“Because it sounds like a waste of money.”
“Let me worry about that. Can you do it?”
“Yeah, I can do it.” She brushed back a long tangle of thin dreads. “You’re seriously gonna pay me to draw cartoon characters?”
“They’re not cartoons. They’re avatars.”
“Whatever.”
“I gave you my card, right?”
She tapped her nonexistent pocket. “Daniel Ruse. Yup.”
“Call me. We’ll talk.”
He reached Bruce’s shop and knocked on the counter to draw someone out. Bruce poked his head up from behind a surfboard. “Hey, Dan dude!”
“You have something?”
“One sec.” Bruce went behind the counter and squatted, then came up with a single letter. “Aw, they spelled your name wrong, but I figure this is for you.”
The envelope saidDane Russand had no return address. He smiled. “Close enough.”
He left the shop, tearing the envelope open. He probably could have just given Rosamund his real address, but paranoid worries didn’t die so fast. He trusted Rosamund with his life, but people could intercept her mail. It was taking enough of a risk to let her know he was here.
He stood still in the middle of the pedestrian traffic to read what she had to share.
Dane,
Your accountant came out to the house last week. You know you really didn’t need to leave me such a sizable sum of money. But since you did, I was thinking . . . It’s about time I retired, and there’s nothing for me here. What’s it like in Key West? I understand they like the olds in Florida. Maybe you could direct me to a decent rental. I think with the money you’ve passed to me, I’ll probably die before I can spend it. And I don’t have any family here. The closest thing I’ve ever had to a son recently moved away. And I miss him.
I get an occasional email from someone else who’s looking for you. Your privacy is safe with me, but she seems eager to talk. Let me know.
I’m considering your last marriage proposal very seriously. I’m holding out for a destination wedding.
Love you,
Rosamund
He laughed. Of course he wanted Rosamund to move to Key West. He stopped at a tourist boutique to buy a postcard and then settled in at a café to respond. It was such a lovely day, he ordered an iced chai latte and grabbed a table outside to jot down a message. While he was mulling his choice of words, he thought he heard his name.
He glanced up, but it had to have been his imagination. He tried to shake off the fear he’d been discovered. He didn’t want to hide in his house forever.
“Dane?”
That time it was unmistakable. He turned and saw a ghost. He nearly scrambled out of his seat from the shock.
“Noelle? What are you doing here?”
“I can’t believe I finally found you.” She came around the table and dragged out a chair.
His heart hammered like he’d fallen from a vast height. He’d never expected to see her again, and yet there she was, looking like she’d merely been out for an afternoon stroll.
On the surface, she looked as relaxed as any vacationer, hair down, a slight tan on her skin, casual shorts and a T-shirt. He flashed back briefly to the corporate trust-building day and wished he could reverse time. If he could, he might have fallen at her feet and begged her to run away with him. He might have warned her to get as far from him as she could. He might have fled straight to Key West without corrupting her along with everything else he touched.
She’d been right about him then. He’d only won her back through cruel manipulation.
“How did you know where I am?” If Rosamund hadn’t talked, was someone tailing him again?
