“Thanks for letting us know,” Adam said. “We’ll remember that.”
Brian Morrison smiled. “All our precautions are for the safety of our guests.”
“I understand.” Adam and Claire rose, and he took her by the arm. “A walk to the lake after dinner sounds like a plan, Claire. How about it?”
“I’d love to see the lake.”
“Good. Then we’ll check it out.” They started toward the door, but Adam stopped and turned back to Brian Morrison. “There is one more thing.”
“Oh, what’s that?”
“What about the daytime? Does security patrol the grounds then, too? I’ve always been a hiker, and your website mentions that the back of your property borders the river. Is it all right to hike the forest trails and along the river?”
Brian and Trudy exchanged quick glances before he smiled. “That’s not a good idea, Mr. Knight.”
“Why not?”
“Because there are a lot of wild turkeys in the woods around here, and this is turkey-hunting season in Tennessee. Security does patrol, but of course they can’t be everywhere at once. Sometimes hunters slip onto the property because they know the turkeys are here. They hunt with guns and with bow and arrows. It can be very dangerous if a person gets caught accidentally between a hunter and his prey. We caution our guests to stay close to the main building.”
Adam nodded. “Oh, I see. Thanks for telling me.”
Brian smiled again. “I just don’t want to see you hurt, Mr. Knight.”
Trudy cleared her throat, and Adam glanced around at her standing beside the open door, a clear signal their visit was over. “I’ll be in the dining room at dinner,” she said. “But in the meantime, if you need anything, let me know.”
Adam smiled as he and Claire exited the room. “We will.”
Once they were in the elevator, he glanced at Claire. “You were mighty quiet in there. What did you think?”
She pursed her lips and frowned. “I don’t know. On the surface they seemed very open and friendly, but that excuse about turkey season didn’t ring true with me.”
“Me, neither. We may need to go in search of those turkeys ourselves.”
The elevator stopped on their floor, and she laughed. Looping her arm through his, she pulled him off the elevator and into the hall. “I know you’re about to fall asleep on your feet, but you still have a sense of humor. That’s one of things I always liked about you.”
He cocked an eyebrow and stared at her. “I thought you hated my attempts at making you and Jessica laugh when you two were younger.”
“I did. Because it seemed you were always trying to make us feel like silly schoolgirls who didn’t have a lick of sense in our heads.” A teasing gleam lit her eyes, and his heart fluttered. “In case you haven’t noticed, Mr. Knight, I am no longer a schoolgirl who can be intimidated. I’m a grown woman.”
He watched as she walked down the hall to her room. She turned and waved at him before she disappeared inside. For a moment he thought he couldn’t move, then he slowly walked to his own room across the hall from hers. Before he entered, he turned his head to stare at her closed door.
“You’re wrong, Claire,” he whispered. “I have noticed you’re a grown woman.”
ELEVEN
Claire couldn’t believe how few guests there appeared to be at Serenity. She glanced around the empty dining room and whispered across the table to Adam. “No wonder we were able to get reservations so easily. There’s hardly anyone here.”
Adam folded his napkin and placed it next to his plate. “I’ve noticed there aren’t many people around. In fact, I haven’t seen anybody in the hall where we’re staying. Maybe tomorrow will be busier.”
Claire hadn’t thought about not seeing anyone else in their hallway until now, and for some reason it frightened her. “Do you think we’re the only people on that floor?”
“Could be.”
An ominous queasiness curled in the pit of her stomach. “That seems strange.”
Claire let her gaze drift over the room and came to a stop on the hostess station where their waiter and the woman who’d seated them appeared to be in deep conversation. The waiter said something, and they both looked at Claire.
Her uneasiness melted into something more like fright and spread through Claire. Her skin prickled at the thought that the two had been discussing her and Adam. The waiter picked up a small folder and walked toward their table.
When he arrived, he laid the leather folder beside Adam and smiled. “Your meals will be added to your final bill, but you have to charge it to your room.”
Adam signed the paper inside, closed it and handed it back to the waiter. As he reached for it, the sleeve of his uniform slipped up and revealed the tattoo of a spiderweb on his arm. His face reddened, and he pulled his sleeve down to cover the tattoo.
Claire smiled up at him. “I wonder if you could tell me something,” she said.”
The waiter glanced from her to Adam. “If I can, ma’am.”
“We were wondering why there are so few people here. Is it always this slow?”
He laughed and shook his head. “Oh, no. This just happens to be a slow night. We’re booked solid for the next three days. Weekends are always like that. You were lucky you wanted a reservation on one of our lighter days.”
Adam nodded. “I guess we were. But I’m surprised you get many guests at all with this place being so remote.”
The waiter shook his head. “That seems to be one of the things our customers like best about Serenity. It’s far from the hustle and bustle of the world. Being close to nature seems to help people relax.”
