Whisper Cape (7 page)

“Yeah, what about the woman they found yesterday? What killed her?” Addie demanded.

“I’m sure Bart’s monster had nothing to do with it,” Gerry said.

“Yeah, and besides, she was nowhere near the cliffs,” Darcy added.

Addie tried to relax, but Bart’s story sounded too familiar, too much like her nightmares.

Bart’s cheeks puffed as he let out a huge breath of air. “Well, time for me to go home. I suspect I’ve caused enough damage for one day. Addie, sorry if I frightened you.” He stood and leaned in close to her. “By the way, that fellow I spoke to last night wanted to know if I knew of any rental property available around here. He’s a real nice young man. Seems he’ll be in the area a while.” He winked and turned to leave.

“Thanks,” Addie said, satisfied she hadn’t been the topic of conversation last night. Although, she did wonder why Bart winked and figured he must be part of the conspiracy to find her a man. She smiled at him and returned to cleaning the counter, trying not to think about the story.

She kept her eyes on the door for the rest of the afternoon, wondering if the mystery man would be the next one to walk through, surprised to find she was disappointed that he hadn’t shown up by the end of her shift.

***

There was plenty of room in Addie’s truck for Darcy and Jared, which was perfect because she really hated the idea of being alone with Jared. They hiked down the slope to the beach, each clutching a small canvas chair, Jared carrying a six-pack of beer in his other hand. The huge campfire was set up in a pit in the sand surrounded by people sitting on beach chairs. With the moon hidden behind the clouds, the only light Addie could see for miles around was from the red flames of the fire and the tiny lamp at the edge of the restroom near the parking lot.

“Everyone, this is Addie,” Jared said and several of the people mumbled back, “hi” and waved. “And you all know Darcy,” he added lifelessly as Darcy went to sit by a dark-haired guy.

Addie thought she recognized him and some of the others from the bar. She found it interesting that Jared still had long-time friends from his high school years. Addie had never retained a friend longer than six months in her life, because every time she made a friend, she had to move away. Jared handed her a beer and sat down beside her.

“Who’s that guy Darcy is sitting next to?” Addie whispered to Jared.

Jared glanced at Darcy then lowered his eyes and studied his beer. “I think his name is Tim. He’s some biker dude that started hanging out here. I don’t know too much about him.”

“He looks like a creep to me.”

“Yeah, you got that right.” He toyed with his beer and looked like he’d lost his best friend and Addie, unsure if she should ask why, simply took a sip of her beer.

“So, why’d you move all the way out here?” Jared asked as though something snapped and he remembered where he was. “I mean, shit, all the way across the country.”

“Well ...” She dreaded talking about her past, so she made it quick and simple.

“I had a hard time after my dad died. Everywhere I turned, everything I touched in the house reminded me of him. My aunt suggested we move here and start a new life. She and my dad grew up here ... and I was born here.”

“Well, I’m glad you came back.”

“Me too.”

Surprised the short explanation hadn’t been so difficult, she smiled and relaxed, taking another sip of her beer and tilting her head back to admire the sky. The moon was full and surrounded by pillows of clouds; she thought of the story Bart told her, and a shudder crawled up her spine. “Wow, will you look at the moon? I don’t think I’ve ever seen it look quite so, I don’t know, intimidating.”

Jared grinned. “You’re not afraid of old Bart’s story, are you?”

“No,” she lied. “It just the moon … it’s so large and the way the clouds are surrounding it like cushions, I don’t know, it’s makes me feel small and insignificant.”

“You’re anything but insignificant, Addie,” Jared whispered in her ear.

His warm breath on her neck gave her an uncomfortable feeling and she flinched when he slipped his arm around her shoulder. An awkward situation, but she wanted to be careful with Jared. She considered him a friend and didn’t want his feelings for her to ruin their friendship.

“I’m glad you came tonight, Addie,” he said, leaning in to kiss her.

She pushed at him with her free hand. “Jared, please, don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m not sure this is the best thing for us. We do have to work together.”

“I like to live dangerously,” he cajoled.

