Hi, it’s Kyle
A smiley emoticon followed. I chuckled, raising my phone in the air. “Thanks. Well, I should be getting back.”
A wave of unease swept over me. I really needed to get back to the safety of my motel room before someone spotted me.
“Oh, let me walk you back. It’s dark. You shouldn’t be alone.”
A rush of panic washed through me. “You don’t need to do that.”
“I insist.” He raised his chin with that sweet smile before it faltered a bit. “Not in a creepy you-don’t-have-a-say way. In like an I care sort of way, and I’m trying to be a gentleman.”
I stared at him for a moment, certain I should be politely declining, but it had been too long since I’d been ripped away from everything I knew and loved. I didn’t want to be alone. I wanted companionship. I wanted Kyle.
My lips curled into a smile, and I slid my arm through his, leading him down the beach. He grinned at me as we walked past Alex and Ava’s place. I pretended not to notice.
He cleared his throat, poking a finger at it. “So, this is my place. Well, Alex and Ava’s place. But where I’m staying.”
“I’m just a few blocks from here.” I cut up to the street through Alex and Ava’s yard, taking the most direct route I could to the motel to avoid as much small talk as I could.
We arrived at the Beach Rider–ironically named since it was blocks from the beach. I hovered on the edge of the property, not taking him to my door. “Well, here we are.”
He offered me a brief smile before he flicked his eyes to the rundown building, shoving his hands into his pockets. I wondered if he’d suddenly decide I wasn’t worth his time since it appeared that I wasn’t exactly the elites he was used to rubbing elbows with.
“Umm, this is sort of awkward, but…you know, as a doctor, I’ve picked up on a few things. And, uh, I just…don’t feel comfortable leaving you here, Nattie.”
My eyebrows pinched as he spoke.
“The thing is…I’m pretty sure I know what’s going on here. And I don’t think I can leave you here.”
My jaw tightened, my fingers involuntarily curling into fists. He’d recognized me. And now I’d led him straight to what was supposed to be my safe haven. If he didn’t kill me, my sister would.
CHAPTER 5
KYLE
Ioffered Nattie a sidelong glance as she led me from the beach toward wherever she was staying. I tried to keep my mind and emotions in check, but the truth was, I was spiraling out of control.
Why hadn’t I brought one of those earpieces Alex and Ava were so fond of using whenever they went out and wanted the other one to overhear everything?
Surely those two could’ve talked me through this—so I didn’t come across like some unhinged stalker.
It wasn’t just that I wanted to help her. I genuinely did. But I also wanted to see more of her. And somehow, I’d already managed to give off strong“Lifetime movie villain”energy.
To my great surprise, she didn’t seem to mind. I couldn’t believe my luck.
A woman had actually not blown me off told me politely that I was completely out of line. And I hadn’t gotten slapped.
But I still had so many more chances to screw this up. Sweat beaded on my brow as I imagined an awkward attempt to kiss her cheek when we arrived at her place. Or maybe instead, I’d just say something really stupid.
Either way, I was certain I could completely ruin my chances with her faster than my half-sister Sierra could stomp one of those ridiculously high heels and call me a nut job.
As we snaked our way through the streets, I tried to focus on our surroundings. It didn’t seem like we were headed to a very nice part of town. Seedy was the word I’d used to describe it, actually.
My concern for Nattie grew, lodging itself in the pit of my stomach as I became more and more convinced that the anomalies that we’d discovered were because she was running from something.
I’d seen it countless times before as a doctor. Women coming into the ER battered and bruised, but unable to escape from their situation. The few that did lived in constant fear that their ex would find them.
I studied her out of the corner of my eye. How could anyone hurt her? If they came after her on my watch, I would pound their face in.
