Page 210 of No Headlines Please

"And besides," I said, "the sun won't be rising for hours. But listen, there's something I want to ask."

"What's that?"

"Your clothes in storage – you want me to have them delivered to the island?"

She hesitated. "You could seriously do that?"

"Hell yeah. Just say the word."

With another muffled laugh, she said, "I bet Tessa would just love that. She'd probably think I was moving in."

"Yeah, but not uninvited." It was true. Tonight over dinner, Tessa had invited Delaney to stay here at the house for as long as she wanted. Then, not to be outdone, Maisie had extended the same invitation – inviting Delaney to stay with her and Griff at the three-bedroom cottage they were currently renting.

When Delaney balked at barging into their love nests, Maisie offered up the house she'd inherited from her dad, telling Delaney, "It's vacant and everything. You could totally move in. I mean…if you won't stay with us."

"Or us," Tessa had said, looking determined.

By the time dinner was over, Tessa and Maisie were still debating who had dibs on Delaney.

It had warmed my heart to see. But there was something neither of them knew. Dibs or not, if I had my way, Delaney would be staying with me.

I just didn't know where, that's all.

But first things first. "You know…if you want, I can have all of it brought here."

Delaney snickered against my chest. "Even the furniture?"

"Sure, if that's what you want. You can sort through it, keep what you need, and we'll send the rest back. Or find a storage unit closer. Your choice."

With a smile in her voice, she said, "You make it sound so simple."

"Yeah. Because it is." I gave her another squeeze. "Just say the word."

By the time she was drifting off to sleep, she sounded happy and relaxed.

Me? I was happy. But not quite relaxed.

I knew something Delaney didn't.

Tomorrow was going to be one hell of a crazy day.

78

Knock Knock…Boom

Delaney

The first thing I felt was warmth.

The second was confusion.

The third was pounding – loud enough to wake the dead and probably half the island, too.

Under the covers, I pulled away from Maddox and sat up to listen. The room was softly lit, with morning sunshine filtering in through the blinds.

The pounding was coming from downstairs. The front door?

I listened harder.