Twenty hours of silence. All of Wednesday night and Thursday without a single text or call. That’s what I got after leaving Anabeth behind on that mountain. Almost a full day of not hearing from her. My phone stayed in my hand for those long hours, my mind unable to stop focusing on that kiss, on the feel of her body wrapped around mine once more, the taste of her on my lips.

But she’d shut down on me, told me she wanted nothing from me. So I’d given her nothing.

I’d sped down the mountain road far too fast to be safe, pissed and hurt and feeling so fucking stupid. I’d seen that wall go up behind her eyes, had felt how she’d pulled away from me both physically and emotionally. She’d locked herself down tight, just like she used to when we were younger. Back then, I’d have stayed on that porch begging her to come out and talk to me until I wore her down or Miss made me leave.

I wasn’t a teenager anymore.

So I’d driven away, fuming as I’d pushed my truck to the limit down the highway. I’d refused to reach out to her in any way until she reached first.

And I’d hated every fucking minute of it.

But she’d finally texted me late Thursday night. Just a short message, one that had finally allowed me to breathe again.

Sorry about yesterday. Being back here is hard.

That was enough. I’d texted her back immediately, unable to wait another second.

No worries. I’m here if you need me, and I’ll be there beside you at the funeral no matter what.

Her smiley face reply with a quick thanks was all I’d needed to calm down and stop being such a cranky bastard, as Gage had called me throughout the day. I’d even headed to bed early after taking a long, hot shower. A shower where I jacked off twice to thoughts of Anabeth kissing me again, of her rubbing that hot little body all over mine. Of taking her to my bed and tasting every inch of her.

Jesus, if I ever got to taste her again, I’d probably come in my pants like a teenager.

But waking up to a text from Finn on Friday—one saying Katie and Anabeth were planning some sort of grand opening celebration for Katie’s restaurant and we’d need to work together to help them with setup—sent me right back to that pissed-off place.

Once again, I raced along mountain roads, slipping and sliding through the downpour. This time, I headed to Alder’s place. No way was there going to be a party in town without him knowing all the ins and outs of it.

My truck hydroplaned as I hit the end of his driveway, and it was only by sheer, dumb luck that I didn’t end up slamming into a tree. Maybe I should have just let the wheel go—let fate or whatever force seemed to drag me through life against the grain of what I thought I wanted take care of everything. But instead, I yanked on the wheel and turned into the skid, waiting for the tires to grab once more before finally hitting the brakes.

I hurried through the rain, pounding across the porch and knocking on the door like my life depended on someone opening it. And I felt like a complete asshole when little Shye answered, her eyes wide and scared.

“What’s wrong?”

I shook my head, trying hard to rein in my frustration. “Nothing. I just need to talk to Alder.”

She didn’t look as if she believed me—I couldn’t blame her for that. I was still breathing hard, standing on the doorstep soaking wet. Hell, if she believed my lie, I’d have to think she was stupid. And Shye Anderson was anything but stupid.

“C’mon in,” she said, taking a step back. “He’s in the shower.”

Well, shit. I hadn’t thought about the time when I’d rushed over on a workday. “I can come back later. Maybe just see him at the office.”

“Don’t be silly.” She nudged me across the foyer and toward the open kitchen. “Want some coffee? I just brewed a fresh pot for your brother.”

“That’d be great. Thanks.” I pulled off my coat, frowning down at the puddle I left behind on the pine floors. Shit, how long had I been outside? Long enough to be soaked to the bone, obviously, even though I’d only run from my door to my truck and my truck to Alder’s door. This rain seemed endless.

As if Shye knew where my thoughts had gone, she grabbed my coat and headed for the garage. “There’s some sweat pants and T-shirts in the laundry room. Help yourself, and I’ll hang this up to dry a bit.”

“Thank you, Shye.”

She shrugged. “We’re practically family. That’s what family does.”

