The shift in her was subtle.
Her shoulders stiffened and her gaze dropped to the surface of her tea. She masked it quickly, though, smoothing her expression back into something calm and agreeable.
“Oh,” she said lightly. “That makes sense.”
“If that’s going to be an issue,” I added, more brusquely than I meant to, “I understand. Dependability matters in work. I don’t want to put you in a position that doesn’t suit you.”
She shrugged. “I want to help,” she said softly. “Even if it’s temporary.”
The words were steady. Sincere.
Yet, there was something heavy beneath them. I wasn’t sure what it was, but something inside her was hurting.
I watched her for a long moment, unease curling low in my gut.
It shouldn’t matter to me what that something was, though. Everyone had a past.
Palmer was going to be working for me. She was going to be my nanny. All that mattered was that she was good at her job and she had a clean background check.
Anything else was none of my business.
“Okay.” I drained the last of my tea and set it back down on the table a little too loudly. “Then we’ll continue with the contract and finalize our business arrangement first thing tomorrow.”
10
Palmer
Wefellintoanatural rhythm over the next week.
Roman’s schedule was more normal than I’d expected. Aside from that first day, he was usually done at the fire station around six in the evening. As chief, he no longer had overnight shifts. Most of his job was management now—schedules, reports, and the endless administrative work that kept the station running. He still took calls sometimes and led directionfor larger-scale emergencies, but he explained his hours were steadier now than they had been before his promotion.
Hailey settled into a schedule too, which I thought was good for her. Roman usually brought her to school in the mornings, and I picked her up in the afternoons. I helped her with her schoolwork, and then we found something fun to do until it was time to cook dinner. Hailey loved theater and singing, and I didn’t think I’d ever done so much karaoke in my life. But it was fun. With every passing day, she seemed brighter. Lighter.
I was doing well too.
I was free to do whatever I wanted when Hailey wasn’t in my care, and I found myself doing most of the daily chores while listening to documentaries or podcasts. My latest obsession was learning more about the Shadow Stalker, for obvious reasons. It kept my mind and body busy.
One of my favorite things was cleaning the bed-and-breakfast. The house was stunning—truly. I loved wandering through it, taking in every tiny intricate detail the period builders and designers had thought to include. Polishing the woodwork was a joy when it meant I could inspect the craftsmanship and carved filigree up close. Even the doorknobs and hinge plates were beautiful—the iron adorned with delicate designs I could study for hours.
I was wandering down one of the hallways on the second floor, dusting picture frames with my earbuds in, when I came to one that made me pause.
There were a lot of framed photos throughout the bed-and-breakfast, but most of them were more like art pieces—landscapes of Ember Hollow, scenic shots meant to feel welcoming rather than personal. This one was farther from the staircase and the main rooms, tucked deeper into the house. I’d noticed the difference before while tidying the bedrooms. The rooms used mostly for guests had a less personal quality. Theywere beautiful—charming linens, Victorian décor—but they weren’t lived in.
Hailey’s room was different.
It was obviously hers. She had bright, colorful bedding with little unicorns and fluffy homemade cloud decorations hanging from the ceiling. It was a room that was loved.
I tilted my head as I brushed the duster lightly over the photo.
It was a Ramsey family picture. One from years ago, judging by the looks of everyone. My gaze caught on Roman instantly, even though he was much younger—late teens or early twenties, maybe. He towered over nearly everyone except the older man beside him, who I assumed was his father.
A smile started to form as I took in the faces of the Ramsey clan I hadn’t yet met. Every single one of the Ramsey men were undeniably handsome. It was obvious they were brothers, even though each had his own distinct appearance. Roman favored his father more—the shape of his face, his darker eyes—though his hair was dark like his mother’s.
My attention narrowed to the lone girl standing beside the Ramsey matriarch. My smile fell.
I might not have known all the brothers’ names yet, but I knew exactly who stared back at me from the photo.
Thea Ramsey.