Adam rubbed his stomach. “Well, it’s helped me relax, and the food was outstanding. Give our regards to the chef.”
“I’ll do that, sir.” He took a step back from the table and smiled. “Thank you for dining with us tonight. I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening.”
Claire waited until he had walked through the swinging doors into the kitchen before she leaned across the table and whispered to Adam. “What did you think about his explanation for so few people being here?”
“It sounded like something he’d rehearsed.” Adam shrugged. “But who knows? He could be right about it being busier on weekends.”
She lowered her voice. “Did you see that strange tattoo on our waiter’s arm?”
“I did, but it’s not the first one like it I’ve seen today.”
“Where did you see it?”
“That guy from Security who took us to Brian Morrison’s office.”
“Really?” Claire leaned back in her chair and thought for a moment. “What are the chances of two people working for the same organization having such similar tattoos?”
Adam shrugged. “It depends. Maybe it’s a coincidence, but then again it could have a hidden meaning.”
Claire narrowed her eyes and stared at him, but he seemed to be having difficulty looking her in the eyes. After a moment he picked up his water glass and took a sip.
“You’re not telling me something,” she said.
Adam set the glass down and sighed. “It’s just that I’ve spent a lot of time with fugitives who were hardened criminals, and I’ve encountered similar tattoos before.”
She glanced over her shoulder to make sure no one was close enough to hear her. “Are you saying the tattoos could be connected?”
He nodded and crossed his arms on the table. “Yes. Spiders catch prey in their webs, and from what I’ve learned, a tattoo of a spiderweb on a man’s arm can mean he has served time in prison. The bigger the web, the more time behind bars.”
Claire sat back in her seat. “Wow! I never knew that.” After a moment she smiled. “I’m really getting an education on crime hanging out with you, Adam. Your wo
rld is a long way from my life as a librarian.”
His jaw sagged, and he tilted his head to one side. “That’s why I’ve tried to be there for you in the past few days. You stepped into something you didn’t understand when you went after Peter Willis, and I don’t want you to get hurt.”
She reached out and covered his hand with hers. “Thank you, Adam. No one could have a better protector than you’ve been. Even though it’s been rough at times, I’m glad we’ve had this time together.”
He laced his fingers with hers and smiled. “Me, too. Now, how about that walk down to the lake? It’s a little chilly tonight, but I think we’ll make it okay.”
“I’d like that.”
They stood and walked out of the dining room and into the main lobby. They stopped at the front door, and Adam frowned slightly as he studied her. “Are you sure you’re dressed warmly enough?”
She nodded. “I have a sweater on, and I wore my suede boots. They’ll keep my feet warm, and the clog-style heels make it easy to walk.”
“Clog style? What’s that?”
Claire stifled a chuckle at the perplexed look on Adam’s face. “The heels are chunky.”
He shook his head and laughed. “Sorry. I don’t know anything about women’s fashions.”
“Then maybe I’m not the only person learning something from our partnership. I’m helping with your education, too.”
He nodded and opened the door for her. His eyes twinkled as he stared at her. “And I thank you for that, Miss Walker.”
Claire arched an eyebrow and directed a teasing look at him as she started through the door. “It’s a pleasure, Mr. Knight.”
Before she stepped onto the porch, she glanced over her shoulder and saw their waiter in the hallway just outside the dining room talking on a cell phone. And he was staring straight at them. A surprised look flashed across his face when she spotted him. Then he muttered something into the phone, whirled around and strode back into the dining room.
A chill ran down Claire’s spine at the man’s reaction. Was he talking with someone about her and Adam? She shook the thought from her head and stepped through the front door.
Outside she walked to the top step and stopped. She turned her head slowly and stared back at the building.
“What’s the matter?” Adam asked.
“We were being watched by our waiter when we left the dining room.”
He looked back at the front door and nodded. “I wouldn’t doubt it. I don’t think we should trust anyone we’ve met here yet. I’ve found it always pays to be cautious.”
“I’m sure you’re right,” Claire murmured.
He took her by the hand. “But let’s not let our suspicions ruin this beautiful night. Come on. Let’s walk down to the lake.”
She nodded and started down the steps. As they turned onto the path that led to the lake, she glanced back at the center. The uneasiness she’d felt a few minutes ago returned. Adam was right. It was a beautiful night, but she couldn’t help but think something evil lurked somewhere nearby at Serenity. And it was keeping them in its sights.
* * *
As they ambled along the path to the lake, Adam hoped he’d satisfied Claire’s concerns about the possibility of their being watched. He didn’t want her upset, but he still wanted her to be careful while they were at Serenity. So far he had no concrete proof that anyone was the wiser to why they were here, and he hoped to keep it that way.
Still, he had to admit that ever since they’d arrived he’d had a gut feeling they were only seeing what the staff at Serenity wanted them to see. For the protection of both of them, he had to stay on his game and not get distracted. And that was hard to do with Claire beside him on a clear, moonlit night.
