Chapter 16
The sunset glowed brightly in the sideview mirror as Brayden drove them back to Brookwell Island. Ahead of them, the sky was awash with soft pastels as the evening light inched toward dusk.
“We’ll be squeaking into the dance class right on time,” she said. “The bank took longer than I expected.”
“But we’re all set now.”
His confident smile, the way he held her hand, made her feel melty and wonderful inside. She was like ice cream on a hot summer afternoon. It was the strangest sensation and she hoped it lasted forever. Hoped they lasted forever.
“We are, that’s true.” Just as her father had promised, everything had gone smoothly at the bank.
She had physical, notarized copies in the protective tube at her feet, in order to preserve the integrity of the originals.
When she had a chance, she and her sisters would decide the best place to store this set of documentation.
“I really hope Abigail comes to the class. With her family.”
“She will.”
Brayden’s certainty surprised her. She studied his profile, equally happy and awestruck that she could do this anytime she liked, openly, without worrying about it getting weird. “How can you be so sure?”
“Because it’s you. You build connections and inspire loyalty.”
“You’re just saying that,” she deferred, uncomfortable with the compliment.
“I’m not,” he countered. “You’re awesome and you need to practice accepting praise.”
“Sure,” she chuckled. “I’ll get right on that.” If taking compliments was what he wanted her to practice, she would try. Better than thinking he’d been critiquing her performance in bed.
“Good.” He smiled again. “Sure you don’t want to stop for food?”
Her stomach growled, but she declined. “Celeste will probably have a full buffet set up for the event tonight. Hey,” she shifted in her seat to face him. “Did you really ask Jess to send over more agency protectors for dance lessons?”
“I did.” That sly smile on his face made her heart flutter. “You’re not satisfied with your current protector?”
She bumped his shoulder. “As if. But why?” He rolled his shoulders, looking extremely uncomfortable. She pointed at his face. “Is that what I look like when you give me a compliment?”
He glanced at his reflection. “Probably so.” His gaze cycled through the mirrors and returned to the road. “You and Natalie have significant others now. Celeste doesn’t. I wanted to make sure she had a dance partner if she wanted one.”
“You are too sweet. Way down deep where only someone who could get this close,” she leaned across the console, “would ever see it.”
“Good to know.” He flexed his hand on the steering wheel. “Did I do the wrong thing?”
“Not at all. Although, I wish I could be sure the fire chief shows up.”
“They’re an item?”
Roni snorted. “No. Though Nat and I have been encouraging it. For the record, I think he’s really into her, but she keeps blowing off their conversations and pretending she doesn’t recognize his interest.”
“Why?”
“I wish I knew. She deserves someone as steady as Chief Miller.”
“He’s a good guy,” Brayden agreed. “And a great landlord. His number is in my phone if you want to extend a personal invitation.”
She practically jumped at his phone. “I’ve always liked being devious with you.”
“Just wait until we’re out there dancing on the sand. You’ll like me even more.”
This kind of bantering with him was new and she was enjoying herself tremendously as they neared Charleston. It was fascinating to discover a flirty side to the boy she’d known forever and the man who’d always kept their friendship on an even keel.
“Square up in your seat,” he directed. “Please.”
She did as he asked. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing specific,” he said. “As a precaution, Connor and I worked out a specific route to make sure we’re not followed.”
“That’s a little creepy.”
“Agreed.” The curt tone put her on edge. “But I’m not giving Vanbeck or whoever he called on to pull the ECMs and shut off the Hideaway water any more headstarts.”
“Okay.” She waited while he used the voice commands to call Connor. Fidgeting in her seat, she barely resisted the urge to search the traffic around them for suspicious behavior. And how would she even recognize it, she wondered.
“So why would they follow us now, when they can be confident of where we’ll end up?”
“Fair question,” he said. “And they might not be following us at all.” He gave her a thin smile. “Precautions.”
“Does that include adding agency personnel to the dance class?”
“It might,” he allowed.
“Take the exit for the Citadel,” Connor directed. “I’m programming a route for you that will give me access to street cameras.”
A moment later, the navigation screen in the truck lit up, the computer’s voice reciting instructions.
Brayden calmly followed each prompt while Roni marveled at his composure.
