Page 18 of A Brambleberry Summer

“Everything is fine here,” Jen said. “Thank you for checking.” She suddenly noticed Wyatt and seemed to freeze. “Oh. I thought you were alone.”

Rosa shook her head. “Wyatt helped me fix the banging door on the garden shed and now he seems to think I need his help or I will fall down the stairs.”

“How nice of him to help you.” Jen smiled a little, though her anxiety still seemed palpable. “Quite a storm, isn’t it?”

“Yes. But do not worry. The power should be back on soon. I see you have a flashlight. Do you need anything else?”

“Only for the power to come back on.” Jen’s gaze shifted down the stairs behind them, as if she expected someone else to come racing up any moment.

Oh, the poor thing. She had been through so very much. Rosa’s heart broke all over again for her.

She knew very well what it felt like to be so afraid of what might be lurking around every dark corner. Rosa had seen plenty of real boogeymen in her life and knew that reality could be worse than any horror movie.

That was a long time ago, she reminded herself. A world away from this beautiful house, which might or might not contain a friendly spirit who smelled like flowers.

She tried to give Jen a reassuring smile. “It should not be long,” she repeated. “But if you need anything at all—even company—you know where to find me. In fact, if you would like, you and Addie could sleep in my guestroom.”

Jen looked up the stairs as if tempted by the idea, then shook her head. “We should be all right. It’s only a storm. But thank you.”

Impulsively, Rosa reached out and hugged the other woman, sensing Jen needed reassurance as much as Rosa did.

“Good night, my friend. Everything will be better in the morning. That is what my mother always told me.”

“I might have to hold you to that.”

Jen waved at them both then closed the door. Rosa could hear the sound of the dead bolt locking. Good. Jen could not be too careful.

She and Wyatt continued up the final flight of stairs. She had not locked her door when she’d left in such a hurry. Behind it, she could hear Fiona whining.

She hurried to open it and was met with a warm, worried dog, who came bounding out to lick her hand.

“I’m here. Safe and sound, darling. Were you worried about me? I am so sorry I left you.”

She rubbed her dog until Fi settled down enough to go over to investigate Wyatt.

He reached an absent hand down to pet her. Here on her apartment landing in the dim light of the flashlight, a quiet intimacy seemed to swirl between them.

She wanted to kiss him.

The urge came over her, fiercely undeniable.

Shehadto deny it. She should get that crazy thought out of her head immediately. Wyatt wasn’t the man for her and he never would be.

It was hard to remember that now, here in this cozy nook with the rain pounding against the glass and his scent swirling around her.

“What is your neighbor downstairs running from?”

Rosa tensed, all thought of kissing him gone in her instant defensiveness over Jen.

“What makes you say that?”

“I’ve been in law enforcement for a long time. I can tell when someone is scared of something. Jen is frightened, isn’t she?”

She could not betray her friend’s confidence. If Jen wanted Wyatt to know what had happened to her over the past year, she would have to be the one to tell him.

“I cannot tell you this.”

“Can’t? Or won’t?”

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