“Yes. And I want to spare this paradise any more bullet holes. So, let’s go, before those idiots scrounge up enough courage to circle back.”
Leland was wearing his familiar, grumpy-old-man scowl. But Tayla sensed the true respect and camaraderie between him and Jason.
She couldn’t believe she’d thought Leland spent decades monitoring spreadsheets. The office job he’d described never did fit his personality, but she didn’t think too much of it. Lots of active people have boring office jobs. She never suspected he was some kind of action hero. But today, he was clearly in his element.
They hurried back to the SUV. This time, Tayla buckled her seatbelt before Jason started the engine. “What now? Do we go back to the hotel?”
“No,” Jason and Leland replied in unison. Apparently, that was a bad idea.
“Okay, so what do we do?”
“I have a new plan,” said Jason. He started the engine and drove in reverse until he reached the paved road. “I know of a cottage on the north side of the island. It wasn’t rented as of this morning, so it’s probably empty. You and Leland are going to hole up there while I meet up with Knox and Rowan. They should be here by now. I need to ditch this car. I’ll get them to bring me back to the cottage and we can go over our next steps. We’ll be able to go back to the hotel later, after Rowan sets up surveillance for us.”
“No,” Leland said. “I’ll meet up with Knox and Rowan. You stay with Tayla.”
“What? No offense, Leland, but this is—”
“Your mission, I know. But we don’t know that those goons, or others, won’t track us down, and Tayla’s safety is paramount. I pulled something in my leg, climbing up that tower thing. I’m going to be limping for a while. Plus, you’re a better shot than I am.” He wagged a finger at Jason. “And if you ever repeat that, I’ll deny it. But right now, you can protect her better than I can, if you have unwelcome company.”
His crusty tone didn’t keep his concern from warming her heart. “Are you sure?” she asked. “How bad is your leg? Are you sure it’s just a pulled muscle?”
He waved off her questions. “I’ll be fine. I can still drive better than this cowboy,” he said, pointing an accusatory finger at Jason. “I’ll get the boys. And a new car.”
She watched Jason eye Leland in the rearview mirror for a beat. “Okay. We’ll do it your way. And bring back some food too. I’m starving.”
“You just keep Tayla safe. Stop worrying about your stomach.”
Tayla glimpsed the grin on Jason’s face. Obviously, he could hear the sincerity behind the grouchy-old-man voice too.
Fifteen minutes later, they arrived at the cottage.
Jason hadn’t mentioned the waterfall. When he said they were driving to a cottage hidden in the jungle, she pictured a shack overgrown with vines. Without a waterfall thirty yards from the back porch.
Leland didn’t acknowledge the gorgeous island hideaway. He gave Tayla a quick hug, promised to be back soon, and took off in their bullet-ridden SUV.
She followed Jason into the cottage.
“Wait here,” he said. “It’s probably safer in here than outside, but let me clear it first.”
She nodded like she totally understood what he was saying, and that it made perfect sense.‘Clear it?’like they do in the movies when they check all the rooms and closets to make sure no bad guys are hiding inside? Fantastic. She was living in her own cop-spy-action-whatever drama. With no spy skills. No military skills. No ninja skills. She’d never desired ninja skills until today.
Jason returned with, “All clear.” Well, that’s a relief. Especially since she had no idea what she would’ve done if it wasn’t “all clear.”
She glanced around the living area and let the luxurious tropical retreat soothe her nerves.
If they weren’t hiding from armed criminals, this adorable bungalow would feel like heaven. The hammock on the back porch called to her, but Jason insisted they stay inside and away from the windows. She wandered into the bedroom and ran her fingers along the side of the fluffy, white comforter on the kingsize bed. If she had to spend the night here, she wouldn’t complain.
Jason was less impressed. “The bathroom has all kinds of fancy soaps and lotions, but there’s no food in the kitchen.”
She felt herself smile. That felt nice. She hadn’t smiled much today.
“What’s so funny?” he asked, while closing the curtains in the living area.
“I saw some coffee in the pantry. Will that suffice for now? You take it black, right? Or was that just because you didn’t want our waitress this morning to recite the seventeen creamer options for you?”
She enjoyed the surprise on his face. Maybe a little too much.
“Coffee sounds great. But, you don’t have to—”