They reached the lake at that moment, and Claire pointed to a bench near the water’s edge. “Let’s sit over there.”
“All right.”
He followed her to the spot, and they sank down on the bench. Neither spoke for a few minutes. Then Claire let out a long sigh. “Isn’t the lake beautiful with the moonlight reflecting off the surface of the water?”
Adam nodded. “It is. I understand why they suggested we walk down here.” He stretched out his legs and crossed his feet at the ankles. “I must say this is very peaceful.”
Claire turned toward him. “It’s good to see you relaxed. Ever since you found me at the cabin, your life has been filled with problems. I’m sorry I’ve disrupted everything for you.”
He straightened, swiveled to face her and rested his arm on the back of the bench. “Don’t think like that, Claire. I’m glad I could help you.”
“I know you are, but if it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t have been shot at or chased by a speeding car. And I don’t want you put in any more danger because of me. Maybe I need to go back to Nashville and let the police find Peter Willis.”
Her words shocked him, and he sat up straighter. “Go back? Why?”
“Because when I first started this, I didn’t think about how it could affect other people. After the past few days, I’ve seen how my actions could have consequences for a lot of people.”
His mouth dropped open, and he frowned. “What are you talking about, Claire?”
“I’m talking about your family. How could I ever face them again if something happened to you because you came with me on what I probably shouldn’t have started in the first place?”
He didn’t say anything for a moment, then he reached down and took her hand in his. “Claire, the job I do is dangerous. My family knows that. If anything happened to me, they wouldn’t blame you.”
The tears in the corner of her eyes glistened in the moonlight. “But I would blame myself.” She took a deep breath. “Adam, now with both my parents gone, the closest thing I have to a family is yours. I don’t want to hurt them.”
Her words stirred a new hope in his heart. If she loved his family, then she might really have forgiven him for the things he had said to her in the past. Perhaps this could lead to a new relationship for the two of them.
He took a deep breath. “Are you saying that you love my family?”
“Of course I do. I practically grew up at your house. Your mom and dad have always treated me like I was one of the family. Nobody could feel any closer to a sister than I do to Jessica.”
He dreaded asking the next question, but he had to know. “That leaves Lucas and me. What about us?”
She hesitated for a moment before she responded. “Any girl in her right mind would be happy to have two such fine men as brothers.”
His heart dropped to the pit of his stomach. A brother. His chest felt so tight he could hardly breath.
She stared into his eyes, and a longing like he’d never known swept over him. He wanted to reach out and pull her into his arms. He wanted to tell her that he didn’t want to be her brother. He wanted something more from her. He wanted to shout at her that he loved her, and he would give anything to erase the bad memories from her mind and make her love him.
But he knew it would do no good.
He struggled to smile and squeezed her hand. “Thank you for telling me this, Claire, but you haven’t changed my mind about finding Peter Willis. I want to know what he is involved in that has cost the lives of four people. That we know of.”
“But, Adam...” She frowned and tried to pull her hand away but he held on.
“No, Claire. You can go back to Nashville if you want, but I won’t give up. I’m going to find him.”
After a minute she nodded. “Okay, I’ll stay until he’s caught. But I’m not cut out to be a bounty hunter, and I don’t want to run my dad’s business. So as soon as this is all over, I’m going back to my job in Nashville.”
Her words crushed him, but he nodded. “If that’s what you want.”
“It is.”
He glanced up at the moon before he looked at her again. “It’s getting late. Why don’t we call it a night?”
“Okay.”
They rose and headed back to the center in silence. They didn’t speak or even glance at each other until they exited the elevator on their floor and stopped outside Claire’s room. She pulled her key from her pocket and turned to Adam.
“Thank you for a lovely evening.”
“I enjoyed it, too, Claire. What about in the morning? Want to meet for breakfast?”
She shook her head. “I don’t think so. My spa appointment is set for 8:00 a.m., so I’ll probably have them bring some coffee to my room before I go for that.”
He nodded. “And I have that workout session about the same time. I’ll check with you when I get back, though, and we can go to lunch.”
“That sounds good.”
Adam searched his mind for something else to say, but he could think of nothing. He pulled out his key and walked across the hall to his room. He glanced back over his shoulder before he stepped through the door. Claire was still standing outside her room, a strange expression on her face.
He gave a feeble smile. “Good night, Claire.”
“Good night, Adam.”
The door closed, and he stood in his room rethinking the things Claire had said when they were at the lake. The only conclusions he could draw was that she had found a way to let him know there was no chance for the two of them to have a relationship. She thought of him as a brother, just as she did his brother, Lucas.
A brother? The thought sent anger surging through him. He didn’t want to be her brother. Couldn’t she tell he loved her? Apparently she did, and she had tried to let him down in a nice way tonight. But it hadn’t worked. He would never be okay with her not loving him back.
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