Page 50 of Archer

“You’re getting emotionally involved.” Knox studied me for another long moment. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, if that’s what’s upsetting you right now, but here we are.”

I opened my mouth, then shut it.

“You’ve been involved since she walked into Island Adventures. We care about people. It’s why we do this. It’s the reason we chose this profession. You only think you have a problem right now because you’re fighting your feelings.”

He moved to the window, watching Harper on the porch. “She needs you to get out of your head and get all in for her, because this stalker thing is not looking good.”

Guilt twisted in my gut. “I’m worried about dropping the ball. How can I protect her if I’m distracted?”

Knox had fallen for Sloane while protecting her. He’d been wholly distracted, but he’d saved her when it counted.

Not that this situation was anything like theirs.

Knowing flashed in his eyes, and his jaw worked left to right. “Ah.”

“No. No, ah.”

His cheek ticked. “Well, that’s interesting.”

“It’s not.”

He rubbed a hand over his head. “Well, regardless. Just— you know. Get your shit together.” He reached forward and flicked my forehead.

“Hey!”

He grinned. “She’s a grown woman. Give her some credit.”

He laughed as he walked away, leaving me alone in the cottage.

Chapter 14

Archer

The next day crawled by. Harper slept in, after struggling to sleep through the night. I hated that I couldn’t help with that. But she’d slept off and on throughout the afternoon, and I’d gotten her to eat a little as the sunset.

She’d retired to her room carrying her guitar a short time ago, and I had another long night filled with restless energy ahead of me.

I’d checked with Colton multiple times, but no progress had been made on identifying Harper’s stalker. So, he was still out there, unnamed and moving freely. Probably around this island.

I did another external perimeter check, testing all the new locks and cameras. The winds were strong and the temperatures dropping as the moon rose, and I was thankful to get back inside.

I checked on Harper, offered to make her some hot tea, then kicked off my shoes and caught a glimpse of my scowl in the windows. The lack of light pollution outside made it difficult to see beyond the bright interior’s reflection.

Jacket off and tea kettle on, I moved around the interior perimeter, closing blinds and drawing curtains against the darkness.

Harper’s voice rose like an angel’s through the otherwise silent space as I worked. Hopefully, that meant she was making progress on her work. If she had to feel so pinned in by this creep, she should at least have something that made her happy to show for the time.

My phone buzzed as I returned to the kitchen. I checked my screen for the message. Not Knox or Colton this time. A camera alert.

Had to be wildlife. Or wind, I thought, as I navigated to the app. My cheeks still stung slightly from being outside.

According to the notification, motion had triggered the back deck camera. I played the video, anticipating a seagull or the subtle change in lighting as clouds raced over the moon.

Instead, I saw a shadow near the dunes and scrub grass. I looked at the drawn curtains, then strode to the window for a better idea of what I was looking at. But whatever it was had already gone.

My muscles tensed. I wanted to run back outside, to search for someone in the night, to throttle this freak for what he put Harper through. But I couldn’t leave her. Not for however long it might take for me to find him.

Assuming he was out there, and this image wasn’t merely an odd shadow.