Page 11 of Island Whispers

“Nash said your mother would never believe that you didn’t mention a significant date or tell her that you were getting serious with someone,” Boone informed her.

She peeked at him and nearly caught a chill from his ice-cold gaze. A few weeks ago, those same eyes had sparkled with humor and then blazed with desire. For her.

Living on an island she really should know better than to burn bridges.

“Why can’t your sudden appearance be proof that I am involved with someone?” She was an adult and entitled to any and all romantic liaisons she wanted to enjoy. Then again, she was a business owner in a small town and her associations, romantic or otherwise, were subject to scrutiny at any given time.

Boone lingered in the doorway, his hands tucked into his pockets and his stoic expression unreadable. What if the stranger thing wasn’t an act? Maybe he didn’t recognize her? Good grief, how mortifying. And, if true, it would be the cherry on top of her awful morning.

Nina sighed, thoroughly humiliated. “My brother isn’t wrong.” She shot Jess a look. “I’ll deny it if you tell him.” Annoyed or not, it was better to deal with it now than get stuck in a lie later.

Nina looked up at Boone once more. “I called Jess because I don’t want my family to worry.” She focused on Jess. “Have I put them in danger too?”

“Well, the carjacker is an escaped felon. We’re gathering more intel,” Jess told her. “But the police are concerned. They wouldn’t be if they didn’t have a good reason.”

Nina had no business whining about it. It had been a crappy day, but she wasn’t a victim. Not really. The mother whose baby was in that van was the real victim. She was grateful those two were quickly reunited.

“He dropped off the baby.”

“One smart move doesn’t make him a good guy,” Jess said. “The man saw you recording. And he’s been in prison, and clearly doesn’t want to stay there.”

“So wouldn’t he just get out of town?” Nina asked. “Isn’t that the most logical option?”

“This is a criminal, Nina. He’s unpredictable right now. Whether or not he’s logical remains to be seen. The police wouldn’t have warned you the way they did if they weren’t worried about his next move.”

“But I don’t need a bodyguard,” Nina protested. Definitely not the man Jess had assigned to the task. “I’ll just stay here on the island. I have enough friends here that I don’t have to go anywhere alone.”

Jess gave her a long look. “Mm-hm. And would those friends be qualified to protect you in case you come under attack?”

No. “Isn’t there safety in numbers?”

“There can be,” Jess allowed. “This man is a wild card. Until I know more, let’s be cautious. Please. Odds are better if there is a trained bodyguard in the equation.”

“I won’t let anything happen to you,” Boone said.

That sounded like a vow. Deep down, she wanted to cling to it. Add in the intense look in his eyes and her pulse skipped, her thoughts scattered. She couldn’t recall her best argument as memories of his lips against her skin flooded her mind.

She cleared her throat, focused on Jess. “Okay,” she said, resigned. “But even if I had a new boyfriend, he wouldn’t be with me twenty-four-seven. That’s crazy. And if we came up with an excuse for him to hang around the shop, there’s no reason for him to be around me personally.”

“I do know how to be discreet,” Boone said, clearly offended.

She snorted. “Not a chance.” He was not the kind of man people overlooked.

The night they’d met, women and men had been checking him out with good reason. In fact, she had been a little shocked that he’d shown an interest in her.

“Are you working on other projects around town?” Boone asked. “Do you have any community interests or small remodeling projects? Hell, I could probably pull off some web design as long as no one’s checking my work too closely.”

She shook her head. “My website is fine. The shop is fine. My assistant and I, along with my delivery driver, can manage the business on the island. The biggest community thing I’m involved in is bringing in some fresh bands for the music festival.” She looked to Jess and shrugged. “Who knows if the committee will agree. Though they usually find a good balance.”

“Please,” Jess said. “It’s one band in particular. Boone was working security for them a few weeks ago. I know you were crushing on one of the lead singers.”

Nina had never been more thankful for her olive complexion that hid embarrassment fairly well. “There’s a reason they call him a front man,” Nina stated with as much dignity as she could muster. “And yes, I was a little enamored.”

Boone’s eyebrows lifted and a smile teased those talented lips. “He’s got plenty of charisma.”

Nina couldn’t argue that. But once she’d seen Boone—quiet, inscrutable, and so damn sexy—her attention had shifted to him. The man she had pegged as an avid fan like her had apparently been much more.

And she hadn’t put it together. Maybe he could blend in and be more discreet than she thought. She had questions for him. Questions she couldn’t ask in front of Jess.

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