While Vonnie’s life was evolving for the better, Wade was still mired with trouble, the worst of which was the gun charge linking him to a murder. He didn’t know what his lawyer, Jane Mallory, was doing about that on his behalf, but he hoped that whatever it was she was gaining ground.

As it turned out, Wade’s worries were for nothing.

Jane Mallory had a private investigator named Danny Brown, who she often used for running down reluctant witnesses for cases, and she’d taxed him with finding the poker players Wade Sutton claimed would testify to the fact that he had only recently won the gun in a poker game. And today, Jane received word that Danny had found two of the three poker players.

“I have video of their interviews, along with signed statements from both of them about the man Sonny won the gun from,” Danny said. “They knew the guy wasn’t a local, and that he’d been in the bar drinking when he joined their game. He called himself Rory. He was skinny. Long blond hair tied back in a ponytail. Less than six feet tall. He had a tattoo of a bloody cross on his right hand, and a skull tattoo on the left.”

“Thanks Danny, you rock,” Jane said.

“Yes, I do,” he said, and was laughing as he disconnected.

She shook her head at his audacity, but it was part of his personality that made his investigation skills so good. And the information was more than she’d known an hour ago. She scrolled through her contacts, found the name she was looking for, and made a call. It rang four times and then she got an answer.

“Amarillo PD. Detective Sheffler speaking.”

“Hi Sheff, this is Jane. I need a favor.”

“Of course you do. The only time I ever hear your voice is when you want something. We might as well be married.”

She ignored that, and started reading off the description of the suspect who’d lost the gun in a poker game.

“I’m looking for a perp named Rory. Skinny, under six feet tall. Long blond hair worn in a ponytail. Tattoo of a bloody cross on his right hand, and a tattoo of a skull on his left. My client played poker with him and won a handgun in the pot. After my client’s arrest, they tested that same gun he had in his vehicle, and found it to be a match to an open murder case in your city. My client is already facing felony charges for stealing and selling stolen property, but I seriously doubt he’s the killer type. I have witness statements verifying they all played poker with the Rory dude, and that my client won it in one of the games.”

Sheffler grunted. “I’ll run the description through the database and see what pops. If I find anything, I’ll let you know.”

“As always, much appreciated,” Jane said, and disconnected. She glanced at the time, then put away her case file and began gathering up her things. She’d had all of this day she could stand, and was ready to go home.

Moments later, she was out the door and headed to the elevator.

***

Pearl was also ready to call it a day at the Yellow Rose when a last-minute carload of customers pulled up.

Maggie groaned when she saw them. But to their relief, only one person came in and placed an order to go.

Pearl started cooking and Maggie kept wiping down the tables.

Carson, the dishwasher, waited until the order went out and the customer left, and then began sweeping the floor as Maggie turned the Open sign to Closed.

Pearl was extra tired today and had a headache of major proportions. She didn’t have time to be tired, and she darn sure didn’t have time to be sick. As soon as everyone cleared out, she was going to go upstairs, down a shot of whiskey, and take a long, hot bubble bath. And if she still needed a boost, there was that pint of rocky road ice cream with her name on it.

As soon as Maggie had everything ready to open up tomorrow, she blew a kiss at Pearl, waved at Carson, and shot out the back door.

Carson frowned. “Where’s she going in such a hurry?”

Pearl sighed, remembering what it felt like to be young and falling in love.

“She’s going to see a man about a sunset. Go on home, Carson. I’ll lock up.”

“Yes, ma’am. See you tomorrow,” he said, and then he was gone.

Pearl stood for a moment in the empty room, looking around at all that was hers, and remembering how hard she’d worked to get it and keep it running. Then she winced at the shooting pain behind her eyes and began locking doors and turning out lights as she headed upstairs, thinking as she went that she needed to hire more wait staff. She and Maggie were running in circles every day without a single day off. Maybe she could hire a grill cook, and one more server. She wasn’t picky about who, other than they needed to be good workers.

***

Maggie was a bundle of excitement all the way to her house. She was trying to decide what she should wear, then discarded that worry because they weren’t going out, and she didn’t want to overdress. The moment she got to the house she ran straight to the bathroom, stripped off her work clothes, and jumped in the shower, then impulsively washed her hair.

It was all over in less than five minutes, and she was stark-naked and standing at the mirror, blow-drying her hair. As soon as she finished, she sent Sonny a text to let him know she was home, then toweled off and ran to get dressed.

