I hopped over a root in the path and kept going. Within a few minutes, I was walking across the dock. I ignored the bench in the middle and opted to pace. The movement was at least an outlet for the energy that my anxiety created.
As I walked back and forth, I kept my eyes trained on the water. It wasn’t long before a medium-sized speedboat peeled away from the main waterway and headed in my direction. I swallowed against the dryness in my throat.
The private water taxi pulled up to the dock, and I helped the driver quickly tie off and then took the single bag of luggage he hefted over the side of the boat. “That’s it.” He turned to the man who was currently pushing to his feet from where he’d been sitting in the co-pilot’s seat. “Enjoy your new home.”
“Thank you. I think I will.”
The voice froze me in my tracks. It was deep and younger than I’d expected. I’d pictured a man in his fifties or sixties, someone entering retirement and looking for a brand-new adventure. Stupid, stupid, stupid. I hadn’t even taken the time to run an internet search on my new boss. I’d been too focused on getting the estate in shape and running impeccably before his arrival.
Now, I stood gaping at the man who climbed over the side of the boat. As he moved towards me, I took in his height and broad shoulders, the stubble covering his angular jaw. But it was his eyes that held me captive. Dark and haunting as if they had secrets I desperately wanted to uncover.
His mouth moved into a frown. “You’re Shay?”
I gave myself a swift mental kick and straightened my spine. “Yes, sir. Welcome to Harbor Island.”
“How old are you?”
I could barely hear the question over the boat roaring to life and heading away from the dock. “How old am I?”
His frown deepened. “Yeah. You look like you might not even be old enough to buy beer.”
My cheeks heated. “I’m twenty-three. And I have your favorite ale in the refrigerator, along with a sampling of local brews.”
His gaze traveled over my face as if he thought I might be lying. Not a great start. I cleared my throat. “I assure you, I’m a complete professional. I’ve worked for the Dowds for over three years, and I’m good at my job. If you’ll give me a chance, Mr. James, I promise you won’t be disappointed.”
The lines that bracketed his mouth softened the barest amount. “Fuck. I’m not going to fire you. It just took me by surprise, is all. I was expecting someone in her fifties or something.”
I nodded, my death grip on his bag loosening a fraction. I certainly hadn’t expected a man who looked to be in his mid-thirties. “Thank you. Because I really do love my job.”
Mr. James made a move to take the bag from my hand. “What does a caretaker of an island do anyway?”
“I’ve got this, sir.”
He scowled. “Call me Brody. And I can carry my own bag.”
I reluctantly handed it over. “All right. Well, I arrange for the cleaning staff to come whenever they’re needed. Coordinate maintenance of the buildings. I keep up the grounds—mow the lawn, tend the vegetable garden and greenhouse. I take care of the chickens. I purchase groceries and any necessities and retrieve them from Anchor. I watched the Dowds’ children when the couple needed. I’m pretty much a Jack of all trades. If you need something, I’ll figure out a way to make it happen.”
His lips twitched as he motioned for me to lead the way off the dock. “That could come in handy. Sounds like you’re pretty busy.”
“I am, sir—I mean, Brody.” I bit back a curse. I couldn’t help the desire to use a more formal title. To create some distance between us somehow and make sure things remained completely professional.
“You like living on this island all by yourself? You don’t get lonely? From what I understand, the Dowds weren’t out here all that much.”
The loneliness set in more than I wanted to admit. But no amount of loneliness could make me give up my safety. I couldn’t tell him any of that, though. “I love it here. The peace. The quiet. It’s my favorite place in the world.”
“I hope I feel the same way about it.”
I could feel Brody’s gaze on my back as I climbed, almost hear his mind asking a million silent questions. “I hope you do, too.” Maybe if he’d actually visited Harbor before dropping close to ten million dollars on it, he would’ve been more certain.
“This path runs the entire exterior of the island and has several offshoots that lead up to the main dwelling. If you have any large items delivered, we have a pulley system that we can set up to bring it up to the house.”
“That’s good. Do you know how the solar power system works? I’ve never used one before.”
I kept my gaze focused on the path ahead of me, afraid if I glanced at Brody, I’d trip over my feet. “I do. I can make small repairs on that and the generator. The maintenance teams have been good about teaching me every time they come out.”
Brody made a humming sound in the back of his throat. As we crested the hill and the buildings came into view, he sucked in an audible breath. “It’s gorgeous.”
More of the tension left my muscles. Maybe everything would be fine. Brody would be happy here. I’d make sure he was. He wouldn’t fire me. And when Michael was released, I would be safe. Surrounded by the thing that terrified him more than any other: water.
4
Brody
This was a disaster. I watched as Shay moved seamlessly through the kitchen, pulling out a tray of what looked like expertly arranged snacks. Uncovering it, she placed it on the counter. “Would you like a beer? Or a soda? Water?”
I forced my gaze away from the curves of her body—the dip in her waist and the flare of her hips. Even clad in denim and fleece, I could trace the peaks and valleys with my eyes—the way I wanted to with my pencil against paper. “Water would be great. Thank you.”
Because I needed to maintain a clear head. Keep all of my faculties on high-alert. Why did she have to be heart-stoppingly gorgeous? And young, I reminded myself. More than a decade separated us, and yet I couldn’t stop staring. The way she moved, with a mixture of grace and efficiency, it captivated me. As if there were some music only she could hear, a muted rhythm that she followed.
Shay poured water into a glass and handed it to me. “I left some meals in the fridge and freezer for you. They’re marked with instructions on how to reheat. I asked your assistant what you usually preferred, but she didn’t have a lot of information.”
“Lara’s more of a manager, and she isn’t typically in charge of keeping me fed.”
“Really?”
I wanted to laugh but held back. “I lived in New York. All the takeout you could possibly want is at your fingertips.”
A wistful expression swept across Shay’s features so quickly, I thought I might have imagined it. “That makes sense.”
“Have you ever been?”
“Where?”
“New York.”
Her lush mouth thinned. “Once, a long time ago. You’ll have a much harder time with takeout here. You can always take the boat over to Anchor or Shelter if you want to eat out, though.”