“Aren’t I always?” Jason couldn’t keep the sarcasm out of his tone but Jared wasn’t a man to take offense easily. “Seriously, I’ll be up. Tonight’s going to be one of those nights.”

“Then I’ll report back. Talk to you later.”

Jared hung up, leaving Jason pondering everything he’d learned. Perhaps it was time for him and Brinley to have a heart to heart talk.

Just how many secrets did his pretty neighbor have?

*

It was another gorgeous summer night and Brinley should have been relaxed, enjoying the cooler evening temperatures. But she couldn’t stop thinking about the break in and the thought of someone pawing through her belongings. She’d walked through this morning and nothing looked missing. Richard had probably scared off the burglar before he’d had a chance to steal anything but it was still unnerving.

She’d moved here for a fresh start. A new home.

She’d wanted to feel safe and now she felt anything but.

“Are you sure you don’t want a glass of wine? It might help you sleep.”

Fran held up the bottle of Chardonnay but Brinley shook her head. She wasn’t a huge fan of alcohol and with the wheels turning in her brain a mile a minute even a whole bottle of wine wasn’t going to make her sleepy. She was wide awake.

“No, thank you. I really just came over here to thank you both for everything. For scaring away the intruder and then meeting the repairman today. I feel so lucky to have such great neighbors.”

Jason, too, but she didn’t mention him. Her personal feelings for the handsome man were all mixed up with the drama of murder. She was attracted to him but it was more than that. When she was with him she felt safe.

And after everything she’d been through she knew how special that was.

“Will you be gone tomorrow too?” Fran asked, settling back on the lounge chair with a contented sigh. “I can let the repairman in again.”

When Brinley had become friends with Fran and Richard she’d given them a spare key and they’d happily given her one of theirs. She’d let in the pest control man for the couple just a few weeks ago.

“I’m not sure what Jason has planned but if you could I would be very grateful. It’s such an eyesore right now.”

“You should have seen our kitchen when we remodeled. Complete and total devastation. We ate out for months.” Richard laughed and refilled his glass, nodding toward her driveway. “Looks like you have company.”

Brinley wouldn’t have used such a polite word.

Greg was hopping out of his car and striding up her front porch steps, not seeing her on the deck between the houses. For a moment she pondered letting him bang on the door while she hid in Fran and Richard’s house but that was the coward’s way. She needed to deal with Greg once and for all.

The relationship wasn’t going to go anywhere. She hadn’t given him a thought last night or all day. If she were being brutally honest, he had nothing on Jason Anderson. It wasn’t even a competition.

“I’ll go talk to him. I’ll be right back.”

It wouldn’t take long. She wasn’t planning on dragging this out. She met him at the bottom of her porch steps as he turned to leave.

“Greg, I didn’t know you were coming over.”

Because you didn’t call. Again. Asshole.

Greg was apparently the type that thought women were sitting around twiddling their thumbs until a man called or showed up. He must have been pissed about her absence because she’d heard him pound on the front door as if he owned the joint. Her creep detector was going off big time. She needed to cut this guy loose for good.

His thunderous expression instantly changed to a charming smile. “Brinley, I thought you weren’t home. I was hoping we might have a glass of wine together.” Greg held up a bottle. “But now I’m just worried about you. What happened to your door?”

“Someone broke in. They kicked in my door so I’m waiting for a new one.” Brinley took a deep breath. She hated this part of dating. “Listen, Greg, you’re a nice guy and all but I just don’t think this is going to work out between us. I hope we can be friends.”

Or not. Whatever. Don’t feel obligated to stay in touch. I won’t.

He stiffened and his smile fell. “I thought things were going really well. We’ve had fun.”

“This just isn’t a good time in my life for a relationship.” Next century wasn’t looking too good either. “I just think our dating wouldn’t be productive.”

That charming smile was back. “I bet I could change your mind. Let’s go inside and have a glass of wine. Talk about things.”

He didn’t listen well. In fact, she had second graders who had better listening skills.

“First of all, my house is a crime scene,” she countered, just wanting him to leave. “Second, I don’t want to have a glass of wine. I don’t want to talk.”

She didn’t bother to hide the edge to her tone that said she was annoyed. He didn’t seem to get subtlety but she didn’t want to have to hit him over the head with a brick. Figuratively only, of course.

“Brinley, Richard was thinking of building a bonfire and roasting some marshmallows.” Fran rounded the corner of the house. “Would you be interested? I think I have chocolate and graham crackers to make s’mores. They’re my favorite.”

Saved by the neighbor.

“That sounds delicious, Fran. I’ll be right there.”

Greg frowned at the intrusion but seemed to decide that retreat was the best option. “I’m sorry you feel that way. I guess I’ll just leave.”

Bottle hugged to his midsection, he whirled on his heel and stomped back to his car, gunning the engine as he sped down the road. Jason had come outside to join them and he watched Greg’s taillights disappear into the night.

“Who was that?”

“Greg. I don’t think he’ll be back.”

“Why was he here in the first place?”

Fran laughed and linked her arm with Brinley’s. “I think he’s an admirer. Persistent fellow too. Let’s go have marshmallows.”

“Actually–” Jason began and then paused. “Fran, would you mind if we took a raincheck on marshmallows? I need Brinley for something.”

For something? Way to be vague. Hopefully it had something to do with Roger Gaines.

“Of course we can.” Fran waved away his concern. “You two go have fun.”

Fran was waggling her eyebrows as Jason marched toward his own house and Brinley wanted to groan in embarrassment. It was clear her neighbor thought that something more than…well…simple neighborliness was going on in Jason’s house. This was going to be all over town by noon tomorrow.

Brinley caught up to Jason and grabbed his arm. “She thinks we’re going to…you know. She thinks we’re a couple.”

“Fran loves good gossip. Even if you and I were snarking at each other she’d think that.” He picked up her hand and a tingle ran up her arm. “I don’t know about you but I doubt I can sleep tonight. So I was thinking we could go for a night ride at the ranch. Can you ride a horse?”

It was dangerous to her equilibrium to be alone with a man as fine as Jason Anderson but she couldn’t think of one good reason not to go. If she were honest she wanted to. Last night she’d felt so close to him.

She wanted to feel that way again.

“I’ve ridden a few times at summer camp. I wouldn’t say I was good at it but I can probably hold on.”

“I’ll get you a gentle mount. Let’s go.” Jason patted his pocket and then pulled out car keys. “Thanks for coming with me.”

At this moment, she’d follow wherever he led her.

Chapter Twelve

‡

Jason had chosen a gentle horse for Brinley and had saddled his own stallion Rebel for himself. The steady rhythm of the hooves as they ambled along the path lulled them into a sense of quiet contentment that Jason was loath to break.

“I can’t believe how many stars I can see here in Montana,” Brinley breathed, her head tipped back to take in the purple night sky. “We didn’t have anything like this in Chicago.”