A noise sounded outside. Something screeched on the patio like a chair being dragged over the tiles. She jackknifed into a sitting position, her pulse spiking, and pricked up her ears. The shuffle that followed was barely audible, but it wasn’t her imagination.
There it was again.
Someone was breaking into her bedroom. Juan? One of Jeanne’s friends? She had to run for the front door and alarm the guard, not that it would help if the intruder was Juan. No. She had to find a weapon, something she should’ve thought about before getting into bed.
She threw the covers aside, but before she could swing her legs off the bed, a sea breeze rolled into the room and billowed the curtains as the door opened soundlessly.
Chapter 7
Sean’s figure appeared in the door, his strained features visible in the light of the moon.
She pressed a palm over her heart and uttered a sigh of relief. “Dammit, Sean. You scared me.”
“I’m sorry,” he said in a quiet voice.
Concern tightened her stomach. “What are you doing here?”
He took a step into the room and closed the door. “I needed to know you’re all right.”
“You’re crazy. Coming here is too risky. You know what will happen if you’re caught.”
A boyish smile tilted his lips. “Give me a kiss then. It’ll make it worth the while.”
“Don’t joke about your life. There’s a guard by my door. Are you sure he didn’t see you?”
“I came from the rocky side of the path and stayed in the shadows. Don’t worry. They’re not expecting any trouble, not on an island miles out in the sea.”
“What about cameras? If Juan fitted his unit, he could have easily done the same with this one.”
Sean moved around the room, checking the light fittings and ventilation holes. When she reached for a lamp on the bedside table, he lifted his hand.
“No. Best keep the light off.” After checking the room, he said, “It’s clear.”
“How did you know where to find me?”
“Leona.”
“What?” she exclaimed. “What if she tells Juan you asked?”
“I didn’t ask her directly. She drank herself into a stupor tonight, which seems to have loosened her tongue. I just got her talking about the stress of moving the guests around to accommodate you.”
“Leona drunk?” She pulled the covers up to her waist. “That doesn’t sound like her.”
“She’s freaked out about what happened.”
“Everyone is.” Bunching the comforter in a fist, she glanced at the unobtainable freedom behind the closed door. “How will your friend be able to help us?”
He stepped closer to the bed. “I don’t know yet, but he’s resourceful.”
“Is he with the police?”
A beat passed before he said, “He’s with a special unit.”
She wanted to ask more, but they didn’t have much time. “I heard Garcia and Tony talk tonight.”
In the soft light of the moon that caressed the hard angles of his body, his shoulders visibly tensed. “What did they say?”
“Juan is investing money in a software application that Godfrey is developing. He wants Garcia to set up a meeting with Godfrey.”
“Good work, kitten,” he said with an appraising tone, but she didn’t miss how he balled his hands at his sides. “Keep your ear to the ground, but don’t make it obvious. Whatever you do, don’t put yourself in danger.”
She gave a wry laugh. “It’s too late for that. I’ve been so stupid. If only I’d listened to you.”
His jaw bunched as he walked to the edge of the bed. Almost angrily, he said, “It’s not your fault.” Then, softening his tone, “You’ve got to keep it together. Just for a short while. Can you do that for me?”
She stared up at his face, noticing the lines of tension around his eyes and mouth. “Why are you helping me?”
He hesitated. When he finally opened his mouth, the words he spoke wasn’t the answer she expected.
“Lie down, kitten.”
She frowned. “What?”
“I want to return last night’s favor.”
“You want to give me a massage?” she asked with disbelief.
“It’ll help to relieve some of the stress.”
The gesture was sweet. The fact that it seemed so out of character for him only made it sweeter. Despite the situation, a smile found its way to her lips. “Do you even know how to give a massage?”
He grinned. “I guess we’ll find out.”
“Thanks,” she said, gratitude warming her heart, “but I’m worried we’ll get caught. It’s better that you go.”
He sat down on the edge of the bed. “Did I run away last night when you ordered me to your bed?”
“I’m not running.” She tucked a curl behind her ear. “I’m making sure you don’t get killed.”
“Less talk, more action,” he said with mock seriousness. “The quicker you roll over, the quicker I’ll be out of here.”
She couldn’t resist rolling her eyes. “You’re impossible.”
“That’s what my old man says.” He got onto his knees. “Now roll over.”
“What if someone walks in on us?”