Page 14 of Island Holiday

He noticed that subtle frown pinching her brow and left her to her thoughts as he mulled over his next steps as well. There was a way to find those three women, he was sure of it. They had to be together. That in and of itself should be an advantage. And yet, here he was, stumped.

“Did you hear about Max’s place?”

The question jolted him out of his thoughts. Max Crosby was a protector who’d shifted gears to open a boxing gym in Key West. He continued his work with the Guardian Agency by offering training classes to new hires. “What happened?”

Her smile flashed, sly and satisfied. “I knew it. You’ve been through training down there too.”

Caught, he could only shrug. “I have. I’ve also been through basic training with the Army and a variety of classes—physical and technical—since Swann hired me.” He grinned. Her eyes had flared with interest over his Army time. “What about you?”

“You mean you don’t know?”

He couldn’t really blame her for the jab. “I know you went to Key West for a couple of weeks.” Not like he had general open-access to her personnel records.

With Sonya, that kind of trip could’ve meant anything. She might’ve gone for the weather or sightseeing. Any place with a good internet connection was fair game since she could work remotely. Though unlikely, she might’ve gone as a requirement to assist on a case.

She tipped her head from side to side, stretching her neck. “I’m a relatively recent graduate of both the self-defense and protector 101 classes.”

“Good for you. Top of the class?” He’d seen the transcripts. She’d been at the top of nearly all her college courses.

“I wish.” She propped her elbow on the table and rested her chin in her hand. “I had high hopes, but only did okay.” Her smile flashed. “I’m still the champion of all things numbers, though.”

“That’s more than enough.”

Her smile faded and her gaze fell to her coffee cup as she slumped in her seat. “You think so?”

If she needed the confidence boost, he’d happily oblige. “One hundred percent.”

A slow smile curved her lush lips. “Numbers answer. I like it.”

“More importantly, do you believe it?”

She paused, studying him closely. “Yes.” She reached across the table and patted the back of his hand. “Thank you.”

Once more, her touch sizzled through his system and he had to work to hide the reaction. Somehow, he suppressed the blistering need to catch her hand and simply hold on. Gently, of course. This was his chance to draw her attention to the possibility of taking things in a personal direction.

“Are you feeling okay?” he asked instead. “Being back in the area, I mean.”

She sipped her coffee and then crossed her legs. “I’m not afraid of the city. The odds of being recognized are slim to none.”

He hoped so. Behind her, he caught a glimpse of a man strolling by. Tall and heavy, any other identifying details were hard to pick out under the shadow of a gray hood pulled up around his face. The letterman-style coat with the local pro-football team colors was open, his hands stuffed in the pockets.

Football Fan was on his second pass by the coffee shop. Not a big concern. Yet. Connor checked the time on his phone.

“Are we late?”

Of course, she noticed. “No.” To prove it, he leaned back in his seat. “But you aren’t comfortable here.”

“There’s a reason I left,” she stated. “Many in fact.”

He was betting each reason was labeled with the names of her family members. What would make her trust him with the full story? “I’m not interrogating, just curious. I’m a great listener, if you need one.”

She snorted. “It’s bad enough you know all the dirty details about my abrupt career change. I don’t like to broadcast my business.” Her nose wrinkled. “Feels like being paraded about naked in the town square.”

Now he had a new image to fight off. “Talking to me is broadcasting?”

“You’re offended.”

“No.” He wasn’t. Disappointed maybe. He wanted to build a friendship with her. Hell, he wanted a whole lot more than that, but she had to trust him first. Sonya had become inexplicably important to him and she barely knew he existed. “I’m concerned, that’s all. And before you get mad again about me keeping tabs on your travels, I’m not pushing. Not judging.”

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