Page 114 of Fragile Sanctuary

I followed her line of sight, my body instantly on alert. There, in front of the door, was a massive bouquet of flowers. Rho bent to pick them up, but I quickly grabbed her shirt, tugging her back. “Don’t,” I clipped.

She looked at me, frowning. But I was already scanning the area. There wasn’t any sign of anyone.

“Don’t move,” I commanded. “Don’t touch anything.”

I jogged back to my truck, rustling through the contents in the bed until I found a box of gloves. Pulling out a pair, I quickly donned them.

Rho’s face went pale as she took me in. “You think it’s him?”

“I don’t know, but we need to be careful either way.”

I leaned over and plucked up the note that rested on the flowers. Scrawled across the envelope in jagged block letters wasRHO. Just seeing her name had nausea rolling through me.

I opened the envelope and tugged the card free. Written in the same jagged handwriting was a single word.

SORRY.

37

RHODES

“Rho,hand to God, this is better than anything I have ever tasted,” Carlos said as he shoved a mouthful of the balsamic chicken pasta into his mouth.

Silas nodded. “I gotta be honest, I wasn’t sure when we pulled up. It looked like fancy food. But, damn, it’s good.”

I couldn’t help laughing at that. Apparently, pasta containing spinach and goat cheese was suspect to a construction crew. But I’d won them over.

“I’d never steer you wrong,” I said with a grin.

“Thanks, Rho. You’re spoiling us rotten,” Shep said, getting another helping from the massive aluminum baking dish I’d used.

“I like having the project,” I said, leaning back in the folding chair.

Busy. I’d needed to stay busy. Because after the flowers, I hadn’t been allowed to go anywhere alone. At first, Trace had stationed a deputy at the nursery. But it was really more of a bodyguard. They followed me everywhere I went, and it scared customers.

I’d finally asked Duncan if it would be easier if I took somevacation time. He’d hemmed and hawed but eventually admitted it might be a good idea. It killed, stepping away from my job, even temporarily, but it was the right thing to do.

So, I’d worked on my garden at the guest cottage. After a week, the whole thing was brimming with so much color and foliage I didn’t have room for a single new plant. Then, I’d moved on to cooking. Every day, Anson dutifully drove me to the grocery store, and I loaded up on ingredients. The crew acted as my test dummies. I’d made elaborate meals for the past week and change, getting more and more intricate as I went.

But it wasn’t enough. I was still twitchy. There’d been no more notes, threats, fires, or collisions. Instead, it felt like a creepy waiting game.

A hand slid over my thigh, squeezing gently in silent reassurance. I looked over at Anson. He still wore a mostly blank expression around the crew. But around me, he smiled more. Even laughed. And I soaked up all of it.

He leaned over and brushed his lips across my temple. “Best one yet.”

His touch eased the worst of my fraying nerves, but the frenetic energy still pulsed through me. The need to get up anddosomething. Maybe I needed to train for a marathon. That would tire me out.

An image of half a dozen deputies running with me filled my mind. Because that was what Trace would require if I started jogging. My shoulders slumped.

Silas sent me a hopeful look. “You make dessert tonight?”

Carlos cuffed him on the back of the head. “Don’t be greedy.”

Shep chuckled. “When it comes to food, he’s always going to be a greedy bastard.”

Silas patted his stomach. “Takes a lot of energy to look this good.”

I just shook my head but stood and pushed my chair back. Dashing into the kitchen, I grabbed the baking dish sitting on the counter and headed back outside.

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