She wouldn’t see it coming.
And Lainey Harper had no backup plan.
Not one that would save her.
CHAPTER 18
Lainey staredout her kitchen window at the darkened lake. Lights from the townhomes across the way flickered across the water. A half moon hung low in the sky. It was a peaceful scene, but she knew better. Peaceful scenes could hide cracks. Secrets. Moments before everything went sideways.
Nothing about the past few days made any sense. Not vandalism. Not the harassing phone calls nor the destruction of the picture of her and Luke. And she couldn’t dismiss the way Travis had looked at her when she was talking to Gus, like he knew something they didn’t.
She wondered if he knew who was vandalizing the site or if he was going to be the next crew member abandoning ship.
The only good news was that Finn and Caleb had installed security cameras, but only around the block she was actively renovating plus her office. It didn’t make sense to cover the whole project because Lainey wasn’t sure she’d be selected to do that with everything that was going on.
She set her mug on the table and glanced around the living room. A small smile tugged at her lips. Luke had picked up his Legos and put them away like she asked. She promised him hecould stay up late and watch a movie with her mom, who would be here any minute.
And still, she couldn’t stop thoughts racing through her mind.
Someone was targeting her. This wasn’t a prank. This wasn’t kids fooling around. It was intentional. The question was, who was doing it?
Who hated her enough to do this?
Maybe it was someone who wanted the project and didn’t get it. But there were plenty of other redevelopment zones around. Why this one?
Or maybe a disgruntled employee or subcontractor with a grudge. George was the only crew member who quit, and he seemed genuinely sorry to leave. And she hadn’t had any problems with subcontractors. Yet.
Oh God, she prayed she hadn’t cursed herself by thinking that.
Or worse, maybe this wasn’t personal but something bigger. A forced buyout. A push to make her quit and walk away.
But again, why?
What was so special about this project?
It was just a rundown corner of town.
Unless someone had insider knowledge. Knew something about it she didn’t.
Lainey blew out the breath she’d been holding. No time to spiral now. The fundraiser tonight was being held at The Foundry, a new event space near the historic district.
Fundraisers weren’t her scene, but Autumn invited her. The event was for the Willow Haven Women’s Shelter, but it was also an opportunity for her to meet people who might be interested in her project.
Before she had time to change her clothes and her mind, the doorbell rang. Showtime.
The Foundry was buzzingwhen she arrived. She found the last parking space in the lot, then sat in the car with her hands on the wheel while she gathered her thoughts. She’d almost said no when Autumn invited her. Normally, Lainey loved events, meeting people and getting to know them, but lately she hadn’t been in the mood for either.
Still, the fundraiser wasn’t about her. It was about second chances, something she understood all too well.
Finally, she turned off the car, took a deep breath and stepped into the warm Florida night.
Outside, twinkling lights lined the walkway leading guests toward the building. She stood in the doorway admiring the whitewashed brick, the exposed beams. The soft lighting made everything glow and transformed the empty space into something intimate. The air smelled faintly of citrus, vanilla and something savory. It smelled like comfort. Safety.
It was beautiful.
She smoothed her hands down the sides of the sleeveless teal green jumpsuit she wore and laughed quietly to herself. She’d changed three times before settling on this. Classic, fitted but not flashy. She added gold hoops and a delicate chain with a small locket her grandmother gave her.
Lainey moved through the crowd slowly, letting her shoulders relax. Small round tables lined the walls, each with little ceramic pots filled with succulents. Tucked next to the pots were small cards featuring first-name stories of women rebuilding their lives.
