“If you were ten years younger, I’d be here to pay court to you.”
Aunt Edna flushed a bright red and gave a pleased smile.
“Silver tongue devil. I’d need to be a good deal more than ten years younger.” She pointed her crochet hook at Jesse. “But I can guarantee I’d give you a run for your money, young man.”
Could this get any more mortifying?
“Jesse, this is my great aunt, Edna. Aunt Edna, this is Jesse Miller. He’s a friend of Ian’s from Montana. They work together in the Brotherhood Protectors.”
Jesse stepped forward, took one of Aunt Edna’s withered hands in his strong young one and placed a kiss on the back.
Danger! Danger! Danger! Her brain tried to warn her. But her heart melted at the look on her aunt’s face.
“You’re kind to be so sweet to an old woman. However, I know it’s my niece you’re here to see. The flowers are nice. We’re both enjoying them.”
“Beautiful ladies should always have beautiful flowers.” He replied with a smile.
Harley Ann goggled as her aunt swatted at Jesse. “You are much too dangerous with that smooth talk, Mr. Miller.”
Jesse grinned. “I’ve come to take your niece over to Ian and Piper’s for a cook-out. I’m sure you’d be welcome if you’d like to come, too.”
“No. No. You two kids go on and enjoy yourselves.”
Jesse kissed the old woman’s hand once more, and then put his hand to Harley Ann’s lower back to escort her out.
She grabbed her purse off the side table where she kept it as they went out, then turned, fished her key out and locked the door.
In answer to Jesse’s raised eyebrows, she said. “Something odd happened out in the back yard. Someone was messing around in Aunt Edna’s flowerbed that runs along the back of the house.”
She followed Jesse down the steps and along the front walk to his car. “Aunt Edna never locks doors around here until she goes to bed. Under the circumstance I feel better locking the doors until I figure out why that flowerbed is messed up.”
“Show me.” Jesse said.
She led him around to the back yard and pointed to the flowerbed in question.
Chapter 8
Jesse kneltin the grass next to the flowerbed, taking stock of the disturbances. The mulch had been pressed down by something heavy, and then fluffed back up in an effort to disguise the fact. Nothing could be done about the broken stalks of flowers coming up or the bulbs disturbed though. So they had been left.
Most likely, in the hope that Harley Ann and her aunt would think it had been an animal. Harley Ann clearly didn’t think it was an animal since she felt the need to lock doors.
Something disturbing was happening here and he suspected Harley Ann was the target. Fear for her stirred in his heart, surprising him. This was more than just concern that someone was in trouble. This felt personal. That girl had definitely gotten under his skin.
He glanced up to find the girl in question watching him closely. “That wasn’t an animal, was it?”
Part of him wanted to shield her from fear, but he ignored that old-fashioned notion. Where had it come from? He’d never had it before. Instead, he shook his head.
“Not an animal. Look here.” He pointed and she moved closer and knelt next to him, strands of her soft hair brushing his bare forearm as she leaned close to see where he was pointing.
The mulch was pressed down by something heavy and then fluffed back up to disguise the fact.”
She leaned further forward, poking at the mulch, and then looked up. The kitchen window was directly above their heads.
“Someone has been spying on us.” She said in a flat voice.
“Looks like it.” He stood and held out his hand to help her to her feet.
Electricity arched between them the minute she placed her hand in his. The look in her eyes told him she felt it, too. He tightened his grip on her hand and watched her pupils expand as he leaned in.