Without weighing the wisdom of the clothes she put on, she went for color and comfort instead of style. Stone-washed jeans. A long-sleeved turquoise T-shirt, and her pink Ropers. She was stomping her foot into the last boot when she heard him pulling up to the house.

Shivering with anticipation, she gave her dark hair a last brush, swiped a little lip gloss on her lips, and grabbed her purse and made sure her painting stuff was hidden. Seconds later, there was a knock at the door.

She flung it wide, unaware of the image she presented, framed in the doorway and backlit from the light behind her, or that the sight of her left Sonny momentarily speechless.

“I’m ready!” she said.

He blinked. “I don’t know if I’m ready for you. You are a beautiful woman, Magnolia Brennen,” and then he held out his hand.

She took it without question, locked the door, and moments later she was in the passenger seat, watching him circling the truck to get in.

The last rays of sun flashed within the crow-black length of his hair, making it shine as if it had been polished. In her eyes, he was perfection, and when he sat behind the wheel, his shoulders spanned the width of the bucket seat.

He glanced at her and smiled, which melted her resolve to play it cool. At that point, she began fumbling for the seat belt, and Sonny was all business, backing up and pulling out onto the road leading to the ranch, then trying to miss the potholes in the road. She was grasping for a conversation starter, and went straight to the horses.

“Did you get the horses settled okay?” she asked.

His face lit up. “I did. I wish you could have seen their reunion. Within minutes, the race was on, and they were running across the prairie with their heads up and their tails and manes flowing. There’s nothing more heart-stopping than a herd of running horses.”

Maggie smiled. “You sound like Emmit. I guess most cowboys think alike when it comes to cattle and horses, except for the ones who aren’t afraid to steal them. Thank goodness you found yours.”

“I am definitely fortunate in that respect, although if it hadn’t been for Wade Sutton’s wife, it might never have happened,” he said.

“When you got to the ranch, did you have to deal with any of the Kincaids?” she asked.

“No. If they were in the house, they were hiding their faces. I know this is the wrong time to ask, but I hope you like spaghetti with meat sauce, because it’s what we’re having for supper.”

Maggie’s eyes lit up. “I love it, and I haven’t had it in ages.”

“Me either, but it’s something I know I can cook without messing up,” he said.

After that, the tension between them lessened. When they drove past the place where Sutton’s trailer used to sit, Maggie noted the absence.

“The trailer is gone!”

He nodded. “It was hauled off this morning. I kept expecting to see bits and pieces of it falling off as they went, but I guess it held together long enough to get wherever it was supposed to go.”

“It looks different…but better,” Maggie added.

“Still some fencing to repair, but I’m getting there,” he said.

A couple of minutes later they drove through the main entrance to the property and headed toward the house.

“Looks like we’re just in time to see the light show,” Sonny said, pointing to the already changing sky.

He parked and then took her hand as they got out and walked out into the yard for a better view.

The sky was turning purple, and Maggie was already locked into the magic, wondering what colors were going to show up next when Sonny slid his arm across her shoulders and pulled her a little closer. As he did, she leaned against him, feeling sheltered and safe.

He glanced down. Her head was just below his shoulder, but he could see the changing expressions of wonder on her face, and knew one day he would take her to bed and put that same look on her face when they made love.

The sun was gone now, just below the horizon, but still showing off by flashing varying shades of pink and orange below the purple haze. Sonny could feel the weight of her hair on his arm as they watched the sky.

“There’s nothing prettier than a sunset,” Maggie said.

He glanced down. “Except you,” he said, and then like flipping a switch, the sky was dark, and stars were coming out of hiding. “Let’s go inside, Maggie. I still need to cook the spaghetti and then we can eat.”

“I can help,” she said.

“You’ve been waiting on people all day. Tonight is for you,” he said, and led her in through the back door and into the light.

He set her down at the kitchen table with a cold drink, and then listened to her chatter while he put the water on to boil, then later, dropped the pasta in to cook. He set the meat sauce to warming, and put the garlic bread in the oven to toast. He was so preoccupied with getting everything right that he realized she’d gone quiet, and when he turned around, he caught her watching him. Before he could think what to say, Maggie leaned back in her chair, crossed her arms, still studying him.

