“What were you doing in there?”
He opened his mouth to tell her he was checking the new electrical but, doggone it—he was disgusted by liars and he refused to be one of them.
“I was avoiding you.”
She laughed—a deep, surprised laugh. “Points for honesty, Red. Don’t you like me?”
“I don’t like speeches about the power of ten thousand steps a day.”
Bertie raised an eyebrow. “Oh, we can talk about something else.” She slid an arm into his. “While we walk a few thousand of those ten. Come on. Let’s go.”
He just closed his eyes and said a really, really bad word in his head.
“This way.” She tilted her head toward the trail. “You clearly need the exercise—and I could use the company.”
He opened his mouth to say no, but the memory of Bianca’s smug voice stopped him. He needed time to think, to figure out how to tell Gracie what he’d overheard.
“Fine,” he said with a groan. “But if I drop dead halfway, you’re explaining it to my granddaughter.”
Bertie tugged him onto the trail, eyeing him. “Deal. You look rattled.”
“I am.” He exhaled a frosty breath. “Sometimes people surprise you in the worst ways.”
Bertie nodded slowly. “And sometimes they surprise you in the best ways, too.”
“Maybe,” he said quietly. “But not that often.”
They walked on in companionable silence, which Red appreciated because he knew he couldn’t tell anyone what he’d heard. It would implode in the worst imaginable way.
Just as they turned the bend near the frozen creek, he heard Benny’s giggle, and saw Olivia dive out from behind a massive tree.
“How did you find me?” Olivia squealed.
It was the beautiful sound of two little kids innocently playing Hide ‘n’ Seek with no idea their world was about to be ruined.
He couldn’t let it happen. He couldn’t.
“Hi, Grandpa!” Benny waved. “Hi, Miss Bertie!”
He saw Benny and Olivia exchange a high-five, laughter floating on the air as they jumped on their snow toys and took off, leaving joy in their wake.
If what he’d heard was right and that woman was planning on dragging Marshall and Olivia away from here…well, that couldn’t happen. Benny had a lot to lose if his best friend left. And Gracie would be heartbroken.
No one—no one—was going to hurt Red Starling’s family.
He just had no idea how to stop her.
Gracie eased a golden and delicious tray of cream puffs from the oven, then checked the day’s receipts so far. All good…and about to get better.
Slipping into her office, she closed the door to change for her late afternoon date.
She’d grabbed an ice-blue sweater with a pearl-trimmed collar and her favorite black jeans, which felt perfect for walking around town, grabbing dinner, and spending time deepening their budding romance.
Barely able to wipe the smile from her face, she freshened up, re-applied her makeup, and brushed out her strawberry blond hair. Adding some jewelry she never wore at work and slipping into low-heeled boots, she glance at the full-length mirror in the powder room, happy with the final result.
Taking a deep breath, she shut down her computer, grabbed a small bag, and stepped out into the kitchen.
“You sure you don’t mind covering for me until close, Amanda?” Gracie asked her manager as she passed.
