Chapter 12

4 weeks later.

Marlene

The phone rings just as I’m about to step out the door. The sound still makes me jump, but with Liz, Sawyer, and my solicitor the only people who have access to my number, I’m bound to answer it.

I still don’t know how Elaine, or Nadia, as I now think of her, got my number. But I can only assume, that she has her own methods, and it’s not too much of a stretch that she was able to find it out.

I step back inside and close the door, twisting the brand new lock.

I clear my throat and pick up the phone. “Hello?”

“Oh, thank fuck. Marlene, babe. I’m coming home.”

I frown at the wall. “Kurt? How did you get this number?”

He ignores me, and I can only guess Liz gave it to him. “Did you hear me? I’m coming home.”

I’m not sure what he expects me to say to that. “Home as in where?”

His laugh is forced. “Not sure yet. Thought maybe the coast. You got room inside that—”

“No, I don’t,” I snap at him.

Not for him anywhere. “Wow. Okay, it’s just that I’m in a bind. I could use some help. I’m in some trouble.”

I exhale slowly. How ironic. He needs my help. “What kind of trouble?”

“Look, I made a mistake. You know me, always rushing into things without thinking. There was this woman—”

I don’t even need to hear the rest. He’s confirming what I had an inkling about. “Kurt?”

“Um, yeah?”

“Did you cheat on me?”

He sucks in a breath. “What? No, of course not. Wait, Did Liz say I did? You can’t trust her—”

Angry heat rushes through me as I connect the dots. I should have guessed it when he made it so clear he didn’t want a commitment.

“Shut up. It’s over. And if you need someone to help, maybe call your old pal Sawyer. Do not call me again. Ever.”

I end the call and switch the phone to silent. I chew on my lip and toss the phone on the sofa.

I need to do this. I’ve avoided it for a month now.

I turn around and pick up my camera and head back out the door again. I lock the door, check it and pace across the grass to the stairs to the beach.

I stand at the top, hands trembling as I stare down at the barren beach. My heart is thumping in my chest as I take my first step.

I know I’m being ridiculous. I know there is no threat now. But knowing isn’t preventing me from feeling like I’m being watched.

With sheer stubborn determination, and refusal to allow my unfounded fear to control me, I step onto the beach.

I head back towards the cave, checking behind me every so often. My paranoia is spiking, I’m jumpy and feeling even more terrified than I’d expected.

My knees start shaking as I pass the point I saw Sawyer fighting, and then saw him shoot and kill Nadia.

I still can’t believe I snuck back up when I saw Sawyer. It was possibly the most stupid thing I’ve ever done in my life.

I don’t know what on earth I thought I could do. It’s a miracle she didn’t shoot me just like she shot poor Jacob.

More of the story is coming out now. And Kyle still thinks I want to hear more details when I just want to forget it ever happened.

If it’s his Aspergers or love of gossip, I don’t know. I just know I’m avoiding him and driving out of my way once a week just to stock up on supplies.

I can’t sleep in the lighthouse. It feels wrong somehow. And I’m not sure I want to anymore.

Everything is tainted. A constant reminder of Sawyer. Who he was that weekend, and who he became afterward.

I don’t bother to check inside my cave. I don’t want to fish, my stomach can’t handle the smell, so I just climb the rocks and take a seat so I can look out at the harbor.

My fingers are trembling, and it’s impossible not to keep looking over my shoulder as I raise the camera to my eye.

But I’ve put this off long enough. This is my home. And now that the excitement has died down, I want to reclaim my life again.

My muscles stay tensed as I adjust my perch on the rock and breathe in the salty air.

I should feel more at ease. It’s been weeks of normalcy. Weeks of blessed silence, no mail and no intruders.

But there are too many things unresolved, too many things unsaid for me to have the closure and reassurance I need.

Just like he said he would, Sawyer sent my missing data with a promise to come visit when he could.

But it’s not enough. A promise isn’t enough. Not now. Especially not now.

Kurt is coming home but Sawyer is still hundreds of miles away.

It’s the cruelest twists of fate, once again that see the man I no longer want in my life, is calling me and asking for another chance.

I don’t care about Kurt or what he was babbling about when he called. I can’t see past the next few months. If I think too much, I know I’ll cave and call Sawyer.

And I’m fairly certain he’d come.

