Chapter 4 #2
The resort was located on a protected cove, which meant the water was usually calm.
There was a private beach where guests could swim, along with a bunch of inflatables in the water for both children and adults to play on.
Not too far away were a pair of long docks that jutted out into the cove.
There were a few boats tied to the docks, and, to Shadow’s surprise, there was also a float plane.
It must’ve arrived sometime in the last few hours, because it wasn’t there earlier.
Sending a quick text to Zero, letting him know about the plane and asking him to make some inquiries about who it belonged to and why it was there, Shadow continued his walk down the beach.
It was nice to be able to just stroll and not do PT in the sand.
The weather was warm; it felt hotter than it probably was because of humidity and since he was used to the temps in Alaska.
It was early spring, the snow was finally melting back home, and summer would bring warmer temps.
Last year, they’d even had a few days in the nineties, which was extremely unusual, and a sign of the warming climate.
Shadow hadn’t gone too far when he saw a lone figure ahead of him, sitting on a bench, staring out at the water. As he got closer, he blinked, wondering if he was somehow imagining who was sitting there.
A warmth spread through him as he realized it was the one person he’d been hoping to get a chance to talk to over the last two days. Brinley.
Then he frowned. What was she doing out here in the dark? True, this was private property, but still. It wasn’t safe. He spent his days and nights watching over Ayla and her family…but who was watching out for Brinley?
No one.
And that bothered him more than he wanted to admit.
He stopped about ten feet away and said softly, “Hey.”
She hadn’t been paying any attention to her surroundings, her gaze locked on the water, which definitely wasn’t safe. At the sound of his voice, she whipped her head toward him.
Her shoulders slumped with what Shadow hoped was relief when she saw him.
“Hi.”
“Are you okay?”
She nodded. “Yeah. Just taking a break from…you know.” She gestured toward the resort.
“Yeah, I know,” he said.
“Want to sit?” she asked, sounding shy.
Shadow’s heart rate sped up. He was thrilled she’d asked. “Love to.”
He lowered himself onto the wooden planks of the bench, making sure to leave plenty of space between them so he wouldn’t make her nervous. “How’re things going with your clients?”
She smiled at him, and Shadow was amazed at how her face lit up. “Good. They’re super happy with their outfits, and honestly, I’ve only needed to do a couple small alterations here and there. And I’ve gotten at least fifteen more people possibly interested in ordering designs from me.”
“Have you been able to do any sightseeing?”
She wrinkled her nose and shook her head. “No, but it’s okay. I don’t really enjoy that kind of thing. And…” Her voice trailed off.
“And what?”
“It’s better if I just lay low. I really don’t want to be the center of attention again if my sister decides to lay into me for some imagined slight.
I also haven’t had the pleasure of talking with my mother yet, and I’d rather not.
So it’s better if I just stay here at the resort and avoid them altogether.
I’m sure they’re doing all the group activities. ”
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
The way she tilted her head was adorable.
Which was so strange; Shadow hadn’t ever thought someone moving their head to one side was cute before.
“That you feel more comfortable being by yourself and hanging out here than getting out and seeing more of Fiji. And that your sister and mom aren’t incredibly proud of what you do.
I looked up your website and I have to say, I’m impressed. ”
“You did? You found Diamond Sash Designs online?”
“I did. You’ve got an impressive resume. The number of your clients who’ve won competitions speaks for itself.”
He could easily see Brinley’s deep blush in the moonlight, and it was all Shadow could do not to sweep his fingers along her pink cheek.
“Thanks. But I don’t think I have anything to do with my clients winning.”
“Wrong. The gowns you make are perfect for your clients’ body shape, coloring…what you make for them is absolutely flattering. True, they have to sell themselves during the competition, but the gowns and outfits are a huge factor in how others see them.”
Her smile grew. “Wow. Um…thanks.”
“How’d you get into the biz?”
The grin faded from her face, and she stared out at the water again. Shadow hated that he’d brought up what was obviously not a great topic for her. But she didn’t hesitate to answer his question.
“My mom started entering Callista in pageants when she was just a baby. After my stepdad died, she didn’t have anyone to look after me, so I had to go with her.
I spent my childhood and teenage years sitting in the back of auditoriums watching pageants, so I kind of learned what worked and what didn’t as far as outfits and gowns went.
