Lily spent Sunday flinching at every single noise. It kind of matched how she’d spent her Saturday night after Calvin left.

She no longer felt safe in her home. Then again, she hadn’t felt safe before the break-in.

How much longer am I going to live in fear? Lily had a way of solving that trepidation. A way of taking a stand and refusing to stay a victim.

Calvin’s right. Zoe is looking up to me, and I need to present a good example.

Brock’s sneer when he dropped off Zoe only reinforced that belief.

“How was your evening?”

“Fine.”

“Really? What’s that on your neck?” Brock pointed to the scratch.

“Why don’t you tell me? I’ll bet it was one of your friends that came over to deliver that warning.”

“What are you talking about? I don’t know nothing about no warning. Zoe and I spent a lovely evening watching Ice Age movies.”

Despite his denial, she wasn’t fooled. She knew how well he could lie. “I won’t be threatened.” She stood tall.

For some reason, Brock smiled. “No one is threatening. Are you imagining stuff again? Perhaps you should think about going back to the doctor.”

“I’m not crazy. I know you’re behind the stuff that’s been happening.”

“Prove it.” Those were his parting words.

And the thing was, she could.

By Monday morning, after lots of soul searching, Lily knew what she had to do. She cornered her boss and blurted, “I have information on the drug operation happening in this town.”

Lisa didn’t choke on her coffee, but she did set it down carefully. “Would you repeat what you said and add a bit more context?”

“I said I know about a certain underground drug ring, and it goes pretty high.” A ring that might be related to what had happened on Saturday. After thinking it over, it had occurred to her that perhaps the drive-by was related to Calvin and the drugs, too.

If that silly man had indeed gone poking his nose where he shouldn’t, then chances were he was in a lot of trouble, and by extension, since he owned the house next door, she was in trouble.

Fleeing wasn’t an option, and not just because of her custody arrangement. The landlord wouldn’t release her from the lease agreement, and she had no money to go stay elsewhere. That left only one option: get rid of the problem. And by get rid of, she didn’t mean Calvin. Nope, she wanted to take the bigger step of completely getting rid of the drugs. Break the ring, break the cycle of violence.

“Why bring this to me?” Lisa tapped her pen against the notepad on her desk. “I practice family law, not criminal. Shouldn’t you go to the police with this?”

“I can’t.”

“Why can’t—” Lisa’s eyes widened. “You can’t because they are involved.”

She nodded. “They won’t help, and I can’t have Zoe getting hurt because of what I know.”

“Then why come forward at all? This is the kind of information that gets people killed.”

“I know.” Lily ducked her head. “But I don’t think I can avoid it anymore. And by looking away, aren’t I part of the problem? Thing is, who do I tell? Who can I trust?”

“Maybe the FBI or…” Lisa trailed off, and she looked worried. “If this goes high, then our local branches could be compromised. You’re right. This is dangerous stuff.”

“Surely there’s a way to break it up. A way to bring it to light, along with those responsible.” Make her neighborhood safe again. Make Zoe and me safe.

Lisa’s gaze stared off, and she took on a pensive expression. “You know what, there may be something I can do. Well, not me, but I know people who might be able to help. Give me a few days. Let me talk discreetly to some folks.”

“You won’t mention my name?”

“No, but if they agree, they’ll probably want to meet you and hear firsthand what you know.”

“Can I trust them?”

Lisa stared at her, and there was something in her friend’s gaze, something flat and hard that she’d never seen before. “They know how to keep things quiet. And get the job done.”

As Lily returned to her workstation, she could only hope that something panned out with the people Lisa knew.

The week passed, and Lily went about her life. Work, sleep, Zoe.

And Calvin. A man who seemed determined to run into her.

She emerged Monday morning to find him putting air in her tires because, he claimed, “The passenger side was getting low.”

Tuesday, he met her as she pulled into the driveway and carried groceries inside.

On Wednesday, he put out her garbage.

Each time he said only a few words to her. It was very strange.

Thursday, when he mowed the lawn, she finally asked him, “What are you doing?”

“Mowing the lawn.”

Shirtless—which should really come with a warning.

“But why? You know I can’t pay you.”

“No payment. I want to help out.”

“Why?”

He dropped a kiss on her nose. Light and teasing. “Take a guess.”

She was guessing, and that guess wanted Lily to believe he courted her. Did men even do that anymore?

Friday came with coffee and donuts left on the top of her car. The note scribbled in pen on the cup said, Think of me this weekend.

That arrogant phrase distracted her all day and helped her not focus on her anxiety as six o’clock approached. Brock arrived at the top of the hour on the nose and took Zoe without uttering a single snide remark. Sunday night’s drop-off was just as eerie and pleasant. No fighting. No name-calling. Just a happy Zoe home once more with a new stuffie.

The stiff peace meant nothing. That night, while her daughter slept, Lily dropped the camera sewn behind its eye into a glass of water. Brock was still up to something. The genial outward appearance didn’t fool her.

After a weekend of no Calvin—and yes, she was aware how pathetic it was she kept watch—Monday after work, she came home to Calvin outside her place, a drill in hand, doing something to her door.

She didn’t know whether to be happy or mad that he’d finally deigned to show his face.

Where has he been? What was he doing?

Don’t you mean who was he doing? She wasn’t used to the green monster rearing its head, and for a man who didn’t even belong to her.

But he could. He kept hinting at it. She was the one who kept rebuffing. Putting him off. Worried about so many things, the drugs, Brock, Zoe, but most of all, she worried he’d break her heart.

Lily no sooner opened the rear passenger door than Zoe immediately ran to Calvin, skipping up the front steps, a bright smile on her face.

“Calvin!” Zoe hollered his name, not showing any kind of restraint at all. “Whatcha doin’?”

