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“Ice!” he yelled at the top of his lungs.
After a very long conversation with Scotty at the bar, the two men finished their drinks and left.
Finished with his beer and fries, Ice made his way out of the open bar, careful to stay alert.
There was a souvenir stand next door and he walked over to step through the tables and racks, looking at the keychains and souvenirs, but also looking around. Spotting a straw hat in an off-white color, he plunked it on his head. He bought a new shirt and changed right there after paying. This one was in a blue and cream wild paisley pattern. He paid for both and walked back out onto the hot sand. Now he really looked like a tourist with his white knee-length cotton shorts. That was enough of a disguise for now.
He figured Echo would be back about then, so he headed down to the water to walk along the edge, making his way back toward the house.
“Ice!”
Echo’s frantic shout startled him and he searched until he found Echo’s flying form running down the beach toward him.
If he hadn’t have had this damn gunshot wound, he would have opened his arms wide. Not that Echo would run into them, but it was a nice thought.
“Where were you?” Echo skidded to a stop several feet from him, panting, eyes wide. The man’s face was pale, his gaze fierce and fists clenched.
“At the bar.”
“The bar?” Echo repeated through his teeth and then the man’s legs gave out and he dropped to his knees in the sand.
Fuck! Ice’s stomach twisted.
He had scared Echo. The assassin had expected him to be at home, but he’d gone out like a dumbass, and he hadn’t even left a note.
“I’m sorry,” Ice said, stepping closer to pull Echo up from the sand. He closed his hand around Echo’s wrist to keep the assassin from bolting. And for some reason, Echo didn’t pull away. That gave Ice hope. He rubbed his thumb over Echo’s pulse point. “I should have left you a note. I just didn’t think I was going to be gone that long.”
Still panting, Echo did something completely out of character and it surprised the fuck out of Ice. Echo turned his hand and linked their fingers together and then started pulling him back toward the house. The pace was making his side ache.
“Slow down, please.”
Echo slowed immediately and Ice couldn’t hide his pleased smile.
Reaching the house, Echo released his hand, snatched up a glass from the sand, and marched inside.
Feeling like the biggest ass on the planet, Ice lost his smile and followed Echo into the air-conditioned house. He found the man in the kitchen and he took a seat at the bar to watch. Echo started pulling food out of the fridge and Ice dropped his new hat on the bar.
When Echo eyed the thing, Ice grinned. “Like it?”
“It looks stupid.” The man sniffed and started washing green onions.
“I think it suits me. I could get used to living here. What about my new shirt?”
Echo shrugged and continued washing the vegetable.
“Did you get our phones?”
The only response was a nod.
“I’m sorry, Echo. I really am.”
“It doesn’t matter.” The words came out muffled beneath the sound of running water.
“It matters if I worried you.”
“It’s fine.” Echo shut off the water and slapped the onions on a cutting board.
Ice released an annoyed sigh. “Why can’t you open up to me?”
