19. Chapter 19
Chapter nineteen
Isla poured cereal into a bowl and grabbed a banana off the counter. They’d be leaving soon for the new safehouse. She would miss it here, and she wanted to pretend for a moment that everything was normal—as normal as things could be. She sat next to Lara and asked, “How was your Thanksgiving?”
“It was really nice,” Lara said, her bright green eyes lighting up.
“I got to see my baby nephew Nathan. He just turned six months—what a sweetie. And his sister Mackenzie has gotten so big, she’ll be three in May.
It’s been a while since I’ve been home. I enjoyed every minute I was there. Sorry to miss all the action though!”
“How’s your girlfriend, Colt?” Isla asked him.
“She’s good, adjusting to her new environment. We cooked a nice dinner together and just enjoyed each other’s company. I haven’t seen her in three months, so it was great just being together, just the two of us.”
Isla shook her head. “I don’t know how you guys do it.
You give so much of yourself. I never thought about what kind of sacrifices you people make day in and day out.
I mean, I always knew that you put your life on the line every time you walked out the door, but I never realized how much you actually give up to keep people like me safe. I thank you all.”
“You’re welcome, Molly,” said Colt. “Though none of us think about it as a sacrifice.” He reached over and squeezed her hand. Isla knew just how lucky she was to have met these people in this place, even under the circumstances.
Mitch stood next to the SUV with the passenger door open. He took Isla’s arm and helped her in. “Ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” she said. “Vacation, right?”
“Vacation,” he smiled. The caravan of SUV’s left the compound.
Isla turned to look at Mitch. “So, where to?”
“South Carolina, Hilton Head Island. The Bureau has a house there. I’ve been there before. It’s really nice. Right on the beach.”
“Sounds fancy. Will we be safe there?”
Mitch nodded. “We will be. Ten-acre lot, private beach, gated community…the Bureau in Charleston has two agents waiting for us. They’ll be with us while we’re there.”
“This must be costing hundreds of thousands of dollars.”
“It’s not cheap. But it’s not about money,” Mitch said, brushing his knuckles along Isla’s cheek.
Eight hours later, they passed through a wrought iron gate and drove down a long gravel driveway.
The house that came into view was lovely.
It was a typical southern home with a sweeping staircase and storm shutters on all the windows.
The sun shone across the water behind the house.
In less than three hours, the sun would set on a long day. Two men stood at the top of the stairs.
“Agent Larkin,” said one of the men. “I’m Leigh Walters and this is Lucas Butler.”
“Agents, this is Molly Stewart and Agents Dirk Wentworth, Max Carson, Colt Garvey, and Lara Kendrick.”
“Nice to meet you all,” said Leigh warmly, but professionally. “Come on in and I’ll show you around.”
They entered the foyer. The staircase to the second floor swept up both sides of the hallway.
Elegant yet simple décor filled the living room.
They walked through the hallway and entered the kitchen.
It wasn’t as big as the one at the compound, but it was definitely a chef’s kitchen.
A large family room flanked the back of the house with a wall of glass giving a clear view of the ocean beyond.
“People actually live like this?” Isla shook her head. “To wake up to this view every day is definitely no hardship.”
“Agent Larkin, the command center is located in the garage as well as a state-of-the-art gym. You’ll contact us whenever you need anything.
The refrigerator and pantry have been stocked.
If you need anything at all, just call. The keys for the gate on the beach are right here by the door and the front gate is operated from the pad near the front door.
The walls around the house are all wired to detect anything heavier than a raccoon.
Cameras are mounted throughout the property—there are no blind spots.
Agent Butler and I are the only two people who know you are here besides the boss.
You shouldn’t have any problems. Don’t hesitate to call if anything seems off. ”
“Thanks, Leigh,” said Mitch. “We really appreciate it. We should be out of your hair as soon as we can.”
“Not a problem. Molly, try to enjoy your stay. Take advantage of what this property has to offer. Enjoy the beach.”
“Thank you, Agent Butler and Agent Walters, for everything,” Isla said, wishing she had some way to pay them back.
Mitch closed the door behind the agents and watched from the monitor at the door as they got into their SUV and drove away.
“I’ll start dinner,” said Isla. “Mitch, I see a grill on the deck. Can we grill the steaks or should I cook them inside?”
