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Mrs. Reid poured, turned and reached across from the side, handing me a cup. But Alaric was already reaching for a folder on his desk. Our fingers brushed. We both froze.

Mrs. Reid glanced from Alaric to me, then turned away. My pulse was pounding. But it wasn’t Mrs. Reid I stared at.

“Okay,” Mrs. Reid grabbed the tray. “Dinner will be in the oven, plates set out how you like them. I’ll have supplies sent to the workers. Is there anything else before I leave Mr. Voss?”

“No,” He murmured. “Thank you, Mrs. Reid. I appreciate you coming in today.”

“It was the least I could do after what you’ve done Mr. Voss, and it’s my job.” She moved toward the door.

“Still, I appreciate it. I’ll make sure your roof is fixed before the week is out. The temporary covers should hold unless the storm comes again. If that happens, you always have quarters here.”

“Thank you again…”

“Alaric.” He urged.

Mrs. Reid turned, glancing at him once, then turned toward me. There was a look in her eye. A softness she let herself show. “Alaric.”

Silence hung in the air for a moment before she turned once more and left. I stood there, holding the cup of tea. “You fixed her roof?”

“No.”

He grabbed the folder in front of me. “Not yet.”

I moved closer, narrowing in on him. “But you will.”

“Of course.”

Of course.

Because Alaric was loyal to those he cared about.

What else did he do without anyone else knowing?

“You’re staring.”

I inhaled. “Am not.”

The tiny curl of his lips. “Liar.”

Footsteps resounded before Rafe came into view.

“Contractors are all set. The damage to the roof isn’t as bad as we thought. They’ll have the guttering secured by the end of the day. The tree is being removed as we speak.” He hesitated. “But the greenhouse….” Something in his tone changed. “Yeah, that’s gone.”

Alaric went still.

“The whole thing?” He asked quietly.

Rafe nodded. “The storm took it. Glass. Frames. Everything.”

Silence followed.

“Most of Theresa’s roses were in there.”

The words landed differently.

Not roses.

Theresa.