Page 65 of Bitter Truth
“It wasn’t like I didn’t know where to find you. Do you think Hal really could have kept me out of the building if I decided I wanted in?”
“It’s doubtful.”
His lips twitch. It’s not a smile, but it’s a start.
“We’re going to figure this out.” Tapping the stack of printouts, I say, “We have a paper trail here to follow. All the money going in and out of that account for the last three months. That’s going to tell us what we need to know.”
“But how long is that going to take?”
I shrug and give him a small smile.
“What’s the rush?”
“I know you’re anxious to get back to the sanctuary.”
I am. Just thinking about the animals makes my heart clench. But returning now would just be putting them in danger. I can’t go home, not until this is over. Neither of us can.
Leaning closer to him over the table, I say, “That was before I knew we were on our honeymoon.”
His fingers tighten around mine. “You’re right. No one knows we’re here. We’re safe for now.”
The lump in my throat tastes like poison as I swallow it down. A toxic mix of shame and deceit. Because after our stunt at the bank today, they do know. They know, and now the element of surprise I’d been expecting to have is gone.
Which means that the situation has become even more dangerous. Whatever confidence I had felt before has vanished. But if I think about it too much, I’ll psych myself out. I can’t let that happen. I need to stay distracted until the time comes for me to rush headlong into trouble the way I usually do.
“Let’s take the rest of today off,” I suggest. “Try to relax and unwind and enjoy ourselves.”
“How do you propose we do that?” He gives me that lopsided grin of his, the one that’s been hiding for far too long.
“Let’s go for a walk after lunch. Dip our toes in that gorgeous water I keep seeing.”
I do my best to sell the smile I give him. To not reveal that on the inside, I’m reeling. I have to find a way to put my worries aside. Tonight, I need to focus on nothing but Jake and enjoying our time together. Because if Janine and her cohort get their way, we don’t have very much of it left.
CHAPTER 34
It’s the kind of day you never want to end. After lunch, we took a long walk on the beach, which led to us ducking into a tourist shop for bathing suits, a blanket, towels, and an umbrella for me to hide under when we weren’t in the water. We splashed and played. Kissed and held hands.
When Jake noticed that my energy was starting to flag and suggested we head back to the campground for the night, I didn’t want to go, insisting I was fine. It was only when I fell asleep on the blanket that I was forced to concede, and even then, it was only because he had already carried me halfway to the car by the time I woke.
Though it makes me nervous that my body is still so in need of rest that I could sleep that deeply, I push back the concern, not wanting to ruin what’s been a perfect afternoon. And it really has been perfect.
“Why don’t we grab a pizza on the way back?” I suggest.
“No, I’ll go back out and pick one up. I want to dropyou off first.”
“What am I going to do there by myself? Why don’t I come with you?”
“Why don’t you take a bath and relax?”
One thought of the two-person jetted tub in the honeymoon suite’s bathroom and any resistance I planned to put up was forgotten. And as I lie here now, soaking, my knotted muscles slowly unwinding, it feels exactly like what I needed. Until I wake up in tepid water with no idea how much time has passed.
Water sloshes as I bolt upright, heart racing, my first thought Jake. Grabbing a towel, I rush into the bedroom in a panic. It’s only when I hear him moving around on the other side of the door that it’s replaced by guilt for napping when we could have been spending time together.
Quickly, I pull on the oversized T-shirt he bought me to sleep in and a pair of underwear and go to join him. I only get several steps down the hall before I draw to a stop.
A blanket is spread on the floor in front of the window wall. Two wine glasses and a couple of plates sit in the center.
“What’s all this?” I ask, propelled back into motion.