I don’t know where the money was hidden. I lost motivation to keep looking a week ago when more pressing needs overtook my curiosity.

I stay perched on the rock, holding the camera in my hand as the waves lap against the rock.

Every so often, I raise my camera to my eye and snap a photo. But my heart’s not in it. My heart is currently pining for a man it shouldn’t want anymore.

When the last of the light is fading, and I’m getting antsy about being out here in the dark, I feel a measure of triumph I made it out here.

It’ll get easier. I know it will. I’ll get used to things again. I’ll stop jumping at the phone ringing. I’ll stop wanting to sleep in the cottage with the gun close by, and a bag packed just in case.

One day I won’t miss Sawyer so much.

With a final look at the incoming tide, I get to my feet and jump down. My legs are dragging heavily as they have been the past week as I head back towards the stairs.

I step around the remnants of a bonfire I built when I moved here, and it takes me a few seconds to realize I’m not alone.

I freeze, ice filling my veins until I see a shaggy-haired figure wearing a leather jacket emerging from inside the cave.

I can’t seem to find my breath as Sawyer leans his shoulder against the rocky wall of the cave entrance and looks at me.

I take a step, then another and don’t seem to be able to fight the compulsion to go to him.

A flicker of a smile twitches at his lips as I take my camera from around my neck.

I have so many things I want to say to him, but my brain is scrambling to find the most important one, so I just stare at him until the words slip out. “Give me back what you stole, you lying bastard.”

He pushes off from the rock and pulls out a folder from where he’d stored it down the back of his frayed jeans. “They’re all here.”

I reach for them but he raises his hand higher, so they’re just out of reach. “What were you going to do with them? Blackmail?”

I glare at him as he keeps the file out of my reach. “I didn’t know what to do with them. I was scared,” I snap at him.

He frowns at me and looks almost sorry he’s such an asshole. “These photos, if they got out—”

I don’t let him finish his sentence, I slug him hard in the stomach, and when his eyes pop in surprise, I snatch the file from his hand and jump back.

He’s rubbing at his stomach and looking mildly amused which serves to ignite my temper even further. “You had no right to take these. Or my other photos,” I yell at him.

Sawyer’s eyes narrow. “Yes, I did. You were impeding an investigation; I had every right, local, federal and moral to take them.”

My ire rises even further. “Moral? Did you see those pictures? Don’t talk to me about morals. Those girls were trafficked and being held in that brothel against their will.”

His expression darkens. “I know. And I’ll do everything I can to help.”

That stops me in my tirade. “What? How?”

He moves swiftly, letting me know he allowed me to sucker punch him when he grabs me so I can’t hold on to the files.

Before I can yell, he drops the file on to the bonfire. The contents spill over the blackened remains of the wood.

I suck in a breath as he pulls out a lighter and eyes me. “I had an idea this was what you were hiding. I took them because if anyone else had found these, they’d have disappeared and no one ever would have known. In a week, they’ll be leaked to the press.”

All the wind seems to leave my lungs. I stammer as I try to find my voice. “You knew? That’s why you wanted to take them?.”

He flicks the lighter to the proof in his hand. A flame curls around the masculine faces I’ve come to loathe.

Tears spring to my eyes as I catch glimpses of the girls they enjoyed.

I can still see their faces. Their terror. And absolute hopelessness.

I hate I couldn’t do more than contact the local Unicef agency and offer money and whatever I could.

I hate more than anything else, that when push came to shove, I chickened out and never did anything with the photos.

I watch them burn, tears spilling over my cheeks until I feel Sawyer’s hand brush against mine.

I look at up him and see nothing but resolve in his expression. “You took a risk-taking these. Now let me finish it for you.”

His fingers curl into mine and I’m too relieved he cares enough to do something when Kurt told me it was none of our business, that I don’t reject his touch. “You can do that?”

He nods. “I have contacts in Vietnam. I aim to make use of them while I can.”

I scrunch up my face. “That’s how Kurt contacted you again?”

He nods. “Yeah. We have a mutual friend.”

I blow out a long breath. “Why didn’t you tell me about your wife?”

He shifts so we’re standing staring into each other’s eyes. Sawyer takes my other hand. “My entire life is about keeping secrets. It’s not easy just being honest.”

