CHAPTER 1
The ocean was calm as the sun sank into the orange and red glow over the horizon. It was as if the man standing just out of reach of the waves was bending it to his will, forcing the waves to stop crashing into the shore.
He stood in the sand still in work shoes, coat slung over his back. He must’ve been holding it by the collar, probably with just one finger, but his back was in shadows. She couldn’t be sure. Black dress slacks fluttered in the light breeze. He was like a god commanding the waves to cease for him.
Zephyr Hart sat watching the man who stared at the ocean beyond him. She had noticed him when he had shown up an hour ago, and he had been standing at the edge of the waves, watching the sunset the entire time. His head hadn’t even glanced up or down the beach.
Did he know she was watching him? Did he know she was sitting on the deck? She hadn’t moved since he’d arrived either, but she knew he knew she was there, and he had to have known she was watching him. Zachary Wainwright was a cop and a good one at that. He knew everything that went on around him.
What was he doing here? Was he making her wait for him to come to the house on purpose? Was he expecting her to come out to the beach? She didn’t know, so she just stayed where she was.
If she had known he was coming, she would’ve worn something nicer than gray sweatpants and a neon green oversized T-shirt. But that was her usual attire, and he had come unannounced. He couldn’t expect her to be all dressed up when he showed up unannounced.
As his toe kicked at the sand at his feet, Zephyr wondered if he was going to come see her. Maybe he just wanted to see the ocean. He loved the ocean, and he had practically grown up in the house behind her. He had spent more time there than she ever had during his childhood.
A red curl blew into her face, and she pushed it behind her ear with a sigh. What was he doing here? Zephyr hadn’t seen him in almost two years. Not since his father’s funeral. Not a great memory. She had lost the only person in the world who loved her. Brian Wainwright had been the closest thing to a father she’d ever had. Unfortunately, his only son had hated her since the first time they had met over a decade ago.
Zephyr had actually never thought she would see him again; he had said as much the day of the funeral. Brian had left Zachary everything he had but this beach house. He had given the beach house to Zephyr. At the time, Zephyr had been living in the beach house for two years, but when she heard what the will said, she told Zachary he could have the house. She could move out and find somewhere else to live. It was at that point he yelled at her to keep the house and that he would never darken its door again.
Then why was he standing in the sand in front of it right now? Was he here to start a fight again? Maybe she should start looking for a place to live instead of watching him watch the sunset.
The sun had finally sunk into the sea when Zachary turned away from the waves, and Zephyr watched him walk towards her in the twilight. His white shirt was unbuttoned, and the ends fluttered in the ocean breeze. Under his open shirt, he wore a white tank top that hugged his muscles.
As he drew closer, she noticed he hadn’t changed in the last two years; he was still as good-looking as he’d always been. His tight, black curly hair was cut close to his head. It was longer than it had been when he was in the military, but still short by any standard. His skin was the color of light milk chocolate, and the white shirt made it seem more striking.
Zephyr watched him step up on the deck, throw his coat over the railing, and take the chair across from her. His brown eyes penetrated her blue ones as he leaned back in the chair and looked at her.
“Zephyr.”
“Zachary.” She used the same irritated voice he had.
“I talked to Ken Jackson today.” Not much segue there.
Ken Jackson was Zephyr’s editor. He worked for the publishing company that published her books, and she had also talked to him yesterday. He had talked to her about there being a guy who was sending letters about something, but it hadn’t mattered to her. All she cared about was finishing her latest book.
“Why did he call you?” she asked calmly.
“I talked to him in person, Zephyr. He called me to his office for a chat.” Zachary’s brown eyes were still on her.
“I don’t think you two have anything to talk about,” Zephyr told him. It was true because she couldn’t see how they’d have anything in common.
“Apparently, I’m your next of kin,” he said unemotionally.
Exhaling slowly, she replied, “I guess you are. I can take you off. I’ll call him tomorrow.”
His name had been the only one she could think of to put on the forms once Brian was gone. Even today, he was the person she most trusted in the world.
“Zephyr, this is serious.” He sat up as he spoke, “The guy who’s stalking you wants you dead.”
She shook her head. “Nobody wants me dead.”
“Zephyr, I’ve read the letters. He knows where you are and that you live here. And he knows you live alone.” Zachary was taking this way too seriously.
Trying to keep calm, she rubbed her hands over her face, then lowered them to the table. “If it happens, it happens.”
“Really, Zephyr, you're all okay with being dead? What about your fans?”
She lowered her hands to her lap. “They’ll be fine. There are a ton of books they can read.”