Beyond Your Touch by Pat Esden

Author:Pat Esden [Esden, Pat]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2016-07-01T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 14

It was unfamiliar territory, of this we were sure.

We were also certain of the islands’ beauty.

Alas, we should not have trusted our sea-worn eyes.

—Autobiography of a Sea Captain

Canary Islands, 1771

Translated from Spanish by Zachary Freemont

When I got to Moonhill’s front gate, Chase was waiting. Sweat glistened on his face and the muscles along his arms and neck were as tense as if he were entering a boxing ring.

He jumped into the passenger seat and glanced back at Lotli. “How’s she doing?”

“She’s pretty messed up, but she’s going to be fine.”

As I punched the gas, he swiveled back around. “If I’d been there, this never would have happened. I’d have killed the bastard.”

I shot him a sidelong look. “You really weren’t at the party? Not at all?”

“No. Selena called Tibbs and said she’d changed her mind about going. He told me, so I went to bed—like a fool.” He thumped his fist against the dash. “Damn Selena. Damn me. I know better.”

“It’s not your fault. You might not have gotten there in time anyway. I left not long after they did and—” My mouth dried, the words sticking to the back of my throat like spoiled honey. I’d walked right into this one. I mean, given a moment’s thought it was pretty obvious why I’d followed Selena and Lotli instead of going with them. I cringed, waiting for his accusation.

He wiped his hands over his head. “How could I have been so stupid?”

Heat flooded my cheeks. I stomped on the gas pedal, stones flying. I should have been thrilled that he hadn’t figured out that I’d been spying, that I hadn’t trusted Lotli—or him or Selena. But instead I was pissed. He was so worried about Lotli that he hadn’t even heard what I said.

My anger drained and I sank deeper into my seat. God, I was such a jerk. How could I even think about being mad at him over this? Lotli had been drugged and locked in a trunk. She was still really sick. She could have died. This wasn’t about me, or me and him. Not at all.

I took a deep breath, then began to tell Chase what happened. But his darkening expression and clenched hands convinced me not to mention Myles by name. Chase was supposed to be staying focused and calm, keeping his mind on the mission and doing everything he could to avoid having the maturing thing come on full-force right now. Going after Myles—if he was indeed even guilty—was the last thing Chase needed to do.

As we pulled into the garage, Selena whipped in behind us on her ATV. We all agreed the best move was to sneak inside and not tell anyone what had happened until after we heard Lotli’s side of the story. Luckily, it looked like that was going to happen soon, judging by the way she hooked her arms around Chase’s neck and nuzzled into him as he carried her in through the library’s side door and laid her down gently on the daybed.

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