Page 41 of Smoldering Nights
“You don’t have to thank me, Izzy.”He met her gaze.“I want you safe.Always.”
A flutter caught in her chest.She looked down quickly, trying to get her thoughts in order.“I was thinking this morning… about when things actually began to happen at the shop.I'd wake at night thinking I heard someone downstairs.When I got up and listened at the door, I wouldn't hear anything, and I told myself I had an active imagination.Then one day, I couldn't find my pruning shears.I always hang my garden tools up on the pegboard in the back of the greenhouse.Always.I despise searching for things; it's a waste of time.”
Mitch straightened his shoulders."When did these things begin happening?"
"I think about three weeks ago."
"Did anything happen just before then that could have prompted this?Did someone get upset with you?Did anyone ask something of you and you turned him or her down?Did someone offer to buy the shop?Anything small could mean something."
Izzy stared at the counter for a few moments, then inhaled deeply and looked up at him.“I remembered something weird from a couple of weeks ago,” she continued.“Travis was in the shop helping me after that pipe burst in the greenhouse.He was going through my key drawer to grab the water shutoff key, and I remember him saying something about how I should organize them better.That was about two or three weeks ago, but now…”
Her stomach twisted.“What if he made a copy then?”
Mitch turned to face her fully, his expression unreadable.“You’re sure you had the entry key in that drawer?”
She nodded.“Positive.I carry one on my keyring, but I had an extra one in the drawer in case I needed to temporarily give someone a copy.Like a repairman or seasonal help.”
He turned and set the spatula down, then moved toward her.“That helps.A lot.Jayson’s running a few things today.Between that and the footage, we’re going to get answers.”
Izzy set the mug down before her trembling hands betrayed her.“This was never supposed to happen.I wanted a quiet life.Flowers and peace and people I care about.”
“You still get to have that,” Mitch said softly.“We just have to take care of this first.”
She looked up at him.His eyes were steady, grounding.“You’ve done more than I ever expected.More than anyone’s ever done for me.”
He stepped closer.“It’s not about duty anymore, Izzy.It hasn’t been for a while.”
The breath caught in her throat.The silence between them was filled with something heavy, electric.She felt it too, but was afraid to say it out loud in case she scared him away.
“I don’t know what’s happening between us,” she whispered.“But I’m scared of losing it before I even understand it.”
“You won’t lose me,” Mitch said.“Not now.Not when we’re just getting started.”
She swallowed hard, emotion welling up behind her ribs; it was almost hard to take a breath.“Good.Because I’m not sure I could take one more loss.”
He reached out and brushed a knuckle along her cheek.“Then we won’t let that happen.”
The moment stretched between them.A promise.A fragile hope.
And beneath it, the truth: they were getting closer.To each other.To whoever had done this.
And to finally put an end to the fear.
Chapter21
Mitch paced the length of the living room, his phone pressed tightly to his ear, as Jayson’s voice filtered through the line.
“I ran that Trailblazer again,” Jayson said.“Found another sighting, this time parked near Delilah’s salon three days ago.”
Mitch stopped short.“Delilah’s place?”
“Yeah.Could be a coincidence, but I doubt it.”
A cold knot formed in Mitch’s gut.“Send me the clip.”
“It’s already on your laptop.And here’s the kicker: remember the fake delivery footage?I looped in facial recognition software with the hoodie guy, just for grins.Even with the hoodie and the cap, we got a partial match.”
Mitch’s breath stilled.“You’re kidding.”
