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She’d thought she was ready to face the town, to squash the worst of the rumors before they gained traction. Instead, she’d made things worse. Almost before the doors closed behind them, conversation exploded. She did her best to block it out, especially the more strident sound of Joley’s voice.

The pancakes she’d eaten sat like a stone in her stomach. She’d forced herself to eat when all she’d wanted to do was bolt.

The conversation with Sam soured her appetite. It was impossible for someone like him—strong and powerful—to understand. She wasn’t sure she fully understood it herself. It had taken months to recover from the trauma of Chicago and her granny’s abrupt passing to become a woman she could look at in the mirror and be proud of. If she buckled under the pressure and fled Redemption, she’d lose that piece of herself, and she’d never get it back.

“Let’s walk.” Without waiting for her agreement, Sam wrapped his arm around her waist and guided her down the sidewalk.

“Hey.” She dug in her heels, coming to an abrupt halt. “I don’t want to walk. I want to go home.” She’d had more than her fill of people today.

“We’re giving them a show.”

Sure enough, everyone in the diner was watching them through the windows. As soon as she made eye contact, they sheepishly looked away, embarrassed at being caught. All but Joley, who sent her a fake smile and wiggled her fingers in a cutesy wave.

“That’s just great.” As if she didn’t have enough trouble, now she was in Joley’s sights.

“What’s her problem?”

“Who?” She played dumb, hoping he’d drop the subject. Her truck was only steps away. She could make a break for it and be home in under ten minutes. It wasn’t exactly tucking her tail between her legs and running but close enough that she resumed walking down the sidewalk. Damned if she’d let her high school nemesis chase her out of town.

“Tinker Bell’s understudy.”

Laughter erupted from her. She’d been wound so tight for so long that his dry description tickled her funny bone. “Oh my God, that’s perfect.” She practically gasped the words, doubling over, unable to stop. Her stomach ached, and her eyes began to water.

If it had been anyone else, she would have chided Sam for being unkind, but Joley Bragg had been a thorn in her side her entire life for no good reason other than she could.

“We should move along. People are beginning to look concerned.”

“What’s one more spectacle?” Still, she swiped at her eyes and straightened her top. “Tinker Bell’s understudy?” She hitched her purse strap higher onto her shoulder.

A grin tugged at his lips. “It seemed apt.”

“Why not Tinker Bell?” The nonsensical conversation was exactly what she needed. Fun had been absent for so long that she’d all but forgotten it.

“Ms. Bell is genuine. Ms. Joley is calculating and sly.”

Her impression of Sam went up another notch. “Most men don’t see through her act. She comes across as sweet in public but can cut you off at the knees in private. As the saying goes, butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth.”

“Then most men deserve whatever she dishes out to them. All you have to do is look in her eyes. They’re the mirrors of the soul.”

“And what do my eyes tell you?” Had she just asked him that? Groaning, she held her hand up. “Pretend you didn’t hear that. I’m claiming leftover hysteria from the laughing.” It sounded like she was either needy or flirting. Neither was appropriate. She picked up her pace, deciding to head to the police station to see if the chief was in. It would save him a trip out to her place.

Sam caught her hand, bringing her to a stop.

“Really, forget it, please.” She tried to tug her fingers away, but his grip tightened. Giving in to the inevitable, she met his gaze.

The fingers of his free hand grazed her cheek. His pupils and irises seemed to meld, becoming one. Staring into the dark orbs, she believed him when he said the eyes were the mirrors of the soul. His whispered of secrets and lost mysteries, of endless nights and…sorrow.

Where did that come from?

“Your eyes reflect your indomitable spirit.” He rubbed his thumb across her bottom lip. “Your kindness.” They parted slightly when she sucked in a breath. “Your courage.”

“All that?” she whispered. His words were as seductive as his voice.

“And much more.” His velvety tone wrapped her in the spell he was effortlessly casting.

Honk! “Get a room,” Joley yelled as she sped by in her custom pink pickup.

The moment spoiled, Adrianne cleared her throat. “Ah, we should be going.” She was failing miserably for a woman who didn’t want more public scrutiny.

“What’s her problem with you? And is it something we should worry about?”

She resisted the urge to touch her tingling lips. “Her problem with me goes back to the first day we met in elementary school. She took an immediate dislike to me.” To this day, she had no idea why. She hadn’t even spoken to Joley before the girl had made fun of what she was wearing and declared Adrianne unfit to be her friend. “ I, ” she emphasized, even though his use of we warmed her, “am not worried. Her panties are likely in a twist because everyone is talking about me. It will pass.”

Sam chuckled as they resumed walking. “She’s jealous of you.”

“Of me?” Surely he was mistaken. “You’re way out in left field on this one. Joley’s always been popular. She was head cheerleader and dated the captain of the football team. After high school, she married a lawyer and moved to Asheville. Three years later, she divorced him and moved home. Word is she’s shopping around for husband number two.” Adrianne might not get out much, but Susie was always full of the latest local news. Unlike her, Joley enjoyed being the center of attention.

“She needs the adoration, you don’t. That makes you not only a rival but a threat.”

