“What are you doing?” he asked.
“We have a little time,” she said. “Are you sure you’re okay?” She lifted her hand, ruffling his hair. He had a goose egg swelling at the back of his head.
“I’m fine.”
Her heart hammered, but it wasn’t about danger anymore. They were standing so close she could smell the sunshine in his hair. She liked Carter. Liked him. Not just because he’d become a shield between her and the rest of the world. He had integrity, a good sense of humor, and that rare, innate kindness more people needed.
She was fully aware she was naïve about the situation, especially compared to his experience as a professional bodyguard and investigator. Instead of mocking her, he’d found ways to make the worst days of her life bearable. That was priceless.
“Paige?”
She was staring at his mouth, wondering if she dared to kiss him. “I was sure he was going to crush you with that bat.”
“You weren’t the only one,” he confessed, his voice rough. “If he’d knocked me out, what would have happened to you?”
“I would’ve fought for both of us,” she said.
He shook his head. “The correct answer is ‘I would’ve run to safety’.”
“Noted.” But he was her safety. She’d never felt so certain about anyone else. And she’d never felt so certain that if she didn’t kiss him right now, she’d regret it for the rest of her life. He was the one who’d said everyone was responsible for their own happiness. With one hand on his shoulder for balance, she pressed up on her toes and kissed him.
His lips were warm and firm. The tender contact shimmered through her softly like the first glow of a sunrise. Oh, yes, she’d been right to take this chance. She started to ease back, worried she hadn’t just crossed the line, but obliterated it, when his arm banded around her and pulled her back in.
The next kiss was sweeter, better, and she let herself get lost in the sheer pleasure of the man holding her. The last of her fear subsided and all of the questions and secrets faded away, all of her attention centered on the two of them in this wonderful moment.
Reluctantly she eased back, her lips tingling. Only the memory could last. Jayne was expecting them soon and the police would have more questions after they’d left the scene of the last attack.
“Should I apologize?”
“Please don’t.” Carter brushed his knuckles across her cheek. “This isn’t normal for me,” he said.
Her heart skipped. It was more than a normal kiss for her too. “You’re not mad or offended that I, um…” Good grief, just own it. “That I made a move?”
“No. As long as you understand that this isn’t how I typically operate. Keeping it professional has never been a struggle.” He smoothed a loose tendril of hair behind her ear. “You’re different, Paige. Believe me.”
Her heart soared. As long as different was a good thing. Judging by the heat in his golden-brown eyes, different was very good indeed. Maybe, when the family drama and this mess of being a murder suspect was behind her, he’d be open to going out with her on a more traditional type of date.
That sweet bloom of hope was exactly what she needed to stay strong and see this through.
Chapter Ten
That kiss had left Carter’s blood humming, tempting his mind away from the task at hand. They were first to the boathouse, even though Jayne had a head start. If she didn’t show up soon, he’d be forced to assume that she’d bailed. Or worse, was part of a setup. He kept listening for another boat as he scanned the area for any threat.
He couldn’t fault Paige for wanting to think the best of her twin. But it was too soon for Carter to get on board. Jenna’s intel on Jayne hadn’t revealed any red flags so far. That didn’t mean they wouldn’t show up. His job was to protect Paige at all costs, and that included preventing any nasty surprises.
“Here she is,” Paige said. She’d been watching from the shadows of the door. Her hand fluttered, waving him closer. He joined her as her sister approached. Jayne was quick and light on her feet as she hurried down the dock.
“Did you have any trouble?” Paige asked as soon as she stepped inside.
“No. I was watching the street for your car and finally gave up.” Her gaze shot to the boat at the end of the dock. “You came by boat? Did something happen?”
“We were jumped when I used a rideshare app,” Carter explained.
Jayne tilted her head, clearly confused. “Why not just take your car?”
“Same reason we left the park. I couldn’t pinpoint the trouble, but someone was watching the two of you,” he explained. “If you want to call Jack, this might be the most privacy we can get.” Assuming there was privacy on Jack’s end.
Carter checked an app on his phone. “I’m showing your dad is in the house. Or his cell phone is, anyway.” He ignored Paige’s gasp that he’d tagged her father’s cell phone. Blind trust wasn’t in his job description. “Am I making the call?”
After a beat, both women nodded, and he tapped the icon to call Jack, putting it on speaker so they could all hear. Their father answered right away.
“Mr. Coker, this is Carter. You’re on speaker and I have Paige with me. We’d like to speak privately. Is that possible on your end?”
“Yes. I’m alone,” Jack replied. “Is everything okay?”
Not even close.
“We’re safe right now, Dad,” Paige began. “There is someone else here.” She bit her lip. “The woman from the surveillance video is with us. She is my twin sister. Her name is Jayne Salter.”
“What? T-twin sister?” Jack sputtered.
“Identical twins,” Carter said. “We verified and it lines up.”
“How could you take one of us and not the other?” Paige demanded. Her quaking voice, the tears of anger swimming in her eyes cut Carter to the quick.
Jayne slipped closer, lending support to the sister she’d just met. Maybe there was more to the twin bond than anyone understood.
“This is—” Jack swore. “Sweetheart, I didn’t know. I swear I didn’t know.” It sounded as if Jack was crying. “I made arrangements to privately adopt a baby from a young woman at the firm. She confided in me that she wasn’t ready to be a mother.”
“That never changed,” Jayne muttered.
“Your mother and I were struggling to start a family,” Jack continued. “It was a good solution all around.”
“Because you were having an affair with her,” Paige fumed. “Yvette Salter. I know about that too, Dad.”
“Oh, God.” Jack sucked in a breath. “The fact is you are mine, Paige. She denied the pre-natal paternity test, but I didn’t need it. I knew Yvette was hoping I’d leave your mother.”
Paige stalked away. Jayne seemed more curious than hurt.
“Sir, for the sake of the case, can you walk me through that adoption?” Carter asked.
“I convinced her to let me adopt her baby. Cora would finally be a mom and Yvette would be out of our lives. I found her a position with another company and personally covered all of her medical expenses. A lawyer I knew through a networking group handled everything for us. He drew up the contract with terms of the adoption, Yvette’s surrender of parental rights and everything else.”