Page 51 of Hideaway Reunion

She did as he asked. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing specific,” he said. “As a precaution, Connor and I worked out a specific route to make sure we’re not followed.”

“That’s a little creepy.”

“Agreed.” The curt tone put her on edge. “But I’m not giving Vanbeck or whoever he called on to pull the ECMs and shut off the Hideaway water any more headstarts.”

“Okay.” She waited while he used the voice commands to call Connor. Fidgeting in her seat, she barely resisted the urge to search the traffic around them for suspicious behavior. And how would she even recognize it, she wondered.

“So why would they follow us now, when they can be confident of where we’ll end up?”

“Fair question,” he said. “And they might not be following us at all.” He gave her a thin smile. “Precautions.”

“Does that include adding agency personnel to the dance class?”

“It might,” he allowed.

“Take the exit for the Citadel,” Connor directed. “I’m programming a route for you that will give me access to street cameras.”

A moment later, the navigation screen in the truck lit up, the computer’s voice reciting instructions. Brayden calmly followed each prompt while Roni marveled at his composure. Yet another side of him she’d not been privy to. Of course, she’d appreciated his help in many ways through the years and recent events with the construction crew had been tense, but this was different.

Precaution or not, she was on the verge of panic, her stomach in knots and questions racing through her head. Left to her own devices, she would never have thought about being followed. A shiver skated down her spine at how things might’ve gone so wrong out here without Brayden and the agency.

“How can I help?” she asked.

Brayden’s focus didn’t waver. “She needs a job, Connor.”

“On it,” the researcher replied. “Check your phone,” he said a few seconds later. “You should have a text message from the Wine Barn.”

“I love that place,” Roni said. “Did you know that?”

“Lucky guess.”

Agitated as she was, she knew there hadn’t been any guessing involved. “Text is here. Oh, my order is ready for curbside pick-up.” The message instructed her to verify her vehicle details and send a code once she was parked in a designated spot.

“Clever,” Brayden murmured.

She agreed with him as she followed the text instructions. “You think they’re tracking my phone too?”

“Can’t rule it out until we rule it out.” Connor sounded distracted. “If you get text messages from your sisters, answer them, okay?”

“Of course.”

“All right, Brayden, tell me what you’re seeing.”

He relayed the information in a flat tone that didn’t quite scare her, but wasn’t entirely comfortable. She reminded herself to stay out of it and let him work. But the closer they got to the wine store, the more she worried.

For nothing apparently. He pulled up, the wine Connor had ordered was delivered, and once the researcher watching over them gave the all-clear, they continued on their way. She listened as Connor continued to monitor the situation and appreciated his help more and more.

When they reached the Hideaway, Brayden pulled up, blocking Celeste’s car in the driveway. The street was lined with cars and golf carts and when she stepped out of the truck cab, she heard the happy, upbeat music flowing from the beach.

“Holy cow. Brayden, look!” She reached back for his hand. “They strung lights.”

“Let’s get down there and join the fun.” She grabbed the document tube and he carried the wine, following her inside.

They were alone in the kitchen, though her sisters had obviously been busy prepping refreshments. The sink was full and prep trays were stacked on the stove top. It hit her then how lucky she was to be in business with Celeste and Nat. Her fingers curled around the tube. She was lucky that business could continue without any more threats from the aggressive developer next door.

“Celeste made chips and roe. Empanadas too.”