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Adrianne clutched the edges of her robe and curled her toes against the hardwood floor to help ground her. Her heart slammed against her chest. The last thing she’d expected when she’d left the bathroom was to see the shadowy figure of a large man in the hallway.

For a split second, she’d feared her stalker had decided to end their cat-and-mouse game once and for all. Terror and determination had collided as she’d prepared to fight for her life.

Sam’s shoulders were hunched, his hands crammed into his front pockets. They were several feet apart, but there was an intimacy between them. He’d seen her at her worst, had held her as she’d been sick.

She shifted her weight from one foot to another, extremely aware she was naked beneath the robe. Didn’t think that one through. Viewing the pictures, seeing the undisputed proof of how deeply a stranger had invaded her life, had left her feeling soiled. All she could think about was getting clean. Would have been smarter to detour to her room long enough to get a change of clothes. She’d planned to be showered, dressed, and composed by the time he got back, but time had gotten away from her.

The tears had taken her by surprise. They’d pissed her off, too. She couldn’t afford weakness, not when there was so much at stake. Her rationale was it was safe to break down now when people were around. She’d need to be stronger later, when on her own.

“I should get dressed.” She waved toward her room, but her feet were glued to the floor.

Sam nodded. “That would be best.”

Neither of them moved; the only sound was their breathing. When she licked her dry lips, his dark eyes zeroed in on them. “Ah, what’s happening?”

He jerked as if she’d hit him and took a step away, as if afraid she might throw herself into his arms. “Nothing. Nothing is happening.”

That was certainly clear enough. She must have misread the signs of his interest. Probably a good thing. No, scratch that. It was a good thing. It was crazy to entertain the idea of any relationship, even a short-term one with a man as sexy as Sam.

Backpedaling, she tilted her head to one side. “I meant outside, with the police.”

The corners of his mouth lifted slightly. A gleam of respect glinted in his eyes. “So did I.”

“Of course.” Two could play this game. If he wanted to skate around the sexual heat crackling between them, she was more than willing to give him an out. She wasn’t a good bet at the best of times. Right now, she was downright the last woman any man should get involved with. “I’ll be right out.” The chief would be here soon. Greeting him in her robe would be awkward.

“Take your time. I’ll make coffee.” He spun on his heel and headed toward the kitchen.

“Make yourself at home,” she muttered, then felt bad. Sam didn’t deserve any of her ire. He’d been nothing but kind—making sure she got home safely, finding a clue for the police, talking to her, holding her when she’d fallen apart.

Whatever emotions he stirred were amplified by the intensity of the situation. If she’d passed him on a street, would he have caught her eye? Absolutely. How could he not? With chiseled good looks combined with a palpable sexual magnetism, his picture should be in the dictionary under tall, dark, and captivating .

It hadn’t escaped her notice that even the chief treated him with respect. There was something about Sam that screamed he could handle himself in any situation, whether the boardroom or the barroom. Or maybe she was projecting, seeing him as some kind of hero because he’d been there when she’d needed him.

The faucet in the kitchen being turned on hastened her toward her room. Chester was curled up on her pillow and raised his head at the intrusion. “Sorry to interrupt your nap time.” Ignoring her sarcasm, he gave a yawn and settled back down. “Must be nice to have no worries.”

If there was such thing as reincarnation, she was coming back as a cat in her next life.

Ignoring her feline companion, she pulled a pair of beige capri pants and a blue tank top from the built-in shelves in the closet. She had the belt of her robe undone when she remembered the window. There were officers behind the house, and her room was visible from the edge of the woods. She’d never worried about it before, taking her privacy for granted. It was one of the perks of living in the countryside.

Now it seemed like a liability.

She yanked the drapes shut with more force than necessary. Gloom invaded the room with the sunlight blocked. Shivering, she discarded the robe and tossed it over the end of the bed. In short order, she’d donned fresh underwear and the new outfit and shoved her feet into a pair of tennis shoes. Not wanting to bother with her hair, she gathered it into a tail, gave a twist, and anchored it on the top of her head with a clip from her dresser. No need to check the mirror to know it was a mess, but that was the least of her worries. It got it off her neck and shoulders, vitally important in this heat.

After a moment’s hesitation, she opened the drapes, letting the sunshine back in. She’d always loved the view of the lavender field and the woods beyond from her bed. She’d be damned if she’d allow some pervert to steal that from her.

There was no sign of Chief Johnson, so she gave her shirt a final tug, squared her shoulders, and plastered what she hoped was a confident expression on her face. The rich scent of coffee filled the air as she entered the kitchen. “You find everything you need?”

Sam was standing in front of the sink staring out the window, his hands braced on the counter. His biceps flexed as he pushed away and turned to face her. “Yes.” Feeling as though she was under a microscope, she nodded and went to the fridge.

“Good. I’m having sweet tea.” She needed the sugar. She also needed something to do with her hands to keep from fidgeting. Taking her time, she drew down a glass and filled it. “There’s food if you’re hungry.” Her stomach was empty, but there was no way she’d keep anything down.