“Let’s cook indoors for today,” said Mitch. “I want to check out the perimeter and the beach entrance before we get too comfortable.”
Mitch and Lara headed into the garage, and Max and Colt went up the stairs to unpack. Isla looked through the cabinets and found what she needed to marinate the steaks. She made a salad and washed up some potatoes, then went upstairs.
The master suite was just as beautifully decorated as the rest of the house. A king-size, four-poster bed stood in the middle of one long wall. A huge walk-in closet was at one end of the room and the bathroom was at the other.
Isla unpacked and decided a nice soak was exactly what she needed. She filled the tub and added a bath bomb she found on the vanity. She undressed and stepped in, sighing with pleasure as she immersed herself in the hot fragrant water. She closed her eyes and absorbed the comfort of the water.
Just a vacation, she thought. Just a vacation.
“Hey, Molly, wake up sweetheart,” Mitch said as he touched her cheek.
Isla’s eyes opened slowly. She was so confused—and cold. “Mitch?”
“You fell asleep in the tub,” Mitch said, concerned. “I knocked and called out twice, but you didn’t hear me.”
“I guess I was more tired than I thought.”
“Come on, let’s get you dry,” he said. “The water’s cold.”
Isla stood up. The cool water ran down her body as she turned her back to him. He opened the towel and wrapped her in it. She could feel his energy—it felt like electricity between them. She turned in his arms and pulled his face down to hers.
“Hi,” she purred.
“Hi, yourself,” Mitch said with his lazy smile. “We shouldn’t.”
“I know, but I want to,” said Isla. She knew that he wanted this too. “I need you like I’ve never needed anyone before.”
“Me too,” he said. “But Colt knows I came up here to see you. I’ve been in here too long as it is.”
“Can we take a walk on the beach, then?”
“Maybe in the morning,” said Mitch. “I still want to make sure everything is in order before we leave the house.”
She brushed a kiss over his lips and walked into the bedroom to find something to wear. “I’ll be down in ten minutes.”
“Okay, I’ll see you downstairs,” said Mitch, still staring at her in the towel. “Tomorrow, Molly, I promise.”
“I’m holding you to it,” she said with a smile. Her eyes followed him out the door.
The evening unfolded with a simple dinner and good company. Isla had no idea if these friendships would continue after this was all over. But for now, they were all she had.
“Hey, they have every streaming platform on the living room TV. How about a movie tonight?” Max asked. “Lara and I aren’t on till tomorrow morning.”
Isla smiled. “Sure, Max, you pick the movie. My only request is that you don’t pick a movie that could possibly depict my life. I’ve had enough drama to last a lifetime.”
Max walked into the living room and scrolled through. “What about Top Gun? It’s got action, but not the kind of drama we’re used to.”
Isla nodded. “One of my favorites. Also, I saw popcorn in the pantry.”
“Great, Mitch are you joining us?” Max asked.
“Don’t wait for me,” Mitch said. “I need to go over a few things with Lara. Dirk and Colt are already upstairs getting in a few hours before their shift. This day isn’t over yet.
” Isla wondered if he ever unplugged from his job.
She knew from working twelve-hour shifts in the ER that long days could wear on you.
Isla made a huge bowl of popcorn and brought it into the family room. She handed it to Max. “Are we ready?” he asked.
“Ready.”
An hour later, Mitch came in from the garage. He took a handful of popcorn and sat on the other end of the couch. “Have we gotten to the good part yet?”
“Not yet, it’s coming up,” Max said as he filled his bowl once again.
Isla thought of all the nights she worked instead of making friends. She thought of all the nights she’d missed in college because she was studying instead of going out. Yet here, she finally had friends. This movie night meant more to her than they’d ever know.
She fell asleep in the middle of the movie, safe and content.
Max brought the empty bowls into the kitchen while Mitch woke Isla up. “Come on, sweetheart, time for bed.”
“I fell asleep.”
“You did.”
“I must have been more tired than I thought. I’ve been doing a lot of that lately, haven’t I?”
“You have. Let’s get you upstairs.”
She opened her door, but before she stepped into the room, he took her into his arms and kissed her passionately. Her arms wrapped around his neck as she burrowed herself into his body.
He kissed down the column of her neck and then back up to her mouth.
He slipped his tongue between her lips and his knee slipped between her legs.
