Reynolds nodded. “Apparently he saw the guy. The boy was able to tell us he was tall, wore a beanie and had blue eyes.”

  Good to know but not particularly helpful when searching for an unknown perp. “No indication the guy tried to break in or took anything?”

  Reynolds shook his head. “His footprints showed he moved around to a few windows and came up on the porch. Nothing seemed to have been tampered with. Nothing taken that Ms. Myers noticed.” He shrugged. “I asked her about the boy’s father. Since nothing was taken, that was my first thought. Maybe the kid’s dad showed up unexpectedly, but she said he passed away.”

  Rob wanted to ask why he hadn’t been called, particularly since he was in charge of the security of this community, but he knew the answer. He’d been on the road transporting a violent criminal. He’d volunteered for the job to prevent one of his less experienced deputies from having to do it.

  “I should do a follow-up,” he announced, feeling the need to see for himself that all was well. “Have a second look around.”

  Reynolds shrugged. “I parked on the street and hung around until the chef, Diane Franks, arrived. Everything was all quiet, but if you think there’s reason for a second look, I can do that now.”

  Rob grabbed his cap. “Thanks, but I’ve got it.”

  He felt bad for not knowing about this already. That traffic situation had caused him to miss the staff meeting. Generally, he would have passed off the call to someone else in order to be at that meeting, but one of the drivers involved had been a friend who had called him directly. That was the other thing about small communities: everyone knew everyone else.

  He headed out to his SUV, thankful the windshield was still clear. He’d had a hell of a time removing the crusted ice this morning. Last night’s forecast of two inches of snow had turned into four, with a layer of ice mixed in. The roads had been cleared early this morning, but there would still be side streets and roads that were icy. This time of year, sudden winter storms were to be expected but only appreciated by the kids who got a day home from school.

  The Lookout Inn, 10:40 a.m.

  THE RENTAL LICENSE plates on the vehicles parked in the lot suggested there were guests. Grace had told him she’d had more bookings than expected all year so far. A number of folks who’d lived in this community for the better part of their lives were impressed with what Grace had done with the inn. When she’d bought it two years ago, it had been closed for nearly a decade. No one really expected it to be brought back to life quite so easily or so well. Grace had come in, renovated the place and put it back on the map in record time.

  Folks liked her. She was quiet and reserved, but she tirelessly supported the other businesses and worked hard to keep the inn innovative.

  He exhaled a big breath, fogging the air, and headed for the front entrance. Rob had asked her out on three occasions, and she’d turned him down. In a nice way, of course. She was always too busy or Liam was not feeling well.

  After the last time, Rob had decided to settle for being friends until she was ready for more—which might be never. He hadn’t exactly given up on persuading her to give him a shot, but he had opted to continue being patient. She was a really nice person. Didn’t hurt that she was pretty gorgeous too and had an adorable kid to boot. He knew nothing about her past relationships, not even about her deceased husband. But he recognized when a history was bad. She would tell him her story when she felt ready. Something else he could wait for.

  When Angela, his former fiancée, had left him, he’d rushed back into the dating scene in an effort, he supposed, to prove something. But that had grown old real quick. From there he’d decided to just take his time and see where life took him.

  Then he’d met Grace.

  He’d had zero interest anywhere else since.

  Rob paused at the entrance to the inn’s lobby, squared his shoulders, opened the door and walked in. His gaze instantly locked in on the woman behind the registration desk. Long brown hair so light it was almost blonde. She kept it in a braid, and he’d had plenty of fantasies about deconstructing it. Gray eyes and a smile that stole his breath every single time. The fact that she was a looker was great, but it was her gentle spirit and kind heart that really got to him.

  Whoever had hurt this woman had been a fool.

  “Mr. Pierce, this is your key.” Grace smiled as she passed the actual key—not a card—to the new guest. “You are in cabin 10.” She gestured toward the dining room. “Take the French doors out onto the terrace and you’ll see the cabins.”

  “Thank you.” He glanced at Rob as he moved closer.

  “Morning,” Rob said.

  The older man gave him a nod. “Good morning to you—” he considered Rob’s uniform “—Deputy.”

  “If you need anything,” Grace said to the new arrival, “don’t hesitate to let me know.”

  “Will do.” Pierce headed for the dining room. At the door, he glanced back, noted that Rob was still watching and gave another nod before continuing on.

  Uniforms made some folks uneasy.

  Rob turned his attention to the woman watching him expectantly.

  “Good morning,” she said, her smile not quite as bright as usual.

  “Good morning.” He leaned against the counter. “I wish you had called me last night.” He didn’t bother telling her he was miles away and couldn’t have helped, because he wanted her to call him in the future—no matter the circumstances. It was selfish of him, he understood that glaring fact, but he wanted her to feel comfortable coming to him with any issue.

  She looked away, busied herself with decluttering after checking in her guest. “I honestly wasn’t sure what the situation was.” Her gaze finally landed on his once more. “Frankly, I was terrified, and my first thought was to call 911.”

