Landon shot me a look. “We’re not going back to Hawaii, Cami. We don’t know what this person knows.”
“Somewhere else then. Anywhere.” Delicately, I picked up the last shard and dropped it into the empty cardboard cereal box we were using.
“Maybe.”
The next day, Landon had to go to a meeting. He didn’t want to leave us alone in the penthouse, but my parents were coming over with their security detail, so he reluctantly agreed.
“This won’t take long,” he said, scrutinizing the man standing against the patio doors with his arms crossed over his barrel chest.
“We’ll be fine.” I urged him out the door, then closed it behind us for a moment of privacy. So much tension was radiating off him that even my parents noticed. I knew nothing I said would ease it, so I slipped my arms around his waist and kissed him instead.
His mouth met mine, reluctant at first, but I broke down his defenses. He ignored the ding of the elevator when it arrived and backed me up against the wall, his grip tightening on my waist. His tongue slipped through my lips and his hand moved up to my hair, pulling my head back further, deepening the kiss. For once, I wished we were higher up, that the elevator ride would take longer. Long enough to really release some of the pent-up frustration swimming in both of us. It was what we both needed, but we’d have to wait until he got back, and likely until Emma went to bed.
Suddenly, there was a polite, embarrassed noise of a throat clearing.
Landon made a low, annoyed sound in his own throat and pulled back incrementally, turning to glare at whoever had interrupted us.
Robert stood in the doorway. I could see my mother in the background, sitting on the couch. Her lips were pursed. I pushed my hair back, flushing despite the fact I was twenty-seven and had a child of my own. Some things would never stop being embarrassing, and getting caught by your parents was one of them.
“I think the elevator is here,” Robert said, nodding toward the opening elevator.
Landon straightened, but he didn’t back up. “It’s my elevator, Robert. It’ll wait.”
My cheeks grew hotter. Landon, looking cool as a cucumber, tipped my chin up and gave me a last kiss goodbye before he stepped into the elevator. I stood there until it closed, and the whirling hydraulics told me he was dropping down into civilization.
Only then did I turn back to Robert. His gaze had been politely averted, but sensing mine, he looked back at me. I searched it for a hint of disapproval, but I only saw sadness.
“I’m an adult, Robert,” I said uncomfortably.
“That’s why I didn’t say anything.”
My mother had no such restraint. “Not again, Cami,” she said, giving me a rare frown that pulled at her beautifully preserved features. “You’re not one to repeat mistakes.”
Emma was pressed up against my mother’s side, thrilled to be back with her beloved Gram Gram and Pop Pop. I could tell she wasn’t tracking the conversation, but it bothered me anyway. What if she subconsciously internalized my mother’s words? What if she thoughtshewas the mistake?
“No, I’m not,” I agreed coldly, giving my mother a sharpwe’ll-talk-about-this-laterlook that I’d stolen from Landon.
“We just don’t want you to get hurt again,” Robert murmured, circling the couch to put a comforting hand on Mom’s shoulder.
I didn’t have a sharp response for that. Emma was a gift that had come at a price. Leaving Landon had hurt me. I’d pay it again – and likely would – but there was no way to laugh dismissively and claim it had been easy to walk away the first time. My parents would see right through me.
Robert and Emma made French toast – Robert’s specialty – while my mom updated me on what was going on with their appeal. It didn’t sound promising. The best they could hope to do was delay the day they had to settle up or declare bankruptcy.
“I’m so sorry, Mom.” My lingering resentment from earlier dissolved. I took Emma’s place next to her on the couch and wrapped my arms around her slim shoulders, breathing in the scent of Bleu de Chanel.
“Oh, it’s all right, darling,” she said, surprising me. She glanced over her shoulder at the protection officer, then lowered her voice. “We’re relocating to friendlier territory.”
“You’re what?” I asked, too surprised to lower my own voice.
Robert glanced up from the stove and sent my mother a look I couldn’t read.
She flapped her hand at him dismissively. “Come on, darling. Show me Emma’s room.”
Mom had already seen Emma’s room. Emma had insisted on showing her every little thing as soon as she walked in. But I recognized a ruse when I saw it and followed her back.
Closing the door behind us, I asked, “What do you mean you’re relocating to friendlier territory.”
“Morocco, darling. We’ll go by Mauritius first, of course, to transfer some of our assets.”