Page 50 of June 7

"I can't promise you." He cupped her face. "I don't know what we're dealing with yet. When I know, and if I have time, I'll let you know. If not, you'll have to trust me that whatever we do, I'll keep you safe, and no one will vandalize your house or your Jeep again."

He talked in riddles without giving her a straight answer.

"Trust me, babe," he whispered.

She nodded, leaning against him. There was no other choice. She was scared and needed help.

Chapter Nineteen

"Hey, Daisy." Tara walked into the pool house office. "There's a badass dude parking your Jeep out front."

She smiled, knowing that badass dude belonged to her. "Bane brought me to work this morning and then picked up the tires for my Jeep and put them on for me, so I didn't have to take the day off."

"Didn't you just get new tires?" asked Tara.

"I did. Last fall." She looked around, making sure they were alone. "Someone slashed my tires yesterday."

"Oh, no." Tara approached her. "That's awful. Do you know who did it?"

"No."

"I haven't heard of any crime sprees in Seaglass Cove." Tara frowned. "The only thing I've heard is the tourists are getting out of hand on the boardwalk. Local people have to park farther away and walk to the beach. Neighborhoods are putting up cones near their houses to try and keep the tourists away."

She hummed. It was a common complaint every summer. There was nothing to warn her about actual crimes being committed.

Bane entered the pool house, ending the conversation. Tara's smile was filled with pity at her situation before she slipped out of the room.

Daisy inhaled deeply, trying to put everything behind her. She hadn't meant to bring her troubles to work and get everyone else down.

"I owe you a major cookie haul." She threw her arms around Bane's neck and kissed him. "Thanks for taking care of the Jeep."

He put his hand on her hip, trailing along the edge of her swimsuit. Then, he hooked his finger under the Lycra and made the material snap.

She jumped, slapping his chest.

He grinned. "Are you getting off at four o'clock?"

---