“Or turn on each other.” Landry pointed at Meredith and Cal. “So, behave.”
Both of them gave her wide-eyed, innocent looks that no one with three working brain cells would believe.
Gray cleared his throat. “It’s like herding cats...” He shook his head. “Okay. Focus, everybody. We have real problems here.”
“Yeah, like Mo getting shot,” Cal said.
“And Bronwyn getting shot at,” Landry added.
“And let’s not forget about that creepy fake reporter.” Meredith made a face like she’d taken a whiff of sour milk. “Him showing up now is too coincidental for me.”
Mo almost mentioned Bob of the walking trail but held back. The guy had been over-the-top in his flirtation but hadn’t done anything overtly dangerous. He’d been a bit pushy but not sleazy about it.
So he was a little surprised when Bronwyn chimed in with, “Don’t forget Bob,” and all three women shuddered.
What had he missed?
Bronwyn leaned harder into Mo’s strong chest and forced herself to relax under his arm.
“Fill me in about Bob.” Gray pulled a notebook and pen from a pocket. Did he keep one on him at all times?
Bronwyn told them about their encounter from the previous day. “I don’t know how to explain it, but he was almost too nice, too polished.”
Landry and Meredith nodded in understanding, but Cal and Gray looked confused. She turned to Mo, expecting him to back her up, but was met with the same confused expression. “You didn’t think so?”
“I found him annoying and inappropriately assertive, but I...” He pinched his lips together and gave her a sheepish look. “I thought my opinion was based on my own jealousy. He couldwalk up to you, talk to you, flirt with you, ask you out, and all I could do was stand there. Mute. It was frustrating.”
He’d been jealous? She shouldn’t like that. But she kind of did.
Not kind of. She liked it a lot. And that was the problem, wasn’t it? He’d told her flat-out that he was choosing to believe in her. Choosing to focus on the positive. Choosing not to suspect her of the worst.
But would he always? At what point would he stop choosing her? And could she survive it if he decided she was too much trouble?
“Earth to Bronwyn.” Cal singsonged the words, then sighed in overdone despair. “Great. How long will we have to put up with these two being all goo-goo eyed?”
“Stop complaining.” Landry swatted Cal.
Bronwyn heard them, but she didn’t look away from Mo. “I was so glad you were there. The trail is open to anyone, but I’ve never had a guest approach me there. Not that way.”
“That’s because the kind of people who come to The Haven, for the most part, appreciate their privacy so they don’t invade the privacy of others.”
Bronwyn looked at Landry. “What about when Chantal and those strumpets made fools of themselves when Cal’s crew was rebuilding Favors? As I recall, you were most displeased and let them know those men were off-limits.”
Landry wrinkled her nose at the mention of one of their least favorite frequent guests. “Chantal is an exception to every rule.”
Bronwyn agreed with Landry, but that wasn’t the point. Although Cal was certainly taking an interest based on the way he was nuzzling Landry’s neck and making her laugh.
“Get a room, people.” Gray used his police chief voice, which, unfortunately, did not work on Cal. “Bronwyn, tell me more about this man.”
“He’s private security for one of the guests.”
Gray’s gaze landed on Mo first, then Cal. None of them looked happy. “I assume, given that he was on the trail with you, that his employer doesn’t require his presence at all times.”
“No. He doesn’t,” she said. “If he leaves to do anything outdoors—hiking, kayaking, et cetera—his security joins him. But he’s stayed with us before, and he feels secure on the grounds. This is the first time he’s brought private security, and my understanding is that there was a situation of some sort that made him feel it was necessary.”
Bronwyn considered her words.
“What?” Meredith asked. “You look like you’ve had a revelation.”
