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“Oh.” She gave a breathless, “silly me” laugh, which was difficult when her stomach was in knots. With Maryland’s strict laws against handheld devices, there was no way she was going to tell him she was checking her traffic app. “My friend called and I picked it up without thinking.” When the officer’s stony expression didn’t change, she put a little more apology in her voice. “But I should have pulled over. I’m sorry, officer, I won’t let it happen again.”
“And the speeding?”
She tried for sheepish and prayed she could pull it off. “I guess I got carried away.”
The officer snorted and shook his head. “Unfortunately, ma’am, none of those are legitimate reasons for breaking the law. License and registration, please.”
Since arguing or throwing a fit would most likely just make things worse, she reached into the glove compartment and retrieved the documents he’d requested.
It seemed like hours before the officer returned with the ticket for her to sign. By some small miracle, he’d fudged her speed a bit and hadn’t dinged her for reckless endangerment. She scribbled off her signature and handed the ticket back to him without another word.
“You have a good day, ma’am. And slow down out there.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you.” Blowing out a shaky breath, she stuffed the slip of paper into her purse before pulling back onto the highway.
An old, familiar ache spread through her chest as she slipped back into traffic. She knew better than to use her phone while driving, even for a second. Especially at the speed the highway demanded. If it had been Liv driving, it was doubtful she’d sit comfortably the rest of her vacation.
But for Shannon, even if James somehow found out about her ticket, the worst she might receive was a stern glare and a long lecture. When she’d stayed with them after being released from the hospital, James had certainly laid down the law. And while he hadn’t hesitated to put her in timeout, or have her write lines until she felt like her hand was going to fall off, he hadn’t physically punished her.
Bryant, James’s equally sexy twin brother, was another story. He’d made it clear he would be all too happy to spank her until she was red and sore and sobbing out her apologies. And she would have been lying if she’d said she hadn’t used that particular fantasy as late night fodder when she’d been alone in bed with only her vibrator for company.
But a man like Bryant wouldn’t be happy with just smacking her ass a few times and calling it a night. No, he’d want the whole package, her full submission, and she’d made herself a promise years ago to never go down that road again.
So there would be no Daddy waiting for her at the beach house to redden her bottom and then hold her and comfort her when her punishment was over. Nobody to ease the guilt churning in her stomach. The ache in her chest spread, and she hated herself for wanting the one thing she couldn’t have.
“Get a grip, Shay,” she lectured herself as she turned the volume back up to just shy of ear-splitting. “Forget about the ticket and drive like a normal person.”
Driving like a normal person turned out to be easier than she’d expected since traffic had slowed to a crawl by the time she reached the bridge. Refusing to let the cluster of cars ruin her mood any further, she flipped through her road trip playlist until she found the perfect song and sang along at the top of her lungs.
Two hours later, exhausted and sore from being stuck in the car, she parked in the driveway of her friend’s gorgeous house. There was a reason Liv’s face had been plastered on the front ofMaryland Homes Today- she knew real estate better than anybody in the business. And she’d known the big blue house, with its beach access and irresistible curb appeal was going to make them money hand over fist as a rental property.
Of course, that same business savvy had made her the target of a madman, and nearly cost both Shannon and Liv their lives. But she wasn’t going to think about that. Not this week. Forcing all thoughts of psycho killers out of her mind, she grabbed her bags from the tiny trunk and headed into the house.
Since she’d be alone, the master suite was all hers. Dropping her bags on the bed, she wandered the huge, airy room, taking in all of the homey little details Liv had added. The painting of the Boardwalk over the bed, the oil diffuser in a gorgeous cerulean blue that added hints of soothing lavender to the air.
Stepping up to the French doors, she opened them and walked out onto the back deck. The stairs led directly down to the sand and it was a few short feet from there to the water.
She should unpack. She needed to run to the store and pick up supplies so she wasn’t forced to live off takeout all week.
But the ocean beckoned. The siren’s song of waves crashing against the sand called to her, begged her to come and play.
And why shouldn’t she? This week was about indulging herself without the weight and worries of the real world. Why shouldn’t she be a little irresponsible? With that thought in mind, she hurried back into the bedroom to strip and change into her favorite green bikini. Towel in hand, she all but ran down the steps to the beach.
Even though the sun was setting behind the house, it was still warm enough for a quick dip in the Atlantic. Leaving her towel and phone on the sand, she raced for the water.
When she was waist-deep, she took a deep breath and dove straight into a wave. The cool water hitting her face was a shock, but she quickly adjusted, cutting through the clear blue water like a mermaid.
It wasn’t long before her lungs began to burn, urgently reminding her of their need for oxygen. A memory tried to push to the forefront of her consciousness: hands around her throat, cutting off her air, that same burning in her chest as darkness crept along the edges of her vision. She deliberately willed the memory away, refusing to give in to the panic slithering up her spine.
He wasn’t allowed here. He wasn’t allowed to taint this perfect place or her perfect vacation.
What happened to me does not define me. The mantra her therapist had taught her played through her mind, chasing away some of the panic.
Sheer stubbornness kept her under longer than was wise, long enough for her lungs to turn to fire and her head to ache. When she broke the surface again, gasping for air, the world around her spun a little. With another deep breath, she dove back into the waves, staying under until her lungs felt like they would burst.
Just when she was about to surface again, she was lifted from the water. For a moment, the panic almost consumed her, but the arms cradling her were too thick, the chest she was pressed against too broad to behim.
Forcefully blowing the stale air from her lungs so she could pull in fresh oxygen, she swiped at the hair clinging to her face and looked up at her captor. Shock rolled through her as she found herself face to face with the last person she’d expected to see.
