Hudson frowns. “You know something about it?”
“N-no.” She bites her bottom lip. “Not really. For the past few weeks someone keeps leaving an empty box wrapped in a red ribbon at my front door in Sydney every Friday.”
“Today’s Friday,” I say. There’s a cold fist tightening in my gut. And a dark anger.
“Yes. But they left one at my place already today.” She looks up at me. “That was the phone call I took while we were talking at the deli counter. My neighbor is taking care of my place while I’m up here, and he rang to tell me.”
Hudson flicks me a look that says exactly what my gut is screaming.Stalker?“Are you here alone, Ms.…” he asks.
“Miller,” Sami supplies, her gaze on the cabana. “And yes.” She returns her attention to us. “I’m a writer. Came up here to hit a deadline.”
Hudson turns to me. “Thoughts?”
“I’m not a fan of her being alone up here,” I reply. “But with Lily Andrew’s exhibition opening, the motel is booked out.”
Sami touches my arm, her eyes on mine. “Couldyoustay, Tony? With me.”
Chapter Six
Sami
What? What did I just suggest?
“Sorry.” I force out a laugh. “That was weird. Ignore that. My writer’s imagination is getting the better of me. Who knows what that box was, right?” And seriously, no one but Allen knows I’ve gone away. “Plus, I have no food. And it’s your birthday. The last thing you want to do on your birthday is hang out with a stranger.”
“Plenty of food at my place.” He shrugs. “And didn’t we decide back at the pub you were my date for the night? We were going to hunt for bacon together. The perfect birthday, remember?”
“Alright, Gibbo,” the captain says. “The rest of the crew can finish up here. Your priority is Ms. Miller.”
Tony turns to me, and my sex throbs. Oh, Isowant to be his priority.
Hudson clears his throat. “I’ll leave you two to work out the arrangements.”
He leaves. I think. I can’t stop looking at the man I’ve just thrust myself upon. “I’m sorry, Tony. I hope I’m not being an inconvenience.”
“Gibbo.” He smiles. “And you’re not. Not at all.”
“All part of Hartley Ridge hospitality,Gibbo?” Making a joke is my go-to when I’m nervous. “Normal, run-of-the-mill practice for you? Rescuing damsels in distress?”
“Nope,” he says. “You’re my first.”
A tight heat throbs between my thighs, and all thoughts of the box burnt from my mind as sheer lust for him sweeps through me. I swallow at the idea of going to his place. I’ve never wanted to go back to a man’s place before.
You’ve never wanted to strip a man naked and climb him like a tree before, either. And yet here you are.
His stare holds mine for a long heartbeat, and then he looks over at my cabin. “Are you okay with me checking inside before you get what you need for tonight?”
I want to say there’s no need, but then a soft breeze fills my nose with the acrid tang of burnt wood. The chances the firewassomething nefarious intended for me is absurd, but that doesn’t stop unease fluttering in my stomach.
I nod and hand him the keys. “Thank you.”
With his own nod, he heads off, the confidence and surety in the way he moves making my nipples harden. A heartbeat later, I realize I’m staring at him when I should be following, and I hurry after him.
He steps back out onto the front porch as I reach the door, an easy smile on his face. “All good.”
His calm assurance is like melted butter over my frazzled emotions. “Okay.”
“Hey, Gibbo,” someone shouts behind me. “We’re heading off. Need a lift?”
