Hunter’s brows rose. “Security?”
I heard the words he didn’t say. Ones that would inquire why I needed a security system when I owned the whole island. “Yeah. With that trouble back in New York, it might be smart. As much as I think having this place to myself will be more than enough protection, I’d rather be extra cautious.”
“I’m sorry you’re getting that much grief. If there’s anything I can do to help, just say the word.”
In that moment, I realized Hunter was one hundred percent genuine. If I’d told him we needed twenty-four-hour patrols, he probably would’ve been the first to sign up for a shift. “Thanks, man. That means a lot. I really just need to know my options when it comes to a system for this place.”
He nodded, his gaze drifting back to the studio and then to the surrounding forest. “You have perfect timing on the studio. We can pre-wire it, and then whatever service provider you use can simply hook it up. I don’t know as much about how you can have an alert for someone unknown docking on the property, but I have a friend you can talk to. Griffin has a killer system at his place on Anchor. He’ll probably have some ideas for where to start.”
“If he’s willing, that would be great.”
Hunter pulled out his phone. “Let me walk up towards the house so I can get some service and I’ll call him.”
“Thank you. I really appreciate you going above and beyond.”
He grinned. “Welcome to small-town life. We look out for each other here.”
It was a new experience, looking out for your neighbors. In my building in New York, I might have known two of my neighbors. And they certainly hadn’t jumped in when I needed help. Then again, I’d never asked. But life on the islands was different. And I just might be a little different, too.
14
Shay
I hit confirm on the final web page and let out a breath. It wasn’t a fortress, but I’d put up a few additional walls between Michael and me. My mail was now being routed from Charlotte to Nashville to Maine and then finally to Anchor. If I just kept changing things around, he wouldn’t find me. And even if he did, I couldn’t imagine him enduring a ferry ride from Seattle, his fear of the water was too intense. Ever since he’d had a scare growing up.
It had been one of the many times my parents had tried to bring us together by going on a family vacation. We’d rented a house on a lake for a week. Fishing off the dock and making s’mores.
Michael had shoved me down when I was taking too long to put on my life jacket, and I’d gotten a nasty gash on my knee. My parents had been examining the injury, trying to decide if I needed stitches when we’d heard a splash. Michael had refused to wait for us any longer and had fallen into the lake while trying to climb onto the boat.
My dad had moved quickly, but Michael had needed CPR to begin breathing again. It had scared him spitless. And he’d refused to go anywhere near water from that day forward. That one incident had given me the only true weapon I had.
I shut my laptop screen and headed for the door. I needed to double-check the generator because the weather report had called for a storm. I started up the path when a familiar voice called out. I turned to see Caelyn waving. Changing directions, I made my way back down the hill. “What are you doing here?”
She motioned to her husband, Griffin, who was in what looked to be an intense discussion with Brody. “Hunter called Griffin because Brody had some questions about what kind of security system to put in. I thought I’d tag along for the ride, hoping I’d get to see you. And here you are.”
I smiled, but my gaze shifted to Brody, wondering if a security system had always been on his list of plans or if it was a new addition after I’d opened up a bit about my brother. “Does Griffin know a lot about that?” Caelyn’s husband had restored his old family farmhouse on Anchor pretty much on his own, so it wouldn’t have surprised me.
Caelyn rolled her eyes heavenward. “He’s obsessed. Could literally talk about it for hours on end. I might have to drag him back to the boat.”
I chuckled. “Then I guess it’ll be a while. Want to come with me to check the generator? Then we can take a walk down to the beach.”
“You’re a godsend. If I hear one more word about cameras or wiring, my eyes are going to cross.” She let out a whistle, and Griffin’s gaze shot to her. “Shay’s giving me a tour. I’ll be back later.”
Griffin paused for a moment and then nodded. “Be careful.”
“Pretty sure I’m not going to get eaten by a bear.”
Griffin shook his head, but his lips twitched as he turned back to the conversation. But Brody’s eyes remained on me, his gaze intense. I fought the urge to squirm under the weight of it. Instead, I issued a wave and turned away. “It’s sweet how Griffin is with you.”
Caelyn snorted. “Sweet but a little over the top. I swear he’d wrap me in bubble wrap if he could.”
My heart ached at her words. God, I wanted that. Someone who wanted to step between me and all the bad things in the world. Not because I couldn’t handle my own battles, but simply because they loved me. “A little bubble wrap isn’t such a bad thing.”
Caelyn glanced over at me. “I guess not. So, how are things here? The new boss?”
“Different. But good. I think Brody and I are becoming friends. I mean he’s still my boss, of course. But since he’s actually on the island all the time, and there’s no one else here, we hang out.”
She waggled her eyebrows at me. “Hang out, huh?”
My cheeks flamed. “Not like that.” But I couldn’t deny that thoughts of what that might be like had been running around in my head for weeks now. It would be dumb, so incredibly stupid to go there with him. But thinking about it was a different story.
“He watches you. Not in a creepy way. In a sweet one. Like he’s looking out for you.”
My insides warmed at the thought. “He’s a good guy.”
Caelyn let out a humming noise of agreement. “He seems to be coming to town with you a lot. You’ve got some tongues wagging.”
I stopped on the trail and faced Caelyn. “Has someone been asking about me?” I tried to keep the panic from my voice, but I knew a little slipped in.
Worry lined the planes of Caelyn’s face. “Nothing bad. I promise. Just the local gossip mill. You know they’ll talk about anything.”
But they hadn’t talked about me before. I’d never given them the opportunity. But a handsome new resident and a woman who had no friends or family to speak of? That would get people talking. For the first time, I hated this new friendship with Brody. But the second the thought escaped my brain, my body seemed to revolt. I’d never give up stolen moments with Brody. Not my morning workouts or our movie nights. Not losing repeatedly at Yahtzee or those trips into town.
I glanced over at Caelyn. “But no one else is asking about me, right? Just longtime locals?”
She was silent for a moment before she answered as if trying to pick her words carefully. “No one I haven’t known for years. What’s this about?”