She pushed herself down onto his thigh. He could feel the heat of her body and the dampness of her arousal through the fabric that separated them.
His erection strained against his zipper.
He pulled her away from him and smiled into her beautiful eyes. “Goodnight. Sweet dreams, Isla.”
“Good night,” she said, breathless. “See you in the morning.”
“Seven.” He turned and walked into his own room.
Isla walked into the kitchen just before seven. Mitch stood at the island with two bottles of water in hand.
“Are you ready for our walk? Sixty degrees, no wind. A perfect morning on the island.”
“Thanks, Mitch,” Isla said. “I’m hoping the fresh air will clear some of the cobwebs away.”
“You look tired,” he said. “Didn’t sleep well?”
“Not really,” Isla said, shaking her head.
“Just a lot on my mind.” She’d had a dream last night that was so real, it hurt to wake up.
She saw herself married to Mitch. Two kids sitting at the kitchen table as she came in from a long shift at the hospital.
Would that dream be fulfilled or would she be alone for the rest of her life?
She remembered every year before her parents adopted her, wondering if she’d be alone forever. She felt that now, just as strongly.
“Come on,” Mitch said. “We’ll walk and then go to the gym after breakfast and work on a few more defense moves.”
“Okay, let’s go,” said Isla, putting on a smile like she was putting on makeup. “I love the beach in the early morning.”
They spent the next hour on the beach exploring their surroundings.
The sun spilled a beautiful array of pinks and purples as it rose over the treetops behind them.
Isla thought she might paint it later. She’d packed her art supplies, and she had the time.
She thought it was kind of crazy how it had taken a murder trial to get her to slow down enough to do the things she loved—painting and cooking.
To take a vacation—even though this was not a real vacation.
Mitch held her hand while they walked. It felt right—their fingers entwined together. He found a piece of purple sea glass and handed it to her with a smile. “Beautiful and rare—like you.”
She took it from his fingers and smiled. It wasn’t a wedding ring, like the one she wore in her dream, but it was real. It was something to hold onto when nothing felt certain. “I’ll keep it for good luck, no matter what happens.”
Mitch pulled her into his arms and kissed her like no man had ever kissed her before. She could get used to having this man in her life forever. She knew then—she knew that she loved him.
They stayed at the safe house longer than Isla had initially expected.
An extended vacation, she joked. Each day, Isla and Mitch spent two hours in the gym, dancing around their feelings and calling it self-defense.
Being near him without touching him in an intimate way was getting harder each day.
It was almost three weeks since they’d been intimate, and she missed his touch.
She had never had the experiences she had that one night with Mitch.
They would never have that opportunity to be as close as they had been any time soon.
They would just have to be grateful for the small amount of alone time they had with each other.
While they were together, they got to know more about each other.
Mitch told her about his family, what it was like to grow up in the large family he came from.
He was the oldest of six, he had three brothers and two sisters.
His brother Mark was married to Jocelyn and they had two children.
His sister Jackie was a single mom with a daughter just going into high school.
His sister Morgan, the youngest, was in her last year of law school.
And his other two brothers worked on the family ranch in Tennessee with their father.
His mom was a retired elementary school teacher.
Mitch had graduated high school and gone straight into the Navy. He became a SEAL and spent ten years in the Navy before his last major injury. He’d floated for a year and worked the ranch with his brothers until a buddy called and recruited him into the FBI. And he’d been with them ever since.
“Do you plan on staying with the Bureau?” she asked.
“No reason not to. I think about leaving sometimes, but as of now, I still feel I have a purpose to be here. I’m open to something new. Who knows, maybe I’ll end up working with Curt in Virginia. It’s an option. What about you?”
Isla shrugged. “As a nurse, I can work anywhere. I would just need to get certified in the state I reside in. I could even open my own office. A lot of nurse practitioners do, especially in small towns that don’t have doctors.
I’m flexible about my future—I mean, I kind of have to be at this point, right? It’s all a gamble.”
“It’s all about betting on the horse you got,” Mitch said, sounding like a rancher’s son. “Do you ride?”
Isla shook her head. “I’d like to learn though.”
Mitch smiled. “Maybe when this is all over you could come with me to my family’s ranch and I could teach you.”
“I’d love that.” She smiled at him. But not a moment too long. She didn’t want him to know that the only future she’d bet on was theirs.