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I'm down in a squat when I see him straighten and come to full attention. I follow the direction where he's looking, and sure enough, Jasmine and Violet are emerging from the bus with food and drinks.

But here's the thing. The guy's not the only one looking. My girl and Jas are attractive women. Guys are gonna look, and they do. Heck, every buddy at the firehouse has commented on Violet and Jasmine's beauty at one point or another.

Men notice beautiful women. Fact.

There's also the fact that word has spread about the attack and robbery, and Violet is a very recognizable face on the island. People love her. Respect her. They're watching now, too.

But I take him in, his build. Clothing. I wish I could get a better look, but I'm too far away.

The girls join a group of ladies clustered around a picnic table, and I recognize the older women as the Boardwalk Babes, a group of sixty-somethings who earned the name as babies being toted around the boardwalk back in the early days of the island's development. They kept the nickname as they grew, and their friendships and antics became as much a part of this island's history as Blackbeard's lore. They are responsible for most of the food at the house, too.

The man watches them for a while, and I try to amble my way over in a way that doesn't draw attention. He seems to sense me though. His head jerks slightly in my direction before he shoves off the building where he leans and moves out of sight behind it. I go after him, but by the time I get to the spot where he stood, he's nowhere to be seen.

Just another coincidence?

Or Violet's ex stalking her?

My hands fist, and I release a growl of unease. Because my gut knows the answer. And like it or not, my sister's face comes to mind once again as my rage grows to match Violet's determination to do things her way—regardless of how reckless it is.

Chapter 30

Violet

* * *

It feels good to get out of Sully's house and away from him after our fight. Between the attack, hospital stay, being cooped up inside the last couple of days and then our blowout due to Sully's phone call to my boss, I need a freaking break.

I need to think. To process. To come to terms with all that's happened and all that could.

While sore and achy, I don't have any broken bones. Movement is good. Movement is progress. Everyone knows the fastest way to ease muscle soreness is to move around. Not sit. And definitely to not stew over all the things going sideways at the moment.

After a quick check of the bus and the guys grilling up more than a few bad jokes along with gruff orders to "take my cute butt somewhere else," the Babes stroll by and spot me. The older women are just the kind of laughter and chaos I need to put things with Sully on a back burner for a while. And it gives me a chance to thank them personally for the flowers and food. They swarm me like a flurry of motherly bees, all sweetness and concern and mama-bear energy.

I laugh until my sides hurt, drink their special spiked lemonade disguised in large Carolina Cove tumblers, and focus on the fact that life is good when you live near the beach. Even a bad day here is a good day. At least when it isn't hurricane season.

"So, Violet," Tessa Holloway, one of the babes, says. "I hear you're staying with a certain handsome man while this robbery mess is sorted out. Will that continue in the future?"

"No. I mean, technically we haven't discussed arrangements, but no," I say in no uncertain terms.

"They're fighting," Jasmine informs the ladies.

I shoot her a glare, and she shrugs. "What? It's not a secret. Besides, maybe they can give you some advice."

The babes as a whole seem to lean toward me in unison, and I choke out a laugh, holding up my hands in surrender. "Whoa. Ladies, I'm not sure I want my business all over the island any more than it already is."

"Oh, please," Mary Elizabeth says with a wave of her hand. "We've all been the gossip at one point or another." She lowers her voice to a loud whisper. "I'm the one who had a secret baby that wound up marrying Hadley."

My brain stumbles over "secret baby" in connection to the rest of her statement. "Wait, Hadley's married to Bryson," I say slowly, glancing at Jasmine before turning my attention back to Mary Elizabeth. "He's your son?"

The woman beams like only a proud mama can. "He is."

"How did I not know this?" I ask.

"Because you don't keep up on island gossip like I do," Jas says, smirking. "And this came out before you moved back."

"It's a long, sordid story I won't bore you with now, but we've all been there, child. Don't worry yourself about gossip. People will say whatever they want, whether it's true or not. You have to keep your head held high anyway," Mary Elizabeth says firmly.

"So will you tell us?" Tessa asks. "Are you and Sully a couple? Because I think the two of you would make a gorgeous pairing."