Page 7 of Dream (Fighting Fate)

“It is a good plan,” I said, trying not to crush her completely. “I just think I’d rather do things on my own. Go at my own pace, if you know what I mean.”

She pressed her lips together as she contemplated my words. “Okay. You’re right. You should go at your own pace. I can appreciate that.”

I could tell she wasn’t totally happy with me not jumping on board with her plan, but I was not going to use my aunt as my ‘wingman,’ or anything else. “Well, I’m going to go shower and get this salt off me. Do you need help with dinner?”

Any sadness that may have been lingering in her eyes vanished in a heartbeat. “Oh, no. This isn’t dinner. I’m just prepping some snacks for the week. We’re going out for dinner. Dress nice.”

As I started up the stairs, I couldn’t help but get the feeling she was up to something. And after the conversation we just had, I was terrified it revolved around boys.

What the hell was I in for?

Chapter 6

Josh

I woke with the memory of my dream still clinging to my consciousness. Pressing the pillow into my face, I groaned, trying to force the image of the girl from the beach from my head. She was going to drive me insane at this rate.

Keeping my thoughts away from her had been more difficult than it should’ve been these past twelve hours. I just wished I knew if she had recognized me or not. Like I said, it was always the shy ones I had to worry about most. They were the ones who went back to their phones and called all their friends to tell them whom they’d just seen. It was always a catastrophe of epic proportions.

Stretching, I rolled from the bed, knowing there was no point in putting it off any longer. If the girl had spread the word, a shit storm would definitely be waiting for me. The thought made me edgy.

Pulling on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt, I ran my hands over my hair and made my way downstairs to the security room. As expected, Daniel was seated in the main chair, watching the numerous monitors mounted to the wall. Thankfully, I couldn’t see any crowds of people standing outside the gates.

“Hey,” I said, plonking myself down on the chair beside him. “Any movement?”

He sat back and swiveled in his chair to face me before shaking his head. “Nope. Not a thing. But you know as well as anyone that doesn’t mean much.”

As much as I knew he was speaking the truth, and that momentum could sometimes be slow to get going, relief loosened the tension in my chest. I smiled and edged forward in my chair, ready to head to the kitchen. “Yep, but for now, I’m happy, and coffee is calling.”

“Josh,” he said, his voice stern, “even if the girl didn’t recognize you, it won’t be long before she does. She’s staying right next door, using the beach. We need to talk about what we’re going to do about this. What if she invites a bunch of friends around?”

Lance appeared in the doorway, curiosity making his eyes scrunch up a little. “He’s right, Josh. We need to put some plans of action into place.”

Letting my head fall back, I sighed. I knew they were right, but I just wanted my goddamn vacation. I didn’t want to think about security, and watches, and restrictions. I wanted to do whatever the hell I felt like doing. And, to be honest, I didn’t want to think that such a pretty girl could ruin my vacation so easily.

Trying to bite back my irritation, I met Daniel’s gaze just as Corey and Cain crowded in behind Lance. “Fine,” I said, unable to hide how annoyed I was. “Everyone sit the fuck down and we’ll talk strategy, then.”

Corey raised his eyebrow with amusement as he slid into a chair across from me. “You want to go back to your rent-a-cops?”

I gave him a dry look, only just refraining from giving him the bird. “Yes.”

Cain laughed. “Fuck off you do.”

Groaning, I huffed like a petulant child. “I just want my fucking vacation. I bought this fucking house because it was secluded.”

“You bought this house because it has a beach,” Lance said, not willing to take any of my bullshit. I wanted to tell him I paid him to take my bullshit, but I knew I’d only cop more shit from them if I did.

“A private beach,” I said, matching his dry tone. “A beach that is shared with only one other house. A house that is owned by a single woman in her thirties who’s hardly ever there. There’s not supposed to be young girls walking around out there where I want to be relaxing.”

“But there is,” Daniel said, his tone firm and not at all forgiving. “And we need to work out what we’re going to do about it.”

“One of us could always go down there and speak to them. We could ask that they only use their half?” Cain suggested, scratching his chin.

“And what?” I asked. “Draw a fucking line in the sand? What do we do if they cross it? Shoot them?”

“Jesus, man,” Cain said, his eyes narrowing. “I’m just making a fucking suggestion. You don’t have to be such a dick.”

Daniel rubbed his forehead and sighed. “I think the first thing we should do is talk to Ms. Maxwell, the owner of the house,” he said, sitting forward. The fact that he knew the woman’s name when I didn’t, reminded me why I’d hired him. “Amy and I could go down there and introduce ourselves as friendly neighbors, and we’ll try to get an idea of how long they’re planning on staying there. Who knows, maybe they’re only there for a few nights. If that’s the case, then we can just lay low for a while.”

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