Clara thought back to what Daniel had said when she’d first met him. She shouldn’t be on the island. He would do better with the investigation if he was alone.
Clara and Daniel stood in line at the check-in area, his fingers around hers kept her grounded.
“Next in line, please,” the smiling attendant said. Her nametag read: Kenise.
Daniel smiled at her and the woman blushed.
“May I help you?” Kenise asked, her voice a little higher in pitch like she was flirting.
That voice was fingernails on a chalkboard to Clara.
“We have a reservation,” Daniel said, he didn’t seem to notice or care about Kenise’s actions.
“Name?” The woman readied her fingers on the keyboard and stared at Daniel’s mouth.
“Staubach,” he supplied. “Roger.”
Kenise’s fingers tap-tap-tapped. Her face lit up. “Here it is.” She looked up as though for confirmation. “A suite.”
He nodded and she refocused on the screen.
“Is it possible to stay in the Jaguar suite?” he asked, naming the exact room that the DeSanchos had booked.
“Let me see what I can do.” She studied that screen like she was memorizing a paragraph for a final exam.
Clara took the opportunity to look around. Hadn’t Makayla said that her younger brother had seen Ashlyn hanging around the lobby? All of this would be so much easier if Clara could just interview the staff and get real answers. Someone had to have seen something and she was adept at telling when someone lied to her. Or so she’d thought. She questioned her abilities considering the secrets her own family had been keeping.
But then, Daniel had been right. It was impossible to be objective when it came to family. So much of his harsh actions when they’d first met made sense now. Even then she’d realized down deep that there was good in him. He’d experienced loss. He was a man reacting to pain that was still raw.
Clara refocused, glancing around the lobby and hoping something would stand out. She thought about the generic-feeling report that had been sent to Stella. Royale management’s investigation had arrived three days after Ashlyn’s disappearance. It recounted staff member accounts of overhearing conversations with Ashlyn and her friend stating that she needed to get away for a few weeks and had no intention of going home.
The corporate office had painted a picture of a runaway and said that they’d be in contact the minute she turned up. Based on what Clara had learned in the past couple of days she couldn’t blame Ashlyn for wanting to avoid Stella’s house.
Clara’s mind snapped back to the present when Kenise said, “I can do that for you. No problem.”
The woman continued punching keys for what felt like an eternity.
“These will get you in.” She looked up at them, studying Clara like she was actually seeing her for the first time. Of course, up until now she’d been focused on Daniel. Clara didn’t like the extra attention. She and Ashlyn looked too much alike and Clara didn’t need Kenise making the connection and alerting others on the staff to watch what they said around her.
“Should I use the credit card on file for incidentals?” the woman asked.
“Yes.” Daniel leaned over the desk and Kenise’s gaze quickly shifted. “I’d appreciate that very much.”
He seemed to pick up on what was going on and his sexier voice drew the attention back to him immediately. Did he always have that effect on women?
More pangs of jealousy hit.
Clara already knew that sex with the man was beyond the best she’d ever experienced. It felt like so much more than sex; they had a real connection.
Looking at Kenise, Clara wondered if he had that same ‘connection’ with every female he met. The man had the chiseled, rough, bad boy looks that made women lose their minds and their hearts.
Heat drew to Kenise’s cheeks as she smiled up at Daniel. She handed over the card keys. Clara caught the woman brushing her fingers against Daniel’s palm and beaming at him as he took the offering.
Jealousy was a hurricane brewing inside her chest but she had no claim to him, except for the fact that the afterglow of their mind-blowing sex was still on her.
But she shoved all those thoughts aside as she let the reason they were here absorb. This was the last place Ashlyn had been seen.
Sixteen days ago.
The Jaguar suite rang true to its name. Framed artwork depicting the animal hung on the walls. The tropical theme reminded Clara of Ashlyn’s fifth birthday party. Ashlyn had always loved to be read to and Jungle Book had captivated her.
Walking around the living room of the three-bedroom suite, Clara was gutted.
She looked to Daniel for reassurance and saw that same brokenness in his eyes. Was that the mutual attraction playing out between them? Two damaged souls seeking comfort in each other’s arms? It felt like so much more.
Clara lived alone and had been alone for most of her adult life. She never let anyone in after what had happened when she was a teen. She’d erected walls so high no one could climb them, so thick no one could tear them down. She’d learned to exist after her world had crashed down around her.
None of that mattered when he closed the distance between them and took her in his arms. She buried her face in his chest and released the tears that had been building.
Clara had no idea how long they stood there but his arms were bands around her, holding her upright. “Thank you.”
“I haven’t done what we came here to do yet.” His voice was a low rumble against her chest.
“Whatever happens in the next few days, whatever we find out about what happened…” She paused a beat to stem the second wave of tears threatening. “I want you to know how much I appreciate everything you’ve done for my family.”
“Clara—”
“No,” she cautioned. “Don’t backtrack now.
