Night Waves (22 page)

As she approached, both men looked up as if she were the intruder. She had to speak unusually loud to combat the hum radiating from the ice machine. “A man came into my room last night Mr. Stoley.” She would have plopped her hands on her hips if she weren’t still holding the sheet around her body. “Exactly how secure do you keep your room keys?”

Nick shot her a steely glare before saying, “Excuse me for a moment sir. I’ll be right back.” His gaze stayed locked onto Cali as he swept toward her. Each of the three steps he had to take was rigid and filled with determination.

Nick came within inches, glaring. “Go back.” A muscle twitched in his jaw and his eyes blazed.

“I have a right to know.”

“You’ll have a right to remain silent if you don’t move. Now.”

Judging from the scowl on his face, she did not doubt him for a second. Cali gave the owner one last glance before walking back to the bench.

****

Nick tried hard not to lose his temper. After Cali had put Mr. Stoley on the defensive, the motel owner became unreasonably tight-lipped. Other than insisting no one could have possibly gotten their hands on his room keys, the man turned out to be no help at all.

Nick clenched his teeth as he rounded the corner to face Cali. She was gone. “Owen. Where is she?”

The deputy slammed the trunk on his cruiser and came around to the front. “She’s changing clothes.”

“Take the evidence in. I want answers.”

“Will do.”

Nick paced in front of Cali’s motel door as Owen drove away. He took a few deep breaths, trying to calm his frustration. It didn’t work. He still had his fists clenched when the door opened behind him.

“Do you have any idea what you just did?” He turned, prepared to set Cali straight.

“I want answers as much as you do, Sheriff.” The cool, controlled tone of voice she used did not fool him. Her eyes betrayed her. She was still shaken from the incident.

Nick fought against the compassion tugging at him and kept his voice stern. “Yes. I know you do. But, there are right ways to go about getting those answers. Offending someone isn’t one of them.”

“I think someone could’ve gotten a copy of Mr. Stoley’s keys, and he doesn’t want to admit it.”

“Maybe. But we won’t know for sure now that you’ve put him on the defense.”

She tilted her head. “What’s the matter? Can’t you finesse it out of him like everyone else you meet?”

“Where’d you get that idea?”

“Helen. She said you can talk through tough situations with finesse. What’s different about this one?”

He stepped closer, his carefully controlled temper flared. “I’ll tell you what’s different. You. By stepping into the middle of my investigation, you’ve put yourself right where you don’t belong. And today, you’ve caused more harm than good.”

Cali looked away for a moment, crossing her arms. Then, she returned her gaze to his. “I didn’t mean to cause any harm. I just wanted…”

“Wanted what?”

“An answer that would take away the fear I’ve felt since waking up this morning.”

Nick’s heart jolted. His anger dissipated. The compassion he had tried to hold at bay returned with a vengeance.

“If I knew the stalker got a hold of the motel keys, I’d feel much safer than if he had the skill to pick the locks. If he can pick locks, I’m not safe anywhere.”

“I’ll keep you safe,” the words slipped out before he had a chance to think it through. Dear God, please help me be able to keep my promise.

Cali rubbed her hands up and down her arms. “How?”

“You’re coming to my cottage. That’s how.”

Her eyes widened and she held up a hand. “You don’t have to…”

“I know I don’t have to.”

She tilted her head. “Why would you take me in? Why not just try and make me go home to Brookstone?”

“Because I know you wouldn’t go. Even if I took you there myself, you’d come back.”

“You’re right,” she admitted.

“So, the best way to keep you safe is to keep you close to me.”

“Look, I appreciate the gesture. But, I can…”

“You’re coming with me, Cali.” He took a step toward her.

“But…”

“Why resist? I’ll use my finesse on you until you agree.”

A faint smile sprang to her lips. “Very funny. But, I don’t like being somewhere I’m not wanted.”

“I do want you.” Nick cleared his throat, shifted his weight from one foot to the other and added, “To stay at my cottage. It’s the safest place for you.” But, he wanted her to stay close for more reasons than to protect her. “Pack your bags. You can ride with me.”

“What about my car?”

“I’ll make sure it gets to my cottage.”

“I can drive.”

He touched her hand. “You’re still shaking. Besides, I’m not going straight home. You can come with me, and I’ll get you settled in later.” He gave her fingers a gentle squeeze.

