“Is it okay if I wait in the helicopter?”
“Of course.”
He escorts me over there like a gentleman, making sure I’m inside safely before striding off toward the man in the white ball cap who flew us here. I sink back into my seat, grabbing my water and uncapping it. The cabin is stifling without the AC on, the sun beating down on us making it a million times worse. I hope the water will be refreshing, but it’s been sitting here too long. Making a face, I screw the lid back on and put it in the cup holder.
“Gross,” I mutter.
Checking where Rafe is one more time, I open my little purse and draw out my cell phone, lighting it up. Service is shit here, but there’s nothing from Sin again. I consider texting him, but I don’t know what he’s busy doing. What if it’s something dangerous and he would be distracted by me texting him?
I’m still debating texting him when I get an incoming text. It’s not from him, though. I touch the new message and see it’s from Rafe. It’s the picture the pilot took of us with the Grand Canyon backdrop. Damn, that’s a good picture. I even managed to keep my eyes open despite the blinding brightness of the sun. I touch the picture and it fills my screen. Another pang of something unpleasant lodges in my gut, but I shove it down. I save the picture to my own phone, then go back to the message and send back a quick thank you text.
“Anytime,” he replies.
Sighing, I stare at the phone for another minute. Nothing changes, so I slip my phone back into my pocket and sink back against the seat, closing my eyes and trying to outrun the conflicted feelings I don’t have time to deal with.
28
Rafe
I have ruined this poor girl’s life.
During the short trip from the canyon over to Willow beach, it’s all I can think about. Laurel started the day off happy enough, but something happened at the Grand Canyon. Now even as she stares out the window of the helicopter, there’s a hint of sadness hanging around her instead of the light, happiness she emanated earlier.
I yearn to reach out and tuck the tendrils of hair falling out of her messy bun behind her ear, but that might only make her feel worse, so I keep my hands to myself.
This is all my fault. If she’s sad because she’s pregnant, that’s my fault. If she’s sad because she feels guilty for having fun with me today, that’s my fault. I’m the reason she turned to Sin in the first place. I should have invited her to stay while we figured out what to do about her situation—even if it hadn’t been mine, I should have done that. She came to me for help either way.
When Mateo called earlier though, he corroborated Laurel’s claims that she hasn’t slept with anyone in a long-ass time—certainly not since me. He asked if I wanted him to keep looking into it, but I told him not to bother. I would still feel more comfortable if she would agree to a DNA test, but I’m not going to ask again right now. It’s taken a few days to get here, but I believe her.
It makes my stomach hurt, but I believe her.
When the helicopter lands at our next destination, I climb out first and help Laurel. I keep hold of her hand once she’s out, even though it probably doesn’t help. I can’t help it. I generally use touch to cheer women up, and I’m unaccustomed to having that trusty tool off the table.
I want to kiss her, so just holding her hand is frankly a compromise, whether she sees it that way or not.
“Where are we going?” Laurel asks, holding her skirt down as we hasten away from the helicopter. “I thought we were going to lunch.”
“We are,” I assure her.
“This is a beach. Are you going to drown me?”
“Damn, I thought I was being so slick.”
Flashing me a smile, she implores me, “Say it.”
“Say what?”
“You know.” She lifts her eyebrows at me. “Come on. Say it.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Smacking me on the arm, she says, “Tell me I’m gonna sleep with the fishes! God, don’t you know anything about the mob?”
“Nothing,” I deadpan. “Will you teach me?”
With a solemn nod, she says, “I will. Under my tutelage, you will learn all you need to know about how to run your very own criminal organization.”
“What would I do without you?” I tease.