And when I wasn’t lugging around all her stuff, I spent a lot of time helping Callista with her clothes.
I kind of had to learn how to sew somewhere along the way. ”
“You taught yourself?”
Her blush deepened as she nodded.
“Smart and resourceful, I’m doubly impressed.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“What’s your name?”
Shadow blinked, then chuckled. “I can’t believe I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m an idiot. Dash Carlson.” He held out his hand.
She smiled at him and shook it. The touch of her hand in his made tingles shoot up his arm. He’d never felt such a thing simply by touching someone before. He wasn’t sure if he liked it or not.
“Brinley Deaton. It’s nice to meet you, Dash.”
“Just so you know, my teammates call me Shadow…so you aren’t confused about who they’re talking to if you hear them say it.”
“Oh! You have a nickname. Does everyone on your team have one too?”
Shadow hadn’t smiled this hard in a very long time. “Yes, we all have them.”
“What does yours mean?”
“I’d tell you but then I’d have to kill you.”
Brinley looked startled for a moment, and Shadow could’ve kicked himself. He was trying to be funny, but obviously he’d overstepped.
He was about to apologize profusely when she giggled.
“Right. Let me guess, it’s because you become one with the shadows at night?”
Shadow couldn’t believe he was about to tell this woman—a woman he was beginning to really, really like—the actual reason behind the moniker he’d been given when he was still in basic training, but he didn’t believe for one second that she’d make fun of him or think badly of him because of it.
“I wish. No. It’s because when I was eighteen and in basic training, we were out in the woods being taught how to be stealthy, and in the middle of the lesson, a lesson on how to ‘become one with the shadows,’ a bee landed on my arm—and I’m man enough to admit that out of all the insects in the world, bees are the thing I’m terrified of the most.
“I kind of flailed my arm around and when it didn’t fly away, I panicked and tripped over a battle buddy standing behind me, then I crashed to the ground, knocking over a stack of ruck sacks that we’d all propped up against a tree, causing a chain reaction where they all fell over one by one.
My drill sergeant rolled his eyes, hauled my ass up, and started calling me Shadow right then and there.
Sarcastically, of course, since an enemy would have heard me coming five miles away. It stuck.”
Brinley laughed so hard, he thought she was going to fall off the bench. He couldn’t stop gaping at her. Loving the carefree sound and thrilled beyond anything he was ready to admit that he was the one who’d made her laugh like that.
When she finally had herself under control a little bit, she said, “That makes the nicknames kids gave me when I was little almost seem lame.”
Shadow sobered almost immediately. He didn’t like to think of this woman being teased. “You got made fun of?”
“All the freaking time,” she said with a shrug. “Little Orphan Annie, Freckle Face, Torch, Spaghetti Head, Cheeto…to give you just a few examples of some of the nicer ones.”
“Those are nice?”
Brinley shrugged.
The anger Shadow felt was out of proportion for how long he’d known her, but he couldn’t stop the indignation from rising within him.
“It’s okay, Dash,” she said, obviously seeing how upset he was on her behalf. “I met my best friend when we were in the fifth grade, and she taught me how to give great comebacks whenever someone said something mean. She’s awesome, and I wouldn’t be where I am now without her.”
“I’m glad you have a friend like her.”
“Me too. We’re roommates to this day, which is awesome.
She pretends to be outgoing, but she’s not really, because of stuff that happened to her as well.
We’re each other’s support, you could say.
So much so that when she got a job in Alaska, I didn’t think twice about going with her. I mean, I can do my job from anywhere.”
Shadow almost choked on his own spit, which would’ve been embarrassing as hell. “Alaska?”
“Yeah. Fairbanks. Sometimes it feels like the end of the world, but I love it. And before you say that it’s too damn cold—you aren’t wrong. But since I don’t have to leave the apartment most days, it doesn’t matter to me what the weather is outside.
“Now, Cypress, she works outside—she’s a scientist studying the effects of the changing climate on glaciers, insects, plants, the land, and the weather. She has to be outside all the time. But apparently she’s part polar bear, so the cold doesn’t seem to bother her in the least.”
He couldn’t believe this.
Couldn’t fucking believe it.