But I can’t speak for Cain and Emma.”
“What do you know? You’ve been sneaking over here turning that little girl against me.”
“I’ve been spending time playing with both of them because I’m their grandfather and I love them. And I’ve seen how well adjusted Hayden is. He’s a confident boy who’ll become an extraordinary man. But it’s late. We should go home and discuss this situation in private.”
Instead of moving to leave, Carol put her hand on the knob of the door to Hannah’s room.
Before she could open it, Cain curled long fingers around her wrist and squeezed just to the point of being painful. “If I were you, I’d listen to what my husband is telling me. Because you’ll be going in this room and taking my little girl anywhere over my dead body.”
Ross stepped closer and closed his hand around Carol’s bicep. “Come on, we’re going.” He pulled her to him, obviously relieved when Cain let her go. “Kids, I’m sorry about this. I’ll call you in the morning.”
“Drive safe, Daddy, and let us know if you need anything.”
They heard the heated muttering all the way out of the house, knowing the argument that would ensue would be monumental.
Once the front door closed, Emma fell against Cain in a silent plea to be held.
Ignoring the pain in her side, Cain bent, picked her up, and carried her back to their room.
“Why does she hate me so much?” The insecure little girl that still existed inside Emma wasn’t allowed out very often, but Cain heard her clearly in the question.
“I don’t think it has anything to do with you, my love. People like your mother just find it easier to hate people who are different for whatever reason they conjure up in their head, instead of trying to figure out what they hate about themselves.”
Emma squeezed her eyes shut, not crying yet. “You sound like a therapist.”
“Well, I’d love to get you on my couch at every given opportunity, but can you afford my fee?” The joke had its intended effect, and Emma ended up laughing against Cain’s chest.
“If I ask really nicely, maybe you’ll give me a job. Then I’ll be able to pay up. Because if you ask my mother, I’m really screwed together in the worst possible way.”
With little effort, Cain lifted Emma until she was draped over her. “You listen to me, Emma Casey. You’re a beautiful woman inside and out. That doesn’t happen overnight, so that means you were also a beautiful little girl. A beautiful and giving little girl who was wasted on your mother, so stop trying to figure out what you could’ve done differently to change Carol’s heart.”
Chapter Fifty-Two
The sky became a brilliant pink as the first fingers of light broke through the night. A rooster puffed his chest with air before letting out his first cry to greet the new day, and a tourist with her legs stretched out on the chair wearing a robe laughed at the little guy with such a loud voice. Her face was shrouded in shadows, but the interested sets of eyes looking on could see her bare feet clearly.
“Ms. Casey, there’s a message for you.” One of the resort workers handed her a folded piece of paper. “Could I get you coffee and breakfast?”
“Just the coffee, thanks. I’ll order when my companion gets up. If she misses out on the hot bread you’re known for, there might be bloodshed.”
He laughed, as did the others listening in. “We try to not let that happen, since stains on the white sand is no good for the tourists.”
“You know what the shame of putting this one in jail will be?” Lionel asked. They were sitting in the empty bar next to the beach with a very small mike pointed at the suite, and their new DEA friends were camped outside the front in case Cain decided to go somewhere without them.
“That she’ll never date you?” Claire asked in return.
“I was thinking that she’s amusing in a gangster, sarcastic sort of way and vacations in some really cool places.”
When the others looked at him as if he’d grown horns, he shook with silent laughter. “Come on, you have to admit this place beats being stuck in the back of a van somewhere in New Orleans. And our next assignment will probably be some old guy who eats peanuts all day.”
“The man’s got a point, Joe, so leave him alone.” Shelby scanned the grounds of the resort, trying to find their next post. Once the sun came up, Cain would see them if she as much as glanced toward the bar, and Shelby wanted to maintain the element of surprise as long as possible. “What do you two think of that stand of palms over there?”
*
Above the band of pink appeared a band of blue sky, assuring those enjoying the sunrise of another perfect day without a cloud to mar their tanning time. With one more look at the shoreline, Muriel strolled back inside to grab a shower, leaving the message the man had delivered on the small table where the coffeepot sat.
Joe hopped off his bar stool and flagged down the server who was on his way to clean up the suite’s patio, offering him a twenty to also bring back the note. Without hesitation, the man stuffed the money into his shirt pocket and soon returned with the light pink piece of paper.
The Blue Mayan was the hotel’s restaurant—that was the easy part. But was the intended time morning or night? Leaving Claire, Lionel, and Joe on guard, Shelby went to check out the layout of Cain’s meeting place.
In keeping with the rest of the resort, the restaurant was tastefully decorated. The tables were far enough apart to give the diners some privacy, and the large windows at the back provided a spectacular view of the Gulf. Surprising to Shelby, people were already arriving for breakfast, probably to try and make some tour off-site. But she was totally shocked when the elderly host approached her and smiled.
“Miss Daniels, would you like to freshen up before I escort you to you table? You are welcome to use our
