Allie slid her keycard in the door and watched for the green light.
She could feel Knox's nerves from two feet away and tried not to laugh. She wasn't really mad. She just needed to make some things clear.
Knox followed her into her room and shut the door. When she faced him he really did look nervous, and she couldn't help thinking it was kinda cute. But she wasn't going to torture him. She let herself smile. "Knox, don't look so miserable. I'm not mad."
His muscles relaxed a fraction. "Youlookedmad."
"Iwasmad." She sighed. "Because you yelled at poor, defenseless Rowan. But . . ." Okay, he was grinning now. Good. But she hoped he was still listening.
"But?"
"But I realized why you yelled at him." And there was the emotion she'd hoped wouldn't clog her throat.
He stepped within a foot of her and brushed her cheek with his thumb. "I didn't want him staring at your leg like that. I thought it would bother you."
His simple touch triggered the warmth she felt blooming on her face and down her neck. Sometimes it was impossible to concentrate around this handsome man. But she had to try. "I know. And I appreciate that. It's okay, Knox."
He lowered his hand and planted both hands on his hips. Clearly perplexed. "A few minutes ago you were freaked out about me seeing your leg. And then Boy Wonder ogles it and you're okay?"
She couldn't fault his confusion. It didn't quite make sense to her yet either. But she prayed Knox would begin to understand. "You underestimate what happened when you kissed my scar." She shook her head and glanced around—as if the room could provide an articulate explanation. "All this time, the past three months, I didn't let myself believe you would react this way. I convinced myself you wouldn't trust me, that the scar woulddisgust you, that your feelings for me evaporated . . . I just . . . Honestly, I'm still grappling with it. The guilt isn't gone, and I don't know what to do with it." Tears stung her eyes. "But when you . . . the look on your face when you kissed my scar . . . I'm starting to see things differently."
She wasn't sure her rambling made sense. The peace Knox's gesture elicited had stunned her. Which sounded like an oxymoron. Canpeacestun a person? She'd always associated peace with calm. But this peace stirred her soul. And there was that whisper again—a whisper she desperately wanted to understand. All she knew, for now, was that God was sayingI've got you.
For one breath, raw emotion glistened in Knox's eyes before he tugged her to him and held her against his chest. He placed his chin on top of her head.
She breathed in the musky essence that was uniquely Knox—mixed with scents of sand and ocean from their roll on the beach. She gripped the back of his shirt and buried her head into his strong chest. His embrace made her feel safe—safer than she'd felt in a long, long time.
She still didn't know if she could uproot the guilt planted deep in her soul. But she knew she could trust Knox. And God. And for tonight, that was enough.
Chapter 10
Knox watched Rowan install the last of four cameras in one of the small private dining rooms of The Mandeville. "Isn't this overkill?"
Rowan's eyebrows hiked. "The cameras?"
"Yeah. Isn't four a bit much?" They absolutely needed to know what Kendall had to say to Drakos at their breakfast meeting this morning , but wouldn't one listening device on the table suffice?
Rowan didn't look offended. "Jason said he talked to someone at the FBI. Apparently, they know of Kendall, but they don't have much on him. So, Jason thought if we got video of him revealing some personal information, that could be helpful to the FBI at some point." He shrugged. "Besides, it's something to do. We don't have anything else to work on this morning."
Nothing else to do? Knox would rather be eating brunch with Allie this morning than babysitting Rowan while he installed cameras. The dining room wasn't open for breakfast, but Knox was supposed to ensure no one wandered in and observed Rowan decorating the place with his surveillance equipment.
He pondered what Rowan said. Yeah, Jason had a point. Maybe Kendall would slip up and blurt out something helpful. He wished Rowan would hurry up, but he could see the wisdom in this chore. Last night's bombing was proof that they'd been two steps behind Byron since they got to Isadora Island. Anything they could do to gain an edge was a good idea.
Rowan fiddled with the floral centerpiece on the table Drakos selected for the breakfast meeting.
"What's with the flowers?" Knox asked.
"Microphone," Rowan answered. He pointed to the arrangement of flowers, but the device was so well hidden Knox couldn't spot it.
"Nice job," Knox said.
Rowan's head snapped up with so much surprise at the compliment that Knox felt guilty.A compliment from me shouldn't shock him. Am I really a jerk to him that much?
Knox decided not to answer his own question. But he did decide he owed Rowan an apology. For last night. "Hey, by the way, about last night . . ."
Rowan looked like he wasn't sure he wanted to hear what Knox was going to say.
Knox cleared his throat. "Listen, Rowan, the reason I yelled is because I'm protective of Allie. She's been self-conscious about that bullet wound you were staring at, so I went off."
