g with her wounded
pride。 She had stewed all the way from Rye to Little pton that
morning。 On arriving home； she had gotten the address of the Hansen
Corporation and sent a check out in the mail that same day； with a note
that was much less personal than his。
〃Enclosed is a check to cover the expenses I incurred last night and
this morning。 Chloe Macdaniel。〃 She hadn't asked him to take care of
her。 She didn't need him to take care of her。 She didn't want to feel
beholden to him in any way； shape； or form； because one thing was clear。
She had picked herself up after Crystal's death and built a new life。
She wasn't letting anything threaten it。
With firm resolve she made a gentle semicircle and jogged more slowly
back toward where she had left her towel on the rocks at the sea side of
her home。
As she approached； though； it wasn't the house that caught her eye but
the tall figure that moved away from it and began to walk to the beach。
She stopped short。
He was dressed in casual navy slacks and a plaid shirt that was
unbuttoned at the neck and rolled to the elbows。 His dark hair tumbled
in disarray across his brow。 Even from a distance he looked threatening
in a divine kind of way。
He must have been watching for her； must have stood by the living room
window until she had e into sight。 If Lee hadn't been there to answer