Page 4 of Shielding Lexi (Temptation)

“I was going to get dinner started anyway,” Hawk says, turning toward the kitchen.

Kane says nothing but lifts his book, burying his nose behind its thickness, as though that’s all he has to say on the matter.

They know I need this time to grill her, figure out what I can while she’s still fresh from a nap, and I know they don’t agree with a fucking second of it. But if I’m going to figure out who the hell this girl is, it’s going to be with questions, not cookies and juice boxes.

Besides, they’ve obviously gone blind to reality. One pretty, young, blonde and they’d risk their lives for her. I know better. Beautiful women are decoys all the time.

As we step outside the cabin, she wobbles and shields her eyes from the setting sun. She’s short and weak. In reality, whoever sent her wasn’t thinking things through, because she can barely stand on her own. I mean, I get making a drowning look real, but this is just ridiculous.

“What’s your deal?” I ask, gripping her arm to steady her.

“My deal?”she says, using her other hand to block the rays.

“Yeah, your deal. You know I’m onto your game so just spill it.”

She nods slowly, then pulls her arm from mine, standing on her own as she turns abruptly and strides down toward the shore.

“Oh, you mean the deal where I wash up on some strange island and pretend to forget everything for everyone’s entertainment?” She smiles. “Yeah, well… it’s just a fun thing I like to do. It keeps life fresh.”

I rather like the sassiness, but I wouldn’t admit it. Instead, I crack the top of the water bottle and hand it to her. “So you forgot everything? Even your name?”

She nods, looking out to sea as she answers. “It’s so weird, like my memory is right on the tip of my tongue. Where are we anyway?”

“Caribbean,” I say. “A few hundred miles off the coast of Miami.”

She pauses and looks out at the turquoise water as though she’s trying to remember if any of that rings a bell. I have to say, she should win an Oscar for this performance.

“So if you don’t remember your name, what do you want to be called?” I ask, playing into her charade for the time being.

She glances toward me then out toward the water, but my gaze stays fixed on the long blonde hair that’s flicking back in the breeze.

“How about Lexi? I feel like I’ve always liked that name.” She smiles and looks back out at the water. “Is that boat coming for us?” she gasps, pointing toward a motor boat speeding in our direction.

It’s the Daggers’ boat, and I’m not sure what the hell they’re doing this far south if it’s not to mess with me.

“Fuck!” I grab her by the waist to drag her up the sand dune and behind a bush.

Lexi lets out a scream as she balls up her fists and fights me, smashing all over my forearms. “What are you doing? That boat is coming to rescue me. I have to—”

“Shh…” I say, setting her down behind a grove of palm trees. “That boat is most definitely not trying to rescue you.”

She narrows her eyes and looks up at me with the confusion of a child, and for a second, she has me convinced of her story.

“They’re not good guys,” I say, still holding her in place as I peek through the leaves. My heart slams against my chest as I wait for the boat to pass.

“If they’re not good guys, who are they?”

I pull her down into the dirt behind the brush. “Fuck you ask a lot of questions.”

She narrows her eyes. “Wouldn’t you?”

I roll my eyes and look back out at the horizon. “I don’t ask questions,” I growl, still watching the Daggers’ boat close as it pursues the island. “I get answers.”

I don’t bother to look toward her, but I can feel the grimace on me.

“That’s the same thing,” she finally says. “Who are these guys?”

I look at her quickly and study her face. She’s really good at pretending like she doesn’t know who these fuckers are. “You ever heard of the Devil’s Daggers?”

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