  “I understand. You had every right to be afraid.” Except she had never once mentioned—in the year he had known her—being afraid. She’d had a mountain lion lumber into her backyard, more than her share of woodland varmints. Even a bear once. She’d called for whatever help was required and calmly gone about her business. But he supposed none compared to having a man attempting to look inside your home. Humans could be the most dangerous of predators.

  “I should see about the lunch menu.” She flashed him another visibly lackluster smile.

  “Mind if I tag along?” He wasn’t walking away that easily.

  She hesitated, then shrugged. “Sure. I just need to let Cara know to keep an eye on the desk.”

  Rob waited where he stood as she headed for her private residence. Cara Gunter was the new assistant Grace had hired. Well, new wasn’t exactly right. She’d been here three months already. Nice lady. Hailed from Chattanooga originally, with an elderly grandmother here on the mountain. She’d been in Memphis for years until her grandmother grew too feeble to take care of herself and Cara had moved back. Early thirties, like Grace, and very blunt and focused. But Liam really liked her, which was more than half the battle, Grace had insisted when she hired Cara. With a toddler in the mix, running an inn without an assistant would be impossible. The first assistant Grace hired had died in an automobile accident. Both Grace and Liam had been devastated. These mountain roads could be treacherous.

  There was also Karl Wilborn, the gardener, and his wife, Paula, the housekeeper. The couple were lifetime residents of the Mountain. Good folks. Diane Franks was a newcomer. She’d run her own catering business in New York before retiring and relocating to Tennessee, and taking the chef job at the inn. She too was a widow, but rumor was she and the new principal at the middle school were getting serious.

  When Grace waved at him from the hall beyond the lobby, he headed in that direction, followed her through the massive dining room. The coffee bar had him wishing for another cup. Grace was brilliant with coffee. She mixed blends and added ingredients that made for some seriously good coffee. Her baking skills were nothing to scoff at either. He’d never been a pastry man, but he dropped by a couple of times a week for Grace’s coffee and pastries...and maybe just to say hello.

  “Try the new wake-you-up breakfast blend.” She gestured to one of the silver coffee urns. “I think it’s my best yet.”

  “I’m always happy to be a taste tester.” He picked up one of the dainty china cups and filled it with the steaming brew. “If you ever start your own coffee company, I’m ready to join your staff.” He lifted the cup to his lips. The robust but creamy taste burst on his tongue. “Very good.”

  She smiled. “Thank you.”

  The aroma of baked scones and muffins lingered in the kitchen. The baskets covered with tea towels he noticed at the coffee bar had likely been loaded with both. His gut rumbled, warning that he should have grabbed breakfast this morning. Wouldn’t have mattered, he imagined. Even if he’d already eaten, he would’ve been lured by Grace’s creations.

  He’d been invited to Sunday lunch or dinner more than once. Funny, he’d thought those invitations were leading them in the right direction, but so far that was where things stalled.

  “Grab a scone,” she suggested, her smile a real one this time. “There’s cranberry-orange and cherry.”

  “They smell great,” he said. He set the cup he’d emptied on the counter and went for a cherry scone. He bit off a piece and groaned in satisfaction. “Wow. This is great.” He leaned against the counter and, before going for another bite, said, “Tell me about last night.”

  “It was the end of a busy four-day weekend,” she said as she picked up her iPad and checked the screen.

  He had learned that Grace kept her menus and other inn-related activities electronically. Made sense, he supposed. But he suspected she studied it now to avoid his gaze. That was off somehow. She’d seemed to trust him well enough. Was comfortable with him as long as he wasn’t asking her on a date. Maybe last night had unnerved her more than usual.

  “By the time the last guests checked out, I was exhausted.” She held her iPad against her chest like a shield now. “Liam had already fallen asleep for a late nap, so I decided to lie down next to him just for a few minutes. I hadn’t really meant to drift off, but I did. I woke up an hour or so later, and he was gone from the bed. The house was dark by then, so I went through the house turning on lights and calling his name.” She shivered. “The more I called without getting an answer, the more terrified I grew.”

  He could see how that was a lot scarier than a mountain lion. “I’m glad you found him and he was okay.”

  She nodded. “He was in the lobby staring out one of the windows. It was...” She shrugged. “A bit creepy.”

  He could understand that. “Did Liam say anything?” Rob resisted the urge to reach out and touch her, maybe comfort her. But she wouldn’t want him feeling protective. Grace Myers was far too independent.

  “He said he was watching the man in the snow.” She closed her eyes a moment as if the memory pained her. “The snow had started to fall after I went to sleep, I guess. There was enough by the time I woke up to see the footprints the guy left. I guess the part that really got to me was the idea that anything could have happened to Liam while I was sleeping. I shouldn’t have allowed myself to fall asleep like that.”

  Rob straightened away from the counter. Again, he resisted the urge to reach out. “Have you noticed anyone hanging around or maybe driving by regularly? Since nothing was taken last night, this could be someone casing the place. It’s a nice inn. He may believe you keep cash on the premises, and with the inn relatively secluded, it would make for an easy target.”

