Page 48 of Island Whispers

The clerk at the counter couldn’t have graduated high school yet. A young man with red hair and freckles, his cheeks turned pink as he rang up their collection of tests. Nina let Boone handle the chatter, barely managing a smile when the clerk wished them luck.

“Since you’re determined to wait until morning, we’ll drop these at the car. Then we can enjoy the band. Maybe dance if you’re up for it?”

“Sure.” She thought the likelihood of an enjoyable evening was low. Right now, she felt queasy again. But her mood might lift with good music and some distance between her and those boxes that could potentially turn her life upside down. “Let’s go have some fun.”

***

Boone was losing her, he could feel it. Tucked into the booth beside him, Nina was watching the band, but her mind was a thousand miles away. He couldn’t say he knew her well, but he was an excellent observer. Nina was a deep thinker. It was most obvious to him when she was at the design table. Her hands knew how to bring a vision to life while her mind worked on other things.

Her mind was working overtime tonight. The way she’d frozen in the family planning aisle had made him want to cuddle her close, to make any and every outrageous promise that erased the fear haunting her eyes.

She was thinking about life with a baby and how that would change the business routine and the life she’d carved out for herself on Brookwell. And likely obsessing over how being a single mom would change her reputation around town. Worse, she was probably obsessing over lying to her mom about his role in her life.

He didn’t want to be the bad guy here. He sure as hell refused to be an absentee father, but he wasn’t going to waste this evening imagining worst-case scenarios. The fact was, he liked Nina more with every passing day. He’d never expected to fall for anyone. Much less a woman who made him laugh every time she swore.

“Dance with me.” He held out a hand as the band shifted gears to a slow ballad. It was a melody that invited couples to get close on the dance floor. When she agreed, smiling up at him, his heart thundered. It was so much like that first night. When he hadn’t known her name and the common denominator was pure desire.

As she turned into his arms, her body fitting perfectly to his, he couldn’t help comparing then and now. Knowing her name and knowing she might be carrying their baby, made the connection better than anything he’d known. Holding her filled him with incredible joy and pride. She was a dream come true as they moved together to the music. He was losing himself and finding the man he wanted to be for her.

He was tempted to share his thoughts, but managed to hold back. This wasn’t the time or place. What he wanted to say was best shared privately, where she could accept or reject him without strangers bearing witness. For now, with the music and lyrics winding through his heart, he held her. No pressure or offers or demands. Only support and comfort.

Like a sunrise peeking over the horizon, he could almost see the family they could have, the love they could build, if she allowed him to stick around.

Even if the test was negative and this scare fizzled away, he wanted to stay. He hadn’t felt a need to settle down. His sister and her family fulfilled that sense of place, of home. But Nina changed that. He wanted to stay with her. She felt like the place where he needed to be, the person his heart needed to share a life. To love.

Wouldn’t that set the island grapevine buzzing—in a good way—with the story of how Little Nina fell in love with her bodyguard and lived happily ever after?

“You’re smiling,” she said.

“Because being here with you makes me happy,” he confessed. “Don’t look now, but you’re smiling too.”

She shifted a little closer, her fingers drifting lightly across the back of his neck. “Did you think it would be different?”

“Last night?”

Her chin dipped in a quick nod.

“Maybe.” The way she overwhelmed his senses, he couldn’t recall thinking about anything but her. Comparing one experience to the other just didn’t matter. Hearing her call out his name while they were in bed? That mattered. Made him feel like a man possessed. It was a feeling he wanted to enjoy as often as she’d allow. “Turns out it was better the second time around.”

He bent his head, stealing a quick kiss as the music swelled around them. Would she want to see if their chemistry was as potent tonight? It would be tough not to beg, even with the shadows under her eyes.

“We should get back,” he murmured. “Your mornings start so early.”

“True.” She stroked his jaw. “But this is… wonderful. I don’t want it to end.”

“It doesn’t have to,” he said. Her body stiffened in his embrace. He’d pushed too hard, too soon. “I meant—”

Her hands dug into his shoulders. “It’s him.”

“What?”

“Spratt.” Her gaze was locked on something over his shoulder. “The hallway near the bar.”

No way. He’d read the report, knew he was protecting Nina because the guy didn’t tolerate loose ends, but this was too audacious. Where were the cops? “Can you lift my phone?”

It was in a pocket of his cargo shorts.

He had to ignore the fires left behind as she fished out his phone. “Hold it between us,” he said. “Call 911.”

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