“Well, I don’t. Besides, we’re friends and kissing ... well, it would just complicate things. So let’s not go there, okay?” Wanting to be alone, she stood and placed her empty beer bottle down in the sand. “I’ll be right back.”

“Where are you going?”

“To the bathroom.”

“I’ll go with you. You shouldn’t go alone. Remember the mountain lions?”

“Jared, mountain lions don’t come this close to the ocean. You stay here, enjoy the fire and your friends. I’ll be fine.”

“But it’s all the way up the fucking hill,” he protested, pointing up toward the restrooms.

“I can manage.” She just needed a few minutes, that’s all. It was a bit scary going up there alone, but she could take care of herself. She’d had enough self-defense training to enable her to kick the ass of any possible assailant. “Look, you can see it from down here. I’ll be fine. I promise.”

“Okay, I’ll be watching the whole time, though. Oh, here, take this flashlight,” he said.

“Thanks.” She took the flashlight and started her trek up the hill, sensing his eyes on her the whole way—a little unsettling, but at the same time, she was somewhat grateful for his concern.

The hike up the hill turned out to be tougher than she’d expected. By the time she reached the top, she was completely out of breath and made a mental note to work out an extra day in the coming week. She stopped to catch her breath before stepping onto the path. It was dark except for the soft glow of the yellow bug light on the other side of the building near the entrance to the bathroom. Keeping her head down and focusing on the flashlight so she wouldn’t trip, she hurried toward the facilities. Rounding the corner to the entrance, her head slammed into a large metal sign blocking the entrance to the bathroom, sending her backwards.

Someone caught her.

Chapter 7

“Are you okay?” His voice strummed like a deep velvet chord resonating in her ears.

“Huh? Um ... I think so.” The dim light from above flickered on and off, but it didn’t take long before she realized who held her and her heart slammed so hard against her chest Addie was sure he could feel it.

The stranger that kept showing up everywhere helped her to stand then swiped at the dark curl hanging over his eye. His dimpled grin turned to a frown as he brushed his fingers over a very tender spot on her forehead, then returned his hand to her arm, holding her steady. “You should glance up once in a while when you’re walking fast in the dark. You’re going to have a nasty bump there by tomorrow.”

“Yeah.” Addie touched her brow, gingerly rubbing the sore spot. She frowned and wondered what he was doing out here.

“I saw you at the bar last night. I think you were working.”

“Right, I’m a bartender there.”

He smirked. “Yeah, I figured as much, since you were behind the bar mixing drinks.”

Addie started to sway and he wrapped his arms around her waist. “Whoa, are you sure you’re going to be okay?”

Mesmerized, she gazed into his dark blue eyes; the soft light shining down on them added a warm glow to his beautiful face. He had a slight curve to his lips, almost a smile, which hadn’t been there before. She wasn’t afraid, though her mind told her she should be. Instead, she felt surprisingly safe there in his arms. There was something heartfelt, yet mysterious, so enigmatic and undeniable about him. Blinking, Addie's cheeks burned as she realized she was staring.

“Yes, I’m sure. I’m fine. Thanks for catching me,” she mumbled.

He eased his arms from around her, but moved his hands to her shoulders. “My pleasure. Lucky for you I was here—you would have hit that rock on the ground harder than you hit the sign you so gracefully ran into.”

“Yeah,” she managed. A great comeback to his sarcasm eluded her while she looked into his eyes. Suddenly conscious of how close they stood, she attempted to move toward the women’s room door but was unsuccessful under his firm hold.

“I think I’ll be okay, you can let go now.”

“Okay.” He eased back and, slowly lowering his arms, stuck his hands in his pockets, a very nonthreatening gesture. “But you’ll have to use the men’s room; the women’s doesn’t seem to be working.”

“What?”

“The sign,” he said, nodding toward the large metal pole with the notice on it.

“Jeez, just my luck.”

“I can stand guard if you’d like.” His broad smile had her stomach fluttering and the blood throughout her body tingled.

She glanced around and didn’t see any other option since she’d drunk an entire bottle of beer and it was determined to find a way out. “Okay, if you don’t mind, thanks.”

“No problem. It’s really not so bad in there. There are stalls with doors.” He chuckled.

