“Liam, I’m tired of discussing this,” Mila said. She did sound tired.

She wasn’t staying in her bungalow for the time being. Millie had given her another one and had also sent Mila some of the clothes that she’d kept at Millie’s place for visits to the island.

Now, tucked inside the new bungalow we’d been given temporarily, I tried to get Mila to see my side of things.

She wasn’t budging.

I didn’t plan on backing down either, not until it looked like she was taking this seriously.

“If you’re not going to talk to Michelle and Jake about postponing the wedding, and if you’re not going to see about hiring a bodyguard until we get this straightened out, exactly what are you going to do?” I demanded.

I was half-sick with worry, and her casual attitude wasn’t making things any easier. It was almost like she wasn’t concerned about the fact that somebody had broken into her home and had gone through her things.

“I’m going to talk to the security team and have them watch my bungalow.” She lifted a shoulder. “You can stick by my side when you can. I’ll do what the security team recommends. But I’m not canceling the wedding – or any event here on the island. That’s running away.”

“Sometimes retreat is a wise option,” I pointed out.

“Drop it with the soldier talk,” she snapped. “I’m not a soldier, and it’s not like I’ve been outflanked in battle or whatever they call it. I’m just refusing to let some jackass make me change how things are done around here. I’ll be more careful. I told you that. What else do you want?”

I opened my mouth, then snapped it shut, because I wasn’t sure I could answer that.

“If it was you, would you be making a bunch of changes?” Mila pushed when I didn’t answer.

I couldn’t lie to her. But I wasn’t about to admit she was right either.

It didn’t matter. Mila saw it in my face and waved a finger in my direction. “See? You wouldn’t go changing your life around either.”

“This isn’t about me,” I snapped, closing the distance between us. I caught her shoulders and stared at her, hoping she’d understand. “This is about you. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

“I don’t plan on letting anything happen to me,” she said.

“You didn’t plan on having somebody break into your place and trash things, either,” I fired back at her.

“Would you stop?” Mila half-shouted. “I’m not letting this dictate how I live my life! I’m not letting you dictate my life.”

I spun away, shoving my hands back over my scalp as frustration burned inside. “I’m not trying to dictate your life–”

“Then yank the stick out of your ass about this wedding. I am not going, so your cousin and his fiancée won’t be in danger because of me. You don’t have to worry about that.”

I turned back to her, gaping. “You think I’m just worried about Michelle and Jake? This is about you.”

“And my security team and I will handle it.” She planted her hands on her hips as she squared off with me. “We’ll deal with it. I don’t want Michelle, Jake, or any of the guests knowing anything is out of the ordinary.”

I narrowed my eyes at her.

“I mean it!” She flung out her arms. “I’m going to be taking over here. I can’t have my guests thinking that I can’t handle an issue like this, should it arise.”

“I take it that means you don’t want me telling Jake.” I crossed my arms over my chest as I held her gaze. “The woman I’m sleeping with could be in danger, and you basically want me to forget there’s a threat. You want me to just sit in the corner and be a good little boy while you handle all of this.”

Mila opened her mouth, then snapped it closed, a growl of frustration escaping her. “Why can’t you let this go?”

“I just can’t.” Turning on my heel, I strode to the front door.

“Where are you going?” Mila demanded.

“Out. I need to breathe.” I yanked the door open. Two security guards stood just outside. The sight of them only made me feel a little better, and I walked right past them while behind me, Mila called my name.

* * *

“You look pissed.”

Jake settled on the stool next to me at the bar and waved down the bartender. He ordered a beer and turned to face me. “What’s going on?”

I shook my head.

I didn’t want him or Michelle worrying about anything when their wedding was tomorrow. I guess a part of me understood Mila’s concern there, but I didn’t understand her overall lack of concern.

If something happened to her…

“Trouble in paradise?”

I glanced up at Jake.

He snorted. “Don’t look surprised. The only way you two could be less subtle about what’s going on between you is if somebody found the two of you having a quickie poolside.” He cocked his head to the side. “But something’s got you down. Want to talk about it?”

I opened my mouth, then closed it. After a few more seconds, I said, “Some of it is Mila’s business. Not my place to discuss it.”

“Think that could be part of what’s bothering you?”

I looked at him, not following.

He shrugged. “You’re all tangled up in this girl. Think maybe part of the problem is because it’s her problem…instead of a problem she wants to share with you?” Jake suggested.

“We’re not really even dating,” I said softly, looking back at the scotch I’d ordered. “There’s no reason for it to be our problem.”

Tangled up in her, I thought. Yeah, that about summed it up.

And I had no idea how she felt about me.

That was a rub too.

I circled the heel of my hand over my heart before looking back at Jake.

“Have you told her how you feel?” he asked.

“I don’t know how I feel,” I admitted. “How can I tell her when I’m still trying to make sense of it myself?”

“How about I help you out?” Jake leaned in, bumping my shoulder with his. “I think the word you’re looking for is l-o-v-e.”

I shoved up, shaking my head. “We’re not even dating.”

“What’s that matter?” Jake asked easily. “You’ve clearly spent time together.” He gave me an eagle-eyed stare as he added, “Lots of personal quality time too.”

I flushed as I caught his meaning.

He laughed. “The two of you probably didn’t even wait an hour before hopping in the sack once you got here, kid.”

“I didn’t know she was here until I ran into her,” I said stiffly. Maybe I wasn’t so uncomfortable with sex now, but I sure as hell didn’t want to talk about it with my cousin.

“Fine.” He rolled his eyes. “An hour after you saw each other, I bet the two of you were in bed.” He shook his head, one hand upheld. “I’m not asking for details or anything, but the two of you can’t keep your eyes or hands to yourselves. And I see the way you look at her. I know that look.”

Focusing on my drink once more, I turned the idea over in my head.

“How do you know when it’s love?” I asked quietly.

“I think you figure that out when you stop listening to all the noise that doesn’t matter and pay attention to what your heart is saying.” He hitched up a shoulder before taking a sip of his beer. “I knew almost from the beginning that things with Michelle were different. It took me a while to stop fighting it though.”

“I don’t know if I’m the one fighting things,” I said, staring into my glass of whiskey as if it held the answers I sought.

There were no answers though. Not even when I tossed the rest of the liquor back and slammed the glass down on the countertop.

“Well, maybe you should start with that.”

I shot him a puzzled look.

“Talk to her. You’re just now having that ah-ha moment. Maybe the two of you need to talk about how you feel and see if that doesn’t clear the air.”

* * *

Talk to her.

It seemed to be wise advice, although the thought of going back to her while this stalker thing was still unsettled made me even more leery.

Of course, shying away from the idea wasn’t really ideal, either.

I heard the echo of Mila’s voice in my ear – that’s running away.

She was talking about dealing with whoever had been in her bungalow while I was thinking about a different matter altogether, but the same rules seemed to apply. How did running away solve this?

It pissed me off then because I finally put myself in Mila’s shoes. She was right. I wouldn’t have called off a wedding or any event if I’d been the one in danger.

Why would I think she’d change anything anyway? Not that understanding that made me feel any better.

She was strong, stubborn and capable – and she’d just made one hell of a change in her life, one that promised to make her very happy. Maybe I was one of the changes she’d be better off without.

I didn’t like the way that knowledge settled inside me.

Not at all.