“I’m fine.” His words were clipped, as if he was annoyed. And why wouldn’t he be?

Rather than stand, she moved to the table and slid into a chair. She set her drink in front of her. “The chief shouldn’t be much longer. I imagine you’re anxious to get back into town. Do you have a place to stay tonight? Redemption has a small motel on the far end of town. There’s also a nice B&B—Ivy House. You can use my phone to check availability or make a reservation.” Shut up, Adrianne. God, she was a babbling brook, more on edge than she’d thought. She grabbed her drink and took a big swallow. Anything to keep her mouth busy.

“About that.” He started toward her when there was a perfunctory knock on the front door and Chief Johnson stepped inside.

She popped up out of her chair. “Come in. Can I get you something cold to drink? Sam made coffee.”

Perspiration stained his uniform. “I’ll take you up on the something cold, if it’s no trouble.”

“I’ve got it. You sit,” Sam told her. “You want iced tea or lemonade?”

“Sweet tea,” she corrected. “Here in the South, it’s sweet tea.”

The chief glanced from one to the other. “I’ll take the tea.” He pulled a chair closer to hers, his expression serious. He removed his hat and set it on his lap, nodding at Sam when he placed a glass in front of him. “Thanks. Take a seat.”

Sam poured coffee and joined them. It was all so civilized, but this was no social occasion.

“We’ve removed the evidence,” the chief began.

Her stomach twisted. “You mean the pictures?” No point in dancing around it.

“Yes. My men are taking one final look to ensure we didn’t miss anything.” He sighed and leaned forward. “I’ll be honest with you, Adrianne. We’ll have the pictures checked for prints, but I’m not expecting to find any. I spoke with Detective Ramirez, and according to him, this person—whoever it is—has been smart so far. There are never any fingerprints or DNA on anything they tested.”

She hadn’t been expecting anything different, but hearing him say it, seeing the concern etched on his weathered face, drove home the sheer hopelessness of her situation. “I appreciate you doing all you can.”

“Damn it. I’ve known you since you were a child. Your parents and grandparents were friends. It doesn’t sit right with me to leave you out here on your own.”

Sam cleared his throat. “I may have a solution.”

…

It was a golden opportunity, and he wasn’t about to waste it. He was known in business circles for having the best instincts when it came to making money. Timing was everything in deals of all kinds.

This was no different.

This was a way to kill two birds with one stone—metaphorically speaking—to give Adrianne some peace of mind while moving forward with his assignment. He kept his attention on the chief. If he could get the man on his side, he should be able to convince Adrianne. She’d be a harder sell.

While his presence might offer comfort, ultimately, it would do nothing to change the outcome of her situation. Her death wasn’t in question. It was only a matter of when and how—something beyond even his knowledge.

“What have you got in mind, Sam?” A skeptical edge in the chief’s voice warned he was on thin ice.

“I had thoughts of staying in town.” He shrugged, as if it didn’t matter to him one way or another. The knot in his stomach proved it a lie. “I could stay here.”

“No.” Adrianne jumped up from the table and pointed her finger at him. “Absolutely not.” Her immediate refusal shocked him. He figured she’d offer some arguments—she was an independent, competent woman—but not that she’d be so vehemently opposed. He tried not to take it personally but failed miserably.

He slowly pushed to his feet, forgetting his intention to be calm and rational in laying out his reasons. “Why the hell not?” A warning sign flashed in his brain, telling him to back away and regroup and find another way to attain his goal. He could always leave and come back later with her none the wiser. Probably what he should have done.

“I’m not involving you in this mess.”

He leaned down until they were almost nose to nose. “I’m already involved.”

She threw her hands in the air. “And I’m trying to give you a way out. Call your father. Work things out with him. Go back to Vegas and forget you ever met me.”

As if.

He opened his mouth, then closed it before he said something stupid. He had a reputation for clearheaded, brilliant maneuvers. Closing deals was his specialty, but he was too close to Adrianne, the outcome of his assignment too important. Emotions were clouding his judgment and causing him to botch things.

“If I might interject.” Chief Johnson leaned back in his chair, hands resting on his stomach, but he was far from relaxed. “You know, lawmen are naturally suspicious. Comes with the job.” He picked up his drink and took a sip. “You make a mighty nice sweet tea,” he said to Adrianne before focusing back to Sam. “Where was I? Oh yeah, I find it a mite curious as to why a stranger would want to insert himself into a situation.”

His respect for the chief amplified. He might appear laid-back and easygoing, but a sharp brain was behind it. It behooved him to remember that. This wasn’t a man who’d be easily fooled.

“You cleared me of wrongdoing.”

He nodded. “Your witnesses were solid, and I did some checking of my own after the fact. That suspicious nature, again, you understand. I may have cleared you of being in Chicago at the time of the events, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be involved in some way.”

Adrianne gasped, her face losing all color. Sam wanted to swear at himself and at the chief. He willed her to believe him. “I’m not involved. I have only my word for that.” And that wasn’t going to cut it. Not if the expression on her face was any indication.

