The building manager’s keys rattled as he opened the door of the first unit for Jake and Sophie. He reeked of cigarettes and the greasy chicken they’d interrupted him eating when they arrived for the showing, and Jake noticed Sophie’s nose scrunched in obvious distaste as they stood downwind. “It’s a studio. Best feature is the view,” the man said.

A simple room with linoleum flooring, a kitchenette, and a bathroom, the place did have a deck with a sliding glass door that looked out over Hilo Bay. The soft gauze of “vog” cast a powdered gold glow lit by afternoon sunlight falling over the gently swaying palms, Hilo Bay’s gleaming water in the distance. The busy thoroughfare of their office was only blocks away; it was a convenient location, even if not the most beautiful building. Sophie looked around at the simple space. “I think I’d like a little more room than this.”

“We were going to look at the one bedroom, too,” Jake told the manager.

“Sure.” The man glanced at their joined hands. “You could save money by sharing. As roommates. Or just shacking up.”

Jake suppressed a grin—the guy was making his case for him.

Sophie was testy. “Your opinion is not relevant, sir. Please just show us the unit.”

The man shrugged and led the way out of the studio down an open exterior corridor to the next unit. This one had a separate bedroom, living room, and a galley-style kitchen. Sophie’s gaze darted around the space. “I’ll take this one, Jake, if you don’t mind.”

He knew how she would furnish it: with blackout curtains in the bedroom, triple locks on the door, and not a lot of furniture—if any. He’d shop for both of them.

“I like the studio better, so this works out perfectly.” Jake squeezed Sophie’s hand, suppressing the twinge of hurt he still felt over her insistence on separate spaces. She’d tried to tug her hand away during the appointment several times, but he found that if he just persisted gently, she usually warmed up. Her standoffishness was a habit as much as anything, and he relished every time she let him get closer.

But today, something was definitely up with her.

They’d had amazing lovemaking after the talk at the restaurant, but Sophie’d come to work from that therapy session at Dr. Wilson’s looking pale, shaky, and totally shut down. He’d tried to get her to open up, but no go.

He’d give her space, but not for long.

Secrets were toxic. They eroded trust, and trust was the foundation for everything that mattered. He’d set out to prove to Sophie that he could be trusted, and so far, so good. That she’d shared the situation with her mother and the project she and Hamilton were working on was huge—but he wanted to know her emotional secrets, too, even if they hurt.

Even if they involved her feelings for Alika.

They wrapped up the appointment by completing applications for the two units, then heading back down to the white Security Solutions SUV.

“Think we should let the dogs out before we go to the ad agency?” Jake asked, getting behind the wheel. “We’re passing right by the motel.”

“Good idea. Can you do it? I’m so tired; I just need a small nap.” Sophie reclined her seat. “Ten minutes. That’s all I need.”

“No problem.”

Sophie reached into that backpack she carried everywhere and took out a black sleep mask. She slid it on, reclined her seat, and by the time he’d pulled the SUV out of the parking lot, she was asleep, her long body curled sideways on the seat facing him.

Nope, they hadn’t slept much last night, and all of that activity had wiped her out. Jake smiled at the memory.

He navigated back to the motel and rolled down the vehicle’s windows, parking in the shade of the motel’s trademark banyan tree so Sophie would stay cool while she rested. He put Ginger and Tank on their leashes and took them for a short run, letting the ad agency they were investigating know they were going to be a little late.

The dogs cavorted and tugged, pausing to pee on every tree and patch of grass. They’d been able to let the animals stay together since they’d rented adjoining rooms, but once they were in their separate apartments, they’d likely have to be split up. He didn’t think the dogs would like that.

Jake put the dogs back in the room and gently shook Sophie. “Hey, Soph. Hate to wake you, but we have to get into our disguises as a couple shopping for an advertising firm.”

“Oh.” Sophie knuckled her eyes. She was so beautiful, even rumpled and sleepy—okay, especially rumpled and sleepy. He loved her that way—it brought out all his caveman instincts. Carrying her back to the room seemed like a fun option, if she’d let him.

Jake opened her car door, hoping to grab her up, but Sophie got out and stood, stretching her arms and yawning widely. “Thanks for letting me nap.”

She picked up her pack and headed for the motel room as he closed the vehicle’s windows. He pulled the magnetic Security Solutions signs off the doors so they could go incognito as clients to Coconut Wireless Advertising & Marketing.

Back in the motel room, Jake changed into a button-down aloha shirt in a subdued tropical print and chino shorts as the water ran in the bathroom and Sophie showered. He glanced at the backpack, sitting innocuously on her bed. What was in there that she guarded so closely?

Was he really considering having a peek inside?

Yep, he was. He’d always been too curious; even his mama said so. Made him a good investigator.

Jake unzipped the top of the pack and peeked in.

Nothing more than he’d expected—a solid-state storage drive, a couple of stick drives. Her wireless headphones. A rolled jump rope for those exercise breaks she liked to take. A small flashlight, a pocketknife. Some electrical tape and a blue coil of internet cable. A couple of wallets that she used for her identities. A bag of dog treats. Jake moved the bag of treats aside with a finger and froze at the sight of the small white box concealed beneath it.

A pregnancy test?

Jake’s heart rate jacked like he’d spotted a rattlesnake. He recoiled, sweat breaking out over his body. He zipped the pack shut and adjusted it to make sure it looked untouched, feeling horrible that he’d violated her privacy…and yet.

A pregnancy test? That sure as shit affected him too!

What the hell should he do?

“Holy Mary,” he muttered, returning momentarily to his family’s Catholic roots. He collapsed on the end of his bed, dropping his head into his hands. Tank got up and came to lick Jake’s arms, sensing his agitation. Jake pushed the dog away even as he felt happiness burst forth from somewhere deep inside, bubble up through his body, and out through his face in a huge grin.

Sophie might be pregnant, and he might be a daddy.

He’d always wanted to be a daddy.

But he had to tamp his excitement down. Hide his thoughts. Conceal that he had a clue. Because Sophie would not take kindly to his snooping, that was for sure.

Sophie came out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel. Her color was better, her eyes brighter. “I guess I needed that nap.” She eyeballed him. “You look like a tourist.”

Jake held out a huarache-clad foot. “Too much?”

“I never see anyone but visitors wear those. Aren’t we supposed to be residents?” Sophie dropped the towel to the floor in front of the room’s tacky bureau and rummaged in a drawer.

Jake enjoyed the sight of Sophie naked: bending over to open a lower drawer, taking out underwear and stepping into them, tugging them up over her slim thighs to hug her perfect butt. What this woman did to him… She slid her arms into a plain black bra, clipping it in front.

He assessed her breasts as she turned in his direction. They seemed bigger. But maybe he was imagining things, with this new knowledge. She was definitely filling out again after that bad time she’d been through out alone on the lava, getting back to a healthy weight…his mind raced, counting the weeks since they’d first slept together on their previous job.

If she was pregnant, it had to have happened then. Officially becoming a couple was too soon…but what the hell did he know? He’d have to Google the whole damn thing.

Jake’s mind was a kaleidoscope of whirling thoughts that he hid with difficulty as Sophie finished primping and turned to face him in her Mary Watson disguise: a floral sundress and sandals, big Jackie O sunglasses, and a straw hat. She picked up her backpack. “Please stop staring at me, Jake.”

“Nope. I like staring at you.” Jake swallowed his grin with difficulty as she elbowed him walking past. He followed her out the door, wondering how the hell he’d get through the days until she decided to tell him what was going on with that little white box.