Mal was quiet, thoughtful. “We’re all called to be in certain places, to face certain tasks. Sometimes it’s not clear to us when or where or what, but shifters in particular are tuned to patterns in the world.” He eyed Breck. “Would you have chosen to fall in love with Darla, if you’d been given a choice in the matter?”
Breck looked taken aback. “Of course not,” he said, deeply reluctant. “She was promised to another. She was out of my league. She broke all my rules.”
“And yet now, with her...?”
“There’s no other life without her, no possible path. I never dreamed I could be so happy.”
Mal nodded. “I have a theory that our animal selves can see our best possible outcome, instinctively. They recognize the pieces that take us there, even if we don’t understand all the rules and can’t see the full pattern.”
Breck studied him. “But you think you do. Understand the rules. See the whole picture.” His voice was full of challenge.
“More than most people, maybe,” Mal said, thinking of Scarlet. He hadn’t seen Scarlet coming.
We have always known that our destiny was at this island, his dragon assured him confidently.
But Mal’s vision of that destiny had been glorious battle, victory over a terrible threat to the world. It hadn’t involved a woman with eyes that looked straight into his soul, or the ferocious desire that rose in him every time he caught sight of her. His whole understanding of his fate had been turned on its head.
He finished the last swig of his beer and handed the bottle to Breck, who put it on his tray with a practiced flair.
“Shifting Sands might surprise you,” the waiter said in unexpected echo to his own thoughts. “It might even teach you something about yourself. It has a habit of doing that.”
Mal thought it just might.
Chapter 10
Scarlet checked in the new guests personally, as she usually did. It was the usual mix: dilettantes who spent money like water, couples who were celebrating anniversaries or honeymoons, middle class people who had carefully saved up for the vacation of a lifetime. She confirmed the rules with each of them, gathered signatures for all the various forms, and gave them keys.
Usually, this was one of her favorite things to do. It was pleasant to meet new people, to see the shining anticipation in their faces, to watch how they reacted to the amenities and activities she described to them. They took deep breaths of the island air and marveled at the smells and delighted in the architecture and Scarlet felt a sense of deep accomplishment and pride.
But today she could not help but think of Mal’s statement: Your resort isn’t safe.
What did he mean by that? Was this just lawyer talk? He seemed sincere. Insufferably smug, yes, but when he’d talked to her, he seemed genuinely concerned.
Concerned and... interested.
His eyes haunted her, so warm and fearless.
Their conversations on the phone had prepared her for someone cool and logical. But Mal—Mr. Moore—had an expressive face and Scarlet had caught a dozen emotions there in the space of a conversation. She found this very unnerving.
That, and she had expected someone old. Jenny said he’d been practicing law since the sixties, which meant he had to be at least eighty.
“Which room number?”
“Eighty...” Scarlet said, distracted. She shook herself. “I mean, that will be 215 in the hotel. You have a lovely view from that floor.”
The guest smiled gratefully and Scarlet made herself concentrate on the transaction and show her the map. “My staff has already delivered your luggage, no need to worry.”
“Thank you so much!”
Scarlet shut down the computer after the guest took their over-sized purse and left the courtyard and stared at her dark reflection in the screen for a moment. It wasn’t like she should judge Mal for looking younger than he was. She closed the laptop firmly.
The resort outside the courtyard was filled with the noises of new guests, people exclaiming over the beauty and thoughtfulness of the layout, loudly asking for directions, greeting the people they’d gotten to know on the plane. Some of them went directly for the bar, where there was already happy chatter despite the early hour.
Your resort isn’t safe.
Scarlet scowled over her domain. Mr. Moore had some explaining to do.
She stalked to the spa, where several guests were already gathered around the board that described the various services available.