Page 19 of Island Holiday

“The cops had to know.”

She shrugged. “It’s over. My family pretty much ignored me as much as possible until I left for college. And as I’m sure you know, I never went back home. Once I discovered real friends in Hannah and Harper, my family felt too sticky and ugly to even bother with.”

He was watching her with those changeable hazel eyes. “When did they push you for access to Harper?”

She felt her mouth fall open. “How the—” Wait, he’d beenasking, which meant it wasn’t in some official record he’d discovered.

“Sonya.” He reached over and covered her hand with his. “It was an assumption. Common sense. I’m not trying to piss you off or offend you. I’m sure your family—”

“Sucks,” she finished. “There’s no way around it. Just a fact. They’re still running scams, in and out of prison. I check up on them.” She took a long, slow breath. “I guess we have that in common.”

“An urge to protect you? Absolutely.”

Not what she expected to hear. The butterflies in her belly were swooping with glee. He’d just said he cared. And he looked completely sincere. Why was it easier for her to read him than anyone else? Best not to dwell on that quirk. Any lasting connection was a sweet fantasy. Relationships came with ties and expectations and a whole host of other things that would give her relatives an opening.

She shivered, thinking about what her criminally minded siblings would do if they discovered she’d settled down, fallen in love, found the stability she’d always craved. It would be harder than keeping them away from Harper. At least Harper was sheltered by Bruce and the Ellington security teams. Any family Sonya chose to build would be on their own.

Unless…

Her gaze slid to Connor and away. They both worked for an elite protection service. Would the agency help her keep her conniving family away?

Well, yes. If she’d learned anything in recent years, it was that Gamble and Swann protected their own. Now who was conniving? She couldn’t pursue Connor romantically simplybecause he was hot, kissed like a fantasy, and was conveniently employed. That wasn’t fair to either of them. She’d come to terms with being too far out of step with the world to expect a happy ever after. Friends and the occasional fling could be enough.

That kiss leapt right back to the front of her mind. Connor hadn’t been acting any more than she had. They had serious chemistry and a fascinating sizzle. Maybe she should just ask him if he was up for a fling while they were tossed together on this case.

Then again, how awkward would it be if he turned her down?

“You’re right,” she said. “They’ve come at me. More than once. The first time I saw my cousin on campus, I nearly had a panic attack.”

“The first time?” Connor’s voice was low and mean.

“Yes. I talked to Harper’s uncle about it. Made sure she and Hannah couldn’t be manipulated.”

“Bruce?”

She nodded. “He was way too nice to me, considering the family baggage I brought into Harper’s world. But they’re protected.” It had felt terrible having to go to them, to make those admissions about where she came from. She frequently reminded herself that if her friends had ever been conned by her family it would feel a thousand times worse.

“But what aboutyou?”

She picked up her plate and went to the kitchen. What about her? She’d built a good life, on her terms. Twice, actually. Because she’d landed that job at the financial firm right out of college on her own merit. No connections or favors required. She’d had an apartment in an excellent neighborhood, a fun sports car, and a good social life too.

Then she’d tripped over the problems and blown the whistle. Sonya Inman, forever the tattletale. Recognizing the pattern ofher life, she’d tried to solve things on her own. And though it was rough, she was glad Hannah had raised the alarm and involved the Guardian Agency.

“I’m fine.”

He looked as if he might argue, then caught himself. “Okay.” Joining her in the kitchen, he started to help clean up.

She shooed him away. “You cooked.”

“Sandwiches and chips.”

“Still counts,” she insisted. “I’ve got this. Then we’ll both get back to work.” They needed to find a lead on those young women. Well, that was his area of expertise. She needed to find some kind of gap in the finances. No one could keep perfect accounting records. Somewhere there had to be a weakness in the chain of shell companies. Something she could pry open to get to the bottom of this. She just had to think.

“We definitely have more to do.” His gaze drifted around the condo. “And more to talk about.”

When she glanced up from the dishwasher, she found him studying her. “More?”

“That kiss blew my mind.” He lifted his hand, pulling back before he could touch her. “Was it all an act?”

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