Delaney narrowed her eyes a little. “You think she’s going to be okay with this?”

“I keep coming back to what she writes about. Based on those books, I think she could be very receptive to it.”

“I hope you’re right.” She hoisted herself out of the chair. “Fudge balls. I get any bigger and I won’t fit behind the steering wheel.”

“I can drive if you like,” Alex offered.

“No, I can manage. I’m going to swing by the shop and pack up a big bag of Roxy’s favorites. Might help things go down a little better. I’ll be there as soon as I can. Half an hour, tops.”

Relief washed through Alex. Finally Roxy would know the truth and have peace about what was happening. “I’ll see you at her house then. Thank you. Evening, Hugh.”

Hugh nodded. “Deputy.”

Alex texted Roxy that he was on his way back, and by the time he turned into their neighborhood, he’d pretty much planned what he was going to say. Of course, he’d let Delaney go first, so he realized he might have to modify his words a bit, but that was okay.

There would be no more secrets between them after this evening.

Since he had time before Delaney arrived, and Deputy Lafitte was parked outside of Roxy’s house on watch, Alex decided to do a quick drive through the streets around her place.

There wasn’t much to see. Pandora Williams’s house was dark except for the landscaping lighting. She spent a lot of time at her boyfriend’s house these days. The Dravens were away on a tour of Scotland. Freda Stover was visiting her sister in Florida. As he drove around, he realized there were a number of vacant houses Thomas could be hiding out in.

He parked on a side street a few blocks away and sent a text to Lafitte that he was back and Lafitte was free to return to his shift duties. Alex appreciated the man’s help, but he also knew this wasn’t officially sheriff business yet. That done, he headed on foot toward Roxy’s. He cut through yards and down driveways, keeping to the shadows and using his feline shifter senses to be as quiet as possible and hear every little thing.

Then a familiar scent and the crack of a twig brought him to a full stop at the corner of the Goldburgs’. Their yard wasn’t fenced and sat behind his and to the left of Roxy’s, meaning the top story of the playhouse in her backyard blocked most of his view of her property.

He leaned against the Goldburgs’ house, hidden by a trellis of bougainvillea. His night vision was excellent, so even through the deep shadows he could do more than just pick out shapes and forms.

A figure lurked at the edge of Roxy’s fence. A man, by the shape and size. Maybe five-ten, a hundred and seventy-five pounds.

Alex shifted into his half-form and inhaled, mouth open, so he could get a better read on the stranger’s scent. Definitely human.

The man rounded the corner of the fence, heading for the front of Roxy’s house via the Hadads’ side yard. Alex trailed him with the deep quiet only a big cat shifter could manage. He’d gotten to within inches of a perp before without being detected. This guy hadn’t hesitated or glanced over his shoulder once. He was making it easy.

He went around the fence and into the front yard. Alex stayed back, watching to see what the guy was going to do. He had some kind of package in his hands. A small box.

Alex inhaled again but smelled nothing suspicious.

The man stopped, his gaze seemingly on the front porch.

Alex moved behind him, repositioning himself in the shadow of a big oak on the Hadads’ property.

The guy looked around as he moved toward the gate that led into the backyard. He lifted the locking mechanism slowly, eased the gate open and slipped through, shutting the gate behind him just as carefully.

Alex made his way to the gate, listening closely. The man sounded like he’d moved a few feet away. What was his plan? To leave that package on Roxy’s back porch? Then what?

Then Alex heard footsteps on wood. That’s exactly what the man was doing—walking up the porch steps.

This had to stop now. Anger wound around Alex’s spine, and he decided the best way to get rid of this creep was exactly as planned. Put a little supernatural fear into him. Alex, still in his half-form, leaped over the fence.

He landed on all fours and almost shifted into his full panther form, but he wanted to talk to this guy.

The man was on the porch, bending down in front of the sliders.

Alex lunged, knocking the guy off the deck and into the grass. He landed on his stomach. Alex put a knee on his back, then bent to snarl in his ear, a deep menacing sound that had caused many a tough guy to cringe in fear.

The man stiffened at the sound and stopped struggling. Alex straightened slightly as he heard a car pull up to the front of the house. Delaney had arrived. This business needed to come to a close.

He bent toward the man’s ear again. “You’re done here, you understand? Done. No more notes. No more roses. No more anything. Sign the papers and leave Roxy the hell alone.”

“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Liar.” Alex let a growl spill from his throat. Time to flip Thomas over and show him exactly who he was dealing with.

Suddenly, the slider and the curtain covering it opened, spilling light into the backyard. “Alex?”

He turned, realizing at the last moment what he looked like. He shifted immediately back into his full human form, but it was too late.

Fear masked Roxy’s face. Delaney stood behind her, looking slightly horrified. Roxy put a hand to her throat. “What…”