Yeah, it was, but seeing her as family was new for me. Different. Alder had been single a long time, hadn’t really dated at all once he’d come back from the Army. But then he’d met Shye, and he hadn’t even looked at another woman for three long years as he waited for her to really notice him. I’d mocked him relentlessly about his obsession with her, but honestly? I was sometimes jealous of it. At least he could feel something for a woman. At least he’d gotten to see and talk to her, pine for her while keeping her in his sights. I’d been obsessing over a ghost for more than a decade, one who had run off and started a brand-new life without me. Still was. Likely always would be…and didn’t that just piss me right off?

Once I’d changed and tossed my wet clothes into the dryer, I headed back to the kitchen. Shye stood with a mug in her hands, a matching one set in front of one of the stools at the island.

“Thanks for this,” I said as I took a seat.

“You looked like you needed something to warm you up.”

Warm me up, cool down my temper…I needed all of it.

“Alder said you went to Rock Falls to help set up the funeral arrangements for Miss Hansen.”

I clutched the mug as I nodded, letting it warm my cold hands. Giving myself time to settle down a little.

Shye shook her head, looking so very sad. “She was a real nice lady and a good neighbor to me when I lived up on that mountain.”

“She was one of a kind and will be missed.”

“I met her granddaughter yesterday.”

My head snapped up, my attention focused fully on the little blonde across from me. Anabeth had been around town yesterday? “You did?”

“At The Baker’s Cottage. She came in for lunch.”

Of course—Katie’s restaurant would be new, the only big change to Main Street in a long time. Long enough for even Anabeth to realize it was different. Shye had been working at the restaurant a few hours a day to help out. She used to work over at the truck stop on the county line, but Alder hadn’t liked her being so far away and unprotected. Not since the Soul Suckers had come for her. Not since we all knew they would again.

God, I hated the fact that Anabeth had been anywhere near the girl. A thought which both surprised me and made me feel like a real dick. It wasn’t Shye’s fault she had a giant target on her back calling to the men who’d murdered one of our own. But even knowing that, I still didn’t want Anabeth around her. Didn’t want my girl to run into any danger.

I wanted her safe, which meant I’d fallen into the well of caring for her. The one I already knew I couldn’t get out of.

Motherfucking perfect.

“I think it’s great what they’re doing,” Shye continued, not knowing how much of an ass I felt like all of a sudden. “The email blast Katie sent about the grand opening was really slick and pretty—perfect for her place. Hopefully everyone will show up.”

“She sent an email blast?” I hadn’t even checked my email this morning. Something I always did. That text from Finn had been the last thing I’d read before jumping into my truck.

“I guess she figured that would be quickest. She’s working on a tight time frame to host this thing, what with Anabeth leaving so soon. I mean, if she’d just invited people from Justice, she could have told one of you to get the word out, but she’d wanted to invite people from Rock Falls as well. Spread the net for new customers, you know?”

I did know. And I hated the idea because it would bring outsiders to town. But I couldn’t say that to Shye.

Footsteps on the stairs saved me from trying to think up something to say. Alder strolled down to the main level wearing the same sort of baggy gray sweat pants I did, no shirt on, and his hair wet and slightly wavy. He barely even glanced my way before beelining for Shye and wrapping her in a huge hug.

“You made coffee?”

She smiled up at him. “I did. Figured you’d like some before heading out in the rain for the day.”

Alder leaned in for a kiss, making me look away as he whispered, “You are so good to me, honey.”

For the first time, I felt something hard and dark at seeing the two of them together. Something too close to covetous to ignore. I wanted something like they had—someone to care for and be taken care of by. Someone to come home to other than Gage and his fucking dog.

I wanted a life built on more than one-night stands and work.

“What’s up, Bishop?” Alder asked as he let go of Shye and grabbed the mug of coffee she’d poured for him.

“I’ve got to get ready for work myself. Let me know if you two need anything.” Shye left the two of us alone, heading for the stairs as Alder settled in beside me. His eyes tracked her every step, his smile soft and subtle but there. One I hadn’t seen on his face before.

“You are so whipped,” I said as soon as Shye was out of earshot, pushing back the want and need within me.