He tugs me closer and drops his hand to the small of my back. My skin rises when his fingers meet the gap between my jeans and my shirt. “But with you, I wanted to be.”

My breathing has started to speed a little as I struggle to remember why I was angry. “Where are the rest of my photos?”

His gaze travels to my mouth. “In my truck. Didn’t really want anyone seeing the photos of me you took.”

I’m a second away from kissing him when he tugs me toward the cave. “I found something Nadia had hidden, want to see it?”

I tug back. “No. I’m trying to forget everything about her.”

He releases my hand and runs his hand through his hair. “I get it. And I’m sorry you went through that. But I thought you’d like to know everything. You know, in the spirit of honesty.”

Since his honesty about his job means next to nothing compared to what I really need from him, I adjust my weight and fold my arms over my chest. “Why are you even here? You said it before and I’ve seen it first-hand, your job doesn’t allow for relationships.”

His chin dips as he sighs. “What if I quit? What if I moved out here?”

I scowl at him. “What? That’s not possible.”

He holds my gaze unwavering until I’m not so sure it isn’t. “What did you do?”

There’s an element of hope that carries in my voice, I desperately wish wasn’t there. But it only increases when he smiles. “I transferred.”

I frown so hard my forehead starts to hurt. “To where?”

He takes a step towards me. “The Coast Guard. I know a guy. He’s put in a good word for me. I can start training in a month.”

My jaw slackens as I fight to process what he’s telling me. I stumble in his footsteps, mentally scratching my head as I see a small box is sitting beside a sleeping bag he must have brought.

Either he’s supremely confident in his ability to apologize or he’s going to say or do something to make up for his absence and lack of contact.

Sawyer grins and gestures to the box. “I told you I loved to solve puzzles. Well, this is the final piece.”

He leans down and opens the box. “If there was money, it wasn’t inside your lighthouse. But this was. And it’s what she was really interested in protecting.”

I creep closer and do a double-take as I see some kind of radio transmitting device. “Elaine was a double agent?”

He nods and puts the radio back inside his pocket. “Yeah. Nadia was a sleeper spy. Hiding in plain sight. She was using this beach every few months to radio a boat off-shore. She used to signal the boat with the lighthouse lantern then make radio contact. You moving in made contact impossible.”

I shake my head. “It wasn’t ever about the money then?”

He nods. “We didn’t find it. It’s possible there never was any left. But she probably knew if she told Jacob about the money, that he’d be greedy enough to help her make you leave. Things escalated when I showed up and started asking questions. She knew she was running out of time to make contact.”

All I can think about is that we’re standing on the beach we’re two people were planning to kill me. “And she was using Jacob?”

He nods. “She was obsessed with her job. Gave up everything for it. In the end, it consumed her.”

An unreadable expression flashes across his face. “My sisters think I‘ve been using my job as an excuse to avoid relationships.”

I arch an eyebrow. “No kidding.”

Grooves are forming on his forehead as he starts to scowl down at the sand. “I’m shit at this. Always was.”

My nostrils flare as I try not to laugh. “Do you want me to do it?”

He growls as he looks up. “Just give me a damn second, woman.”

After a mumbled curse, he clears his throat. “All I can think about is what I would have done if I hadn’t gotten here in time. I made that mistake once before; I left when I wanted to stay, that’s not going to happen again.”

Whatever calm I had dissolves when he grabs me and kisses me with so much purpose, so much heat, my knees buckle.

He jerks away, leaving me wide-eyed and wondering what the hell is going on. “What is that supposed to be? A proposal? An apology?” I squeak.

One arm slides around my waist, and he cups the other so I’m looking into blue-green eyes as stormy, as unyielding and as deep as the sea surrounding us. “This is me telling you I love you and I’m sorry for leaving you alone.”

I suck in a breath as his fingers drop. When I can’t speak he frowns. “I want to marry you, have kids, let you boss me around till we’re old and grey. That a problem?”

The way he’s looking at me, the way he’s holding me, what he’s done for me alone, would have been enough to convince me, even if I hadn’t wanted everything he just said.

My entire body is on fire when I give him a weak shake of my head. “Sawyer, the kids thing, that’s what you want? With me?”

He runs his finger down my cheek. “More than anything.”

