Page 7 of Storm Warning

He paused, turned, and smiled. “I finished the coffee.” He closed the distance between them. “Honestly, I’d hoped to talk to you more.”

The way he’d said the words came out entirely wrong and sounded like he was flirting, which he absolutely wasn’t. But admittedly, her eyes kind of sucker punched him that first moment they’d stared up at him. He shoved those thoughts away, hoping she hadn’t taken his words the wrong way.

She glanced at her watch and gestured to the table by the window where he’d been sitting. “I have a few minutes.”

He sat in the same chair as before and gestured at the wall. “Who’s responsible for the photographs and sketches?”

She shrugged. “The artists didn’t want to be identified.”

“Artists?”

“Someone took the pictures and someone else drew the sketches.”

The way her cheeks warmed gave him a clue that shewas one of the someones but didn’t want to talk about it. Just as well, he had a serious question. “Why’d you do it?”

“Do what?”

“Risk your safety like that.”

“Come on. Don’t tell me you wouldn’t have tried to save the dog.”

“All I’m saying is that it was risky.”You could have died.“I’ve seen people swept away in lesser waves.” He wished he could unsee it.

“Well, it’s over and Paco’s safe, thanks to you.”

He hadn’t known she’d been harboring an animal in her coat, and he’d been even more impressed with her skills to make that climb on a rope ladder that hadn’t even been secured at the bottom.

She clasped her hands on the table. “I owe you more than coffee.”

“You don’t owe me anything. What was I going to do? Let you fall?”

In spite of his efforts, she’d almost done just that. “About that ... did you happen to notice anything about the rope?”

Expression grim, his lips flattened. “Yes. I had hoped to talk to you about it.”

Her expression turned serious, and she leaned forward. “I’m listening.”

He didn’t think she’d fully bought his explanation for being there at the right moment, so he’d start with that. “When you were on the beach, I didn’t see you at first. I was looking at the storm brewing in the distance. Through the trees, I saw two women at the top of the steps, looking down and shouting. That’s when I saw you and realized you were trapped by the tide. So I walked along the edge, trying to figure out what I could do to help. I saw the rope and figured you were heading there. I wanted to make sureit was secure, and that’s when I got a closer look and saw it had been tampered with. Shredded ... but not completely. I tried to get your attention, but you couldn’t hear me over the waves, and even if you could, that rope ladder was your only chance. I didn’t have time to grab something else, you know?”

She leaned back and blew out a breath. “I’m just ... thank you. I don’t want to think about what would have happened if you hadn’t reached out for me.”

“I’m glad everything turned out all right.” Frowning, he crossed his arms. “But whoever is responsible for tampering with that ladder—knowing that someone would eventually use it and get hurt or die—needs to be caught.”

She gave him a hard, questioning look. “You don’t think it was kids?”

“I think that’s for the local law to figure out. I can’t call them without cell service, butyoucan.” Or he could just drive into the county seat and talk to a deputy sheriff, which he wanted to avoid.

“I’ll talk to them, but only a portion of the rope remains,” she said. “I’ll call the sheriff and let him know. He might want you to explain what you saw as well.”

“And I’m willing to do that.”

“Your help is appreciated.” Remi’s eyes held him again, as if she was studying, searching. Though she’d been congenial in this exchange, he still got the feeling she was wary and not just about the incident, but abouthim.

But she could think the same about Hawk because he was also on edge. And maybe he was only seeing himself reflected in her gaze, but he doubted it.

She shifted in her chair. “Hawk Beckett.” Angling her head slightly, she squinted her eyes. “Why does your name sound familiar? I mean, yes, you’re a guest here, but do I know you from somewhere else?”

Well, that was just great. Good thing he showed up in person. “Honestly, that kind of stings.”

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