“You are something of a Renaissance man, aren’t you? A man wild and crazy enough to take on bull-riding, who knows his way around a kitchen as well as he does a rodeo arena. A man who has died and been resurrected by modern medicine. A man with a soft voice, but I suspect, an iron constitution. You hide your thoughts and feelings, and yet you are kind and have a subtle sense of humor.”

He hesitated, then shrugged. “Yes, I guess I am all of those things. But I accept them. The question is, do you accept me as is?”

“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t,” she said, then blinked, as if shocked by what she’d said, and glanced at the steam rising from the pot of pasta. “I think it’s time to test the pasta, don’t you?”

A slow smile came and went as he turned to take the garlic bread out of the oven. He knew she’d scared herself by the revelation. And she’d been right. The pasta was ready. He drained it, poured the sauce over the hot pasta, and gave it a toss. After that came a sprinkle of parmesan cheese, and chopped basil leaves, then he made their plates and carried them to the table.

Maggie was seated beneath the light, giving him a clear view of those three freckles, when she looked up and smiled. “Smells wonderful and looks amazing!”

“Taste it before you get too excited,” he warned.

“Too late, I’m already excited because I didn’t have to cook,” she said, twisting noodles on her fork before taking a bite, then rolling her eyes as she chewed and swallowed. “A sunset to die for. Delicious spaghetti, and someone to share it with. My heart is full, but my tummy is not. I’m going in for another bite,” she said.

“Can’t take credit for the sunset, but I’m glad you like the food,” he said, and then joined her—happier than any time he could remember.

They talked as they ate, mostly asking questions about each other. It was the usual, getting-acquainted chatter, with undertones of the attraction between them politely unspoken.

“Tell me about Magnolia Brennen,” Sonny said. “Family? Siblings? Where did you grow up? Witness Protection?”

The last question startled her and then she saw the twinkle in his eyes and laughed. “You have a sneaky sense of humor. You threw that last one in just to see if I was paying attention, didn’t you?”

He grinned. “And clearly, you were. So?”

She sighed. “Not much to tell. There’s no official record of my birth. They gave me a birthday on the day I was found on the doorstep of a fire station. They guessed I was about two weeks old. I don’t know who my parents were. I don’t know if I have relatives anywhere, but I know nobody wanted me, and no one came looking for me. I grew up in foster care. No horror stories, but no particular bonds ever made anywhere, or offers to adopt me, either. I learned to ride when I was twelve. Haven’t been on a horse since I was sixteen. Nobody wanted me, but the state of Texas kept me alive. I aged out of the system at eighteen, and have been on my own ever since. Just the one disastrous relationship with the loser you met at the Rose. After that, you had me at ‘ant hill’ and you will forever be my friend for life.”

Sonny had a lump in his throat for the child she’d been, abandoned, never once feeling like she mattered, and shook his head in disbelief.

“That is a hard beginning for one small soul. For that, I am sorry.”

She shrugged. “Don’t be. You aren’t responsible, and Pearl has changed my attitude and my life. I’m happy here, and even happier that you want me for a friend.”

“And then some,” he muttered, and got up to refill their glasses.

Maggie watched, knowing he had yet to say anything about his family. She didn’t know whether that was off-limits, or if he was just waiting to be asked, but she knew one question would answer that for her. He’d either respond, or side-track her.

“Where did you grow up?”

He carried their glasses back to the table, then sat down. “Bluejacket Hollow, Oklahoma. It’s in the blackjacks between Okmulgee and Henryetta, Oklahoma. Right in the heart of rodeo country.”

She frowned. “What are blackjacks?”

He chuckled. “Scrawny excuses for great oak trees. They’re actually a red oak variety. The biggest trunks won’t be more than a foot in diameter, and they usually grow to about a twenty- to thirty-foot height. They are the shade down on our creek banks. The trees that cattle gather under in downpours. The scrub brush you have to ride through trying to find a lost calf, and hunting down a predator in those woods can get dicey, especially if it’s a big cat you’re looking for. Most likely it’s laying on a tree branch above your head as you ride under.”

“Oh my gosh. That’s scary!”

“Would be, except our horses are sometimes smarter than we are. When they smell a big cat, they’re not going a step farther. That’s always a sign there’s one around. If you’re on an ATV, you’re on your own.”

“Do you have a lot of family there? I mean, since it’s named after your family, I guess there must have been a lot of them living in the same area at one time.”