Once again, he’d succinctly summed up something it had taken her years to figure out. “You understand what motivates people.” It was impressive and a bit unnerving.

“It’s essential in my line of work.” His clipped response warned she’d hit a nerve.

“I guess so.” She’d never considered it before, but knowing what drove a potential business rival would be a huge advantage.

“We’re here.” Even though they hadn’t discussed their destination, they’d set a course for the police station. “Do you want me to wait out here or come inside with you?”

A twist of fate had involved him in this mess. He’d gone above and beyond offering support. “It’s up to you. At this point, I have nothing to hide.” She’d already spilled her guts in front of him—figuratively and literally—but it needed to be his choice. “Ivy House isn’t far if you’d rather bow out.” He had problems of his own. Maybe not life and death like hers were, but they were important to him. She’d been so enmeshed in her own, she hadn’t asked about his. “Did you talk to your father yet?”

The hard glint in his eyes softened. “Not directly, but I received a message.”

“Not a good one, I take it, since you’re still here.” He’d be on the road back to Las Vegas as soon as he and his father had worked out their differences, right? There was no other reason for him to stick around. It depressed her far more than it should. In a short time, she’d come to depend on him being around. That wasn’t fair to either of them.

“It’s a start.” He motioned toward the door. “Shall we?”

A rush of cool air hit her as she walked inside, offering relief from the mid-August heat. It was going to be another scorcher. The officer at the counter was on the phone. He held up a finger, indicating he’d be another minute.

The door opened behind them, and Chief Johnson stepped inside. He nodded at Sam before giving her his full attention. “Anything else happen?”

“No. We had brunch at Susie’s. I figured I’d check in with you since I was already in town. Save you the trip out to my place.” She tucked a stray curl back up into her haphazard bun. It was such a departure from how she’d looked in Chicago. The professional woman who kept her hair tamed and wore conservative suits was long gone. Adrianne had reverted to the woman she’d been before she’d left home. Comfort was of prime importance. So was durability. She spent a lot of time in the field and her workspace.

“Come on back to my office.” He led the way, shutting the door behind him. “Have a seat.” He went behind his desk and lowered himself onto his chair. “Give me a second.” He logged into his computer and checked his email. “There were no fingerprints on the pictures. The paper they’re printed on is common and so is the ink.”

“So you’ve got nothing.” Defeated, she clutched the purse in her lap tighter. It was no more than she’d expected, but she’d hoped…

“We aren’t giving up. The shoe print is a men’s size ten. It wasn’t clear enough to get a make.”

It was Chicago all over again. No viable leads. No way to pinpoint whoever was behind this. “I appreciate you trying.” Detective Ramirez had done the same until more pressing cases had forced him to put hers on the back burner. It wasn’t their fault. It was her rotten luck to get a smart stalker.

“I’ll send over some deputies again tonight.”

“No.” Both men frowned. “What’s the point? You can’t keep it up indefinitely. Paying overtime to your officers racks up expenses fast and is a waste of your limited resources.” That was the reality of the situation. “The stalker will wait you out. If he was determined enough to find me here after all the precautions I took, another week or two won’t matter.” The awful truth sank into her bones, leaving her cold.

“Adrianne,” the chief began.

“You know I’m right.” As much as she’d love to be surrounded by men with guns, it was no more than a stopgap measure.

…

The finality of it struck him like a lightning bolt to the chest. Adrianne not only understood her limited options, but she’d accepted them with grace. There was no blaming the police, no demanding they do more to protect her. If anything, she was doing her best to alleviate the chief’s guilt, no matter the outcome.

The showdown between her and her stalker was unavoidable. Only one of them would walk away. She not only understood it, she accepted it. And cursed as he was, he already knew the outcome—Adrianne would die. Nothing anyone did would stop it.

It’s her fate and there’s nothing I can do to change it. It was his own future he needed to worry about.

“I could move in.” It would allow him to offer whatever limited support he could before and during her transition. There was nothing that prevented him from lessening her emotional turmoil. If these were to be her final days, she deserved to find as much happiness as possible. That was compassionate, right? It was the reason his father had sent him here. If he failed, he was eternally screwed.

Adrianne’s eyes widened. “Move in?”

“It’s a perfect solution. I’m in Redemption for the foreseeable future.” He had to give the best sales pitch of his life if he hoped to convince either of them. “The chief has vetted me, and my presence should keep the stalker at bay. Not having to keep an eye on you allows the chief and his people to pursue any leads. The longer your stalker is forced to stay in the area, the more likely it is he might make a mistake. This isn’t Chicago, where he can blend in.”

Despite the chief’s speech last night about Sam finishing his business and leaving town, he was their best, their only real option, and they all knew it.

“As much as I hate to admit it, he’s right.” The chief rubbed his mustache as he thought. “I can keep my officers fresh for further down the line. Folks know what’s going on. I already got an earful from Joshua Franks at the hardware store about your announcement in the diner.”

“That didn’t take long.” Adrianne sighed and looked up at the ceiling.

