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Jewel glanced through the glass door to where Finn was leaning against his car. His head was ducked toward his phone. The sunlight bathed his brown hair and cast a golden sheen over his pale skin.
She’d found people who genuinely cared for her, who loved her. She wasn’t alone.
As the courage in her heart swelled, she blurted. “Alright. Let’s fight.”
21
“Are you sure about this?” Finn asked.
Jewel’s dimples flashed from her cheeks. “Yes. Joana assured me that her place is safe. Her parents live in a gated community. They’ve got a fence, a pit-bull and a top-notch home security system.”
“You and I both know that Kross can tear past all those defenses.” He pulled his fingers into fists, imagining the worst.
Jewel should know this already. Flinging her concerns to the wind and treating Kross like some kind of neighborhood nuisance was not the answer. Her life was at stake.
“Don’t worry. I got this from Jo.” Jewel sprang a small can from her purse. “It’s mace. I’ll carry it on me at all times.”
Finn blinked. “That’s… unexpected.”
“Joana’s a singer at Hidden Reef and the audience can get a little rowdy.” She scrunched her nose. “Long story short, she carries a can with her to fend off someone who needs a little help understanding the words ‘back off’.”
“Still...”
“Carrie’s lending me her phone. It has a tracking device so they’ll be able to reach me at any time. I’ll also have hourly check-ins and if I don’t respond they’ll contact the police.”
“It doesn’t feel right. You should stay with me.”
“Finn,” Jewel touched his arm and let her fingers linger, “I’ll be fine.”
He looked down at her dark hands and set his palm over hers. She sucked in a breath but didn’t pull away. She trusted him that much. He could feel it.
Truth was, his feelings for her were growing too. Finn refused to put a label on what that stirring meant. He just knew that seeing this woman in pain or in harm’s way would ruin him.
Her smile grew the longer he remained silent. “Are you that upset to see me leaving the guesthouse? I was only there for one night.”
Finn’s heart clenched again.
That smile of hers… he’d die protecting it.
“Hate to break up this cute moment,” Joana yelled from the car parked in front of his, “but Jewel, we gotta go!”
“Are you still staying in Belize?” Jewel asked.
“Yeah.”
“Then I’ll see you later.” She backed up a step, her alluring eyes staring directly into his.
Finn watched her until she jumped into Joana’s car and sped out of the parking lot. He wanted to follow them but, for now, he’d have to trust that Joana’s precautions were enough.
Sneaking into their gated community and hunkering outside Jewel’s new shelter would only blow his cover.
Finn drove back to the guesthouse.
There was no one behind the concierge desk.
He wearily trotted up the stairs and headed down the hallway to his room. His head was pounding like crazy and that unsettled feeling in his chest was back. Leaving Jewel in someone else’s hands drove him to madness.
She needed him. And he needed her to achieve his own goals.