He nodded. “There were a lot of them back in the day, before I was born. But the only elders left are my father and his sister. I’m Shawnee on my great-grandfather’s side, and Muscogee on my great-grandmother’s side. All of their children were enrolled into great-grandmother’s tribe, and so it has been ever since. I have an older brother named Charlie. He has a wife named Frances and a daughter named Julia. She’s nine. She has a pet pygmy goat named Butters, named so because it butts everything in front of it.”

Maggie laughed. “I love that. Are you all close?”

“Very close with my brother and his family, and my auntie. Her name is Delores Bushy, which is also an indigenous name, but she is Auntie to all of us. After I was injured, they didn’t think I would live, but the tribal elders said prayers, and they drummed for me. My heart stopped twice on the operating table, but I am told the elders were still singing, and the drums were still drumming, and so I lived. However, I had been rodeoing for so long that I had no permanent home, so when I survived and was finally well enough to be released, Charlie came to get me. I’ve lived with them ever since while working at nearby ranches.”

“So, no more bull riding?” she asked.

He shook his head. “That man died. This man was still seeking a reason for what has been taken away, but I would never have imagined that Emmit Cooper would hold the answer.”

Maggie was hypnotized. He spoke with a depth of wisdom she could only imagine, and in poetic analogies that made her ache. If she could paint pictures as beautiful as his words, she would die happy. She blinked away tears and leaned forward.

“What about your father? Where is he in your life?”

“Walker Bluejacket is nowhere in my life. He is the shame and scourge of all the family. I call him Walks-Off, because that’s all he’s ever done—walked away when he was needed. He walked away from my mother, leaving her to raise me and Charlie on her own. When she was dying, he was shacked up with yet another woman. He never came to her funeral. When I got hurt, he was nowhere to be seen. But the day word got around about what I had inherited, he showed up at the house wanting to come with me. Wanting his part of my gift.”

“Oh, Sonny, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for—”

He reached across the table and clasped her hand. “No, don’t apologize. These are simply facts of my life.”

“So, what happened?” she asked.

He shrugged. “We exchanged words. He got angry and threw a punch. I blocked it, and he swung for the scars on my chest. I deflected the blow, but I thought Charlie was going to kill him. He ran him off. Then Charlie took me to catch the bus, and here I am. I didn’t know there would be a second gift waiting for me at Crossroads until I got off the bus. I was guessing Pearl might still be around, but I wasn’t prepared for a blue-eyed angel named Magnolia. You have helped me through all of this confusion more than you know, and while it appears all of my confusion with Emmit’s world has been dealt with, I don’t want to have to make up excuses anymore just to see you.”

Maggie’s heart skipped. Oh God, please let this be real. “You don’t need excuses. And you’ve already seen me take a ball bat to the last man who betrayed me, so I’m assuming you have the good sense not to be stringing me along.”

Sonny dropped his fork on the table and got up laughing as he swooped her up into a hug. “I swear on all that’s holy, I’ve already tried dying, and it didn’t set well with me. I don’t ever want to face you and a baseball bat, and I’ll never betray you or whatever grows between us, okay?”

She was trying not to give herself away too soon, but he was infectious. She couldn’t help but laugh with him.

“Okay. Fine. I can live with that,” she said.

She was still in his arms when the smile died on his face. He looked down just as she met his gaze. He could see the pulse of her heartbeat in a little vein along the side of her neck, and the long, dark lashes shading eyes the color of the sky. He watched her lips parting, as if she was trying to catch her breath, and then her arms were around his neck.

He lowered his head.

Maggie felt the warmth of his breath a moment before he kissed her, and then it was magic—like she’d always known this—and him.

Sonny was already in over his head, and he knew it. She abandoned herself to him like a wildling. Unabashed, and unafraid, and in that moment, vulnerable. She would have capitulated to whatever he wanted, and that left him the one in charge of making the decision. Now? Or later, when they had more than the few days that they’d known each other, to cross this bridge?

He paused, lingering for one last kiss, and then stopped, but didn’t let her go.

“Ah, Magnolia…what you do to me. That was our first, but if I have any say in the matter, it won’t be our last. As far as firsts go, that was skyrockets. I will spend a restless night tonight, dreaming of the angel I let go.”

Maggie was trembling. Her heart was pounding, knowing how close they’d come to winding up on the floor in each other’s arms. It was going to take longer for the ache she was feeling to ease. They were barely past the stranger stage, and she felt like she’d known him forever.