Feeling a bit uncertain about the idea of using the men’s bathroom, she entered and glanced around. Two stalls just like the women’s room, except in this room, against the wall next to the sink stood a urinal. She wrinkled her nose at the sight of it as she stepped into one of the stalls and closed the door. The small room reeked of antiseptic, but Addie straddled the seat anyway, not wanting her skin to make contact just in case. She was surprised at how well kept the place was and had a new respect for the Parks and Recreation Department.

What is he doing here at the beach and why does he keep appearing out of nowhere? He seems harmless, but one can never be too certain. Who is he, anyway?

Addie had a ton of questions she wanted to ask him. She quickly washed her hands in the little sink and emerged from the bathroom. There he stood, as promised, leaning against the wall with his hands still in his pockets, looking gorgeous and rather mysterious. Her stomach fluttered as though it held a million tiny hummingbirds vibrating their wings.

“All finished, Grace?” he asked. The smug look on his face caught her off guard.

Gathering her poise and ignoring the barb, she considered asking him about his disappearing act, but thought better of it. Maybe he didn’t realize she was the one in the truck or at the cliff yesterday.

“What are you doing here, anyway?” Addie asked.

“I was out here taking a walk—my hotel is just over there.” He pointed toward a large two-story building across the highway. “I was enjoying the sound of the waves until you came huffing up the hill, and proceeded to almost knock your head off.”

“Oh,” Addie muttered, but then added in defense, “I wasn’t huffing.”

“Yeah, you were, a little.” His smile suggested he was teasing, but Addie couldn’t be certain about that, or anything else about this man.

“Well, so sorry to have interrupted your serene moment.”

“No problem, I rather enjoyed it. The interruption, I mean.”

How could he be so charming now? She wanted to yell and scream at him for all the anguish he put her through over the past two days. One minute he scowled at her and the next, he was cordial, almost likable. Almost. Underneath the charm, Addie detected arrogance, and she wasn’t quite sure if she found him appealing or irritating.

“Well, thanks for guarding the door,” she finally managed.

“Anytime. See you around.” He smiled and walked around the corner of the building.

Intrigued, she hurried to the corner and peeked around after him—but he was gone.

***

Cael had been checking out the area and taking in the cool night ocean breeze when he heard her panting up the hill. Amused, he’d stopped to watch her and as she reached the top, he decided, why fight it, there’s just no avoiding her.

He had chuckled to himself as she walked—eyes down at her flashlight—heading straight for the large metal out-of-order sign. He thought she would have looked up but when she ran smack into it, he’d had no choice but to rush over and catch her as she fell backwards, almost hitting her head on a nasty jagged-edged rock.

Closing the door and turning the cheap lock of his hotel room, Cael tugged off his coat and threw it over the chair. There it was, a blown opportunity, he cursed. Why hadn’t he stayed and talked to her?

He sat on the bed and flipped on the bedside lamp, but the bright bulb assaulted his eyes. Turning it off, he tossed aside the heavy brown comforter, leaned back against the pillow and stared into the dark, realizing he’d never be able to get to sleep. His blood ran warm most times, and thinking about the woman made it worse. He knew the risks of getting involved while he was on an assignment, especially with a woman as sexy as this one. However dangerous the mission was, she was all the more dangerously gorgeous. Cael tried to maintain relationships but they always ended poorly. Most women couldn’t accept the secrecy. He wasn’t a normal man, and he’d had to keep secrets from those close to him for their protection as well as his own. He'd had his share of one-night stands; wanting more than that was just asking for trouble.

He'd considered going to the Cliff Hanger Bar and Grill earlier that day. Thought he might catch another glimpse of her—possibly talk to her—but time ran out after spending most of the day with the chief of police, gathering information about the recent Jane Doe case. The chief seemed grateful for the extra help, which was just the reception he’d hoped to receive. If he was going to find Ristéard’s killer, he needed all the data he could get. Then, he’d gone to see about renting a house and simply ran out of time.

He thought of the woman with the long legs again, the way her brown hair fell over her shoulders. His fingers ached to tangle in the strands of soft silk. Complications or not, there was something about her... .