Page 31 of Island Whispers

So today, intent on doing something nice for her, he’d gotten up early to make waffles. When she walked into the kitchen, she’d gaped at him as if he’d kicked a puppy. Utter horror crossed her face before she turned and rushed back toward her bedroom.

Special breakfast plan scrapped, he whipped up some eggs, making enough to share if she was so inclined. She wasn’t.

He didn’t feel right getting pushy about it though. Technically, he was a guest in her home. Her food habits and preferences weren’t any of his concern unless it involved going out and maintaining a safe perimeter.

What would it take for him to remember his role here? He was her protector, his sole duty was to keep Spratt from harassing or harming her.

Boone admired her bravery. Not many folks would stay in place, dangling themselves like bait to help trap an escaped convict. He wouldn’t allow her trust to be abused.

Still, day by day she woke up pale. The bleak contrast to the glowing, vibrant woman he’d danced with a few weeks ago was troubling. Granted, a few weeks ago she wasn’t worried about being found and possibly attacked by a criminal with notoriously vengeful tendencies.

“Do you need to go anywhere today?” he asked, cleaning up his breakfast dishes. When she didn’t reply, he turned to find her staring into her coffee cup, clearly lost in thought.

“Nina?”

She gave a start, looking up and blinking rapidly. After a moment, she gave him a sweet smile that made him want to tuck her back into bed until she looked more like herself.

If only she’d let him get away with that kind of move. She was independent and determined and knew how to look out for herself. His concern was building that she might come to resent him the longer this dragged on. A result he’d have to guard against.

“Sorry,” she said. “Lost in thought. What did you ask me?”

“Do you have places to be today? Other than the shop.”

She shook her head. “No. It’s just Molly and me and the normal routine. Henry will handle any deliveries for today.”

So far, so good in Boone’s opinion. “No special events or contracts to deal with?”

“Not today.” She smiled again, her fingers curling around her mug. “What about you?”

He dried his hands and draped the towel over the dishwasher handle. “My job is you.”

“You know what I mean,” she pressed. “If I’m rooted in one location, how are you going to entertain yourself?”

She wasn’t wrong. He was going to need a distraction. Pleasant as it would be, he couldn’t justify staring at her all day. “I’ll come up with something.” He could be proactive about the search for Spratt, checking with Jess or even scheduling time with one of the Guardian Agency researchers.

There was also the leaky faucet in her workroom and plenty of deep cleaning he could help with around the shop. If she gave him permission.

“Have you heard anything?” Her voice was so quiet. “He hasn’t made any moves, has he?”

There was only one person who worried her and Boone wished he could take her far away from the threat of Spratt. “No. As far as I know he’s still in the wind.”

“Bastard,” Nina swore, adding a rapid-fire string of creative curses.

Boone busted out laughing, then held up his hands. “Sorry.” Damn it. He’d promised her he wouldn’t laugh when she cussed. “It’s just—” When she swore it was a hilarious contradiction.

“Rude?” she supplied.

Well, yeah. He sucked in a breath, held it. “I don’t mean to be rude,” he said. “And I’m not belittling your feelings. I agree with the sentiment one hundred percent.”

“Yeah, that’s so obvious.” She shook her head. “You promised.”

“I did. I’ll do better.”

Her skeptical glare nearly made him laugh again. With a beleaguered sigh she pushed back from the table and carried her coffee mug to the sink.

Boone pretended not to notice that most of the coffee went down the drain. He did his best to get back on track. “If it’s a typical day, maybe you could rest a bit. Like, maybe go in late and let Molly handle things?”

“I’ll be fine.” She patted his shoulder absently as she walked by. “A typical day leaves me plenty of room to rest, I promise.”

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