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“Yes,” I seethed, my hands in fists at my sides.
“Come,” my father said, escorting Lynx inside while I stood frozen where I was.
“Close your mouth, Emme,” my mother scolded before following.
“Your home is lovely,” I heard Lynx say when I came in and slammed the door behind me.
“Emme will give you a tour while I make us something to eat,” said my mom, ignoring my bad manners and motioning us out of her way. I knew better than to remind her that we’d finished lunch less than thirty minutes ago.
“Can I get anyone a drink?” my dad asked, motioning for us to follow him out onto the porch.
“I could use one,” I said, raising my hand and glaring at Lynx.
“I’m making street tacos,” my mother hollered at us.
“Street tacos?” I mouthed to my father, who shrugged.
“Margaritas, then?” my dad asked.
“Add a little extra tequila to mine, please.”
My father rolled his eyes. “Show your friend around, Emme. I’ll deliver your cocktails in a few minutes.”
Without thinking, I took Lynx by the hand and led him down the steps and out onto the beach.
I dropped his hand, spun around, and folded my arms. “Why are you here?”
“You left without permission.”
“Permission?”I seethed.
Lynx stepped closer and got right in my face. “You are in danger, Emerson, and it is my responsibility to keep you safe. You left without a word after I’d expressly said that if you needed anything, I was down the hall.”
I took a step back and put my hands on my hips. “First, you insinuate yourself into my life after a simple cut on my head. Then, you insist you’re personally responsible for my safety when you aren’t even sure I’m in danger.”
“I hardly insinuated myself into your life. You were concussed, and I stayed to make sure your condition didn’t worsen. Like then, I’m here now in order to ensure your safety. I have no intention of letting anything happen to you, Emerson, whether you like it or not.”
“Why?” He was close enough that if I moved even a fraction of an inch, our lips would touch.
“Because.”
I couldn’t hide my smile. “Because why?”
“Because I said so.”
Our stare-off continued until I turned away and sat in one of the Adirondack chairs that overlooked the bay. He sat in another.
“Why are you really here, Lynx?”
He took a long time to answer. “I was worried,” he eventually said, almost too quietly for me to hear.
“Am I really in danger?”
He turned toward me, his green eyes piercing mine. “Whether I’m certain you are or not, I cannot take the risk.”
“What’s going to happen?”
“The men you met this morning will locate Saint and Dr. Benjamin by any means necessary.”
