Page 49 of Sheltered By Love

“You switched the alarms on though?”

She frowns at me as she puts her seatbelt on and doesn’t even bother to reply.

Felicity

I did it.

I actually did it.

Not only did I talk myself into coming here, but I also managed to do something that seemed to have genuinely been appreciated.

After being terrified about intruding, I was met with nothing close to malice but more than a few curious glances.

It’s given me a view of what a truly remarkable sense of community Blueskin Bay has.

It’s also given me more insight into just how integral the Reid family is to this place.

My initial awkwardness soon gave way to a sense of awe at how volunteers appeared out of nowhere then banded together and seemed to work as one unit.

Everyone seemed to know exactly what to do and where to go. But seeing Zane step windswept from the boat, smelling of salt and diesel with his arm wrapped around a skinny boy with sad blue eyes made more than my heart swell.

I’m pretty sure my ovaries did too.

Zane is quiet on the drive back and wearing a deep frown as rain splatters over the wind shield.

“People are going to notice I drove you home.”

So that’s what’s bothering him. He just rescued a young boy at sea and he’s concerned about driving me home?

“Don’t worry. Nicki was too preoccupied to ask me any questions,” I say.

He glances at me. “What about other people?”

I scrunch up my nose as I try to recall. Most people weren’t interested in me. It wasn’t until the call came in that Noah was safe that a few people wanted to chat.

None of them asked me any questions that involved Zane Reid.

“I spoke to Maggie. She asked about Roger. And a friend of Nicki’s mentioned a dance in a week. She wanted to know if I was going. I told her if I was, it would be alone.”

Zane’s face tightens. “Good. She was probably digging. You should probably go. Dance with a few guys. Just to make it look good.”

I choke out a laugh. “Make what look good?”

“I’m just saying. It wouldn’t hurt to show up. It’s completely out of your usual routine. You’re seen at the dance it gives the burglars an opening they might take.”

I relax my shoulders a little. “And you’ll be there ready and waiting?’

“Everybody knows I don’t go to these things. No one will notice if I’m missing.”

I chew on that for a little. No surprise he’s not the dancing kind. I can’t exactly see him in that setting.

I don’t think I’ve seen him relax once since he moved in next door. “What about your backup? Will Levi and Jaxson be at the dance?”

He nods. “Levi will take any opportunity to make an ass of himself. And the Outrigger supplies the grog and music so Jax will be there. Garrett will be on duty, but I’m not worried. If it comes to it, I can handle things.”

I can only guess what handling it looks like to Zane. Probably something like he looked the night he barged into my bedroom half naked, dripping wet, and brandishing a gun.

Equally terrifying and exciting.

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