1
MITCH
Mitch walked into the kitchen and stopped short when he saw Lori standing at the counter, staring down at his phone. The screen was still lit, Marcus’s message clearly visible.
Mitch. I’ve found out who the windbreaker guy is. His name is Elias Dane. I’m still looking into him. But he used to be in the military and now works for a rather shady private security firm that also does PI work. But, Mitch, I have his client list, and you know one of them. Sally Lane!
“What the heck!” The words came out before Mitch could stop them.
Mitch looked at Lori; her expression was unreadable. She stepped back from the counter as Mitch glanced back at his phone and read the message again, hoping the words might somehow rearrange themselves into something that made more sense. They didn’t.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to pry,” Lori told him. “The message popped up on the screen.”
“It’s okay.” Mitch set the phone down, shaking his head firmly. “There’s no way it can be Sally.”
“Are you sure about that?” Lori’s brow drew together.
“Yes, she’s single-minded. Possessive, even a bit narcissistic.” Mitch met Lori’s eyes. “But under all that, she has a big heart. She wouldn’t do something like this.”
Lori didn’t look convinced. “She made it very clear she wants you back. She asked a lot of questions about me when she showed up at the cottage with a bottle of wine in the guise of friendship. What if she sees me as a threat?”
Mitch felt doubt creeping in despite his certainty. The constant lasagna. The hospital visits. Sally had been there that morning before he’d even woken up. She always just happened to be around, always finding excuses to stop by or call.
But hiring someone to harass Lori? To follow her, to surveil the houses, to plant that dead seabird? That seemed extreme, even for Sally, having a fit of jealousy.
“I need to talk to Marcus,” Mitch said. “Find out what he actually knows before we jump to conclusions.”
“Well, before you call him, sit down and let me change your bandage,” Lori told him, gesturing to a chair.
She was right. The bandage at the back of his head felt loose, and his wound was probably due for cleaning. Mitch sat without argument while Lori gathered the medical supplies from the counter.
Her hands were gentle as she removed the old bandage, carefully peeling away the tape. Mitch found himself acutely aware of hertouch. The warmth of her fingers against his skin. The soft sound of her breathing as she concentrated on her work.
“Does it hurt?” she asked quietly.
“Not when you’re doing it.” He felt her smile even though he couldn’t see her face. She cleaned the wound with antiseptic, her movements sure and practiced, then applied fresh gauze and tape.
“There.” She stepped back. “That should hold until tomorrow.”
“Thank you.” Mitch caught her hand before she could move away completely, turning in his chair to look at her. “For everything.”
Their eyes met and held. The kitchen felt suddenly smaller, the air between them charged with something Mitch didn’t have words for. He wanted to pull her close, to kiss her properly instead of that brief peck on the cheek in the hospital. But the timing was all wrong. Sally’s name hung between them like a ghost.
Lori seemed to feel it too. She squeezed his hand and stepped back. “I need to get back to Seabird Cottage. Ryan’s staying there tonight because of the break-in, and I need to make up the sofa bed for him.”
Right. The break-in at Seabird was why Ryan had volunteered to sleep there instead of at Sunrise House. They’d told Piper someone had gotten into the cottage, which was true enough. No need to terrify her with all the details. He glanced up to where Piper’s room was above them. She was on the phone with her friends right now.
Mitch walked Lori to the door. The night was cool and clear, stars visible above the bay. Across the yard, Seabird Cottage sat where Tessa and Ryan were. Ryan was putting the fuses back into the fuse box and securing the basement window to prevent anyone from getting in there again.
“Be careful,” Mitch said.
“It’s twenty feet, Mitch,” Lori pointed out.
“I know. But humor me.” Mitch’s eyes held hers.
Lori smiled and squeezed his hand once more before heading across the yard. Mitch watched until she was safely inside, and he stood watching, relieved when the lights came on.Good, Ryan had gotten the power back.It was only then that Mitch went back inside, closed the door, locked it, and pulled out his phone.
He dialed Marcus’s number. It rang once. Twice. Three times. Then voicemail.