“No fucking doubt.” He sounded so happy and confident, not the least bit embarrassed about it. “You and Anabeth get all the arrangements made for Miss Hansen?”

“Yeah. Molnar’s scheduled a small viewing at the funeral home for tomorrow.”

“I’ll call him this morning—make sure he knows Kennard Mills will be paying the bill.”

“I’m not sure Anabeth will like that idea.”

“Don’t much care what she likes. She hasn’t been here, and Miss Hansen was a pillar of the community. She’s ours to take care of all the way into the ground.”

There was no arguing with him when he spoke in that tone, so I nodded instead. “You hear about this grand opening Katie’s having? Seen the email yet?”

His jaw clenched, his teeth grinding. Yeah, he’d seen it.

“Shye showed me.”

“And?”

“I think her uncle’s been driving around town a bit too much since she came home, and this he’s likely to hear about this party. Might even show up.” Her uncle…Sheriff Baker. Even one visit from that jackass was too much. That was definitely something to keep in mind. “And I think two days isn’t a lot of time to plan, especially with a funeral tomorrow.”

That set me back. “The party is in two days?”

Alder nodded. “That’s what the email said. We’ll need to set up a perimeter around the building. Make sure we’ve got all entrances covered with at least two men, plus some inside at all times. This grand opening celebration is going to strain our manpower for sure.”

I’d expected him to say he would be putting a stop to it. “You letting Shye work it?”

Another clench and a jaw tic added in for good measure. “Let is not the word I’d use. She’s working it, but I’ll have a team with her.”

“Think the good sheriff will attend?”

If looks could kill, I’d have been nothing but a pile of ash. “He and Katie aren’t close, but he might.”

“Think the Soul Suckers will show up?”

That question had him sighing. “I know I would if I was looking to make a point.”

“Yeah. Me too.” I took another drink, plans and operations I’d learned as a SEAL flying through my head. I’d need to pull out some extra firepower, maybe a little more than the standard handgun I carried. It might actually be time to break into some explosives. “I should get back home. Take stock of my supplies in case I need to grab any additional ammunition.”

“Good call.”

I headed into the laundry room to change, frowning at the dampness of my jeans and the coat I’d retrieved from the garage but knowing I could take a warm shower once I got home. Then I could work out a plan with Gage, and we could start digging through our weapons stash to select the right artillery. Work could wait. No fucking way were the Soul Suckers getting the jump on us.

Alder walked me to the door, frowning at the rain that hadn’t eased up in the least. “The flood’s going to be bad this year.”

“The creek along Widow’s Ridge looked ready to overflow this morning. If the dam over the ridge goes, the road won’t hold.”

“Might be time to move Anabeth into town.”

Right. Sure. Easy as wrangling rattlesnakes. “She won’t leave that house.”

“Then we’d better make sure she has what she needs if the road washes away. At least three days of supplies to get her through. She got a generator?”

“I don’t know.”

“Ask her. If not, we’ll bring up one from the mill.”

Right. Ask her, as if I spoke to her daily or something. But that request gave me an excuse, plus I’d see her the next day at the funeral. She could nothing me all she wanted, I would not be leaving her alone to deal with the death of Miss. “I’ll handle it.”

Alder raised an eyebrow. Watching me, dissecting me with his eyes. I stayed stoic, military solid and still. Waiting him out. Anabeth wasn’t a topic I wanted to discuss—not in light of our kiss, at least. I’d pass on the details of the service and make sure everyone knew we’d lost Miss, but the rest? Me, her, our history, our current situation? No fucking way.

“Whatever you feel is appropriate,” my brother finally said, not easing up on his stare for a second. I took that as a win.

I nodded and headed to my truck, ready to get the fuck home. Ex-girlfriends, death of an old friend, a flood, and Soul Suckers. My weekend was quickly shaping up to be the worst one I could remember, which was saying something considering all the hell I’d been through in the SEALs. But all that was nothing it seemed in comparison to rainy season this year.

A flood was coming for me. I just didn’t know what part would be more dangerous—the water or the redhead riding the waves.