AllFreeNovel
Share Us
No way could she let him know that the illogical dreams she’d harbored about him the past year had all but solidified in her mind over the past two days. Being close to him, touching him, pretending to be dating, teasing, laughing, being there for Beau. She’d believed she and Ike had a chance.
Now those dreams were all exploding into a tattered mess, leaving debris and ash in their wake. For the first time in a long time, she didn’t want to be strong, to fight, to protect. She wanted to rush back to Ike and beg him to hold her, take the responsibility and burden away while she was in his arms, figure out how to fight side by side, and someday he could grow to love her.
Thankfully she was strong enough that she kept walking, and she didn’t think the way her body trembled from emotion would be noticeable to him.
Chapter
Fifteen
Ike spent another miserable night. He’d set up extra cameras and sensors in Beau’s suite earlier today. He had all the alerts on, so he knew when Beau went to the bathroom. He didn’t know how the stalker had gotten in last night and it nagged at him. He really liked all of Beau’s security guys and was tempted to agree that none of them would betray him, but even if the staff had the codes they wouldn’t be able to bypass all the cameras and sensors.
Mostly, he was focused on wanting to pound on Myra’s door and hold her for a long, long time. She understood his pain and his life path. He knew she wouldn’t push him to be in a relationship, but couldn’t they hug and talk and just be together for now?
No. That was selfish of him to even think and unfair to Myra to confuse her. He didn’t know if he’d ever forget her deep-brown eyes filled with tears, lifting the moisture off her cheek, wanting to be there to hold her every time she cried and try to prevent any sad tears from filling her beautiful eyes. He suspected he’d caused those tears with his mixed messages. What a mess.
Friday morning, they all woke early and lifted weights. All three of them were quiet and focused. Beau turned the music really loud and that helped. After the workout, they ate breakfast then researched the stalking situation, but even Tippin had no leads. He could confirm that at four a.m. the video feed had been tampered with, but that was it. Tippin had accounted for the comings and goings of all the house staff that night and early in the morning. None of them seemed suspicious.
It was chilling to think the Star Stabber had been in Beau’s bedroom while he slept and either one of the security guards had to be in on it, or this Star Stabber was singularly impressive and talented. He had killed five famous people, bypassing their security and not getting caught.
The afternoon was spent at another high school. A huge crowd was there to watch. Beau was in his element and looked happier than he had since the debacle with Bermuda last night. Of course the videos and photos from the hockey incident were all over the media.
Friday night Trevor had off. The security guys brought Thai food takeout up to the house. They ate and then Beau talked Ike and Myra into playing in the pool with him. Ike was surprised that they had fun and he and Myra both finally relaxed. Well, as relaxed as he could be with how incredible she looked in her swimsuit.
The three of them took turns doing their best tricks off the diving board. Beau won with a back flip, one-eighty combo. Then they competed with swim races, holding their breath, and acted like kids with him and Beau seeing how high they could launch Myra into the air. Touching Myra clouded his mind and made him long to take another chance on love.
After they showered, they watched a movie. As they checked his suite and said goodnight, Beau thanked them both for being there. Ike realized he thought of Beau as a friend.
Myra was great to be around, and he wanted to be her friend and more. He’d shut himself off from everybody but Aiden the past two years, and having friends to laugh and mess around with made him realize how lonely he was. Myra wasn’t just someone to eradicate that loneliness; she was special to him.
Saturday, after their workout, Beau talked them into playing in the ocean. Two of the bodyguards watched from the beach. They surfed for a couple hours. Beau was the only one who could carve, but Ike and Myra at least learned to ride the waves in. Then they boogie boarded. Ike’s chest was chafed from the board, but he kept riding the waves. They all laughed and had a lot of fun. Ike thought he was doing better at not gawking at Myra like a teenager, but Beau gave him a few teasing looks that said he wasn’t hiding it as well as he thought.
After lunch, they lounged next to the pool while Myra and Ike went over every angle of the Star Stabber. No new ideas and a lot of frustration, but he loved talking with Myra, staring at her beautiful face, and listening to her ideas. Divine Destiny was still coming up clean, but how deep had they delved into Donavon and Bermuda? Beau scowled when they asked about Bermuda, but they had to check every angle. He agreed Donavon had the most reason to hate him.
That night, they got Indian takeout and played silly card games like Hokie Six and Monopoly Deal, laughing and teasing like good friends. If only he could be more than friends with Myra.
Ike was drawn to her and questioning why they couldn’t make a relationship work. Then he thought of how he’d feel if she was killed or the guilt of leaving her behind if he died. It wasn’t just a theoretical exercise; Ike knew that pain well. Not only would it be worse with someone he was so much closer to, but he could never put Myra through that. In their line of work, both were high probabilities.
Myra’s phone rang.
“Don’t you dare take that,” Beau demanded. “I’m actually winning this time.”
Myra smiled, but after she glanced at her phone, she said, “I need to take this.”
“We can wait,” Ike said quickly.
“All right,” Beau drawled out.
Myra nodded to them, stood, and hurried out the back patio doors. Ike watched her go. Even her leaving the room made him wish she’d come back. What was happening to him and what should he do about it?
Standing, he paced to the fridge, pulled out a Perrier, and twisted off the lid. He drank a long swallow, appreciating the bite in his throat.
“Dude. You’re a bigger mess than I am,” Beau said, reclining in one of the dining room chairs and smirking at him.
“Excuse me?” Ike knew Beau was right but wondered what the guy was seeing.
“You and Myra. Are you two really together or what? It’s almost like you’re doing the fake relationship thing with her too.”
Ike focused on drinking the carbonated water and watching Myra pace the patio with the phone to her ear.
