Page 18 of Deep Waters
Rae bit her lip, tilting her head. She wasn’t used to seeing me act tough. I liked to think I played the happy-go-lucky role with a certain panache. Only on SAR missions did I revert to my more serious side. Using humor and charm to deflect was an art I embraced. My way of dealing with the sorrow and tragedy that came with volunteering for search and rescue. More often than not, we were tasked with recovery missions. Those came with the relief of closure, but no real happy ending.
I still believed in the mission. Believed in keeping my fellow islanders and our guests safe. But each failed rescue left scars. Sometimes coping looked like forgetting or irresponsibility, when it was really caring so damn much that I couldn’t let go.
“I’m glad I have you here with me,” Rae finally said, her voice soft. “When I saw the door was ajar, I was fully prepared to storm into the house and confront whoever was there, self-preservation be damned. But something stopped me, and I called you because I knew you would answer. I knew I could rely on you. Always.”
Her liquid eyes and the trust in her tone filled me with a renewed determination to protect her. “You did the smart thing. The safe thing. Good girl.”
The praise slipped out. I half expected her to call me on it, but she just smirked.
“Does that make you my bad boy?”
There was an edge of teasing in her low alto that scraped along my nerves, setting them afire. “Depends. Are you into bad boys?”
She snorted. “Not particularly.”
“Then, no. I’m a saint.”
She chuckled. “Too bad I’m a sinner then.”
“Rae Dawkins, your idea of rebellion is jaywalking,”I scoffed.
“Careful, Zach. You don’t know what kind of dangerous game you’re playing.”
“No, but sign me up to find out.” I raised my hand. “Is it kinky? Please tell me it’s kinky. I volunteer and everything. Where’s the liability waiver?”
She giggled, swatting my hand down. “Knock it off, Fenwick. There are impressionable children present.”
“Just slide into my DMs with those terms and conditions, Captain.” I added a wink, playing off my flirting as nothing serious. Too aware that if she whipped out a contract, I’d sign it in a heartbeat.
Rae settled on the couch, one lightly tanned arm spread behind Hana’s dark head to stroke her shoulder. The little girl seemed oblivious to the adult drama, intent on her show. She’d already had more than enough tragedy in her young life, losing her dad so young. We didn’t need to add the trauma of a stranger in her house to the mix.
The gravity of a potential break-in struck me all over again, dissolving the laughter that lingered from bantering with Rae. Unable to settle, I drifted around the room.
My instinct was to get them all out of the house. Away from any potential danger. But would that just embolden whoever had gotten inside to try again? Rae was stubborn enough to avoid letting that happen. To protect her turf. I was only stubborn when it came to her safety.
Jia’s house was off the beaten path, even by island standards. Whether I rallied the entire SAR crew to work in shifts or not, it’d be difficult to offer any real protection. Electronic surveillance was the more practical option. I slid a glance at Rae, who at least pretended to be engrossed in Hana’s cartoon.
Her good mood didn’t matter as much as making sure she and the kids were safe.
I texted my older brother, Drew. If he wasn’t too busy at the farm, he could help me.
Zach: Do you still have a camera or two left over from the farm setup?
Drew: Yes, but I’m not letting you use them to get your perv on.
Zach: I don’t need cameras.
Zach: I have eyeballs and women who give it up just because of my purty smile.
Drew: But not your grammar and elocution.
Zach: Whatever, college boy.
Zach: You’re missing the point.
Drew: You had one?
Zach: Someone broke in at Jia’s.
