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Watching him go wasn’t a trial. The man had a beautiful build and a great butt. When they were done here, maybe he’d let her convince him to take another weekend with her at the beach before moving on to his next client. Brookwell had to be too small for a man of Travis’s skills.
Once again, she lamented how unfortunate it was to fall in love with a guy who wasn’t suited to small-town life. This melancholy mood would become a habit if she wasn’t careful. Sure, Travis blended with the pace and people in town. He was friendly, interested and interesting, and always watchful. As he should be. Blending in was a significant part of his career.
If he stayed in Brookwell he’d be bored within a week. No way her quiet island could compare to a life of jet setting as Juliet Mason’s bodyguard.
Polar opposite ends of that career spectrum.
As much as she’d enjoyed brushing elbows with the wealthy celebrity and her famous friends, part of Lila had always longed for home. Her heart needed the island and the bakery she had been raised in. The place where her grandmother had taught her the most important things in life. First and foremost, that love was the priceless secret ingredient in all the best recipes.
Lila wanted to pick up the Bread Basket legacy and run with it. In part to honor Gram, to thank her for everything she’d done to give Lila a firm and stable foundation. It was on the island that Lila learned about the commitment, where she met people who kept their word, even in the face of changing circumstances.
Lila wanted to feed the island regulars and treat the tourists who visited Brookwell in ever-increasing numbers. Strange as it was, she was eager for the Chamber of Commerce meetings, the crunch time before big community events, and all the other responsibilities that came with owning a business on Central.
In a perfect world, she’d get to do all that and have Travis too.
Dusk was falling as the ferry motored across the water toward Charleston. Lost in the possibilities, she eyed the horizon, hoping to see the first evening star to make a wish. A wish that the danger would pass and everything would be fine once the thieves were caught. Cars on the new bridge were a distant hum, muted by the water and wind. The water churned and foamed behind the ferry, then melted away. It was a soothing lullaby and a counter to the stress that plagued her.
“Watching for dolphins?”
Lila turned, facing the woman who had chatted her up a little over a week ago on the crossing to the island. At the time, that conversation had been a friendly, chance encounter. Tonight theugly intent was obvious. The woman wasn’t even pretending to be nice. “No.” Lila stared at her. “I’m keeping watch for something far more predatory.” The woman’s hair was scraped back into a severe ponytail and Lila noticed a scar on her neck. The faint white line trailed up from her collarbone to her ear. There were bruises as well, as if someone had tried to choke her recently. Evidence of survival—and a hard way of life.
Lila ruthlessly quashed the swell of sympathy. If she gave an inch, the woman would take everything. “What’s your name?”
“Irrelevant.” The other woman’s lips twitched. “You’re not giving dolphins enough credit. They’re quite predatory when they want to be.”
“I don’t believe you’re here to chat about nature.”
She shook her head and the ponytail swung side to side. “I hopeyouare here to set things right.”
Lila swallowed the scream of frustration building in the back of her throat. “Why won’t you believe me?” This wasnotgoing according to Travis’s plan. The exchange was supposed to happen at the swings. Lila wasn’t sure how to improvise, but she needed to stall. Her fallback was honesty, if only to provoke an argument that would buy some time. “I don’t have the thingsyoustole. I don’t—”
A hard fist connected with her ribs and left Lila gasping. This thief had a violent streak and a mean punch. Lila’s eyes watered as she tried to sip air in through her nose.
“Lower your voice.” The thief’s hard gaze glittered with warning, then scanned the ferry. No one was close enough to overhear them. “Your accusations are meaningless. Now.” She tugged her jacket and smoothed a hand down the zipper. “Give me the bag.”
“No.” Lila gripped the railing firmly in one hand, the other clutched the bag’s strap. “I was told to hand over this bag at the swings in Waterfront Park.”
The woman leaned in. “Hand it over and I won’t cut up your boyfriend’s handsome face.” Her voice, low and fierce, was almost as frightening as the knife she pulled from her pocket. Light flashed on the blade, there and gone, before she tucked it away once more. “The bag.”
“You’re cutting out your partner,” Lila accused as the logical conclusion dawned on her.
“I amhere, you nosy bitch, to retrieve my property.”
“Not yours.” Lila shook her head. “I did a search on the serial numbers on the watches. They’re registered to addresses around the world. Places you’ve probably never even heard of.”
“Don’t pretend to know me.” The woman grabbed for the bag, but Lila twisted away and shrugged her off, praying she didn’t pull that knife again. Where was Travis? He wouldn’t leave her alone if she was in serious trouble. Remembering that, she decided she could be brave, keep stalling. This woman wasn’t a killer, she was a thief desperate for her payday.
Lila ignored the niggling voice that insisted she was in trouble and Travis wasn’t here because he was in trouble too.
“I’m not handing this over.”
“How messed up are you?” The woman closed in. “Toeing the line gets you nowhere.” She tossed her head on an incredulous bark of laughter. “You’d be shocked by what I know. To know where I’ve been. And to know where I could send you.” She aimed a pointed look down at the dark river below.
Fear slid down Lila’s spine. She couldn’t suppress the shiver of dread that followed.
“Do I finally have your attention?” the woman taunted. “Hand over the bag.”
“Not happening.” Lila wasn’t sure how long she could hold up to the woman’s blatant menace, but she had to try. Had to do her damndest not to be the weak link out here tonight. She wantedto put an end to all of this. For her grandmother. For Travis. For herself and the future she dreamed of on the island.
