Cara clenched her eyes closed, tightening the grip of the phone in her hand. “It’s not like that. Just come and hurry.” Cara glanced over her shoulder. “There are security men in the room. I’m not sure how much more I can handle before I really lose my shit.”
“Okay, okay, give me ten minutes.”
“Thank you,” Cara whispered and hung up the phone.
Cara lumbered out the front door and plopped down in a patio chair. The ocean breeze did little to cool her heated skin. Her mind raced as she remembered everything they’d done in the room.
“I want footage from every camera within a mile of this room, and I want it ready for my review.” Cooper's voice rose as he spoke. “I don’t care if I have to search every damn inch of your hotel. Youcan bet your ass I’m going to find out who’s responsible.”
“Agent Cruz, we’re doing the best we can.”
“It’s not good enough. Call the police and get their forensic team out here. I want the entire room dusted for prints.” His angry voice grew louder before he stomped outside and squeezed his neck.
She’d expected to wake up and deal with awkward, but nothing could have prepared her for this. Calming words eluded her. She was of no help to him. They’d get through this like everything else.
“Cara, we’re going to find this guy.” He meant what he said. She could hear the conviction in his voice.
“I know.” She rose, shifting the blanket. “I’m going to help, just like I found the missing speaker.”
“No.” Coop’s jaw ticked. “Touching people wears you out, and there are God knows how many people here, including those swingers. Do you really want to see what they’ve been up to?”
“Coop,” she said as she approached him. “We might not have a choice if the security cameras are still down.” She gestured to the room. “We might get lucky and get prints, but if the police haven’t found this person yet, chances are he’s not leaving any evidence behind.”
Coop rested his palms on where her shoulders would be if she wasn’t swaddled in the blanket. “It's just clothing, Cara. Tomorrow you go back with Aunt Betty, and I’ll stay and catch this guy.”
“It’s more than that, Coop.” She held his gaze. “That person violated me. Violated us. I can’t just walk away when I can help you catch him.”
“She’s right, and you know it, Cruz,” Aunt Betty announced as she approached. She tossed Coop one of the bags she was carrying and handed Cara the other. “Cara, go get dressed while I talk to Cruz.”
Coop dugthrough the bag and pulled a bathing suit from the bag. He ripped the tag off. “I’ll pay you back for this.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
Coop turned around, slid the shorts beneath his towel, and buttoned it before dropping the towel on the table. He sorted through the shirts and picked one of the flowered shirts that looked like it had been designed for an eighty-year-old. Beggars couldn’t be choosers, and right now, he had squat. Neither of them did.
“It’s true that touching people zaps her energy. Her ability can be a pain in theass, not to mention making her lonely, but you already knew that.”
Betty raised a brow in challenge.
Coop crossed his arms over his chest. “You know she can’t read me.”
“I know.” Aunt Betty smiled. “You two needed each other more than you even realized.”
“So you’ve said.” He dropped his arms to his side.
“Cara’s a Thatcher. We never take the easy route. It’s encoded in our DNA. It was better letting her figure it out on her own. I just gave her a little shove to send her into your chaos.”
Coop ran his hand over his head. “She kicked me out of her office.”
Betty patted his shoulder. “You aren’t the first, and I’m sure you won’t be the last. But just like she could help you then, she can help you now. She’s not afraid of her gift. She just chooses to avoid using it, but when she uses it wisely, she can accomplish more.”
“And how do you suppose I do that?” Cara asked, walking out of the cabana in Daisy Duke short shorts and a tank top that hugged every one of her curves. Thank God for Aunt Betty.
Phillip followed behind Cara, interrupting their conversation. “I’ve called it in and the forensic team will be here in just a bit. It might be a good idea if youtwo steer clear of the crime scene. Call your banks or whatever you have to do, cancel any credit cards and deal with the missing items. Of course, the resort will work with you to replace what you need for the remainder of your stay.”
“Thanks for your help.” Cooper shook Phillip’s hand. Phillip smiled at Cara and gave a little nod of his head.
Phillip cleared his throat and held Cara’s gaze. “Cara, can I speak to you privately.”