“Clearly, I have lost myself, or I would not have been this abandoned. I was about a zipper away from stripping. I want you, and that’s a dangerous thought to have for a man I barely know.”

Sonny stifled a groan. “If it’s any consolation, I want you, too. I have since the first moment I saw you. The truth is, we strike sparks. Eventually, we’ll set a fire, and when we do, there will be no turning back, okay?”

She nodded. “So, I guess you either take me home…”

He ran a finger down the side of her cheek. “Or take you to bed?”

She sighed. “Pretty much.”

He hugged her again, but this time for reassurance. “I’m ready when you are.”

“I need to get my purse. It’s here somewhere.”

He pointed to the sofa, then waited for her to get it, but when she came back, the first thing he did was reach for her hand and kiss it, then walk her out the door, locking it behind him as they went.

She climbed up into the seat and buckled up as he got in beside her.

“Do you ever have days off?” he asked, as he started the truck and backed up.

“I used to, but the other waitress quit and moved on, and Pearl hasn’t hired anyone to replace her. There’s not a lot of unemployment in Crossroads, mainly because there’s also not a lot of businesses who need help.”

“I might have to give her a hint about following through on that, since I’m hoping for more time with you,” he said.

Maggie smiled to herself, wondering how Pearl would react to all that, then settled in for the short ride home.

They were nearing Crossroads when they caught sight of a little skunk waddling along the side of the road.

“Stay calm, little kùnu,” Sonny said, as they drove past.

Maggie eyed him curiously. “Why did you call him that?” she asked.

“It’s the Muscogee name for skunk. I was just honoring his presence.”

Maggie absorbed the explanation. This man kept surprising her. “Do you think he heard you?”

“He did.”

She frowned. “How do you know?”

“The same way I know your heart beats for me,” he said.

“I pretty much told you that,” she muttered.

He laughed, but didn’t challenge her disbelief. Coming back from the dead had given him more than just a new chance at life, like knowing about things before they happen, and a heightened sensitivity to his surroundings. They were nearing Crossroads when Sonny realized the town was dark. Not a light anywhere in sight.

He frowned. “The power is out in town. Does that happen often?”

Maggie looked nervous. “No. Not unless a storm comes through.”

“My power comes from the same company yours does. I wonder if it’s out now, too. At any rate, I’m not leaving you alone in your house until I find out what’s going on,” he said, and pulled over to the side of the road. “Who do we contact?”

Maggie quickly fumbled through her phone contacts until she came to Utilities, and found the number for the power company. She called and reported the outage, then moments later, she got a text back stating that they were aware of the problem, and had a crew on the way to check it out.

Sonny glanced out the side window while Maggie was reading the message to him, and once again, saw the little skunk waddling along, headed straight toward town. There must be a garbage dump behind some business that furnished his evening dining.

“I hope Pearl’s okay,” Maggie said.

“Phones still work. Call her,” Sonny said, then headed toward town, but the closer he got, the more anxious he felt. Something was off. It was barely ten o’clock and he would have expected lights from within some of the houses. Lanterns, candles, something, anything. Instead, it was pitch black.

Maggie’s call to Pearl went unanswered. She frowned. “Pearl isn’t answering her phone,” Maggie said.

“Do you have a key to the Rose?” Sonny asked.

“Yes.”

“We’ll drive by there, just in case, okay?” he said.

“Yes, and thank you,” Maggie said, and the moment they drove up to the back of the café and parked, Sonny took a flashlight out of the console.

“Are we going to set off a security alarm?” he asked.

“Yes, it has battery backup for power failures, but I know the code,” she said, and quickly unlocked the back door and disarmed the system.

Sonny closed the door behind them.

Maggie was already moving through the café, calling her name.

“Pearl! Pearl! It’s me, Maggie. Are you okay?”

“I’m up here!” she cried.

They started up the stairs, found her phone on one of the steps, blood another step, and ran the rest of the way up in a panic.

Pearl was sitting on the sofa holding a dishtowel beneath her nose and an ice bag on her forehead.

“Honey! What happened?” Maggie cried, as she ran to her.