“I had plans today.”

“Plans change. Get your stuff. I’m heading over to a friend’s house to check on her.”

“A friend?”

“Yeah. I believe you’ll like her.”

“She won’t mind?” Cali asked hesitantly.

“It’s not a date, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

He detected a flicker of relief cross her features before she agreed.

It only took Cali a few minutes to pack, and Nick helped her load her items into the backseat of his truck. He helped her into the passenger side, and then climbed in.

“You scared me when I couldn’t reach you on the phone. I called twice. Why didn’t you pick up?” He cranked the ignition and set the air conditioner to high, in hopes of combating the rising temperatures.

“I dropped my cell phone in the room when you told me to get out. I heard it ringing but was afraid to go back in and get it. I’m sorry I scared you.”

Nick blew out a breath and relaxed. He rolled his left shoulder, trying to ease the persistent ache. “It’s OK. You did right by not going back in there.”

He remembered the sting of jealousy when he had arrived and found Owen’s arm around Cali. He didn’t have the right to be jealous, but he was. “When did Deputy Owen arrive?”

“Right after I called you. He said he was having breakfast at a place nearby, and that’s how he got here so fast.” She hesitated and hugged her arms. “Nick, do you trust him?”

He shrugged. “Yes. With the things that matter.”

“Things that matter?”

“He can be presumptuous at times, and cocky. But when it comes to his job, he’s good at it. Why do you ask?”

“Never mind.”

“Tell me.”

“I’m just uncomfortable being alone with him.”

His protective instincts kicked in. “What did he do?”

“Nothing. Not really.”

“Cali, if he was inappropriate with you, I need to know.”

“He wasn’t. I just didn’t like being alone with him.”

The relief he felt shouldn’t have been so intense, but knowing Cali’s feelings toward Deputy Owen made Nick realize his bout with jealousy was over nothing. He backed out of the parking spot and pulled out onto the beach road heading north.

“I hadn’t planned on coming out this way today since I’m off duty. I was at home when you called. I got to you as soon as I could.”

“I know you did. I’m not blaming you for anything. Deputy Owen just happened to be closer than you at the time.”

He shook his head and tightened his grip on the wheel. “I should never have asked you to speak at the press conference. The stalker must have seen you. I put you in danger.” The responsibility for his rash decision weighed heavily on his shoulders.

“You don’t know that. The guy could have seen me somewhere else.”

“It’s possible. But I doubt it,” he argued.

“Don’t blame yourself, Nick. It won’t do any good. What’s done is done.”

“I’m surprised to hear you say that when you shoulder so much blame yourself.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She looked away.

He pulled the truck to a stop on the side of the road, cupped her chin and gently brought her focus back. “I’m talking about how you regret not coming with Serena. Isn’t that why you won’t leave the island and trust me to do my job?”

“I…” She took a deep breath. “I don’t know what I feel right now besides being scared from the break-in and scared for Serena. I hate not knowing what’s happening.”

“And, you blame yourself for her abduction.”

Cali pushed his hand away yet kept her simmering gaze on him. “So what if I do?”

“Then I’d say you have major control issues, and you need to learn your limitations.”

A blush rose up her cheeks, and she looked out the side window.

Guilt nudged him. “Cali, I didn’t mean to be so blunt. Sometimes I say things before…”

“You’ve talked about limitations before,” she interrupted. “You said you learned a long time ago you have them. What happened?”

Returning his gaze to the road, Nick contemplated the wisdom in revealing his past. He had wanted to tell her when they had disagreed on the beach to prove a point, but now second thoughts made him hesitate. He hadn’t told anyone about the incident in a long time and was not sure if he was prepared to do it now.

The silence stretched as he maneuvered the truck back onto the road and through the interior of the island. Weaving through the back roads, he took the shortest route to the west side. When they arrived at their destination, a small, one story cottage on the bay, he pulled into the driveway and cut the engine.

Cali looked at him. “It’s OK. You don’t have to tell me what happened.”

Nick glanced her way. “I haven’t told anyone about it in a long time.” He felt his resolve weakening when he met her eyes. “You really want to know?”

“Of course.”

“All right. Then I’ll show you.” Nick stepped out of the truck and came around to open the passenger side door. He knew he was risking becoming vulnerable by exposing his past, but he lifted his hand and helped her out anyway, preparing himself for her reaction.