Page 73 of Wired Strong

“Perhaps it can be arranged someday.” Sophie sipped her juice until Tran handed her a large wooden bowl. The rice filling the bowl was redolent of spices, and filled with bits of egg and sautéed vegetables. “Eat all of that,” Tran admonished. “You’re eating for two.”

“They even have that saying in the Philippines,” Connor said.

“And it’s perfectly true.” Sophie picked up her fork and dug in.

* * *

An hour or so later,Sophie and Connor made their way down the long path from the house to the bay. The Yam operatives accompanying them had secreted themselves around the area, keeping watch.

Connor had shown Sophie the surveillance cameras he’d had installed, inside and outside the house as well. If only these security measures brought more ease; but Pim Wat was better at hunting human prey than any of these men. True, there was only one of her and many of them, and this location was remote with difficult access, too.

But Sophie didn’t feel safe. She’d already told Connor that she wouldn’t bring Armita and Momi out for her custody month to stay at Pali Island until Pim Wat was captured, as tempting as the water and sand looked, and as much as she knew the toddler would enjoy it. “Until Mother is caught, I’m staying home. I’m secure in my building, and at my father’s when I’m not with Momi and Armita at Pendragon Arches.”

“I understand,” Connor said, but the shadow in his eyes only darkened.

They still weren’t even close to where they’d been as friends in the past.

The two of them came out from beneath thekamanitrees, whose spreading branches and large leaves cast such effective shade. The sun-struck sand was hot, and Sophie ran to the water, untying her sarong and tossing it aside. She dove in, and swam underwater as far as she could, opening her eyes to see the lacy patterns of light against the white sand bottom, and the darting of fish. Her eyes stung from the salt water, but it was worth it.

When she came up, blowing water off her lips, Connor arose beside her at the same time, and she smiled to see how perfectly he’d matched her. They floated in deeper water off the shore, treading water. Sophie lay back, floating, and he did too.

Long moments went by. Sophie watched the clouds overhead. “This feels so good,” she said, rolling over to face him.

“I’ve missed you,” Connor said. His eyes were the color of the turquoise ocean.Such beautiful eyes.Such a beautiful man.

“I’ve missed you too,” Sophie whispered.

Connor reached for her, hooking a hand around the back of her neck to draw her up against his body. His lips met hers in a kiss.

Sophie shut her eyes, reluctant to hurt him, but it felt wrong—not just the lack of chemistry they’d had the last time they’d tried to be intimate. Now the wrongness was something visceral, something deeper.

She pulled away and dove underwater, swimming back towards the shore.

She stood up when she was waist deep, and Connor joined her a few minutes later. “I’m sorry. I had to try.”

“That part of our relationship is over, Connor. I thought about it too, but I’m not ready. It’s too soon after Jake. It’s also that—we had our chance, and we’re different now.”

His eyes were still the color of the sea around them.He was as magnetic as the Master had been.Sophie would never forget the effect of the Master in person; the hypnotic, commanding quality of his violet eyes. Connor had that same presence, now.

“You’re becoming him.” Sophie covered her mouth with her hand. “It’s frightening.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of, too.” Connor took her hand and pressed it against his chest, over his heart. “You remind me of who I was. Of my best self. Don’t stay away too long.”

He let go of her hand and walked onto the beach.

Sophie turned and swam out into the bay. She stayed in the water as long as she could, swimming laps back and forth. A little piece of her heart had broken off at what was happening to him, to them. But she didn’t want to face him, either.

Sophie finally came in when she heard a helicopter overhead, and saw it descend toward the house. She wrapped up in the sarong and made her way up the path to the mansion, still unable to detect any of the ninjas supposedly deployed around the area. Meanwhile, the chopper took off again.

Nam, dignified in a loose-fitting smock, met her outside the front door. “The Master had to return home. An emergency at the compound. He said to stay as long as you like.”

“Thank you, Nam. I can’t stay long. I only have a few more days until it’s my turn to care for Momi.”

Nam smiled. “How is our Little Bean?” He and Kupa had become attached to Sophie’s daughter through her visits to Phi Ni.

“As naughty and busy as ever, but I told Connor—the Master—that I couldn’t bring her out here until Pim Wat is captured.”

“I understand.”

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