“We need to talk about your definition of amazing.” He heard a click and one of the gates opened. “Wait. We’re breaking in?”

“Did you think it would be unlocked?”

“Not sure what I thought.”

“We’re not knocking.” She pushed open the gate and started down the rocky path.

He followed because there was no way he’d miss this. The property also fascinated him. He could hear a stream and see the expansive water view behind the series of buildings—the house, the garage, and one he thought might be a gardener’s shed.

He caught up with her in a few steps. “You do realize we are, right now, increasing the crime rate on Whitaker.”

“How do you figure?”

“Do you think this is legal?”

“It’s a technicality.”

The L-shaped house had a small garden out front. In the right season, flowers likely bloomed. Now a piece of furniture sat there with a cover over it.

His gaze switched to the house. The dark red trim contrasted with the gray stone. A breezeway lined with doors seemed to separate one wing of the house from another. He couldn’t get a sense of the size, but this place loomed over the smaller cottages and cabins dotting the island.

“Nothing.” Maddie wiped her palms on her jeans after touching every inch around the front door and overturning the flower pots on the small porch that surrounded the oversized door.

“You thought the person would leave a key?”

“It was worth a try.”

He wasn’t sure he agreed. “We have two choices.”

“I pick the one that guarantees we get inside.”

She exhausted him in and out of bed. “You don’t know what the choices are yet.”

“Fine.” She crossed her arms over her chest, bunching her oversized jacket underneath. “Go ahead.”

He’d been on enough job sites and checked out enough abandoned and on-sale buildings to know how to get inside. Trespassing bothered him but so did the idea of her sneaking back here once he fell asleep and throwing a pot through one of these expensive windows. And they were. For a place where no one lived or visited, it was pristine. High-end and stunning, with an open view on all sides. The engineer side of him appreciated all of it.

Between the fence and the intimidating gate, the house was protected. Add in the historically low crime on the island—until recently, at least—that protection should have been enough without a deadbolt. He slipped his wallet out of his back pocket for this next part.

He looked for signs of cameras or other surveillance and didn’t see any. Like most people on Whitaker, it looked like the owner took safety a bit for granted.

“What are you . . .” She leaned over his shoulder and watched. “Interesting.”