I can’t meet his eye. My heart is slamming about in my chest, and I’m feeling queasy again. “How soon do you want these kids, and to get married because…”

I can’t even finish my sentence. I’m terrified as he just stares at me. His forehead creases in confusion as his hand drops. “Are you?”

My stomach starts to flip around as I contemplate his response. He’s saying all the right things, but that’s what he does, how am I supposed to know if he’s sincere of it this is some messed up booty call?

I don’t know if I can bear him rejecting me again, so I kiss him, twisting my tongue with his, pressing my body against his as my hands slide up the leather covering his back.

I kiss him so long, so hard, when I stop, dusk is falling, I can feel his hard cock against me and my heart is crashing almost painfully around in my chest. “Wait, is that a yes, you’re pregnant?” he breathes.

I nod feebly, stupid tears brewing in my eyes. His eyes widen then he swallows. “You’re sure?”

I flinch, cold sweat starting to gather at the base of my neck. My voice hitches when I answer. “I’m sure.”

Instead of outright rejection, he gives me a curious smile. “My sisters are going to go nuts.”

It’s not the reply I expected so I clear my throat and prepare to move out of his arms. But he has no intention of letting me go; his mouth is on mine again in an instant.

I pull back, out of breath, confused and horny. “Aren’t you going to say something?”

His brow knits as he slides his hand down to my ass, his lip curling into a lazy smile. “You want me to tell you how I feel about this?”

He’s grinning at me. Like this is a joke. I try to get away from him, tears springing to my eyes when he shakes his head. “Marlene, I’m slightly in shock and in case you didn’t notice, I’m kind of distracted, but, if you want to know whether I’m happy about having a baby with you…”

Sawyer’s lips brush against mine. “I am over the fucking moon.”

My shock washes away as he kisses me harder, making waves of desire crush in as he kisses me hungrily.

His hands don’t still as they roam over my body until I’m gasping for him to make love to me.

He tugs me towards the sleeping bag on the cave floor. I don’t care he’s probably planned this; I don’t care that a few weeks ago, I was hiding in here, running for my life.

I’m too busy thinking about how different his reaction to my news is from Kurt’s.

He keeps kissing me as we make it panting to the rolled sleeping bag. He hurriedly unfurls the sleeping bag and throws it over the floor.

When I crawl onto it, he lies beside me and starts to unbutton my jeans but my mind isn’t able to settle just yet.

It’s hard to concentrate with his hand where it is, but I’m too curious not to. “You didn’t know about their being spies then?”

He shakes his head. “No. Not at first. Everything fell into place later on. But, can we talk about this later?”

I open my mouth but he presses his against mine and pushes his tongue inside making me forget everything I was going to ask him.

Still, if he’s sticking around, I can interrogate him at my leisure.

I relax as he starts to finger me until I’m slick with need and shivering with lust.

When I’m quivering, ready to explode, he removes his hand and gives me a cheeky smile. “Take your jeans off. I’m going to bust my wrist.”

With a mumbled retort, I wriggle out of my jeans and kick off my boots while he unlaces his own.

I grab the camera and manage a few shots of him as he pulls his shirt over his head and takes his jeans off.

Instead of looking angry, he growls as he makes a grab for the camera. He lies on top of me, cock pressing hard into my pelvic bone as I try to wriggle out of his grip.

He stops me with a kiss so passionate I nearly drop the camera on his head. I let my Nikon drop to the sand, and tug at his jeans.

His cock is glistening when I take it in my hand and start to stroke his shaft. When I’m sure he’s as ready as I am, he moves back so my fingers slip from him.

“Take your top off. I want pictures,” he growls.

With a smirk, I wriggle back and sit so I can unhook my bra. I pull my top over my head and find him grinning at me as he raises my camera to his eye. “On all fours.”

I snort. “Fuck off.”

He laughs. “Didn’t think so.”

Sawyer manages to click off a few of me before I get tired of being on the wrong side of the camera.

I crawl over the sleeping bag, eyes on him, hair trailing in the sand as I lick my lip. “Quit playing around with my Nikon before you screw up the settings.”

He drops the camera and shrugs. “How about that skinny dip?”

I nearly growl the words. “After.”

I kiss him hard and he seems to notice I’m done messing around. He grabs my ass and pushes me back so I’m on the cold silky fabric of the sleeping bag he brought.

He shifts so he’s licking my tender nipples making me groan. He shifts down, kissing every inch of me until he’s between my legs and his tongue is caressing me.

