Page 10 of Save Me
For him, the weight of what Daryl and his half-brother Scott had done to all those women dragged him down. Sure, there were moments he lost track of what had happened, but then it would come crashing back and the darkness would almost consume him once more.
Even now, after countless sessions with a counselor, he still struggled to trust anyone else. Which is why he’d gone through more than a dozen partners at work in the past year.
“Where are you thinking about going now?” she asked, kicking off from the edge of the pool.
“Not sure yet,” he answered. “My dad has apparently been trying to get me back here for some time.”
“Oh?” she asked, and he watched her suck her bottom lip between her teeth.
“Rumors are that my dad’s thinking about retiring,” he continued. “My chief thinks he’s vying for me to take the reins and run for the position.”
“Is that something you want?”
“I haven’t really thought about it,” he admitted. “I suppose if there was reason enough for me to stick around.” He shrugged. “What about you?” he asked suddenly, and her eyes went large.
“Me?” she said finally.
“Sure. Are you planning on sticking around the Keys indefinitely?”
“Oh, sure. Yeah.” She swallowed. “We love it here. I don’t think I’ve been anywhere else where I feel so at home.”
He smiled. “If you can get past all the tourists and chickens,” he joked.
She smiled. “I rather like the chickens. The tourists…” She shrugged. “They help pay the bills.” She motioned towards the larger house.
“Right.” He nodded. “How’s that work anyway?”
“What? The job?” she asked, and he quickly nodded. “Oh, well, I do everything that’s needed for the place to run smoothly.”
“Bookkeeping?” he asked, and she nodded. “Cleaning? Cooking?”
“Cleaning, yes. No to the cooking. Most of the guests eat out or enjoy grilling and cooking for themselves and their families.”
“How does Emma like living here?” he asked, already guessing that the little girl probably loved it. The loft area had been transformed from the storage area it had been the last time he’d been in the space into a dream playroom that any little girl would wish for.
“She loves it. Her best friend Tilly lives next door, she has a wonderful space to grow and learn in, and a pool in her yard.” Crissy smiled.
He couldn’t help but smile along with her. They grew silent for a few moments.
“I know you’re tired from the long drive today, but we should probably talk about....” She sighed. “How this is going to work.”
“How is what going to work?”
“This.” She waved between them. “What do I tell the customers arriving tomorrow?”
He shrugged. “Tell them whatever you want.” He meant it. He didn’t want to cause her any discomfort, but other people’s opinions were currently at the bottom of his list of worries.
The topmost item was protecting Crissy and Emma and finding whoever was doing this to her.
“Well, since you’ll be staying in the pool house…” She bit her bottom lip. “I could say that you’re family?” She looked at him and he frowned. “Or not,” she added quickly.
“Why do you have to say anything?” he asked.
“People ask.”
“They ask about your personal life?” he asked. When she nodded, he added, “And you answer them?”
“Sometimes.” She shrugged. “Most are just curious about the dynamics of…” She motioned to the pool house. “When they rent the house, it’s clear that the property manager and family live in the pool house and have free rein of the pool and yard area. They’re just curious most of the time.”
