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I don’t know who this fucker thinks he is, but there is no way he is making this vacation worse than it already feels. “Don’t start.” I’m not in the mood for his whiplash personality today.Wait. How the fuck did he find me?
“You answer me first, what are you doing here, how did you fi—” I know exactly how he found me. Bridget. She is the only person who knew the location of this beach house. Well, other than Jace.
“Bridget.” I sigh, dropping my shoulders. No matter what happens on this earth, I cannot be annoyed at Bridget. Every decision that woman makes benefits other people.
Cash barges past me into the beach house, and I close my eyes trying not to get lost in his smell. I can’t have him this close to me. My head is so messed up, and him being here makes it worse.
“Cash,” I say as gently as possible. His gaze runs over the open-plan living room before he places one hand on his hip, then runs his other hand through his stubble and drops his head, staring at the floor like he doesn’t know what to do or say. Neither of us do. I know he knows he shouldn’t be here.
“You need to go,” I whisper.
“I can’t,” he says as his gaze meets mine, his shoulders droop and his eyes scrunch together. I take a controlled, deep breath as the lump forms in my throat. I can’t cry, I can’t break in front of him. I need to be strong.
I glance up. His squinted eyes penetrate me as his brows furrow. Every ounce of strength leaves me as a tear escapes and slips down my cheek.
“Please, Cash. Please.”
He takes a few steps toward me. “Stop.” I put my hand up.
His hands raise in front of him as he stops. “Look, I know I shouldn’t be here. You don’t think I haven’t beaten myself up on the flight here. Do you know how much it took for me to come here.” He points to his chest. “You promised us, after what happened, you wouldn’t be anywhere on your own.” He levels me with a glare.
I huff out a laugh. He’s being ridiculous. “Cash. C’mon. I’m safe here. No one know—”
“You’re not safe anywhere,” he bellows, his hands tightening into fists. He scoffs, throwing his hands up in the air before dropping them to his sides again. “You were kidnapped, Rylee.” The reminder has me dropping my chin to my chest.
“What part of that don’t you understand? He is still out there, his sick obsession with you won’t stop. He’s still hunting you. You will never be safe until he’s found.” Cash’s heavy breaths are all that can be heard in the silence that follows. He has brought everything to the surface again, the kidnapping, the obsession James has with me . . . the price Jace paid because of me. The tears fall freely and land on the tiled floor at my feet.
“Rylee.” Cash’s voice cracks. “I don’t mean to shout. You worried us. Toni has been beside herself.” That little bit of information makes me feel bad. I knew if I told her where I was going, she either wouldn’t let me or would’ve demanded to come with me. I needed this time on my own, but it looks like that isn’t going to happen.
“I’m sorry I worried you.” I glance up at him. His blue eyes, that stand out even more due to the sunken shadows underneath, stare back at me.
“I’m sorry I worried everyone. I just needed it. I need this time on my own. To think, to grieve. So much has happened since losing Jace, I didn’t think it could get any worse, but it has, and I don’t know how to process it all.” Cash stands there in silence, staring at the floor near my feet.
He sighs, raking his hands through his overgrown wavy ball of hair on top of his head. It’s normally styled to perfection. “I know, but I’m sorry, I can’t leave you on your own.” He looks down at his feet, and rocks back and forth while pushing his hands into the pockets of his gray sweat shorts.
“If you still want to stay and have your alone time, that’s fine. I will stay out of your way as much as possible, but I’m staying. I’m not leaving this island without you.” He walks toward the front door before disappearing outside. I hesitantly follow, thinking he has rented somewhere nearby. There are other beach houses along the shoreline, but they are at least fifty yards apart. I’m stunned when he grabs a suitcase and walks back toward the door.
“Ahh, what are you doing?” My eyes flick to his suitcase and then to him.
“I’m staying here. In the beach house with you.”
Chapter twenty
Rylee
“You,what!?”Myeyesnearly leave their sockets. There’s no way Cash is staying here with me. I block the entrance to prevent him moving past me. He raises one brow at me. I cross my arms over my chest. Then he huffs and stands in front of me with his suitcase to one side and his duffel in the other hand.
“You’re not staying here on your own. I will sleep in the bedroom next door. You will barely know I’m here.” His eyes flick between mine.
“Having you here won’t make it easy for me to relax,” I grind out, slightly annoyed because I know I won’t be winning this. Cash does what he wants.
“I have lots of work to do. I have my laptop; I will be on calls and meetings most of the time. If you need to pop into town to grab some things, that’s the only time you will have to spend time with me.” As much as I don’t want him here, it makes me sad that he feels he has to say that. Our gazes meet in a silent battle, a frown appears on his face, showing me anything but annoyance. His tired eyes that move between mine and his deflated shoulders tell me he doesn’t like the fact he had to say that either, and he just wants me safe. The final thought has me hesitantly nodding at him, and I step aside.
He walks in and studies the area.
“It’s down the hall, second door on the left,” I say, assuming he is looking for the bedroom. He turns toward me, thinned-lipped, and nods before stalking off to the room. He disappears, and then I drop myself onto the sofa which overlooks the sea. My eyes follow the movement of the waves, and I take calming breaths. I need to get out of here and away from him.
He thinks being here is so innocent, but it’s not, just having him in there brings everything back. My guilt and confusion are the reasons I came here, and with him near, it’s consuming me again.
