Page 34 of Mountain Man Summer

"Security might have spotted someone matching his description near the resort docks," Noah admitted, already moving to restart the engine. "Probably nothing, but—"

"But we should be careful," I finished, cold dread replacing the warmth of moments before.

Noah navigated swiftly back toward the marina, his eyes constantly scanning the increasingly crowded shoreline. Boatsof all sizes had gathered for the fireworks, making our return slower than our departure. Overhead, the display continued, but its magic had dissolved into a cacophony that now seemed to mirror my fraying nerves.

As we approached the docks, I studied the crowd milling about on shore, searching for a familiar face in the mass of strangers. That's when I saw him—standing slightly apart from the crowd, staring directly at our approaching boat.

Preston Barrett stood exactly as I'd seen him in the photos Jamie had sent—medium height, thinning brown hair, unremarkable except for the unsettling focus in his eyes as he watched our approaching boat.

"Noah," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the fireworks and engine. "He's here. By the bait shop. Watching us."

Noah followed my gaze, his body instantly coiled with tension. "Stay in the boat," he instructed, reaching for his phone to alert Callahan. "I'll handle this."

But as we drew closer to the dock, Preston began moving toward us, his determined stride pushing through the holiday crowd, his face illuminated in flashes of red and gold from the sky above.

In that moment, the distance between us seemed both impossibly vast and terrifyingly small—just yards of water and wood separating me from the man who had haunted my nightmares for months.

"He's coming," I said, my fingers gripping Noah's arm. "Noah, he's coming right for us."

The final chord of "The Star-Spangled Banner" played over the resort's speakers as the fireworks reached theircrescendo, the sky erupting in a blinding finale of light and sound—but I barely noticed.

All I could see was Preston Barrett's face, his expression a disturbing mixture of anticipation and triumph as he reached the edge of the dock, waiting for our boat to complete its inevitable approach.

"At last," I heard him say, the words somehow carrying over the chaos of sound. "I've found you, my Midnight Star."

Chapter Ten

“Summer’s Promise”

Noah

The world shrank to the space between Barrett and us as I guided the boat toward the dock. He stood waiting, his unremarkable appearance masking the threat he posed. Nothing about him suggested danger—except for the hungry fixation in his eyes as he watched Didi.

"Stay behind me," I said quietly as we approached. "When we dock, wait in the boat until I say it's clear."

Didi nodded, her face pale but resolute. I'd already texted Callahan our location, but with the holiday crowds, backup would take precious minutes to arrive. My hand instinctively moved toward my hip before I remembered I wasn't carrying.

As the boat bumped against the dock, Preston stepped forward. "I’ve been looking everywhere for you," he called.

I secured the boat with a quick knot and positioned myself between him and Didi. "Mr. Barrett," I said evenly, despitemy racing pulse. "I'm Detective Sterling with the Hope Peak Sheriff's Department. I need you to step back."

Surprise flickered across his face before his expression hardened. "This doesn't concern you. Didi and I have a connection. She understands."

From the boat, I heard Didi's sharp intake of breath. The fireworks finale continued overhead, bathing us in alternating flashes of light and shadow.

"She's made it clear she doesn't want contact with you," I said, maintaining eye contact with Barrett. His pupils were dilated, his breathing shallow—signs of agitation I'd observed in countless confrontations. "You need to leave now."

His expression hardened. "You don't understand. She speaks to me every night on her show. Special messages just for me. It’s our secret." He leaned sideways, trying to see around me to Didi. "Tell him. Tell him how you always answer my questions first."

"That's her job, Barrett," I replied, shifting to block his view. "She does that for all her listeners."

"No!" The vehemence in his voice made several nearby holidaymakers turn and stare. "It's different with me. She knows it's different. We have something special."

I sensed movement behind me—Didi standing in the boat. Every instinct screamed at me to push her back down, to shield her completely, but I recognized the determination in her stance. This was her fight too.

"You’re wrong," she said, her voice steady despite the slight tremor I detected. "You and I don’t have a relationship. I've never met you before today."

Barrett's face twisted. "That's not true! You know exactly who I am. I've sent you gifts. Notes. I've watched over you,protected you." His voice dropped. "I knew that finance guy was cheating on you before you did. I tried to warn you."

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