Page 104 of Storm Warning
The woman had pished. And she’d poshed. Evelyn Monroe was as eccentric as they came, and she lived in an old Gothic-style mansion to prove it. Remi smiled at the thought.
In the distance, a lone figure emerged from the fog, walking toward her. She was still a little shell-shockedafter the events that had knocked her over and into Hawk Beckett’s arms. Now that she remembered and the danger was over, she was free to fall for someone. Build a life together. But where was Hawk now? Not here. He’d just disappeared.
The figure had a gait about him. Shoulders like a lumberjack.
Hawk?“Hawk!” She was an idiot to run, but she couldn’t help it. She didn’t care. She picked up her pace, stumbling over rocks here and there. Was it her imagination or was he hurrying toward her too? She wanted to run right into him. Imagined him picking her up and swinging her around. Yeah, she was an idiot.
Instead, when she approached him, she stopped a couple of feet away and squinted up at him. Took in his kind eyes, his thick hair, and strong jaw. His protective demeanor. Warmth swept through her, then settled in her heart. She had it for this guy worse than she’d thought, after only four days. What would happen if she spent more time with him? She might be in trouble.
“Come here.” Hawk stepped forward and pulled her to him. He squeezed her long and hard.
When he finally released her, it was much too soon. Remi could have stayed in his arms forever. Waves rushed in and soaked through her shoes, the cold shocking her again.
“I’m surprised to get that kind of welcome.” His grin told her he liked that she’d rushed toward him.
“I was afraid I wouldn’t see you again.”
“I thought we had an agreement,” he said. “I was going to give you the grand tour in my helicopter and then you might consider letting me run a tour package out of this lodge.” He cocked his head. “Youarestaying, aren’t you?”
“Whatever gave you that idea?”
He shrugged and gazed off into the distance. “I don’t know. Just a guess.”
“Yes, I’m staying. And for your information, I ran this by Mrs. Monroe just in case you ever came back, and she’s in agreement. You can run your tour package if we keep it quiet and low-key. No advertising, per se. Nothing to draw too many visitors. The place is already booked from word of mouth and decades of families visiting.”
Hawk’s smile warmed her to her cold, wet toes. The shoes weren’t as waterproof as advertised.
“I’m good with that,” he said. “But I’d still like to give you a personal tour. You made the decision before I got to show you around during good weather.”
“AndI’mgood with that. But what about you? Won’t you be bored? Seems like there’s an opening at the sheriff’s office since Deputy Hunter retired.”
“I don’t know what the future holds, Remi, but I hope you’re in it. If you want to be. Do you?”
“What do you think?” She smiled.
“Then how about a date tomorrow night.” He angled his head and quirked his brows like he feared she might reject him.
“What about right now?” She smiled again. “We can start making new memories.”
Hawk’s grin sent warmth racing through her. He tilted her chin up and kissed her gently, then stepped back.
She took his hand and walked with him on the beach. Someone stood on top of the cliff and watched them.
Evelyn Monroe.
To Evelyn, Remi and Hawk probably looked like they had disappeared into the fog.
