Free Land's End by Marta Perry Page B

and she heard the murmur of his voice, giving orders.
    Trent was used to giving orders, used to having them obeyed. Doubt flickered. Could she really accept that he hadn’t known what Farrell was up to?
    He reappeared, pocketing the cell phone. “That’s taken care of. I’ve been thinking about what’s best for you to do.Assuming you are still determined to stay on the island, that is?” He raised his eyebrows.
    â€œYou can assume that, yes.”
    â€œThen I think you should move to Land’s End.”
    She could only stare at him. “Move to Land’s End,” she repeated. Trent’s compound, a combination of home and business headquarters, occupied one entire end of the island. “But—why would you want me to do that? You’re the one who had me thrown out of my hotel.”
    â€œYou’re not going to let me forget that, are you?” The sudden warmth of his smile took her breath away.
    â€œNo. I mean—” She tried to regroup. “Unless Jonathan decides I’m too much trouble, I’m fine here.”
    He frowned. “You’re not safe here. That should be evident.”
    â€œWith Farrell gone, I’m not in danger.”
    His frown deepened. “Farrell didn’t admit to having done this.”
    â€œDid you think he was telling the truth?”
    â€œI don’t know.” He sounded reluctant to make the admission. “But I don’t want to find out the hard way.”
    â€œWhat about your daughter? How will you explain my presence?”
    â€œWe often have people staying at the house. Melissa is used to that.”
    She looked down at the crumpled blouse she held. A knife had slashed it, just as a knife had slashed her tires. Surely Farrell had done both, whether he admitted it or not. If not—
    If not, someone else had a reason to want to scare her off. A chill seemed to settle deep inside her. That would imply that there was more to Miles’s and Lynette’s deaths than she’d imagined. No, she couldn’t believe that.
    â€œNo one else could wish me ill.”
    â€œI hope so, but your return has stirred up a lot of memories.” He looked as if the words left a bad taste in his mouth. “There may well be other people who’d be just as happy if you left St. James. No one appreciated being hounded by reporters day and night for weeks on the off chance they knew something.”
    The bitterness in his voice told her who’d been hounded the most. She’d escaped so quickly that she hadn’t thought about what it must have been like on the island when the story broke.
    â€œI guess I didn’t realize how bad it was. Or that people here would blame me for it.”
    He shrugged. “Not blame. But maybe be eager for you to leave before some enterprising reporter learns you’re here and decides to revive the scandal.”
    â€œHardly to the extent of vandalism, surely.” That chill moved through her again.
    â€œA scandal brings out the worst in some people.” His face darkened. “They gossip, they write ugly letters.” He sounded as if he’d experienced both. “It’s a small step from that to active vandalism.”
    â€œEven if you’re right, Jonathan has security precautions.”
    He smiled faintly. “Not like mine.”
    The unconscious arrogance of the words annoyed her, but he was probably right. No one could get into Land’s End unless Trent wanted them to. The only danger to her there would come from inside.
    â€œEven so—”
    â€œSarah, little though I want you here, if you’re determined to stay, I intend to protect you. I can do that more efficiently at Land’s End.”
    â€œAre you sure you don’t mean you can control me more efficiently there?”
    â€œI doubt very much that anyone can control you.” He sounded as if he found that cause for regret. “Let’s say it will