And I’m definitely right about Bad Boys. It’s got some snappy lines and good action scenes with guns and cars. I rest my head on Dominic’s shoulder and inhale his scent—malt, spices and soap. His body radiates heat, and I can’t help but relax against him, loving the physical connection. He’s been so considerate and tender since the moment I opened my eyes at the hospital, and I adore every minute we’ve been together. Guilt rears its head, hissing at me like a snake, but I ignore it. Sometimes stuff happens. Amnesia is giving us this time. It’s not all bad.
But the closer I cuddle with him, the stiffer he becomes until it feels like I’m hanging on to a marble statue. I can also sense Dominic’s not really into the movie. His gaze is focused somewhere beyond the screen, and his laughter is at least a beat behind mine.
When the credits roll, he pulls away gently, then jumps to his feet. “That was fun,” he says, his smile a bit too wide.
“It was.” I tilt my head. “Which was your favorite scene?”
“Where they shoot at each other.”
That answer just confirms all my suspicions. “You didn’t really watch it, did you?”
“Of course I did. I watched it ten times when it was first released. It’s one of my favorites.”
Maybe he was a bit bored because he’s seen it so many times. I might’ve been bored too. But I don’t ask him the question I really want to ask: Why are you so stiff around me all of a sudden? I’m afraid of what he might say.
What do you think he’s going to say? a familiar voice deep inside my mind asks.
I don’t know. And that’s the problem. The unknown scares me more than anything because I can’t brace myself for it.
What if it’s nothing?
What if it’s something?
It’s almost eleven, and a small yawn slips out before I can catch myself.
“You’re tired,” he says. “You should go to bed.”
“You coming?” Then I add, “I’ll sleep better with you by my side.”
Something dark and uncomfortable crosses his deep blue eyes. “Okay. Let me turn off the lights and I’ll be right upstairs.”
Nodding, I go to the en suite and brush my teeth, wash off my makeup and put on moisturizer. I change into a nightgown, then slide under the covers. But I don’t hear Dominic coming upstairs.
What’s taking him so long?
The place is large, sure, but it shouldn’t take him this long to shut off lights. Did something happen? An intruder, maybe?
Just as a cold sliver of terror slides into me, I shake myself mentally. We are on a remote island. The place has a security system—I saw Dominic tinker with the control panel earlier. There’s no way somebody could sneak onto the island without us noticing.
I give myself a couple of more minutes, then get up and pad barefoot into the hallway. If Dominic needs help, I should be there for him.
The hall is pitch black. I see a thin ribbon of light coming out from under the study door. Slowly I push it open and stick my head in.
Dominic’s at the desk, doing something on his computer. He looks really serious and hot—like a powerful executive, even in a tropical beach shirt and cargo pants.
“Knock knock,” I say.
He turns, his gaze flicking over my body. Something dark and hot flashes in his eyes, but he raises them to my freshly scrubbed face…and suddenly I feel exposed and vulnerable. Now I wish I hadn’t wiped off my makeup.
“Why aren’t you asleep?” he asks.
My toes flex against the cool wood floor. “Told you I’d sleep better with you by my side.”
A dark eyebrow twitches, then he looks away, his gaze flicking to the monitor. “I see.” He turns his focus back to me. “I really need to get this done, though, so why don’t you go to bed, and I’ll be there as soon as I’m finished.”
“It’s okay. I’ll wait.”
I mindlessly pull out a leather-bound volume and recline on the long couch. It’s all I can do to hide my dismay when I realize I’ve selected a book on fixed-income market analysis written by a former Morgan Stanley banker.