Page 4 of Hideaway Reunion

Now, when he was close, there was an edge. A zip of electricity that stole her breath, compelling her to stare and soak in the incomparable view.

Pretty much the way she was doing right now.

He was her friend, sure, but he stood there, feet braced, hands loose, that shredded body locked in and ready to spring into action. A warrior willing to be her shield.

Her heart fluttered and she wasn’t mad about it.

“You. Um. Hi?” How on earth had he managed to be here exactly when she needed the backup?

The surveyor shifted, drawing her attention. His smirk faltered as he registered Brayden’s size and the quiet promise of violence. “We’re just doing our jobs, man.”

“Your job is on the other side of the trees,” Brayden said, his voice like the rumble of thunder before the storm breaks. He stood directly beside Veronica, his shoulder brushing hers, radiating a protective heat that steadied her. “Ms. Hargrave told you to get off her property. You have five seconds to pick up your gear and go, or I’ll assist you. Trust me, I won’t be gentle.”

The bold surveyor swallowed hard. With a nod to his partner, they took their gear and aimed for the trees. “This isn’t over,” he said when he was several paces out of Brayden’s reach. “Indigo Reef has the right of way here.”

“Keep walking.” Brayden started forward and the men picked up the pace.

They watched in silence as the men disappeared into the shadowy tree line. Within a minute, there was some shouting, then a sudden ringing silence as heavy machinery was turned off.

Veronica let out a long breath, bracing her hands on her knees. “Maybe we won’t even have the diesel engines to contend with tonight. Not that anyone will be here to complain.” She leaned slightly into Brayden, just for a second, absorbing his strength before pulling herself back together. “Thank you. He was... he was deliberately trying to intimidate me. It was working.”

“Nah. You could’ve taken him.” With a smile, Brayden turned, his hands coming up to grip her shoulders. His touch was warm, firm, and instantly grounding. The raw, fierce temper in his eyes made her heart skip a beat. “Seriously. Are you okay?”

Her chin bobbed. “I’m fine.” She took the advice she often gave to clients, breathing slow and easy. “Just angry. And tired. They’re escalating, Brayden.” She explained the situation with the current—former—guests. “They’re pulling these stunts to drive us out of business.”

His thumbs brushed lightly against her collarbone, a subconscious gesture of comfort that sent a sizzling jolt straight down her spine. “We won’t let them succeed, Roni. This house, this beach is your place. That’s not changing.”

Veronica looked down, suddenly aware of how close they were standing, the scent of his skin—salt, cedar, and sunshine—wrapped around her. “We’re lucky Betty Jo had room for the Devaneys. Celeste knows the numbers, but if this keeps up…” She didn’t have the heart to finish the sentence.

Brayden’s expression softened. He was the one person she allowed to see her when she slipped out of her typical neutral, peacekeeping mode. “We’ll figure this out, Roni. I promise.”

She believed him. Believed in his desire to help. His friendship had never let her down. But this was different. She turned away, walking toward the ripple of waves coming ashore, grateful to have him by her side.

“How do we fix this?” she asked, hearing the despair creeping into her voice. “I’m having nightmares that one morning those trees and scrub will just be gone.”

“They can’t. The state would shut down the development and assess enough fines to drive them into bankruptcy.”

“If you say so.” She’d tried—and failed—to convince herself of the same outcome. No penalties would restore what the developers happened to destroy in the process. “I called Jess. We need more cameras. Maybe a team on standby. And I’m not leaving the Hideaway unattended.”

“Hey! Want to catch me up?” a new voice called out. Female this time.

Veronica and Brayden both turned to see Jess Billings walking across the beach. Jess had been raised on Brookwell Island, though she’d left for college and then became a cop in Key West. Now that she called this island home again, she was dedicated to protecting the community.

“Jess?” Roni had expected a text, not a personal visit. “Hi.” Between Brayden and Jess, she felt a glimmer of confidence.

“Got here as soon as I could,” Jess said. The breeze caught in her long blonde hair and she quickly twisted it up with a clip. “Your guests are settled elsewhere?”

“Yes. And Brayden showed up in the nick of time.”

Jess scowled. “Meaning?”

“Trespassing.” Roni had to pause, deliberately reeling in the string of fiery curses she wanted to hurl at the developers. “This time they were using survey equipment, claiming the maritime forest is their legal property, right of ways to the beach, and other crap.”

“Other crap means he threatened her,” Brayden said. “Construction accidents happen, that kind of thing.”

Everything about Jess went still, reminding Roni of Brayden’s earlier reaction. For a woman who left the force and was supposedly working a desk job, she still knew how to switch gears into battle mode.

Veronica was more than a little envious. She was fit and capable, but seeing the two of them, she realized the differences between general physical fitness and true capability to deal with high-consequence risks.