“Val, I don’t get you.Your instinct was to hire this guy, right?Because Topher made you feel like you were in danger, correct?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, if stupid fuck-face was confident enough to show up at your place of work, then who knows what else he’s been getting in to.I’m glad Kaidon insisted on coming on this trip with you.”
Properly scolded, I sit back in my chair and take a few more bites of my omelet, but the worried knot forming in my stomach causes me to lose my appetite.What if he did see Topher?How fucked up would that be?
Ever stands up and walks over to the patio’s fencing.
“He’s heading back here.”She calls over to us.
This time, Kaidon doesn’t jump the fence but heads in through the front of the restaurant.When he comes outside to the patio, my friends pepper him with questions.
“What did you see?”
“Was it Topher?”
“You leaped that fence so damn fast.”
“Ladies, hold up.”The minotaur says, turning to me, “I never got a good look at the guy’s face, but someone was lurking about across the street.Hair color and build matched the description of your ex.”
“Fuck,” I breathe out as Monya puts a supportive arm around my shoulders.
“Well, at least we are leaving on the ferry in an hour,” Ever says.
“Not so fast.”
The four of us look up at the broad-shoulder minotaur.
“I can’t stay, Kaidon.I have work and stuff.”
“No, I mean not so fast with the ferry.On the way back here, I grabbed you and me tickets for a private boat back to the Cape.”
“Shit, that must have cost a fortune,” Blythe says.
“Wasn’t cheap.”
“Kaidon, are you sure that’s necessary?”
As soon as the words come out of my mouth, my three friends glare daggers at me.
“Woman!What did Lady Merla tell you?”Ever says, audibly pissed.
“To go with my instincts.”
“Well, here we are with the dude you hired because of your instincts.So fricken listen to him and stop hemming and hawing.”
Feeling my cheeks burn from the scolding, plus the guilt I feel for being a pain, I look up at the bullman and give him a small nod.
“Lady Merla?”
Laughing at his confused expression, I say, “I’ll tell you later.”
After we pay the bill, we head back to the rental to grab our suitcases and order a rideshare.As we drive to the marina, I stare out the window at the gorgeous beauty that is Martha’s Vineyard.If that was Topher, how did he know I would be here?It seems impossible.Especially since we didn’t even end up going on Blythe’s actual birthday weekend.
Hugging my girlfriends goodbye at the marina, they head to the ferry while I follow Kaidon down to a different dock.While we walk over, Kaidon fills me in on the details.
“This is actually a small private cruise to the Cape.Normally 4 hours long.”
