She lifted her head and looked at him. “The note references you. Maybe not specifically, but we know it’s you. You’re the one I’m sleeping with. You’re the only person I’ve let get close to me on Whitaker, and look what happened.”

“I’m fine and have no complaints. The time with you . . . it’s been good.” He brushed the back of his hand against the side of her leg. The gentle touch soothed. Didn’t demand anything.

“It’s great for us but not for Owen Pritchard.” She thought about the man she didn’t know and the end he suffered because of her. “Now there are people who know who I am and what I look like. I no longer blend in. People who come in contact with me might be in danger. Nothing about this is clear or easy.”

Connor reached over and took her hand. Slid his fingers through hers. “We’re talking about one woman on a small island of roughly two hundred people. She’ll be noticed.”

Reality punched into her. Days had passed, more than a week since Connor came to the island. The ferry had come and gone. Dom continued to do his job. “I haven’t been checking for people coming on and off the island.”

“Hey, listen to me.” He covered their joined hands with his other one. “Ben is in charge. Evan, as much as I dislike him, is an expert. The owner of the island is here, and she’s pissed. This is not your job, Maddie.”

She rested her head on his shoulder. “I’m exhausted.”

“Then rest.” He whispered the words against her hair, then kissed her there.

“It’s not exactly safe to close my eyes.” But she did. There with him. Let her muscles relax and her body sink into him.

After a few minutes of quiet, she felt him move and lifted her head. His hand slipped out of hers.

He leaned back against the stack of pillows and opened his arms to her. “Come here.”

The invitation sounded so good. Picking him over analyzing her options could be another form of running, but being with him, blocking out the past, was all that calmed her lately.

“You are so comfortable.” She lay down against him, flat on his chest with her head tucked under his chin. With her arms wrapped around his waist, she inhaled, letting the tension drift away and her mind go blank.

Falling into him was so easy. So natural.

“And by comfortable you mean sexy.” His fingers slid through her hair before massaging the back of her neck.

“That’s undeniable.”

“Close your eyes.”

“I’m never going to sleep again.” But they were already closed and her breathing evened out.

He kissed the top of her head. “You will.”