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I threw my arms around him as tears threatened. “Thank you for the gift.”

Though it was a simple stuffed animal, it meant the world to me. The little things in relationships mattered. I didn’t need an extravagant shopping trip or dinner at a fancy restaurant.I could plan those myself. Small gestures that showed he was thinking of me—of how it had connected us—touched my heart. I squeezed him, letting out a long sigh.

He drew back. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong. Everything’s right.” I kissed his cheek and dropped Chococat into my bag, which gave him plenty of room to lounge around. “He’s hanging out with me today.”

Forrest smiled, and my heart fluttered at how gorgeous he was. He was blessed with insanely good looks. But there was something in his eyes that worried me. He had a lot on his plate and yet he got me a plush.

I had an idea to help him relax, but that had to wait until after my photo session.

His face turned serious as he led me to a couch. “Have a seat. I need to tell you something.”

I sat down on the edge of the cushion. “What’s going on?”

“Hank’s cameras caught people around your cabin before the fire.”

“Have the authorities seen them?” Fear squirmed in my stomach.

Shaking his head, Forrest explained Hank’s fears of the police because Bruce had mistreated him. Hank didn’t trust the police, and I didn’t blame him.

Anger spiked in me. “He shouldn’t be a cop. He should be in jail.”

“Hank’s protective of you because you resemble his sister.”

“He greeted me on my first day at the cabin,” I said, remembering his awkwardness and stuttering. I was grateful he had recordings to help with the case. “Have you reviewed the videos?”

“Not yet, but I will.” He paused a moment. “Hank saw a man torch your cabin.”

I hated the way fear nibbled its way inside me. It shouldn’t have this kind of power over me. “I don’t understand why. I don’t have enemies . . . well, at least I’m not aware of any.”

“Maybe it has nothing to do with you. The fire could’ve been aimed at the campground owners. A bitter resident could’ve returned and picked your cabin because it’s set away from the main lodge, making it an easy target. Regardless, I want you to be aware of your space.”

My phone pinged. “Olivia’s downstairs waiting for me.” I got up from the couch, grabbed my bag and camera, and headed to the door.

“Are you forgetting something?” Forrest asked from behind me.

I whirled around to find him standing with his hands tucked inside his pants, looking hot and sexy. Smiling, I stepped closer, got up on my tiptoes, and kissed him on the lips. “Is that what you wanted?”

“Damn right.”

CHAPTERTHIRTY-FOUR

FORREST

After Kiera left, the air in the suite changed. An emptiness rushed into the room, making me feel uncomfortable even though I’d stayed in this suite since I bought the hotel seven years ago. I stood in place, trying to acclimate myself to this new realization that she meant more to me in ways I couldn’t understand yet.

When we’d connected all those months ago, something profound had been planted. And now that seed was germinating, growing faster than I could anticipate.

Kiera made my life brighter, more vivid. The sun shone brighter. The air smelled fresher. The earth felt more fertile. As these additional aspects illumined in me, fear also surfaced. No woman had mattered this much to me until now. Well, my mom and my grandmother mattered, but they were different. Kiera pulled at my desires and tied them into one complicated knot.

Initially, I had intended to wake early to start my day. I needed to reply to emails that I’d neglected yesterday, review the status of my holistic medicine, touch base with the director of Vitality Health Clinic in Providence, check in with the lawyer regarding the lawsuit with Grandma’s shop, and follow up with Hieu at Holistic Farm, including other members of my management team who were overseeing the Ba7M5Bu88Project. Though my management team was competent, it was my enterprise. A snapshot of the big picture was one way to avoid major pitfalls.

Aside from this, the threat of The Trogyn loomed over me. What were they planning?

In addition to everything, I was searching for my father’s murderer. I didn’t know his name. All I knew was that he was part of the gang called Anacondas. I’d put in a lot of effort, time, and money searching for him and his real name, but nothing had surfaced. A couple of years after killing my father, he’d gone under the radar after killing another gang leader. But I knew I’d find him. People like the Anacondas didn’t deserve to live.

I felt like I was walking through a storm, trying my best not to get battered by flying debris.