Page 43 of Moonlit Hideaway
“Yes,” she whispered. “He was my father’s underboss. He… he wants to marry me and take ownership of my father’s businesses. He’s not going to give up easily.”
“You don’t want to marry him.” It was more of a statement than a question. “I won’t let him lay a hand on you. We have to come up with a plan and work with Sheriff Davis. Maybe even the FBI. I’m sure there’s something he’s done that can lock him away for good.”
“Oh, Hank, you don’t get it, do you? The FBI is dirty, and Marco is taking over all of my father’s connections. The only way is for his rivals to knock him out before he snuffs them. My father didn’t get to the top by calling the police. Now, do you understand why I have to leave?”
Hank caressed her shoulders, his gaze intense and unwavering. “You’re not leaving here without me. You are precious to me, and I… I care about you. I don’t want to lose you.”
“I care about you, too.” Tears pricked her eyes as an overwhelming sensation of loss flooded her. “But I can’t draw you into this deadly web. They’re evil and…”
He put a finger over her lips to quiet her.
“I don’t care. All I know is that I… I’m falling in love with you. I love you, Sierra Rayne.”
Tears brimmed in Sierra’s eyes as she looked up at Hank, seeing the honesty and love in his gaze. Words caught in her throat, and all she wanted was to imprint the image of Hank Whitman, with his rugged outdoor features, his hair tossed by the wind, and his dark-gray eyes—the solid feel of his body and the warmth of his big heart—the hearty laughter that came so easily to him when they were on his skiff, and the scent of the sea and the whip of salt air.
“I’m falling for you, too,” she whispered. “I’ll always, always treasure this little time we have together, but I don’t know if love is enough to fight what’s coming.”
“It’s the only thing we have.” Hank gently brushed her tears away. “We’ll find a way, I promise.”
She looked into his eyes, seeing the strength and love that burned deep inside of him. He would never back down—this, she knew, and he offered a safe haven for her bruised heart and a possible home where love, not power or manipulation, reigned.
“Okay,” she agreed, leaning against him. “But we need a plan. Marco is dangerous, and so is Uncle Tony. I have to be strategic if I’m going to take them down.”
“We’ll do it together. I’ll stand by you, Sierra. I won’t let you fight this battle alone, and neither will the rest of Hattokwa Island.” A smile graced his face despite the circumstances. “One day, you’ll see, it will be worth it all.”
And this time, when they kissed, Sierra allowed herself a tiny ember of hope that the protective glow of Hank’s love was enough, and whether she lived or died, she’d risk every moment for just this. Loving Hank had changed her calculations, and she had a lot to think about, but right in the here and now, she gave herself over to the emotions sweeping over them like the relentless tide over the whispering dunes of time.
Hank had never tasted lips as sweet as Sierra’s, even as they trembled against his own. The way she clung to him, wrapped around him, like he was a life preserver, holding on and trusting him, filled him with a renewed urge to shield her from every storm. She felt so delicate in his embrace, though he knew she put on a brave face. Despite her youth, she had a core of steel and a spirit he never wanted to see quenched.
Amidst the shifting sand, they walked slowly on the moonlit shore. He’d never felt so powerfully drawn to a woman before, and not because she needed him or was weak. Far from it. Sierra Rayne had climbed from the dependency of her mafia family to widespread acclaim, and rather than give up her freedom for security, she was ready to face down the entire mob. That just about made her the toughest badass he’d ever met, and it filled him with both admiration and, if he was honest, a fair amount of doubt whether he was up to the task.
He had a daughter to protect and a mother to honor. And a community at risk. But casting Sierra to the wolves was out of the question. He knew Sheriff Davis’s first priority was to the island, but his heart was already claimed by this playful and courageous woman who rolled in with the tide.
Brushing a windswept lock of hair from her face, he caught the sheen of tears in her eyes as they reflected the pulsing beam from the lighthouse guiding them toward shelter.
“What are you thinking?” Halting their steps, he turned her to face him, tilting her chin.
“That this is the calm before the storm. I don’t know who’s working for whom and whether I can trust any of them—even my mother.”
Hank’s heart ached at the thought of the emotional storm brewing within her. “You won’t face this threat alone. Do you trust me?”
She bit her lip, nodding. “Yes, I know I can trust you. You see right through me, and you… you accept me.”
At those words, Hank’s breath escaped in a rush. He pulled her fiercely against him, his mouth claiming hers in a searing kiss that mingled passion and protection. Sierra melted into him with a soft whimper that ignited every dormant urge he’d had to not only make her his woman but to love and cherish her for a lifetime.
She was sobbing by the time they pulled apart, and he knew the burden of those emotions landed squarely on his shoulders.
“Let’s get you back to bed. Things might look better after a good night’s sleep.” He wrapped his arm around her and guided her up the winding path to the inn. As he looked up at the inn once owned by his in-laws, he thought about family and all that came with it. He’d always been thankful for Chloe’s family and how they’d taken in him and his mother—giving her a job and him a chance. Their warmth and simplicity were a marked contrast to the complicated way Sierra grew up. Yet, despite the complicated background, she’d turned out pure and loving—taking Emma under her wing and helping his mother with the chores. And she’d captured his heart—not with her fame and celebrity—but with the way she stood up for herself while unabashedly belting out her tunes and songs and dancing with abandon when nobody but him was around.
At her door, he clasped her hands, small and trembling within his weathered grip. “Are you going to be okay? I’m right next door if you need me.”
Her misty gaze lifted to his, naked with vulnerability. “I can’t bear to be alone tonight. I need you, Hank. Stay with me, please.”
Hank’s breath caught at the hushed invitation. Unable to resist, he traced her petal-soft cheek, tenderness welling inside him like a bursting dam. Here was this spirited, stubborn woman he’d come to care for, finally letting him see past that protective wall.
He nodded; his voice was gentle but firm. “I’m here, Sierra. I’m not going anywhere.”
Gently, he led her into the room, the door closing behind them with a soft click. The room was bathed in the pale moonlight filtering between the parted curtains, casting a serene glow over everything.
