Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
A round ten the following morning, Rhys knocked on the camper door and waited for Sara to respond. He took in the empty lot, nodding toward the guard positioned down the road a bit but within sight.
According to his morning report, the empty lot still drew attention. The guard had run off two teenagers lurking around yesterday when Sara had driven the trees to the hotel, as well as a drunk who’d ridden in on a bicycle in the early hours of the morning who “just wanted to talk to the pretty woman staying there.”
The camper door clicked and swung open, and he turned his attention to Sara.
He’d escorted her back to the camper last night and left her after a kiss goodnight. He’d then dreamed of her deep red dress and lace-trimmed stockings.
Sara stood a step above him, which put her at his eye level. Unable to stop himself, he learned forward and brushed her lips with his, lingering over the caress but keeping things light. “Hi.”
“Hi,” she whispered back.
“Are you ready?”
“I am. I wish you’d tell me what we’re doing though. Is this okay?”
He took in her jeans and low-heeled boots, topped by an oversized sweater that draped off one kissable shoulder. “You look perfect. But grab your coat just in case.”
The temp was warm and pleasant for a December day. The kind of day where only a sweater was required.
He stepped back as she descended the camper step and locked up, and he took her hand and held it to his lips for a kiss before leading her toward the SUV where Axel waited.
Axel opened the passenger door for them as they approached, but Sara’s attention locked on something elsewhere.
“What’s wrong?”
“That guy—in the car over there. Do you see him? He was here yesterday morning. I thought he was waiting on someone then, but I told him we’d sold out of trees and wouldn’t restock for a few days. I also saw Axel speak to him when you came to pay for the trees but— Why’s he just sitting there?”
Rhys paused and prepared himself. “He’s watching over you, Sara.” He studied her expression, felt the way she tensed at the news.
“You put a body guard on me? Why?”
His ex-fiancée’s voice filled his head, high-pitched and angry as Quinley had demanded he remove her security team and give her back her privacy. “I didn’t like the idea of you here alone, and I wanted to make sure you were safe. And before you come at me, he’s had to run a few people off, so please don’t expect an apology.”
She sucked in a breath at that bit of news, but he felt the truth needed to be told so she fully understood. Carolina Cove was a great little town, but she was a woman alone, a fact that had already been noted by the thieves and drunks and others paying attention.
“He’s had to…do that?”
Rhys shoved his hands into his pockets and nodded. “Yes, he has. Look, Sara, I’m not trying to be creepy or controlling, but you’re isolated, and I wanted to keep you safe. For my own peace of mind, if not yours.”
She stayed silent a few beats.
“I can’t pay you back.”
“I’m not asking you to. I want to know you’re safe. That’s all I need.”
“That’s…kind of you, Rhys. Thank you. For watching out for me.”
Surprise blew through him, and he canted his head as he stared down at her beautiful face. “You’re taking the news better than I expected.”
A low laugh rumbled out of her as she hugged her coat to her chest. “Well, I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t creepy staying here at night, and… I had a stalker in high school. Nothing big but— some guy from another school. Thankfully we didn’t have to call in the police because the guy listened when my father caught him on the farm and said no one would find his body if he kept coming around and scaring me.”
“I like your dad.”
“He’s the best,” she agreed. “So…while it’s unexpected, thank you. The last thing my parents need is to be worrying about me should something happen, and they can’t afford to hire anyone else or drag Buck away from the farm right now. Not that I want to share the camper with Buck.”
“You will not be staying with Buck, whoever he is.”
She released a throaty laugh at his grumble, and Rhys found himself relaxing at the sound. He thought he’d have a fight on his hands like he’d always had with Quinley, but Sara had rolled with the news with a grace and acceptance he admired. “And you’re very welcome. Shall we get going?”
“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”
He grinned down at her as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her to his side, lips pressing a kiss to her hair. “It’s a surprise.”
It took minimal time to get to the marina at this time of day, and Rhys smiled at Sara’s shock when Axel rolled up to the dock.
“We’re taking a boat?”
“Do you get seasick? I was told the captain has antinausea meds on board, just in case.”
She shook her head and gathered her things, excitement rolling off her as they exited.
Rhys led her toward their charter for the day and reveled in the grin she couldn’t wipe from her face, amused by how her head whipped from side to side as she tried to take everything in at once.
Over dinner at Haven, Sara had mentioned loving the hamburgers from the Cohens’ pier house, so he’d placed an order for their trip. His PA had tried to handle the details and do something “nicer,” and normally Rhys would’ve let him, but this felt different. Because Sara felt different, and he wanted to plan the day on his own.
Still, Axel carried their special lunch and followed them to the boat.
The captain quickly got them underway, and they headed south down the Intercoastal Waterway.
The wind picked up with their speed, and both donned their coats before moving to the railing. Sara took a few photos on her phone. She then slid it back into her pocket and glanced up at him.
“Having fun?” he asked.
“You know it,” she said, smiling at him. “I haven’t been on a boat in years. Is it yours?”
“No, I leave the boat buying to my father.”
She tilted her chin up as she turned sideways to lean against the rail. “And you won’t tell me where we’re going?”
“We’re recapturing your Christmas spirit.”
A hesitant expression formed on her features, and he frowned. “What’s wrong? Why the look?”
“It’s just— You don’t have to spend money on me. You know that, right? I mean this is wonderful, but you’ve already done too much.”
“What do you mean?”
“Buying the trees and helping my parents. Then the guard. Now this?”
He moved behind her and wrapped his arms around her. “The trees were business—with helping your parents out a nice bonus. The guard for my peace of mind, like I said. And the boat— I’m selfish, Sara. This is for me as well. I can go very few places and have privacy. Stealing you away for the day without having cameras pointed at us protects us both.”
She stiffened a bit in his arms, and he frowned. “What?”
“Nothing.”
“Sara? Talk to me. Please.”
She avoided his gaze and looked out at the sparkling water and coastal homes rolling by.
“Is it the media attention?” He couldn’t blame her. He hated being hounded for quotes and photos or interviews. “Things have calmed down considerably since spring, but I’m afraid that’s an aspect of my life that won’t change.”
He couldn’t read her expression, but something made him think that wasn’t it. At least not all of it.
“Let’s just enjoy the beautiful day.”
Yeah, something still bothered her. He could tell by the tight lines of her body and the way her eyebrows scrunched over her nose in an adorable furl. But she refused to share whatever thought had set her on edge, so he let it go for the moment. Maybe the day would loosen her thoughts and whatever the worry was.
He pressed his lips to soft skin and kissed away the frown. “We’re almost there.”
“ Where?”
He chuckled at her grumbly tone. “You’ll see.”