Yet another side of him she’d not been privy to.
Of course, she’d appreciated his help in many ways through the years and recent events with the construction crew had been tense, but this was different.
Precaution or not, she was on the verge of panic, her stomach in knots and questions racing through her head. Left to her own devices, she would never have thought about being followed. A shiver skated down her spine at how things might’ve gone so wrong out here without Brayden and the agency.
“How can I help?” she asked.
Brayden’s focus didn’t waver. “She needs a job, Connor.”
“On it,” the researcher replied. “Check your phone,” he said a few seconds later. “You should have a text message from the Wine Barn.”
“I love that place,” Roni said. “Did you know that?”
“Lucky guess.”
Agitated as she was, she knew there hadn’t been any guessing involved. “Text is here. Oh, my order is ready for curbside pick-up.” The message instructed her to verify her vehicle details and send a code once she was parked in a designated spot.
“Clever,” Brayden murmured.
She agreed with him as she followed the text instructions. “You think they’re tracking my phone too?”
“Can’t rule it out until we rule it out.” Connor sounded distracted. “If you get text messages from your sisters, answer them, okay?”
“Of course.”
“All right, Brayden, tell me what you’re seeing.”
He relayed the information in a flat tone that didn’t quite scare her, but wasn’t entirely comfortable. She reminded herself to stay out of it and let him work. But the closer they got to the wine store, the more she worried.
For nothing apparently. He pulled up, the wine Connor had ordered was delivered, and once the researcher watching over them gave the all-clear, they continued on their way. She listened as Connor continued to monitor the situation and appreciated his help more and more.
When they reached the Hideaway, Brayden pulled up, blocking Celeste’s car in the driveway. The street was lined with cars and golf carts and when she stepped out of the truck cab, she heard the happy, upbeat music flowing from the beach.
“Holy cow. Brayden, look!” She reached back for his hand. “They strung lights.”
“Let’s get down there and join the fun.” She grabbed the document tube and he carried the wine, following her inside.
They were alone in the kitchen, though her sisters had obviously been busy prepping refreshments.
The sink was full and prep trays were stacked on the stove top.
It hit her then how lucky she was to be in business with Celeste and Nat.
Her fingers curled around the tube. She was lucky that business could continue without any more threats from the aggressive developer next door.
“Celeste made chips and roe. Empanadas too.”
Brayden set the wine on the island and looked around. “How can you tell?”
She tapped her nose. “The seasonings. And the tools. She makes batches of the empanadas and freezes them for times like this.”
“An entertainment emergency plan?” He laughed. “There are worse things to be great at.”
“I know.” She darted over and hugged him tightly, still holding the document tube. Tears threatened as she released him, staring at the thin plastic cylinder. “Dad really came through.”
He pulled her into another gentle hug. “You came through for all of them too, Roni.”
“Stop or I’ll cry again.” But she lingered there in his arms, soaking up the strength and comfort he offered. “We need to get dressed and go celebrate with everyone.”
He stroked her back, her hair, tipped her face up for a soft kiss. “We’ll get there. I want another minute with you.”
“Just a minute?” she teased. “I could stay right here forever.” Hearing the words, she cringed. “I mean…” What did she mean? He was it for her. The one.
She hadn’t meant to put any pressure on whatever was growing between them. They’d only been together-together for about a minute. Moving into forever territory was way too fast. Wasn’t it?
Except it was Brayden. They’d seen each other through major victories and disasters.
She blinked back a strange surge of happy tears.
She couldn’t give in to that now. Not with an event going outside.
There would be time to talk things out. Time for more kisses and nights in his arms. If she knew anything about Brayden, it was how reliable he was.
“Easy. I know what you mean.”
“I just don’t want to face another storm, natural or man-made, without you.”
Brayden’s dark eyes flared with an intense, breathless wonder. His fingertips, rough from the clean up today, traced her cheek. A slow, breathtaking smile broke across his handsome face—a smile meant only for her.
“You’ll never have to, Roni,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “I’m yours. Always have been. Always will be.”
His phone chimed from his pocket and he rolled his eyes. She giggled and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “We need to get moving anyway.” She made a dash for the suite. “Nat and Celeste will want to see the documents as soon as this event is over.”
“I’ll be right behind you.”