  She turned her attention back to the iPad. “No. I haven’t noticed anyone hanging around or driving by. Honestly, I’m hoping it was just some person who...” She shrugged. “Who got disoriented in the snow and made a mistake.”

  It happened, he’d give her that, but the idea was a stretch. “If you think of anything or anyone we should look into, let me know and I’ll see that it gets done.”

  Again, she hugged her iPad. “I will, of course.”

  She was nervous, but this was more than just the jitters. Talking about what had happened got under her skin. This was a new reaction. One he hadn’t seen in Grace before. Maybe it was only because she’d felt Liam had been at risk.

  Rob opted to change the subject. “You have more guests coming in this week?”

  “The two today and no one else before Friday.” She visibly relaxed with the subject change. “I’m very pleased with how the winter business has panned out so far. If the spring and summer carry through with no mechanical breakdowns or bizarre accidents, I think I can safely say we’ve survived the typical restart costs.”

  The chamber of commerce had already presented Grace with the best new business award. He expected that was only the first of many honors for her hard work and commitment to the community.

  “I’ve always thought you were going to do well. You’re good at the online reach. That’s really important for an independent inn like this one.”

  “I try,” she agreed.

  The few seconds of silence that lapsed warned that she was ready for him to be on his way. She didn’t generally give off that vibe. Obviously she really was rattled.

  “If you need me to talk to Liam or anything else, all you have to do is say the word.”

  She nodded. “And I appreciate that more than you can know.”

  Another few seconds of silence. Definitely his cue to go. “All right, then. If you don’t mind, I’ll have a quick look around outside before I head out.”

  “Sure. That would be great. An extra pair of eyes is always appreciated.”

  “If I find anything, I’ll check back in with you before I go.”

  She kept a smile in place as she nodded her understanding, but again, it didn’t make the usual cut.

  He left through the back door.

  Maybe her chilly response to him wasn’t about what had happened. Could be something else going on. Had she met someone? Had she decided she didn’t want to be friends anymore?

  Kicking aside the ridiculous and immature ideas, he focused on what he’d promised to do. Taking his time, he walked the shrub border that outlined the perimeter of the backyard. He had a look under the larger shrubs and inside the one good-sized storage shed out back. The door was unlocked, and he’d have to suggest that she keep the building locked going forward. He found nothing unexpected among the yard and gardening tools neatly stored there. Wilborn likely was in and out of the building more than Grace. He’d mention it to the older man as well.

  Heading back around front, he spotted Liam at the window. The boy waved. Rob smiled and waved back. He should have insisted on speaking to the boy. Maybe he’d come by later and broach the idea.

  Cara, Grace’s assistant, appeared behind Liam, gave Rob a wave and then ushered Liam from the window.

  All appeared to be good to go. Except he had a gut feeling that something was off with Grace.

  He just had no clue what.

  Chapter Three

  Grace watched from a front window as Rob Vaughn drove away. Her heart reacted with a heavy thud to the idea that she should have been truthful with him. Maybe it was time she told someone the whole story. Particularly after last night.

  But if she did, she risked her identity and location getting out. She could not—would not—risk Liam’s safety by allowing anyone to know the truth.

  Not even the man she had come to trust...had come to have feelings for.

  So not smart, Grace.

  She shivered, hugged her arms around herself. She should have learned her lesson three years ago.

  Didn’t matter. Rob Vaughn would never know how she felt. He would—could—never know her secrets. How could she possibly ever have any sort of deeper relationship with anyone while keeping the kind of secrets she could never ever share?

  She couldn’t.

  “Diane says lunch is ready if you’d like to join us.”

  Cara’s voice startled Grace. She ushered her thoughts back to the present and smiled at her assistant. “Thank you, Cara. I’ll be right there.”

  Cara nodded and walked away. Grace wasn’t sure what she would do without the woman. She’d felt torn about the need for an assistant when she’d hired Cara. Kendall Walls had been with her from the time she moved to the Mountain. Kendall was the daughter of the assistant who had worked with the former owners back when the inn was in operation. The previous owners had highly recommended her. Grace and Liam had adored her. The accident and losing her still hurt. It wasn’t until nearly two months later that Grace had been forced to break down and hire someone else. She just hadn’t been able to handle everything alone and take care of Liam.

  The holiday season had blasted off, and Liam was getting so independent. He wasn’t always agreeable to following Mommy around and entertaining himself with his toys. Neither of which was a bad thing, except she couldn’t watch him as closely as she preferred.

  Plus Grace so loved baking. Without help, she couldn’t possibly do much of her own baking. So, she’d started the interviewing process and found Cara. With her housekeeper and gardener and the wondrous chef, Diane Franks, they had made it through the holiday season without a glitch.

  Grace added more logs to the fire. She adored the inglenook-style fireplace. She was so grateful that it hadn’t been closed in or altered during the numerous renovations that had come before. Most of the inn was heated by a modern gas system, including a neat little fireplace in each guest room. But this large one in the lobby was completely original.