“Oh, I was on my way up the stairs when the power went out. It startled me. I missed the next step and did a header. Gave me a nosebleed, but it’s stopped. I’m probably gonna have a bruise and a black eye. I lost my phone when I fell, but I was too rattled and hurt to go looking for it. I heard it ring, but that’s why I didn’t answer.”

“Do you have any LED flashlights, or battery lanterns?” Sonny asked.

“One is on my bedside table, and another one on top of the refrigerator.”

“I’ll be right back,” Sonny said, and used the flashlight feature on his phone to go get them, and left his flashlight with Maggie.

“Move the ice pack a second. I want to see what you’ve done,” Maggie said.

Pearl sighed. “I could do with some painkillers. There are some in my medicine cabinet.”

“In a minute,” Maggie said, and began checking Pearl’s forehead. There was a knot forming and bruising already apparent and spreading, and Pearl was right. She was going to have a black eye. “I’m so sorry, sweetie. I hurt for you.”

Sonny came back with two LED lights and set them down around her, then handed Maggie a bottle of painkillers.

“I heard you ask for them,” Sonny said.

Pearl winced as she glanced up. “You’re not just pretty. You’re handy as a pocket on a shirt.”

He grinned. “I don’t think I ever once set out to be pretty, so I don’t know how to deal with that. Which cabinet has glasses? I’ll bring you some water to down those pills.”

“I’d rather have a shot of whiskey,” she said, and then saw the looks on their faces. “I know, I know, do not mix liquor and drugs. Glasses are in the cabinet to the left of the sink.”

When he disappeared again, Pearl sighed. “If I was twenty-five years younger, I’d be fightin’ you for that man.”

Maggie smiled, but didn’t comment. As soon as Sonny came back with the water, she shook out a couple of pain pills into Pearl’s hand. Pearl downed the pills, chased them with a big drink, and then groaned.

“Crap, it even hurts to swallow.”

“The Rose is going to be closed tomorrow,” Maggie said. “There’s no telling when the power will be back on, and I’m not leaving you alone tonight. I’m sleeping on your sofa, and don’t argue.”

Pearl got teary. “At least once a day, I say to myself that I don’t know what I would do without you, and here you go again, proving yourself to be the daughter I never had.”

Sonny laid a hand on Maggie’s shoulder and gave it a quick squeeze. “She is special, for sure,” he said. “Is there anything I can do? If there’s a doctor in town, I’ll bring him here, if you need treatment beyond an ice pack.”

Pearl waved him off. “Thank you, Sonny, but I’ll be fine.”

He looked at Maggie for reassurance.

Maggie shrugged. “She has a knot on her head and the beginnings of a black eye, but I think she’s okay, and I’m going to be on hand. If I become concerned later, I know who to call here in town.”

“Every piece of me says, ‘don’t leave you two alone,’ but I bow to your judgment. I’m going to drive around a bit just to satisfy myself that all is well, and that it’s just a simple power outage. I’ll text to make sure you’re okay before I leave town, but can I please help Maggie get you to bed?”

“Yes, of course,” Pearl said. “I wanted to lie down, but I was afraid to stumble around again in the dark.”

Between them, they got Pearl to bed, the ice pack back on her forehead, and her shoes off.

“Thank you,” Pearl said, and closed her eyes.

Sonny left one LED lantern on the table beside her bed and gave the other one to Maggie.

“Pearl, I’m going to walk Sonny down so I can lock up behind him,” Maggie said. “I’ll be right back.”

“Give him a kiss from me,” Pearl muttered.

Sonny laughed. “You get one of your own,” he said, and leaned over the bed to kiss her cheek. “Be good. Mind Maggie.”

Pearl snorted softly, but she was secretly delighted.

Maggie walked Sonny down to the first floor and then back through the kitchen.

“Thank you for such a wonderful evening, and for being Pearl’s hero. She thinks the world of you,” Maggie said.

Sonny wrapped his arms around her. “The pleasure of your company was mine. Stay safe, Magnolia. I’m going to scout out the situation before I leave.”

She frowned. “What makes you think it’s more than just a power outage, and don’t deny it. I know you do.”

“Just a feeling,” he said, and kissed her. “Stay inside. Even if the power is restored. Stay inside until morning. Promise me.”

She frowned, but agreed. “I promise. Just promise me you won’t get yourself in harm’s way.”

He ran his thumb over the curve of her lower lip. “Lock the door.” And then he was gone.

Maggie locked them in, reset the security alarm, and ran back upstairs.