“What?” Shelby swung her feet from the couch to look at the message. “We have to get to the helipad.”
“You need to stay here and rest.” Wade knew how much Alan Bradley meant to Shelby. Would the man be stupid enough to fly to the island in this weather? What if they got there in time to see the helicopter crash?
“There must be something really wrong for him to risk coming here in a storm.” Shelby rose a little too quickly and swayed. Wade steadied her.
“Are you sure?” Martinez asked, pulling food from Shelby’s cupboard. “I didn’t get a message.” She sounded miffed.
“I guess it was a private message.” Wade handed the phone over to the bodyguard. “Read it for yourself.”
“No communications are working?” Shelby asked, heading for the office door, her walk reminding him of an old woman.
“Not that I can tie into.” Martinez opened the door.
The wind ripped it from her hand, throwing it back against the wall and shattering the glass. Shelby staggered back into Wade, who pulled her farther back into the room.
“Let’s go.” She headed for the door again.
***
Shelby peered ahead through the jeep’s leaf and mud-spattered windshield, glad that Wade and Martinez had managed to latch down the top. She had a surreal sense of having been transported into one of theJurassic Parkmovies. Already, some of the young trees had been blown over, their root balls exposed to the air. The storm had even brought an unusual lightning show. In the flashes of light, she watched the waves smashing against the beach. So much power. She hoped the dolphins had made it far enough out to sea for safety.
None of them said anything as they approached the island’s control tower. Set in the center of the island, it was what would one day be a gated community, holding the staff cafeteria, management offices, barracks-type living quarters, and even a future health clinic.
Wade pulled into a parking spot next to the main office building, which stood adjacent to the helipad. No sign of the helicopter. Shelby told herself it had to be a good sign, that Alan had stayed somewhere safe. When the image of a crashed, burning helicopter tried to force its way into her mind, she thrust it aside.
The complex’s lights still shone. Not everyone had been frolicking at the beach because workers had boarded up some of the windows.
“Wait in the jeep,” Martinez said, her hand on the door, “until I make sure we can get inside. They may have locked up before taking shelter.”
Wade opened a packet of crackers and held one out to Shelby. When she’d taken a bite, he said, “You seem to be feeling more yourself.” She nodded, and he took a deep breath before continuing. “I’m not complaining, but why did you change your mind about me?”
Shelby held up a finger and chewed faster while she tried to make her jumbled thoughts into something a little coherent. He handed her a juice bottle, and she took a sip before undoing her seatbelt. She shifted in the seat to look at him.
“I know we still have a lot to work through.” She reached up and cupped his cheek, running her thumb over the five o’clock shadow on his chin. “I didn’t understand at first that you were fighting for us. I can’t do anything less.”
“Are you saying it’s a competition?” The corner of his mouth quirked up.
“No, stupid.” She stretched her face up toward his. He leaned down and kissed her, long and slow. “Yes,” she said, when he finally pulled back. “That.”
“Once again”—he laced their fingers—”I’m not complaining, but, considering what we’ve gone through the last few years, we need more than chemistry.”
“You’re afraid I’ll run again.”
“Well, yeah, to be honest.” Wade held her gaze and that sweetsomethingpassed between them. “I want this, Shel—us. More than anything.”
“Even if ‘us’ alienates you from your family?” She’d met them. They’d interacted like her dream family. No emotionally disturbed mother who used her daughter’s love as a way to control her. Or a father who didn’t want to see her, interact with her,knowher. Her father used her too, just in a different way.
“I talked with them this afternoon, after I left you. I told them about your father refusing to see you.” Wade chuckled. “I think they’re your fiercest champions now.”
“Really?” An unexpected sense of peace swelled inside her, washing away any remaining reservations. “Then trust this, Wade Masters. I can’t go through another horrible four years without you.”
“That’s all I needed to hear.” He leaned over and gave her a quick peck before nodding toward the office building. “Martinez is in.”
Shelby gathered the snacks Ava had brought and stuffed them back in the bag while Wade came around to open her door. Struggling against the wind, he wrapped an arm around her, and she cradled the stash of food against her chest. They pushed against the wind and pelting rain and scrambled into the building.
“Where’s the guard?” Shelby set the bag onto the security desk and started riffling through it.
“I think he’s gone to the shelter with the others,” Ava said.
