.
Zach was driven, though he played it off with an excess of charm.
It was part of what made Harbor Brews so successful.
He’d fought hard for his place as a businessman in his own right on the island.
And he’d won. We had that in common. I crossed my fingers, hiding the superstitious gesture beneath my thigh. I hoped we had it in common.
“I really thought we’d crack this.” His expression turned grim. “I think we need to take the safe to the Sheriff’s Office. Make a show of it. Then whoever has been lurking might back off. As much as I consider Gran indestructible, I won’t put her at risk either.”
“Let’s give it until tomorrow. Maybe if we try again in the morning with fresh eyes, we’ll get somewhere. Besides, I need to ask Jia’s permission. We have no idea what’s in there. I don’t want to violate her family’s privacy by exposing whatever secrets Jordan was hiding unless we have to.”
Zach grimaced. “No. I get it.” He pointed his thumb at himself. “Related to Gran.”
I chuckled, but it lacked any real humor. Living in a house that had been invaded, not once but twice, had me peeking around corners. Managing two kids and a house was difficult enough. We didn’t need the extra stress of a stranger lurking in the shadows .
Headlights cut through the front blinds.
“I’ll take this upstairs to our room. That’s gotta be Gran with the kids.”
Our room.
It slipped off his tongue so naturally. And right into my heart.
Gran bustled in with Hana and Tae in tow. She had a colorful backpack slung over one arm.
“Thanks for coming,” I said, taking her bag. “I’ll show you to the guest room.”
Gran lifted one shoulder, eyes calm. “I told you if you were going to be bad, invite me.”
“Still, I know this is disruptive.”
“Honestly, I could use a break from Vanessa and Gary. They mean well, but they treat me like I’m damned old.” She thumped her chest. “I still have a lot of life to live. I don’t believe in aging gracefully. I’m more like a fine cheese, full of character and slightly offensive.”
She said it with such pride, I could only smile. Zach came down the stairs in time to catch the last part.
“Only slightly offensive?”
Gran flapped a hand. “Give it up. You’re used to me.” She glanced at her grandson. “Now show an old woman to her room. Those kids wore me out.”
I stifled my chuckle. Watching Gran shift from pitiful old lady to ball-buster in a flash was a masterclass in manipulation. Ever the dutiful grandson, Zach grabbed her bag and showed her upstairs.
Supervising bedtime kept me busy for the next bit. Zach swooped in to read to Hana. Watching the little girl curl up next to him, face full of trust, left me with soft, squishy feelings where my ribcage used to be. The man was a menace to women young and old .
If you’d told me two months ago that I’d be living with Zach Fenwick, playing happy family, I would have referred you to the only therapist on island.
But the whole thing felt surprisingly… right.
If I’d never agreed to Simon’s plan, would this be us?
Snuggled up in our house with our kids, getting ready for bed?
Part of me longed for that version of my life.
The one where I said yes to Zach’s prom invite and no to Simon’s.
But would we have really worked out if we’d started young?
The last ten years gave me a chance to mature.
Stand on my own. Zach had his own growing up to do, starting Harbor Brews.
Younger me would have resented the time he put into his business.
Now I could match his energy with my own plans for San Juan Marine Repair.
Zach slipped out of Hana’s room, closing the door softly. A sliver of light shone from beneath Tae’s door. I could hear Gran moving around in the guest room.
Zach extended his hand, palm up for mine. His dark gaze sparkled with something I couldn’t quite name as he said, “Ready?”
I held my breath, the moment stretching between us. I reached for him, our palms grazing as he gripped my hand, tightening the connection between us. Even that innocent touch had me anticipating the night ahead. Zach. All to myself.
The sound of shuffling feet was my only warning.
Gran’s eyes gleamed in the shadows. She’d changed into a long nightgown and pink bunny slippers.
“You kids can go to bed. Me and Thumper will wait up for any would-be burglars.” She patted the long black muzzle of the shotgun clutched in her arms.
“Gran, that better not be loaded,” Zach said, an edge in his voice. “We’ve got kids here.”
“Relax, Nervous Nelly. It’s mostly for intimidation. ”
“Mostly?” I muttered, not reassured.
“I’ll handle this,” Zach said, squeezing my hand and releasing it. Part of me mourned our moment of togetherness, but I didn’t want his grandmother running around the house with a shotgun either.