Declan insisted on informing Chief Haven about their conversation with Arnie at the hardware store, and Willa had begrudgingly complied. She didn’t want to make a big deal out of it, but she couldn’t deny feeling unsettled about the whole exchange.

She hated to admit it, but maybe Trevor was safer away from here considering all the crazy stuff that was transpiring.

After meeting with Chief Haven, Declan remained by her side as they walked back to her house. Willa’s thoughts were so heavy that they felt like an unwanted companion as she traversed the broken sidewalk.

“What do you think that conversation between Arnie and that man means, Declan?” she finally asked. “I can tell it concerns you.”

He shrugged and slowed his steps. The worry was still evident on his face, though. She knew him enough to recognize that.

“It could just be someone who has a crush on you,” he said. “Maybe he saw you out and about and was fishing for information. Maybe it’s more serious. We just want to be cautious.”

She rubbed her arm, chilled despite the heat outside. “I’ve been hearing that word a lot lately. I never really thought about being cautious in a small town like this. Everyone usually feels safe.”

“Nowhere is safe from crime, unfortunately. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was such a place? I think I’d move everyone I loved there.”

That wouldn’t include Willa. Declan had made it clear twelve years ago that he didn’t love her enough to stick around.

She wasn’t even sure why the thought fluttered through her head. She pushed it away. They hadn’t cared about each other in a long time, and that was okay.

“Maybe I’m jaded from all my years in the FBI,” he continued. “But I’ve seen some pretty messed-up stuff.”

“I’m sure you have. I can’t even imagine.” She paused, pondering the wisdom of asking her next question. As a maple tree offered them a moment of respite from the heat, she decided to ask anyway. “Why’d you get out, Declan? I thought you were career FBI. It was all you wanted to do.”

His gaze darkened. “It was time.”

That was all he was going to give her, wasn’t it? And she needed to be fine with that. It wasn’t any of her business. In fact, she should have never asked.

“I understand,” she said.

Silence fell between them as they continued walking. She glanced over her shoulder a few times, looking for anything—or anyone—suspicious. Nothing caught her eye.

But she couldn’t wait to be home and away from Declan, away from the craziness that was trying to consume her life, away from the fear that wanted to creep in and dictate each of her actions.

“My wife died,” Declan said, his voice strained.

Willa’s heart lurched. It was the last thing she’d expected to hear. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have pried. I had no idea.”

“No, it’s okay. I just don’t like to talk about it.”

“I can understand that.”

They paced quietly a few more minutes.

“It’s funny how differently life can turn out, isn’t it?” Declan murmured. “Back when we were younger, we had visions for the future. We knew there’d be hard stuff, but we couldn’t truly understand it or how our lives would make unexpected turns. Turns we never wanted.”

Willa wanted to feel bitter toward him. He’d been one of those turns for her. But when she heard the pain in his voice, she couldn’t be upset. They’d both been through heartbreak.

“I know.” Her voice felt hoarse with emotion. “Life can be brutal. Beautiful also, but sometimes you have to really search for that beauty in the ashes.”

Thankfully, they reached her house at that moment. Declan still needed to change the locks. After everything that happened, Willa didn’t want to put that off a moment longer.

And she needed to change the subject to something less personal.

Because pouring out her heart to Declan wasn’t an option.

“Thanks for your help,” Willa told Declan as he finished changing the locks.

He straightened and gathered his tools, thankful he’d brought them with him when he moved. “It’s no problem.”

Declan didn’t want to leave Willa by herself tonight. But it wasn’t his right to intrude on her. She’d made her wishes clear. She was staying here at her house, and she refused to be driven away, despite her earlier agitation.

The problem was that she hadn’t seen those photos. She hadn’t seen the threats. She didn’t know the extent of things as he did.

He found comfort in knowing her locks had been changed. Delcan would keep an eye on the house the best he could without actually being inside. But the stakes felt higher than ever to him.

He stood and tested the back lock one more time.

Willa hesitated as he glanced up at her. “Look, would you like some dinner? It’s the least I can do to say thank you. And it would be nice to have someone here to talk to so I don’t obsess over how Trevor is doing.”

He grinned at her honesty. “I’d love some dinner.”

“It’s nothing fancy,” she warned.

“Is it your world-famous mac and cheese?”

Her cheeks reddened.

He hadn’t intended on bringing up the past or acting like there were a lot of good memories between them. It had just slipped out, feeling as natural as a butterfly learning to spread its wings.

When Willa had fixed him dinner the first time, it had been mac and cheese with bacon on top. Or, it was supposed to be. But Willa had read the recipe box wrong, and the pasta had been undercooked, the bacon chewy, and she’d cut out all the butter to trim some fat.

It had tasted terrible. Absolutely terrible.

“I think my skills have improved a little since then,” she finally said, a friendly grin on her face. It was good to see her smile.

“Well, I’m glad to hear that. Mine have gotten worse.”

“You had cooking skills?”

He clutched his heart. “Ouch.”

“Sandwiches were the extent of your talent in the kitchen. But don’t get me wrong—you could make a mean sandwich.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Their moment faded, and awkwardness slid between them. They’d reminisced as if things had ended on a good note when he knew good and well that they hadn’t. And it had been his fault.

As he tried to think of something to say to break the silence, he saw her gaze shift and her body tense.

“What is it?” he asked.

She pointed to a black vehicle in the distance. “That’s the same truck that’s been driving past my house.”