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losing patience.
Jared ruined everything.
    Tom
shook his head, but continued to stare toward the house. "I don't know.
Just a feeling."
    He
took the spool of string from her hand. "I think everything's okay, but
I'd feel better if we pack it up and head back to the house."
    "Okay,"
she whispered, grasping her elbows in her hand.
    He
made quick work of winding up the string. "The kid probably wants his kite
back, and is spying on us. It's probably nothing."
    She
nodded. Feelings had saved her life. She never ignored them, and someone out
there was watching them.
    Barefooted,
Charlise walked beside Tom who kept her on his left side, putting himself
between her and the house. She ignored the wild grass that grew out of the
dunes and hurt her feet. She wanted back in the house where the walls protected
them.
    A
young boy ran out to meet them in the street.
    Tom
shook the boy's hand. "Andy, this is my friend, Charlise. Thanks for
letting us use your kite."
    Andy
tilted his head and grinned at her. She leaned over and kissed the boy's cheek
to thank him for an enjoyable morning with his kite. She giggled when he
grimaced and hurried to wipe his cheek.
    Tom
wagged his head as the boy ran off. "Aw, to be young and stupid."
    "Stupid?"
She watched the boy who'd lost interest in the kite and peddled off on his
bike.
    "The
kid made ten dollars, got his kite back, and a kiss from the prettiest woman
he'll ever meet." Tom snorted. "He didn't have a clue."
    Prettiest
woman? Is he completely insane? He thought fake hair color and sweatpants were
attractive? Combine that with a psycho ex-husband that forced him into a
position of her protector—no , she didn't claim any beauty prize.
    Swatting
the bottom of her pantlegs, she brushed off most of the sand before entering
the house. Tom followed suit and shut the door behind them. He strolled over to
the curtained window and peeked out.
    Charlise
stood at the bottom of the stairs and caught her lower lip between her teeth.
She hoped this didn't mean that Jared had caught up to them already.
    "I'm
going to go change clothes," Charlise announced.
    Tom
closed the curtain. "I'm going to make some phone calls."
    Tom
didn't move toward the kitchen, and Charlise didn't walk up the stairs. Their
gazes locked, and she waited for him to make the first move. All morning she'd
fought this moment, and out on the beach, he'd shown her how he felt in a way
that she'd never forget.
    He
wasn't big on words, but his actions showed her a lot. She'd be an idiot if she
denied what was happening between them.
    Tom
shoved his hands in his front pockets and lifted the corner of his mouth.
Charlise moved to stand in front of him. Her head barely came to his chin. Tom
bent his head toward her when she lifted her face to his. The kiss she bestowed
on Tom's cheek lingered longer than the kiss she gave the little boy next door.
    "Thank
you. That was the first time anyone helped me fly a kite, and I'll never forget
it.," she whispered. She kissed him once more and walked backward toward
the stairs without taking her gaze from him.
    Tom's
eyes softened and his bottom lip glistened from her kiss. She smiled to hide
the sadness welling up in her heart. She found herself without restraint around
him, and had no way to figure out how to deal with their relationship.
    If
only this psychotic nightmare would end, so she could live a normal life. She
hurried up the stairs, afraid if she didn't get out of the room fast, she'd
throw herself at Tom and forget about how very wrong getting involved with him
would be. It didn't matter how many times she fantasized about what could be.
It wasn't possible.
    Charlise
opened the bedroom door, stepped into the room, and screeched to a halt. She
left the bathroom door open earlier. I'm positive I did.
    "To—"
A hand snaked around her neck and smothered her cry for help.
    The
scent of cinnamon coming from behind her caused her to gag.She clawed at the
arm threatening to snap her