Page 28 of Against the Wind

His silence was answer enough. How could I have been so stupid? He’d made a name for himself in his posting in the Gulf for drug interdiction. What was the likelihood that some kind of appropriate posting at Nag’s Head justhappenedto show up right when he wanted to get out of Seattle?

“Gabi, whatever’s going through your head right now, it’s not the truth.”

“And what is the truth? Hm?”

“It’s complicated.”

God, after everything having been so simple with us in New Orleans, would we ever have anything come easily to us again?

“Uncomplicate it,” I insisted.

Daniel glanced at Mickey. I could tell he was reluctant to leave the man alone, and that he was just as reluctant to speak in front of him.

“Hall.” There was no other exit to the room, no windows. Even if Mickey somehow managed to get loose, he couldn’t get past us if we were just outside the door.

I didn’t wait to see if Daniel complied, just turned my back and walked out.

A few moments later, he joined me, pulling the door not quite closed. He positioned himself between me and it.

“My position here is part of a joint task force between the Coast Guard and local law enforcement attempting to find and dismantle a drug trafficking organization in the area. My skills in that arena are the thing that actually got me the transfer. So, yes, I am here on Hatterwick at this specific time partly on an investigation, in addition to hurricane prep and relief.”

I scooped a hand through my hair. Work. It always came down to work with him. His career. His goals. His priorities.

“So this is just a bonus, then? Getting to see me while you’re here doing your real job?” The words tasted bitter.

“That’s not fair.” Daniel reached for me, but I shifted away. “Yes, the task force got me the transfer. But I requested this specific posting because of you. I’ve been trying to find a way back to you since the day I left for Seattle.”

“And you didn’t think to mention this little detail earlier? When you showed up here? When we—” I cut myself off, not wanting to think about what had happened between us barely an hour ago. How real it had felt. How much I’d let myself believe.

“You were barely speaking to me. I had to start somewhere, and beginnin’ with the personal and an apology seemed the most important.” His jaw tightened. “Look, I know I keep fucking things up with you, but I meant everything I said. I am here on the Outer Banks for you. The case happens to be the vehicle that got me here. I can’t apologize for that. And I can’t promise that sometimes the job won’t come first. But Gabi, I’m doing everything I know how to fix this between us.”

A crash of thunder rattled the windows, making us both jump. The storm raged on outside, but it felt like nothing compared to the tempest in my chest.

I crossed my arms. “So what happens when this case is over? When the next big opportunity comes along? Seattle was supposed to be temporary too, remember? Just long enough to make a name for yourself. Then you’d come back.”

“I’ll figure something out. It’s a big case with a lot of moving pieces. We’re not gonna topple it in a matter of weeks or months. And by the time we get there, my contract will be up. I could get out.”

I stared at him. “You’d… leave the Coast Guard for me?”

“If it comes down to it. I love you.”

I wanted him to prove himself with action. Walking away from the career I knew meant the world to him was sure as hell a big one. Of course, it was all hypothetical at this point. But that he’d even consider it spoke volumes.

Feeling more reassured, I blew out a breath. “And those questions you were asking in there? All that was connected to this task force stuff?”

“It happens that our guest in there came up in some of my briefings. I don’t like the fact that he’s connected to a bigger drug ring and that he targeted the clinic.”

I frowned. “What does that mean?”

“Don’t know. We’ll know more after we interrogate him. But that’ll wait until we can turn him over to local law enforcement after the hurricane. For now, let’s just get through the rest of the storm, okay?”

Nothing was settled, but we couldn’t make any decisions under the current circumstances. This would have to be good enough for now.

EIGHTEEN

DANIEL

I yanked open the clinic door at the first knock, squinting against the harsh morning sunlight. After the dark of the storm, the fresh-washed blue sky was almost blinding.

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