shocked and terrified. I’m both of those things, but not for the reasons he believes. He smiles and rests his chin on top of my head, cuddling me into his solid side. “We’d better go before the Coast Guard shows up,” he says. “And when the police come knocking, we tell them the jet ski was stolen.”
The engine of the boat kicks in, and I’m forced into Danny’s side more when Brad gets us moving. And I stare at the fire until it is a mere dot on the horizon.
Today, Danny Black saved my life.
Today, he discovered the life that was there to be saved.
Today, he also signed my death sentence.
Chapter 15
DANNY
* * *
I can see Brad is itching to launch into a verbal tirade on our way back from the boatyard, the tightness of his jaw evidence of how hard he’s biting his tongue. I get it. My mind is reeling too, but for the most part, I’m watching Rose stare blankly ahead at the back of Ringo’s seat, her shakes getting worse the closer we get to my home. I pull her close, try to hold her tight to stem her trembles. She doesn’t even cast me a look. From the second I met Rose Lillian Cassidy, I wanted to pierce her defenses. Hurt her, if only to prove to myself that she could be hurt. And perhaps find some comfort in that. Seeing her like this has had a profound impact on me. This wasn’t my fault. But I still hate myself.
We’re still in our wetsuits after having made a speedy departure from the boatyard, and when we pull up outside my mansion, I’m forced to gently coax Rose from the car when she shows no signs of moving, lost in her trance. I guide her up the steps, rearranging the blanket around her shoulders as we enter. Esther is waiting in the entrance hall, and her face falls into a frown the moment she catches sight of us.
“I’ve got it,” I say, passing her with Rose’s shoulders in my palms, directing her up the stairs. She’s like a zombie. I’m pretty sure she’d drop like a rock if I let go of her.
“Danny?” Brad calls, and I look back, seeing his hands palm-up, facing the ceiling. “Shouldn’t we be getting our asses in the office to discuss?” He’s desperate to offload the fucks he’s held back in the car. He’ll have to wait. I’m cutting him short at every turn recently. The state of my arm, my bruised nose. He’s not got anything out of me, and it’s seriously pissing him off.
I give him a death stare. “Have a drink ready for me.” I keep moving, just catching the shake of his head as I turn. Fuck him. I couldn’t leave her if I wanted to.
I don’t question why I stop short of her suite. One whole room short. I open my bedroom door and negotiate her inside, kicking the door closed behind me before walking her to the bed. I strip her out of the wetsuit until she stands only in her underwear, her back to me, and then remove my own, watching her motionless body as I do. I frown when I turn her around to find glassy, empty eyes. I miss the fire in them already. Cupping her cheeks with my hands, I pull her face up to mine. She looks straight through me.
“Rose?” I jiggle her, starting to worry. Should I call a doctor and have her checked out? It’s like shock has paralyzed her. I get no response, the pupils of her eyes huge. I just need her to tell me she’s okay. Desperation has my lips falling to hers, my kiss firm but chaste. I pull away and see it. The spark of life in her eyes. So I kiss her again. Once more, firm and chaste, pulling away to search out the flames. They’re there, burning in the back of her blue stare.
The blacks of her pupils shrink, and she blinks, focusing on me. And I kiss her again. This time, I linger for a few seconds, feeling her body firming up against me. And I hear a little whimper. But her hands remain dead by her sides.
“No.” She steps away, dropping her gaze to our bare feet. “You shouldn’t kiss me.”
I’m not the kind of man that gets confused. My life is too clean-cut. There’s no room for misunderstandings. So now, I’m a little stumped. “Why?”
“You just shouldn’t.”