“You know how it is. People’s tongues wag faster than the posted speed limit. Franks wanted to assure me he’d keep an eye out for suspicious characters. I expect we’ll be fielding calls all day.”

She fisted her hands against her purse. “I didn’t mean to make more work.”

Sam jumped into the conversation again. “They’ll be free to follow up with callers if they don’t need to worry about your safety.” It was low to guilt her into allowing him to stay, but at this point, he couldn’t afford to be picky.

When she gnawed on her lower lip, he had to stifle a groan. When he’d stroked it earlier, it had been all he could do not to lean down and steal a taste. Usually once he’d spent time around a woman, it was easy to keep his desire in check. The opposite was proving to be true with Adrianne. The more he was around her, the more he wanted her. That made her dangerous. He couldn’t allow himself to get distracted from his goal.

“What do you say?” he asked, unable to stand her silence. “You have a spare room, right?” She’d lived there with her grandparents, so there had to be at least two bedrooms, assuming she hadn’t turned one into a home office. “If not, I can get a sleeping bag and bunk in the living room. The workshop, if you don’t want me inside the house.” Not as ideal, but he’d take it. When she still hesitated, he added, “Chester likes me.”

That garnered a chuckle. “Chester is a discerning soul. He hasn’t decided on you yet.”

“Then give me a chance to convince him.” The to convince you went unsaid.

A death knell sounded when she shook her head. “I can’t put you in danger.”

“You’re worried…about me?” This was the second time she’d brought it up. Like the first, it rocked the foundations of his world. It was such a foreign concept.

Her eyebrows lowered and her lips pursed. “Yes, you.”

“You didn’t mind the officers last night.” There was a petulant note in his voice he’d never heard before. Was he…jealous? Damned if he wasn’t. There was also a kernel of hurt that she’d accept their assistance but not his.

“They’re trained. It’s their job. So, yes, I accepted them, but I spent most of the night worrying.”

“She’s got a point, Mr. Blackwell.” The chief leaned forward, resting his forearms on his desk. “You’re a civilian, not a lawman. We don’t know how far this stalker is willing to go.”

Damn it, now the chief was rethinking his position. “I’ll sign a waiver absolving you both of responsibility, if it will make you feel better. Look—” He continued to press his case. “I’ve navigated the cutthroat waters of business around the world. I’ve spent time in countries and back alleys you and your officers wouldn’t dare to venture into. I know how to handle myself.”

Putting aside the fact he was immortal, he did have fighting skills well above average. The challenge had always appealed to him. He’d spent years learning every type of martial arts in existence, working with every weapon. He was as efficient with a 9mm Glock as he was a samurai sword.

“I don’t understand you, Sam.” She was weakening. He heard her hesitation and pounced.

“What’s to understand? I don’t want anything to happen to you.” His chest constricted, squeezing so tight it became difficult to breathe.

Conflicting desires were ripping him apart. On one hand, he was loyal to his father and family. He was a reaper. It was more than a calling; it was entwined in the fiber of his being. The fight for his future was being waged in this small town. One small screwup and he’d lose the most important things he possessed—freedom and his ability to reap. If he didn’t have those, he had nothing, was no one. Reaping defined him. If he was banished to Shadowland, he’d spend eternity disgraced and alone.

Then there was Adrianne. Courageous, beautiful, kind Adrianne, the most fascinating woman he’d ever met. All he had to do to obtain his heart’s desire was to allow her destiny to unfold without interference and help her cross over when the time came with compassion and empathy.

He’d reaped more souls than he cared to remember, but the stakes had never been this high. “What’s it going to be?”

“It’s only temporary.”

Elation flooded him, but he locked down his emotions, not daring a hint of his triumph to escape. “Of course.” At this point, he’d agree to anything.

“And—” She pointed at him for emphasis. “As soon as your personal problems are resolved, you’ll leave.”

Since she was the problem, he could readily agree. “You have my word.”

“You okay with this, Adrianne?” the chief asked. “If you’re uncomfortable having him there, I can send my officers.”

Sam rested his elbows on the arms of his chair and steepled his fingers together. “Change your mind about me, Chief?”

“This isn’t about you or me. It’s about what Adrianne’s most comfortable with.”

He’d give the man props for sticking up for her. “I agree.”

“While I can’t figure any angle that would involve you in this stalking business, I’ve got my eye on you. Your money and influence won’t save you if you harm her in any way.”

“Ah, hello.” She gave an exaggerated wave. “Remember me? I’m still here.”

“The chief is right. It’s your call. If you agree, I’ll check out of Ivy House and head home with you.” He reined in his impatience, wanting this settled. Pushing harder would hinder his cause.

After several long seconds, she reluctantly agreed. “Fine, we’ll try it and reassess tomorrow.” She stood, indicating the meeting was over. “Good enough?”

“Works for me.”

The chief nodded. “I’ll call later today with an update. In the meantime, stay alert. Lamont mentioned you had your grandpa’s shotgun.”

“Yes.” Her chin lifted a notch in challenge. “And Grandpa taught me how to use it.”

“Keep it close.”

She wilted slightly but nodded. “I will. You ready?”

Sam nodded. “Let’s go home.”