Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 59304 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59304 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
He playfully nudges me, tantalizing physical contact. “If I gave you a choice, you might say no. I’m not crazy, Siena. I’m not taking that risk.”
“I disagree about the crazy part, but okay…”
“So, you think I’m nuts?” he teases as we leave the restaurant and walk across the warm, golden sand of the beach.
“The definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result, right?”
“You think my pursuing you makes me insane. From where I’m standing, not pursuing you would make me nuts.”
“You’re so infuriatingly persistent.”
“I’m just addicted to your guilty smiles.”
I look out at the stunning horizon so that he can’t see another of my smiles, which he loves so much.
“Just so you know, there’s going to be no funny business in my room. I’ve got stuff to do.”
“What sort of animal do you take me for?”
I’ll break every bone…
“You don’t want me to answer that,” I say.
We walk down the short pier to my room.
“What the hell?” I murmur when I see the door swinging on its hinges. “I locked the door.”
“Are you sure?”
“Certain.”
Dario walks ahead of me. “Stay here. Don’t come in unless I tell you to.”
His tone has changed, becoming low and commanding.
He forces the door open with his shoulder. I hear him stomping around, voice raised. “Hello? If someone’s in here, you better show yourself.”
A door slams and then closes.
“Siena,” he calls. “You can come in.”
I enter the room and gasp.
Someone trashed it completely, tipping over my bed, leaving the drawers and closet in pieces as if someone kicked them, with clothes strewn everywhere.
CHAPTER 14
DARIO
“Idon’t understand why anyone would do this,” she says, sitting on the edge of the bed and staring down at a pile of her clothes. “It’s like someone wants this all to go wrong.”
“How do you mean?”
She looks up at me with an unmistakable note of embarrassment. “Forget I said that.”
“No, Siena. Explain.”
She wrings her hands together. Her eyes look lost and depressed, and it angers me. I hate the idea that anyone thinks they have the right to do this to her.
“First, it started with the boat tour, then there are all the problems I’ve had with vendors canceling and giving me the runaround. Not to mention the rocks–I mean, we scouted that location. The rocks weren’t loose.” She sighs. “I know how this sounds.”
“It sounds like you’re rightfully concerned,” I tell her.
“You’re the first person who hasn’t acted like I’m crazy for thinking any of this.”
Little does she know, there’s every reason to suspect someone’s playing dirty.
Eddy.
“Let’s collect your things and move them to my room.”
She stands. “What? Why?”
“I’m not leaving you here knowing someone’s done this, Siena. I wouldn’t forgive myself if something happened to you. I’ve got a suite. I’ll take the couch.”
She swallows and smooths her hands down her shirt. “I’m not sure if that’s a good idea.”
I wink. “Scared you won’t be able to keep your hands off me?”
She’s not smiling. “Does this seriously seem like the time for jokes?”
“Hey–I’m sorry.” I take her hands gently. “You’re right. I meant what I said. I don’t want to leave you. I wouldn’t forgive myself. Stay with me. I’ll be on my best behavior.”
“Maybe I could… but as friends, that’s all.”
“Sure, friends.”
“Try to say that without sounding sarcastic.”
“I don’t think I can.”
She looks around the room, sighs. I want to pull her into a hug to relieve some of her stress, but then she might not agree to stay with me if she thinks I’m going to try something.
“I need to work today.”
“Exactly.” I squeeze her hand supportively. “Which means you can’t spend time worrying about this. Let me worry about it for you.”
She nods. “Okay.”
“Where’s your bag? As we collect your stuff, we can see if this jackass took anything.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Whoever did this took nothing, meaning it was a message, not theft. We pack Siena’s suitcase and then carry it to my hut. I moved some cushions and a blanket to the couch.
“I can take the couch,” Siena says.
“Seriously, don’t worry about it.”
She bites down, looks from the couch to the bed a few feet away, and across the glass floor that shows the ocean beneath.
“I think I’m going to put a sheet up.”
I laugh. “A sheet?”
She glares. “We’re not sharing a room. These are two separate rooms. There just isn’t a wall. That’s how I’m thinking of it, and that’s how I want you to think of it too. Don’t laugh at me–don’t make this harder than it has to be.”
I tenderly touch her shoulders. “I’m sorry. If putting a sheet up makes this easier for you, go ahead. I’ll even help.”
We grab a fresh sheet from the closet and tether it to the rafters. It drapes across the room.
“Do I knock on the sheet if I need something?” I joke.