I grab his hair and watch him as he masterfully licks me until I’m flopping back and coming.

He doesn’t give me a chance to recover before his fingers explore me, sliding in and out as his tongue doesn’t quit.

When I don’t think I can stand it anymore, I grip his hair and growl at him. “I want your cock, not your mouth.”

I scoot back as he flips on his back and laces his fingers behind his head. “Get on top of me.”

I do as he says and climb on top of him. I push his cock into me and watch his face contort in pleasure as his hands grip my waist.

I ride him, slow at first, then faster as his fingers caress my swollen breasts, my stomach, my ass.

I ride him until my legs are trembling and my back is aching. I lean down to kiss him and he grabs my ass roughly.

He flips me over, still inside me, and starts to thrust. I wrap my legs around him, digging my heels into his ass as he starts to shudder inside me. His eyes close as he comes in a roar that resounds around the cave.

He collapses on the sleeping bag beside me, breathing hard and sweat covering his forehead.

I take a deep breath and trail a finger down his chest. I lay a hand on my still flat stomach. “You really think you’re ready for this little assignment, Agent Steele?”

His eyes widen then crinkle into a smile as he leans over to kiss me. “Truthfully, I think I was ready the day I met your stubborn ass,” he says.

I swipe him as he grins at me and shifts so he can reach inside his jacket pocket.

My eyes nearly pop when he opens a velvet-covered box and I see a diamond ring inside. “I was going to suggest we call your pal Sean and take his boat out, get him to marry us tonight.”

At the mention of the open water, my stomach roils. But, the idea he wants to do it immediately removes every last trace of doubt I had about his sincerity.

I sit up, pulling his shirt around me as he pushes the ring over my finger. I chew my lip as fresh tears build until his face is a blurry mess.

I swipe them away and blink until his face comes into focus again. I look down the beach that I’d avoided until today and know the perfect way to exorcise all the lasting demons that lurk.

“Not on a boat, but how about a beach wedding?”

He smiles and wraps his arms around me. “Under the stars, with a campfire…”

“We can sleep on the beach,” I finish for him.

He presses his forehead to mine and adds to my sentiment. “Take naked photos of each other…shit, why do we have to wait? This is your beach, we can do that tonight, and every night.”

He kisses me softly and I’m sure I see the slightest amount of moisture in his eyes when he takes my hand. “This time, I do things right. Just you, me and our family.”

My own eyes start to moisten again. Whether caused by the pregnancy hormones or the knowledge he loves me, tears start to spill down my cheeks.

He was right. I have played the tough girl role. But I have an entirely new role to prepare for now.

And with Sawyer by my side, I’m more than ready for an entirely new kind of adventure.

The end

If you love feisty independent women like Marlene, read on to try Jagger and Stella’s Wild Weekend too.

Sneak Peek One Wild Weekend with Jagger

#14 One Wild Weekend with Series

© Lexi Hart 2021

All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission in writing from the author, except brief quotations in critical articles, news articles and reviews.

Lexi Hart is the pen name of a crazy Kiwi romance junkie who prefers to live in the heads of her characters than her own.

If you want to escape reality with me and love fast burn romances with a splattering of suspense, The One Wild Weekend Series is sure to satisfy you.

For readers who enjoy a slower burn, and a whole lot more angst, I hope you’ll try my ongoing fake romance series, Bad For Me.

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Books By Lexi

One Wild Weekend Series

One Wild Weekend With Connor

One Wild Weekend With Hunter

One Wild Weekend With Carter

One Wild Weekend With Sawyer

One Wild Weekend With Zander

One Wild Weekend With Luther

One Wild Weekend With Tyler

One Wild Weekend With Xavier

One Wild Weekend With Dexter

One Wild Weekend With Parker

One Wild Weekend With Cooper

One Wild Weekend With Spencer

One Wild Weekend With Ryder

One Wild Weekend With Jagger

One Wild Weekend With Becker

One Wild Weekend With Taylor

One Wild Weekend With Ryker

Bad For Me Series

Bad Boyfriend

Bad Intentions

Bad Bodyguard

Bad Behavior

Valentines' Day is about to get wild...

As an independent cybersecurity consultant, it’s my job to find gaps in security systems before the real hackers can get in.

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