Seaside Seduction by Sabrina Devonshire Page B

angry that she’d felt an attraction for such a monster. If she found bad boys sexy, I was seriously out of luck. “And you think you know him? Do you have any idea how?” I squeezed her hands and met her gaze, hoping she’d find comfort in my expression.
    “His body was all rigid muscle—a warm solid wall. His aftershave smelled like a mix of mint and rubbing alcohol.”
    I crossed my arms over my chest. “Okay, I’ve heard enough about how he looks and smells. Is he your boyfriend?” I was shocked to hear jealousy in my voice.
    “No, I don’t think so. I don’t think I knew him well. But that attraction I felt when I first saw him was staggering.” She blinked dreamily, her long lashes brushing over the soft skin below her eyes. “It almost reminded me of… Oh, I’m talking without thinking.”
    “It reminded you of what?” I immediately wished I hadn’t asked that question. The last thing I wanted to hear about was another man she found sexy. The guy she’d described sounded like a cross between Count Dracula and a serial killer, the next one might be a werewolf who preyed on old women. I ground my teeth, having never felt more like committing murder in my life. “Did he say anything or were you too busy kissing and fondling his pectorals?”
    “You’re jealous, aren’t you?” One side of her rosy mouth curled up in a smile. The possibility clearly pleased her.
    My arms still crossed, I angled my body away from her and frowned. “Nonsense, I’m merely trying to help you figure out if this dream has significance. Tell me what he said?”
    “When his facial expression changed, he said he wished it could have ended differently, but that I knew too much. And that he was going to have to kill me.” Her voice trembled and then trailed off to a whisper.
    “Do you remember anything else?”
    “Yes. We were on the beach near where you found me today. But I’m not sure how much of this was a dream and how much of it really happened.”
    “Did he say what you weren’t supposed to know about?” Maybe calling the police wasn’t such a good idea. It sounds as if she’s involved in something messy.
    “Not that I remember.” She reached for her forehead. “I think I better stop talking about this. My head is throbbing again.”
    “All right. I’m sure you’ll feel better if you have a bite to eat. Felicita has dinner ready if you’d like to join me.”
    She pushed herself into a more upright position than before. Noticing for the first time her strap had slid all the way down her shoulder, revealing the top of a breast, she pulled the covers up higher as her face and the skin on her neck and chest reddened. “Yes, I’m starving. Please just let me freshen up and I’ll join you.”
    “You might want to grab a sweater or a light jacket. Winter evenings here can be chilly.”
    A smile crept over my face as I left the room. I won’t be alone at the table after all. I tried not to analyze how ridiculous it was to feel this thrill of anticipation over spending an evening with someone possibly associated with thugs. When Felicita raised an eyebrow as I passed, I turned toward her. “Selena is awake now and will join me for dinner. And I think I will take you up on that margarita offer.”
    Before stepping out on the patio, I grabbed the key to the gun safe and strode down the hallway. Looking over my shoulder to make sure no one was watching, I unlocked the case and pulled out my Glock, loaded it with bullets and stuffed it into my pocket.

CHAPTER SIX
     
    We sat out on the porch and devoured fresh grouper filets with a leafy green salad and sipped our margaritas. It had rained intermittently throughout the day, and the scattered clouds contributed to the drama of the sunset. Streaks of pink, orange and red wove their way through the sky. A pelican skimmed over the water, floating, waiting and then suddenly plunging like an arrow toward a watery bulls-eye to scoop a fish into its