“I understand if you’d rather not spend a week with me,” I said.
CJ’s hands came to my shoulders. “I want to spend the week with you. I was just thrown off by the idea that they’re watching you—us. That you need to be watched. Were they at breakfast?”
I nodded. “And at the pool yesterday.”
His turquoise stare narrowed. “Are you in danger? Is that why the couple in the bushes startled you?”
I sat on the edge of the mattress and stared out at the sparkling water. Exhaling, I leaned down, resting my elbows on my legs. I couldn’t explain my desire to share with CJ. It was out of character, but the truth was I rarely conversed with anyone outside of business. There was something settling and comforting in sharing, even a little. “I’ve had security for years. Without going into much detail, I travel a lot, and I’m a woman.”
CJ crouched down on the sand near my feet. As his eyes met mine, he laid his hand on my knee. “Yes, Lena. I’ve noticed you’re a woman.”
“Lately, the threat has been more overt.” I sat straighter, covering his hand with mine. For only a moment, I debated the degree to my sharing. It was odd that I was willing to share my body, but not my secrets. The secrets seemed more personal.
“Lena?”
“Someone is stalking me.”
His jaw clenched and his brow furrowed. “Stalking you?”
For the next few minutes, I gave CJ the abbreviated version of the last few months—the break-in, the fish, then the fish arriving or showing up, and lastly, the candy.
“Jesus, Lena. Are the police involved?”
“Not at first, I didn’t want the attention. With the candy, yes. That’s why I’m here. My partner—business partner,” I clarified, “and Adam, well everyone who works with me, thought I should leave town for a while. I haven’t taken a week away from work for as long as I can remember. I guess you could say I’m hiding out.”
CJ stood, brushed the sand from his knees, and sat beside me. Taking my hand in his, he lifted it to his lips and kissed my palm. “I want to spend the week with you.”
“I’m not prey.” As I leaned my head against his solid shoulder, I tried to convince myself. Maybe if I denied it enough times, then just maybe I’d start to believe it again.
“You’re not.” He squeezed my hand. “You, Lena, are a hunter. A lioness.”
I sat taller. “I know we don’t really know each other, but I feel the need to tell you that who you see isn’t me, not the Lena. When the break-in happened, when my fish were killed, it empowered me. Without details, I’ve come back from far worse. So when it happened, I was angry, livid at the violation. I was determined not to allow this man or woman, this person, to interrupt my life.” My shoulders slumped. “The candy was different. It was an attempt on my life. Someone wants me dead. That’s hard to ignore. It’s gotten into my head and now…” I wasn’t sure what now was.
CJ wrapped his arm around me. “You’re safe with me.”
I wanted to believe that.
“I’m glad you didn’t eat it,” CJ said, “but what alarmed you about the candy?”
“The note read as if it were a gift from my sister.”
“Your sister tried to kill you?”
Not me, but I wasn’t ready to share that family secret.
“No,” I replied. “I knew it wasn’t from her. It was postmarked in Missoula.”
“The city where you live,” he said.
I nodded. “They didn’t sign her name but implied it was her. My sister is in Wisconsin. It felt off. Adam inspected the chocolate pieces and discovered pinpricks in the bottom. They were small, but he decided they should be inspected.” I shrugged. “He was right.”
CJ reached for my chin and turned my face toward his gaze. The turquoise swirled with emotion as he dropped his forehead to mine. “I’m sorry you’re dealing with this. I’d like to take your mind off real life, if for only the rest of this week.”
I forced a smile. “We were off to a pretty good start.”
“Until our champagne bottle was mistaken for a gunshot.”
“It was loud.”
CJ stood and walked back to the ice bucket. “Take off the cover-up, scoot back on the bed, and let me bring you a glass of champagne.”
The Lena didn’t follow orders well. She gave them and expected them to be followed. And yet, without objection, I did as he’d said. With my hat, bag, and cover-up on the straw mat, I settled back on the inclined bed. Although I had an unimpeded view of the sparkling waters of the Caribbean, my focus was on the man closer.
Wearing only his swim trunks, I ogled at not only his physical attractiveness but at his genuine concern. I recognized it for the rarity that it was. Coming around the mattress, CJ held both glasses, extending one to me. Taking the glass, I said, “It’s okay to admit that I’m too much trouble.”
CJ sat on the edge of the mattress. The warmth of his bent leg radiated to mine as he lifted the glass. “So much trouble. Here’s to finding out how much trouble you can be.”
We both took a sip of the bubbly champagne.
“What do you want to do this week?”
I twisted the stem of the glass between my fingers. “Hiding out is new to me. My kindle is filled with books that I’ve been putting off for years.” Squinting my eyes, I looked out at the water. “And this beach is beautiful.”
CJ walked around to the other side of the mattress, refilled his glass, and sat at my side. “I’m inexperienced at hiding out. I’m also unaccustomed to free time.” His smile shone my direction. “We can figure this out together.”
As he secured my hand in his, I marveled at how much I enjoyed being close to him. It was different, yet strangely comforting. For an indeterminate amount of time, we sat, both silently watching the waves.
The alarm bells that were ringing earlier today on our walk had fallen silent. I wasn’t sure if they were gone or only muffled by the presence of this man. Either way, for the first time since the candy arrived, I felt truly at peace.
I placed my empty glass on the straw mat and wrapping my arm around his, laid my head on his shoulder. My eyelids grew heavy as the curtains fluttered in the breeze. Napping in the middle of the day was also a rarity for me. I blamed the earlier mimosas and the recent champagne. It could be the sense of safety. Whatever it was, it was the perfect combination as I fell asleep.
When I woke, it took me a second to realize where I was. Shaking my head, I sat up, squinting at the brightness beyond the cabana. I was alone on the mattress, except for Kelsey who was sitting at the end.
“Kelsey?”
She turned my way with a grin. “You’re awake.”
“Where’s CJ?”
“He went up to the pool to get you two lunch.”
“And you saw him leave?” I asked.
“He came over to us.”
“He did?”
She nodded. “He said he wasn’t sure how this worked, but he didn’t want to leave you alone. I came to you, and Adam went with CJ.”
“He’s with Adam? Did you two learn more about him?”
Kelsey nodded again as she took a drink of a water bottle. “No red flags.”
I let out a breath. “Don’t tell me more.”
“There’s an interesting connection, but nothing worrisome. Adam wanted to speak to him.”
“No,” I said, swinging my legs over the edge of the mattress. “I don’t want Adam revealing anything about me. I’ve already shared more than I intended.”
Kelsey stood. “Ms. Montgomery, Adam knows your rules. He also knows what he’s doing. CJ will only learn about you from you.”
Putting on my beach cover, I informed Kelsey that a walk up to the pool was in our future. As we walked together toward the resort, I asked, “What does your gut say about him?”
“Adam is incredibly competent.”
I grinned. “CJ.”
She smiled back at me. “My gut says that he’s a good distraction for you. He’s not the fish/candy person, and in over three years, I’ve never seen you take a nap. More often than not, you go to sleep after midnight and wake before five. My gut says that with everything going on, CJ is exactly what you need.”