“Now, I’m not saying you’re involved,” the chief continued. “Just that it’s curious, is all. Maybe you should do as Adrianne suggested and leave town.”

“I can’t.” There was a real possibility he might end up in a jail cell after all. If he was reading the situation right, it wouldn’t take much for the chief to find a reason to put him there. “There’s a family issue I have to deal with first.”

“You have family in Redemption?”

He shook his head. “No. It’s complicated.”

Adrianne cleared her throat, interrupting them. “I’m fine alone. While I appreciate the offer, Sam, I think it’s best if you go.”

He clamped his mouth shut before he got himself into deeper trouble. Anything he said would only make matters worse.

The chief nodded and stood. “I think that’s for the best. A couple of my officers will take shifts, keep watch tonight. You can sleep easy, Adrianne.”

That was all fine and dandy for tonight, but what about tomorrow and the day after? Sam would figure something out. He always did. His intuition warned he needed to be nearby when things came to a head. One way or another, he’d make it happen.

“Come on. I’ll give you a ride to the Easy Rest Motel.” Both men understood it was an order, not a suggestion. If the worried expression on Adrianne’s face was any indication, she thought the same.

Sam took her hand and squeezed it. “Everything will be okay.” He shouldn’t be making promises he couldn’t keep but couldn’t stop himself. Death was coming for her. Nothing could stop that, but he could try to ease some of her stress and make the process as easy as possible.

“Sam—” she began, but he cut her off, not wanting to hear apologies or platitudes, or worse, accusations.

“Is it okay if I stop by tomorrow?” He gave the chief a sidelong glance. “There’ll be an officer here with you.”

“Sure, if you’d like.” She seemed bewildered by the offer. Did she expect him to cut and run? Under normal circumstances, that would be the smart thing to do. But these were anything but normal circumstances. Their destinies were entwined.

“I’d like.” He turned away abruptly before he pulled her into his arms and refused to leave. “I’ll wait outside.” If this was going to work, the money in his wallet wasn’t enough. Since he couldn’t open a portal to get where he had to be, he needed a car and a phone. In short, he needed help. Thankfully, he knew right where to get it.

He stepped outside and panned the area, finding what he was looking for perched in a branch of an oak tree. The crow bobbed his head in greeting. Sam pointed his finger at the bird. “We’re going to talk later,” he whispered.

The door opened behind him. Without waiting for an invitation, Sam went to the police cruiser, opened the front door and climbed inside.

The interrogation began as soon as they turned onto the main road.

“Why are you in my town, Blackwell?”

Now that they were alone, he wasn’t holding back.

“My father is a powerful man.” Understatement of eternity. “We had a slight disagreement about how I was running my end of the family business. In his infinite wisdom, he decided I needed an unscheduled forced vacation, a get-back-to-my-roots deal. How did he do that, you ask? He had me dropped in the middle of nowhere with no phone, no credit cards, and limited cash.”

“Adrianne might buy that story, but I don’t. I called a buddy at the LVMP.”

“And what did this buddy with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police have to say about me?” The chief was a thorough man. A cautious one, too.

“You apparently do some good with all that money you make.”

A muscle worked in Sam’s jaw as he clenched it tight. He disliked talking about his charity endeavors. “It’s a tax write-off.” It wasn’t as though he’d miss the money.

“You’ve never had any legal problems and aren’t suspected of being involved in any criminal activities.”

“To put it bluntly, I make a shit ton of money legally.”

“Exactly my point.” The forest gave way to the town, but the chief kept driving down Main Street. “You might work in a family business, but a smart man like you has money and contacts of his own. You can walk away any time. A wise man would exercise that option.”

It was a polite way of telling him to get out of town. “The situation is about more than money. It’s about my relationship with my father.” It was about keeping the life he’d built over thousands of years intact, about being able to perform his duties as a reaper.

About not being imprisoned for all eternity.

The chief nodded and turned into the parking lot of a nondescript motel painted a color that could only be called dismal beige. The sign Easy Rest Motel was painted in dark brown. There were a dozen rooms attached to a lobby. It didn’t inspire confidence.

“Adrianne mentioned a B&B.” Not as much privacy, perhaps, but the amenities would have to be better. If not, he was screwed.

A corner of Johnson’s mouth kicked up. “Not impressed with our motel?”

“Not in the slightest.”

Laughing, he pulled the police cruiser back onto the road and headed back toward town. He turned off the Main Street and onto Ivy Lane. Made sense the B&B was named Ivy House. The old Victorian-style home was perched on a hilltop at the end of the dead-end street. As advertised in the name, lush green ivy crept up trellises around the property.

At first glance, it was a definite improvement from the motel. On second look, he noticed the peeling paint, the slightly overgrown yard.

“Want me to take you back to the motel?”

“No.” Sam opened the door and stepped out.

“I’ll be keeping my eye on you. I suggest you work out your family business sooner rather than later.”

Ignoring the pointed warning, Sam shut the door, walked up the cracked front walkway, and rang the bell.