Page 33 of Seaside Strangers
Anxiety built as she wondered if Brian could already tell she wasn’t who she was pretending to be and that she was in deep trouble. She forced a smile, hoping it didn’t look as thin as it felt.
“Um, yeah. Sorry. I’m still trying to wake up.” She let out a small breath, aiming for light, teasing. “You wore me out last night.”
His expression shifted instantly, a grin breaking through as he leaned in and brushed a kiss across her lips. “Right back at you.”
The sound of the door opening behind them had both of them turning. KC moved first, crossing the short distance to pull it wider as Brian stepped out onto the porch with a loaded tray.
Moriah’s stomach tightened the second his gaze landed on her. It wasn’t obvious—most peopleprobably wouldn’t have noticed—but there was something different in the way he looked at her now. Sharper. More focused. Like he was putting together the pieces of a puzzle that she couldn’t let him solve.
Noting the coffee, KC lifted a brow. “Only two cups? You’re not having any?”
Setting the tray on the table, Brian shook his head. “No, sorry, bro. I just got called into work. You two enjoy breakfast.”
Then his attention shifted fully to her, and that same look settled in again—measured, deliberate. It made her skin prickle and a knot form in her stomach.
“It was nice to meet you,Maura.”
The name landed wrong.
For a fraction of a second, she forgot how to breathe, her fingers tightening around the arms of the chair. Then she forced herself to move and play along as if nothing had changed. She prayed neither of them could hear the hammering of her heart. “It was nice meeting you too.”
“I’m sure I’ll see you soon.”
She nodded, telling herself not to read into it. He was simply being polite… wasn’t he?
Twenty minutes later, her stomach still unsettled,Moriah picked at the bagel KC had placed in front of her, never taking a bite. His brother’s brief visit—and even quicker exit—gnawed at her. She told herself he couldn’t possibly know anything about her past, but something about the exchange lingered, leaving her on edge.
With no appetite and her thoughts spinning, she pushed back from the table, catching KC off guard. “I’m going back to bed.”
“Mind if I join you?” The hope in his voice was unmistakable.
“I’m sorry, but I’m not feeling well.” At least that part was true. “I think I might be coming down with something. Maybe a nap will help.”
He didn’t look happy about it, but after a brief hesitation, he nodded. “Okay. Get some rest. Let me know if you need anything. I’ll check on you later.”
Not wanting him to worry, she leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. “Thanks.”
On her way to her room—not his—Moriah grabbed her purse from the back of the couch. She shouldn’t have left it out in the open last night, not with her real ID inside, but she barely remembered setting it there after they’d come in. She’d been too distracted by KC—something she needed to remember she couldn’t afford.
Inside the bedroom, she shut the door, turned the lock, and tossed her purse onto the nightstand before dropping onto the bed.
She couldn’t shake the unease Brian Malone had stirred in her. How had she let herself get this comfortable? Even for a night. The thought alone made her chest tighten.
Whatever was happening with KC—whatever it could have been—it wasn’t safe.
And pretending otherwise could cost her everything—what little she had left.
Damn it!She had just spent an incredible night with the most amazing man in the world, only to discover he had a detective for a brother. Now, she would have to leave sooner than expected, and the thought of walking away from KC tore her apart. It shouldn’t, considering she barely knew him. But it was.
She was probably just another conquest in a long line of women he’d slept with—a temporary fling.
The thought made her jealous, although she had no right to be, and she chastised herself. He hadn’t professed love for her. They had known each other less than a week—there couldn’t be love there. That only happened in romance novels and fairy tales,didn’t it?
But Moriah knew it was there, deep down in her heart. She had fallen in love with KC the first time he kissed her on the beach. His touch and scent were forever burned into her memory. She would never forget him. But staying wasn’t an option.
Somehow, she would have to pretend nothing was wrong until she had an opportunity arose. KC couldn’t suspect she planned to run away. It would create too many questions, and she would have a difficult time leaving him as it were.
Standing, she stepped into the adjoining bathroom, took care of business, and washed her hands. She braced them on the edge of the sink and stared at her reflection.
