“And if it turns out she’s broken the law and is a black widow or something?” Mustang asked.
Aleck rolled his eyes. “That woman is no criminal. No fucking way.”
Mustang believed that too. If he didn’t, she wouldn’t be standing patiently waiting for him to bring her up to his apartment. He was a pretty good judge of character, and Elodie Winters needed a champion more than anyone he’d ever met. She wouldn’t ask him to be one for her; he instinctively knew that too. But she’d sealed her fate when she’d pulled the trigger on that rifle back on the Asaka Express. When she’d saved his life, she’d earned the thanks and respect of his team. And if they could help her in return, they would.
“I agree,” Mustang said.
“But seriously, if anything is majorly wrong, call before Monday. Okay?”
“I will,” Mustang promised. “Thanks for hooking us up with your guy today. I had a good time. I’d forgotten how much I enjoy fishing…and just being out on the open water with no agenda.”
“Same. I’ll see you Monday.”
“Later.”
Mustang headed for Elodie. She was standing with her back to the car, gazing out at the sliver of ocean that was just visible off to the side of the complex.
“Ready?” he asked as he approached.
She turned, and he could see the apprehension was back in her gaze. Instinctively, Mustang took a step backward, giving her some space.
“This isn’t a good idea, Scott,” she said softly.
Damn, talking with Aleck had given her time to second-guess his intentions or fret about whatever was going on with her. Mustang slowly took a step toward her, and relaxed when she didn’t tense up or move away from him. “Why did you come to Hawaii, El?”
She stared up at him but didn’t speak.
“Personally, I think this is the best idea you’ve had in a long time. I don’t know why you didn’t get in touch with me right when you got here, but I’m fucking thrilled that I happened to see you today. Maybe you’re trying to let me down easy. Maybe it’s just coincidence that you’re here. Maybe you have a husband and eight kids you’re needing a break from, I don’t know…but I do know that I haven’t been able to get you off my mind for two months. And when I saw you on that boat, it took everything I had not to leap into the water and swim over to you to make sure you didn’t disappear into thin air before I had a chance to talk to you.”
He saw her swallow hard. “I’m not married and I don’t have children,” she said quietly.
That didn’t tell him much…but Elodie walking toward him and resting her forehead against his chest told him everything he needed to know.
Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, Mustang cradled her close. “Come on. I smell like fish and need to change. We’ll get you sorted, get something to eat, then we’ll talk. Okay?”
“I shouldn’t be here,” she said, but she didn’t fight him as he began to walk them toward the entrance to the building.
“But you are,” Mustang said.
She nodded and said nothing more.
They headed to the elevator, and even though no words were spoken between them, Mustang still felt as though they were communicating. He could feel her muscles begin to relax and she leaned against him ever so slightly.
It would take time and patience for her to trust him, but he had a feeling earning that trust would be one of the most satisfying and rewarding things he’d ever do.
Chapter Eight
Elodie stood in Scott’s kitchen and stared out the window above the sink. She could see the ocean from where she was standing, which she loved. All she saw from her windows was the concrete driveway and sometimes her neighbor’s naked butt as he walked around his house. But beggars couldn’t be choosers, and she was grateful she’d been able to find a place she could afford.
She could hear the shower in Scott’s bedroom, and surprisingly it comforted her. For the first time in a very long time, she didn’t feel quite so alone. Though, Elodie knew she should probably leave. Shouldn’t involve Scott or the rest of his team in her problems.
Was Paul still looking for her? Was she running and using a fake name for nothing? She hadn’t seen anyone who looked suspicious in months. She’d done everything she could think of to not bring attention to herself.
She’d never forget how angry Paul was when she’d told him she wouldn’t put the poison into her soup. He could’ve killed her right then, and she figured he might’ve, if there wasn’t a roomful of people waiting to eat the four-course dinner she’d made. If Paul killed her right then, it would’ve brought a lot of attention onto him. So he’d had to go back out and pretend all was well.
The second she’d plated the desserts, Elodie had left. She knew if she’d stayed, she probably wouldn’t have lived to see another sunrise.
But now, after all this time, she was doubting herself. What if she’d acted too impulsively? Yes, Paul had been upset, but did that really mean he was going to kill her?
Sighing, Elodie took another sip of the water Scott had given her when they’d entered his apartment. Honestly, she felt pretty safe here in Hawaii. She had absolutely no connections to the state. There was no way for Paul to know where she was. Even if he saw the news clip of the day the Asaka Express came into Port Sudan, and recognized her, she’d done her very best to leave no clues where she was headed. She’d even lied to Human Resources and told them she’d be headed to Paris to stay with a friend.
So why was she still feeling so unsettled?
“You look like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders.”
Elodie jerked in fright and spun around to see Scott standing in the entryway of the kitchen. He was leaning against the wall, and his gaze seemed too intent. Too knowing.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I thought I made plenty of noise when I came in.”
“No, it’s fine. I was just thinking,” Elodie told him.
He studied her for a long moment. “How about this…how about we spend the rest of the day talking about nothing important? We can get to know each other without worrying about when and how to bring up the elephant in the room.”
Elodie stared at Scott. He was wearing a pair of board shorts that went down to his knees. His legs were tan and there was something especially intimate about seeing his bare feet. He had on a navy-blue T-shirt with the words Leonard’s Bakery on the front. His arms were muscular, and she could see the hint of a tattoo peeking out from the left sleeve of his shirt. It intrigued her and made her wonder what else she didn’t know about him.
At first glance, he looked somewhat gruff, his beard and mustache and muscles making him seem kind of scary, but Elodie had gotten to know him well enough onboard the cargo ship, and she wasn’t scared of him.
Not having the pressure of when, how, or if she was going to tell him about Paul Columbus appealed. For once, just for a little while, she wanted to pretend she was a normal woman.
“What do you think?” he asked when she didn’t answer him.
“I’d like that,” Elodie told him.
“Me too,” Scott admitted. “I mean, I want to help you, if you’ll let me, but I also want to get to know you without you thinking I’m trying to pump you for information. Have no doubt, I do want to know what’s going on with you. Why you’re using fake names. But I can put off my curiosity for a while. I’m just so damn happy you’re here.”