Page 90 of When He Hunts

Esme winked. A wink that Tyler did not see. Then Esme moved toward her immovable-object husband. She poked at his chest. “She’s about to cry,” she loudly whispered to Tyler. A stage whisper if Luna had ever heard one. “She doesn’t want an audience for her tears. I certainly understand that.”

His expression softened.

“The transport boat is gone,” Esme told him. “She can’t swim from here to Key West. We’ll be right outside the front door. She asked for privacy. Let’s give her some.”

The battle was clear on his face. He didn’t want to back down.

His wife poked him again.

Grudgingly, Tyler nodded. But he lasered a hard look Luna’s way. “He told me you were a runner.”

She tried to look innocent. After all, hadn’t Ronan been the one who told her that she could do that look so well? Or, wait, maybe he’d said she had an innocent smile. Not like she could manage any sort of smile right then.

“There’s no point in running,” Tyler warned her. “Unless you’re going to sprout wings, you aren’t getting off this island. A storm is rolling in. The water is going to be helluva rough, and we all need to stay inside until dawn.”

If only she could sprout wings…

“I can practically see the thoughts spinning in your head. Don’t do it.” Tyler was adamant. “Don’t.He’s helping you, okay? Let Ronan do his job.”

But his job would risk his life. Ronan was riskinghis lifefor her. She was just supposed to stand back and let him do that?

“This will all be over before you know it.” A soft assurance from Tyler. “Soon enough, it will seem like a bad dream.”

Parts, maybe. Parts had been a nightmare. But other parts would seem like the best fantasy in the world. Luna released a long, slow breath. She knew exactly what she needed to do. “It’s too bad, really,” she said, rolling her shoulders.

Tyler’s eyebrows beetled down. “What’s too bad?”

“That Ronan didn’t give some big, heartfelt confession of love for you to deliver to me. Would have been nice.” A million times better than nice. “Thanks for telling me what he actually said.” She swallowed. “Thanks for your help. Both of you.”Now please exit the bungalow so I can get the hell out of here.

She wasn’t going to let Ronan risk himself for her. She’d get off the island. She’d call Grayson. They could come up with a new plan that involved Ronan being safe. In no world did she want Ronan potentially dying for her.

Tyler turned away. He reached for the doorknob but stopped before actually touching it. “Sometimes, you don’t have to say a word in order to make a confession.”

What did that even mean?

Tyler glanced back at her. “Ronan didn’t say he loved you.”

Wonderful. Another knife straight to her heart.

“But he does.”

Oh, that was sweet. She had to blink away tears. The U.S. Marshal was trying to make her feel better by lying to her. “It’s okay,” she assured him. “You don’t need to tell me that story. I love him, and my feelings won’t change.”

His expression just hardened more. His lips parted.

“Privacy,” Esme said, tone brisk. “Don’t you see the tears in her eyes?Let’s go.” She reached around him and opened the door.

“Some people don’t mind crying when others are around, Esme,” he muttered.

“And some do. Come on.” She dragged him out.

The door clicked closed.

A lone tear slid down Luna’s cheek. Then she spun around and ran toward the bedroom. She threw on fresh clothes as fast as possible. Not like she wanted to leave the island in her bathing suit and cover up. And shewasleaving that island.

Ronan didn’t get to risk his life for her.

She was not going to hide while he faced all the danger. Maybe she could meet him in Key West. Stop him before he jeopardized himself.

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