Page 27 of Beyond the Blue Horizon
My jeans were soaked to nearly the thighs, so I shucked out of them, too, then I went ahead and tossed my tee onto the growing pile on the floor.
Wearing only my underwear, I leaned over and grabbed my phone from the back pocket of my jeans, then strode over to the fire and plopped onto the leather lounger in front of it.
My place was similar in style to the rest of the cabins on the property, though larger. Everything full scale and not meant to be temporary.
The kitchen on the left side of the great room and the living area to the right.
A wall of windows with a massive sliding door led out to the balcony that overhung the placid waters that lapped underneath.
On the left of the kitchen were stairs that led to the second floor.
Thanks to Raven, the baby sister of one of my crew, the décor was done in warm cabin browns, the same as she’d insisted upon for every room at the motel since she’d been the one to help me decorate.
Ensuring the cover was legit and this motel didn’t look like some run-down hovel.
Most of the guests were legit.
But the ones who weren’t? They were the only ones that counted to me.
My stomach fisted as my mind went sailing right back for the one staying in Unit B. Some strange thing inside me warning me how easily she’d come tocount. Invading all logic in a beat.
There was no stopping myself from flicking into my phone to the text that I’d sent her earlier. One that had remained unanswered all evening, not that I’d expected a reply.
Me
This is Theo.
When I’d delivered the food, she’d basically snatched the bags out of my hands and slammed the door in my face.
Now, I stared at the three simple words, wondering why the fuck I couldn’t seem to evict the woman from my brain. My fingers hovered over the screen.
I was only checking on her, I rationalized. That was it.
What could that hurt?
I tapped out a message.
Me
You have everything you need?
So much time passed that I didn’t think she would reply, five minutes dragging by like a fucking eon before my phone finally buzzed where I balanced it on my thigh.
Piper
We’re fine.
Could feel the tumult that came with her response. Like it took her everything to offer that tiny bit.
A storm.
That’s what she was.
With that flowing river of white hair and the fire in those eyes.
Me
How was dinner?