“I’m installing a few safety features for your mom. I should have done this last week, but certain parts had to be ordered.”

“I didn’t ask you to do that.” She frowned at him, especially as she noted her door stood partially ajar. I locked it. I know I did. Had he broken in?

“You didn’t have to ask. You need it. A single woman like you should have some extra security.”

“And you thought you should install it without asking first?”

“Yes.” No apology for the misogyny.

It was hard to be angry, especially given she kind of wanted any extra help she could get. Brock’s unnerving niceness had her on edge. The man was up to something, and she’d bet it wasn’t giving her a permanent tic. To soothe her paranoia, she’d begun placing booby traps by doors and windows. Anyone trying to get in would make noise.

If they did manage to get inside, then that was where the two-by-four she’d borrowed—ripping it out of the crawlspace and removing the nails—came into play. She kept it stashed by her bed at night, waking at every sound.

It wasn’t a way to live. Trying to pretend she didn’t want Calvin also wasn’t working.

“So what exactly do we have going on here?” she asked as Zoe inched past him into the house, probably headed for the bathroom. Her daughter had a gerbil-sized bladder.

“Installing a peek hole”—he pointed at the metal sleeve partially poking outside the door—“so you don’t just answer to anyone.” He slammed it in. The solid front door now boasted a silvery eye. “I also put on a tether chain.”

“That won’t stop someone from coming in,” she noted. She’d seen enough police shows to know a solid kick would snap it.

“No, but it does give you more warning and time.”

“You think someone is going to come after me again.”

“Whether we intended it or not, you’re now associated with me. Assassins have enemies.”

“So do divorced women.”

“Your ex doesn’t scare me.” Crouching, Calvin tucked his tools back in a portable box. He shut and snapped the lid before standing.

“You say that now.”

“It won’t change. I’m not afraid.”

“I am.” She wanted to be that girl who always acted strong and sure. But, in truth, Lily was tired and scared. She didn’t want to fight alone anymore.

“Don’t be frightened. You’ve got someone in your corner now.”

But was he? How could she know if she could trust him?

Somehow, she found herself close to him. Or had he moved?

Did it matter?

His big hand cupped her cheek. He drew her close. So close she stood on tiptoe. Lifted her lips. Felt his breath against her flesh. Their mouths. It never failed to electrify her senses.

Her eyes closed, and she melted into him. Let his mouth rub over hers, claiming it with heated sensuality. His other hand flattened over her lower back, pulling her tighter to him. Helping her stay on tiptoe, within reach, and—

“Mommy, why are you kissing Calvin?”

The innocent query tore them apart, her much more quickly than him. Heat filled her cheeks, and her mind stammered for a reply.

He answered first. “I think your mommy is very nice.”

“Me too. She makes me pancakes.”

“It’s fascinating that you say that.” He dropped to his haunches, bringing himself to Zoe’s level. “Because I would totally love it if she made breakfast for me.”

Lily could have died, mostly because she grasped his hint. He wanted to spend the night.

God help her, she wanted the same thing.

“Mommy also makes good supper. Tonight we’re having orange pasta and bacon. With apple juice.” Perhaps not the most nutritious thing, but Zoe was picky. And hey, it hit the food groups—pasta for grain, apple juice for fruit, bacon for protein, and powdered orange cheese mixed with milk and margarine for dairy. Dinner of champions—and single moms.

“Sounds delicious. I can’t wait to taste it.”

Taste it? His words penetrated, and Lily waved her hands. “No. You can’t eat that.”

“Why not?”

“Because it’s…”

“It’s mac ‘n’ cheese with a side of bacon. Sounds perfect to me. Although, I’d prefer mine with a beer. I’ll bring a six-pack over in about twenty minutes. Is that enough time for you to change from work?”

“I—” Lily couldn’t think of a reply. The logical one—no—just wouldn’t pass her lips.

“Yay, Cal is coming to dinner. You can use my Olaf plate,” her daughter replied, and it was then Lily grasped Zoe had given him a nickname. When had the pair become friends?

Good God, we’re not really strangers anymore. Another reason to keep him at arm’s length evaporated.

Lily panicked. I don’t know if I’m ready. As Zoe skipped off, she hissed, “You can’t be serious about coming over.”

“I am totally serious. It’s about time you and I went on another date, Lily.”

“I can’t go on a date. I have to watch Zoe.”

“Exactly, so I am coming to you for our date. We’ll do supper at my place tomorrow. How does Zoe feel about tacos?”

“We are not dating.”

“We are.”

“We can’t be—”

“Before you say anything, keep in mind that I am confident Zoe will be fine with it.”

“Leave Zoe out of this.”

“I can’t. You’re obviously a package deal.”

He’d noticed—and didn’t run.

“Why are you doing this?”

“Doing what?”

“Insisting on getting involved with me. It’s been nothing but disaster each time.”

“Disaster seems a tad harsh. I would have said more like invigorating, and exciting.”

“Crazy.”

“Perhaps, but admit it, you liked it.”

She liked him, and that was a problem. At least until she got her life sorted out. “You need to go.” She shoved him toward the door.

“Only because I’m going to clean up and put my tools away. Wear something comfortable. Braless is fine by me.”

Shove. “You are unbelievable.”

He stepped over the doorsill but turned to say, “Twenty minutes, Lily.”

“I won’t answer.”

She meant it. She shut the door as soon as he left and locked it. Chained it, too. She then put a pot of water on to boil as she went to change.

Changed because she wanted to. And, yes, she tossed the bra to the side, but not because he’d asked.

She started the bacon while Zoe watched some cartoons. The entire time, she couldn’t help but watch the clock. Tick. Tock.

The minute hand crept. Each minute closer and closer to his deadline.

At nineteen minutes… Knock. Knock. Knock.