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“Claire. You’re hurting me.” Dani could barely get the words out. In fact, she felt like she was slurring her words. What was wrong with her?
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Claire grinned. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
She let go and Dani almost fell over. Her limbs seemed so heavy. Why was she so tired? Her fingers grew numb and she dropped the water bottle Claire had given her.
The water.
Claire had put something in it. Stupid! How could she have taken that from her? Why had she trusted Claire? She’d had a bad feeling about her. Why hadn’t she trusted her gut?
Claire squinted at her. “Are you okay? You look like you need to rest.”
“Let go of me,” Dani said, her words jumbled together. She shoved Claire, and tried to climb out from behind the wall, but stumbled to the ground. A rock bit into the palm of her hand. She crawled, determined to get where someone could see her, but the spinning grew too violent. She put her head down, trying to get it to stop.
“Oh, you poor thing.” Claire patted her head. “You look drunk.”
Dani tried to protest, but nothing came out of her mouth. This was it. She was going to die here, at the hands of a stalker. She let out a breath, unable to scream. She squeezed her eyes shut, a tear rolling down her cheek. She had to get to Austin, to warn him.
“You just stay here, honey. I’ll go get some help.” Claire stood up.
Dani tried one last time to move, but her muscles didn’t work. She heard Claire’s footsteps get softer until she no longer heard anything except the light sound of the ocean waves in the distance. Her head spun and blackness overtook her.
Chapter 27
Aknock sounded on the door and Austin crossed the room to see who was there. A security guard held Claire’s arm. She looked quite disgruntled about it. “This woman says she knows you.”
He sighed and rubbed the space between his eyebrows. “Yes. I know her.”
The guard let go of her arm and Claire glared at him before smoothing down her dress. “Austin, I need to talk with you for a minute. Can I come in?”
He glanced out at the grounds, sure that Dani would be coming any second. She was late getting off work. But he didn’t see her, so he ushered Claire in and shut the door. He rounded on her, annoyed that she sought him out at the Billionaire Club. He was so tired of her. He just wanted her to go away. “What is it?”
Claire snuggled up to him, grabbing his arm. “I was wondering if you want to go out to dinner. My treat.” She batted her eyes at him.
Oh, brother. Hadn’t he stopped her advances? What must he do to get rid of her? He wiggled out of her grasp. “I told you, I’m with Dani now.”
Claire pouted, and it made him want to slap the woman, even though he’d never do that in reality. “Please? Just once? I don’t think you’ve given us a fair chance.”
A fair chance? What was she even talking about? He wasn’t getting through to her. He leaned against the counter that held the microwave and crossed his ankles. “Why are you here? Really?”
Claire fluffed her hair. “To see you.”
That might have been the first honest thing Claire had said. He stared at her, realization dawning. “Did you come to Grand Cayman to see me?”
A demure look crossed her features and she took a step toward him. “Maybe.” She smiled. “I’ve missed you.”
“Wait.” He held up a hand. “You traveled here to see me, when you haven’t talked to me since high school?” He couldn’t believe the crazy that was coming out now. “Does that sound normal to you?”
“Austin,” she said, putting her hand on his arm. “We’re meant to be together.”
Okay, now he knew she was completely insane. She’d followed him all the way to Grand Cayman. She’d even found out his room number. Wait. How had she known that? A strange feeling spread across his chest. “Did you send those notes?”
“Honey,” Claire said, taking another step closer. “Let’s go try that fish place. You like seafood.”
He stared at her, a sick feeling spreading across his gut. Claire was crazy. She’d sent him the threatening notes, and now here she was, acting majorly weird. Claire needed help. Like, loony-bin, send the woman away in a paddy wagon kind of help.
He looked at the clock. Five thirty. Why wasn’t Dani there yet? His throat closed. Had Claire done something to Dani? Heat raced to his head and he grabbed Claire’s arm. “Where’s Dani?”
“Oh, don’t be like that. Forget about her. You don’t want her. She’s a drunk.”
