Tracy paced the room, rubbing her arms, forcing down the bile rising in her throat.
When would Jennifer call back? Tracy wanted to know Santino’s status. If she had internet she could search the news feeds and find out. Maybe. But she didn’t. Part of the allure of the Jewel of the Mountain Bed and Breakfast was that people were forced to enjoy nature—there wasn’t anything else to do, and that, according to Jewel Caraway, the owner and Tracy’s boss, made the place the perfect getaway.
Solomon rested by the fire, and Tracy crouched next to him, ran her fingers through his thick, golden fur. “You did well today.”
She leaned closer to him. He wasn’t a trained attack or guard dog, but she knew that Solomon would protect her better than just about anything else. Or anyone. He’d already proved that once, the night that Santino had burned down her house. The same night he’d burned Derrick’s house to silence him forever. Solomon had been able to save Tracy.
A growl erupted from Solomon and his ears perked up. In that moment he wasn’t the typical overfriendly golden retriever. No. Solomon was protective of Tracy and he sensed a possible threat. Tracy stood, her gaze flickering to the windows and the door. Fear corded around her throat.
But when she heard the telltale sound of someone approaching the front door, she ran her hand down Solomon’s back to reassure him. “Bad guys don’t knock.”
No. Bad guys push people off ledges. Burn down their homes while they’re sleeping. Find good people where they hide in order to kill them.
David stood at the cottage door, his knuckles ready to knock. He took in a breath. What was he doing here? Tracy probably wouldn’t appreciate the intrusion. And David was conflicted about whether he wanted to be here, too. He’d set his boundaries and now he was taking a step outside that imaginary line.
But Tracy’s welfare was much more important than David’s need to protect his heart. That was it, then. He wouldn’t stand on the sidelines and do nothing. If there was a way he could help he would.
He knocked on the door.
Behind it, he heard Solomon’s bark. He couldn’t tell if it was a friendly bark or not.
Better identify himself. With a potential killer on the loose out there, he might have startled Tracy. But she wouldn’t expect Jay’s attacker to knock.
“Tracy, it’s David Warren.”
He heard the lock disengage and then the door opened. Tracy stood on the other side and eyed him, a tenuous smile on her lips. He could see the questions in her eyes. And along with the questions, that same fear in her gaze that he’d seen on the mountain today.
“Hello, David. What are you doing here?” She held on to the doorknob.
A short laugh escaped him when he realized he didn’t really have an answer for her. He’d thought this through so well. Way to go, David. “Checking on you.”
Solomon pushed through from behind her and came up to sniff David. He leaned to run his fingers through the dog’s fur, rub him down. “Hey, boy,” he said softly.
With everything that had happened today, he wondered if anyone had told Jay about the dog finding him. Or if Jay had been coherent enough to hear the dog’s barks and know how he’d been discovered.
“Why do you think you need to check on me?” Her free hand trembled.
Why indeed? He pulled away from the dog and stood tall, scraping his hand around the back of his neck. He turned to the side and peered through the trees toward the house at the front of the property, noticing the lights were on at the main building of the bed-and-breakfast. He turned his gaze back to Tracy. Might as well be transparent.
“I can see something’s wrong, that’s why.” With each second, he felt more like an idiot. Of course there was something wrong. They’d helped a man today who had nearly been murdered. David should just turn and go. She didn’t want him here. Even though he could easily see something was wrong—she was scared to death—he wasn’t the one to help.
Just as David opened his mouth to apologize for disturbing her evening, Tracy opened the door wider. “Please come in. I have coffee brewing, if you’d like a cup.”
“Thanks, I’d like that.” He stepped inside the warm and comfy cottage.
Her simple invitation and the offer of coffee made him happier than it should. He wasn’t here to explore a relationship with Tracy. In fact, he wanted to avoid one at nearly all costs. But Tracy’s safety was not one of the costs he was willing to pay.
She moved to the small kitchen area against the wall and grabbed two cups. David stood in the middle of the cozy main room and took it all in. She’d made the cabin her own, with quilts hanging on the walls. On the rocking chair hung a partially completed rainbow afghan. A fire glowed in the fireplace, chasing away the chill brought on by this afternoon’s storm and the approaching evening. But as comfortable as the room was, David felt awkward and wasn’t sure how to proceed.
Tracy moved to the kitchen table that sat only two and set the cups there. She poured coffee into both. “Cream or sugar?”
“Black is fine, thanks.”
She appeared to feel as awkward as David. What was it between the two of them? He didn’t have this much trouble feeling comfortable with any other person in town.
“Sit down. Make yourself comfortable.”
He did as she asked while she went back to the fridge for half-and-half. She poured it from a glass container and again he noticed how shaky she seemed. Then she dropped the glass.
It shattered on the floor, the crashing sound slicing through the awkward silence.
Tracy just stood there and stared, her whole body shaking.
David was up and next to her in a second. “Don’t worry about this. I’ll clean it up.”
His gaze shot around the room, searching for where she might keep her broom and cleaning supplies. What he really wanted to do was just take her in his arms. He’d do that for anyone else who was as obviously upset as she was. Why couldn’t he do that for Tracy? What was the matter with him?
Then she covered her face and her shoulders shook.
Oh, boy.
David pulled her away from the glass on the floor and into his arms. Of course, he knew this breakdown had nothing at all to do with the fact she’d dropped the cream container. That event was simply the catalyst to shred her poised veneer, which David knew had been shaken already.
She sobbed into his shoulder, igniting all those protective instincts inside his heart for her. Having her in his arms this way, her tears accosted the wall around his heart. If he wanted to protect himself, he’d leave before her vulnerability had the chance to obliterate his defenses altogether. But what could David do? He was here now. He had to see this through.
“Shh... Tracy, it’s okay.” He hugged her tighter and ran his hand down her red hair against her back, trying to stay focused on just reassuring her and nothing more.
But a tenderness he hadn’t felt since his wife was still alive kindled inside him. David wanted to release Tracy. He needed to release her, but she needed him right now.
Her sobbing finally spent, she shook her head, her face still pressed into his shoulder. “No, it’s not going to be okay.”
A shudder ran over her. What in the world?
David eased her from him and gripped