His jaw flexed. "Obviously, you think he and I are on the same side."
This wasn't all of it."Andthat he sent you."
"Yeah, well he didn't."
I made a sound of frustration. "Then how do you explain the business card?" I held up my hand. "And before you claim that you've had it forever, Isawthe date on the back."
He turned and set the radio on a nearby side table before asking, "And what date is that?"
"The date he must've given it to you." When his only reply was a blank look, I demanded, "Are you seriously going to claim it's a coincidence that it was practically the same day I first saw you here on the island?"
This time, he didn't hesitate. "No."
He could deny it all he wanted, but I knew what I knew. "Isawthe date. And with my own eyes. Ididmention that, right?"
"I'm not denying the date," he said. "I'm telling you it's no coincidence." His gaze hardened. "And you wanna knowwhyI saw him?"
"Why?"
"Because I tracked him down, that's why."
What?I searched his eyes. "But whywouldyou?"
"Because I heard he was after you." Something dark flashed across his face. "And I didn't like it."
His words hit hard, and I nearly staggered under the weight of them.Did I believe what he was saying?
In a flash, I considered everything I knew – and everything he'd said and done during the time I'd known him.Mostly, he'd been nothing short of spectacular.
Even tonight, the way it looked, he'd been wandering outside for hours, braving the storm itself to find me.Not to harm me. But to rescue me.
Something hard squeezed at my chest.Oh, my God.
I'd been such a fool.But I wasn't the only one. Desperately, I asked, "Why didn't you tell me? About meeting him, I mean?"
We were standing so close, I swear, I could feel the heat of his body cutting through the cold air. His voice was quiet when he said, "The truth? I didn't want to scare you."
I almost laughed. "Don't you think that smashing through the door is pretty scary on its own?"
Behind him, the door creaked on its busted hinges, but his gaze didn't waver. "I wasn't thinking of the door."
"So whatwereyou thinking of?"
His voice softened. "Only you."
My lips curved before I could stop them. "You know that's crazy, right?"
His lips twitched. "But you're still smiling."
Suddenly, I felt a wild urge to laugh. "Yeah, becauseI'mcrazy, too."
My breath caught as his gaze dipped to my mouth. And just like that, I became acutely aware of how close he was – and how desperately I wanted him to be even closer.
I didn't think about it. I just moved. And so did he. We collided in a kiss that left me breathless. My hands fisted into the dripping fabric of his jacket as his hands slid through my damp hair.
The kiss seemed to go on forever, and yet, not nearly long enough when it was broken by the shattered door banging against the wall, rattling the frame and making me pull back to look.
I groaned, but not for the reason I wanted to. "Maisie's door."
