Harlan bolts to his feet and growls low in his throat just as the door to Garret’s apartment swings open. He rushes toward it, getting there just as a pretty woman with long dark hair and dressed in jeans and green sweatshirt crosses the threshold.

She yelps and jumps backwards into the hallway as I toss the book I’m reading to the side and launch to my feet.

“Hang on a minute,” I cry out.

I wrap my fingers around Harlan’s thick leather collar. “It’s okay. He’s under control.”

Harlan lifts his head and gives me a dark look, as if he understood my words and is offended that I’d even suggest he was out of control.

The woman pops her head around the corner and looks at my dog.

A wry grin lifts the corners of her mouth. She places a hand over her chest. “The last thing I expected was a dog racing across the room to see me.” Her eyes meet mine. “Is he yours or did Garret finally break down and adopt a dog like he’s constantly talking about?”

“He’s mine.” I shift my weight from one foot to the another and wonder just who this woman is. I jerk my head towards the far side of the apartment. “I’m afraid Garret’s in the shower right now.”

“That’s fine.” The woman nudges the apartment door shut and sizes me up. “I wasn’t expecting anyone but Garret here. Just who are you?”

Someone’s who’s going to be extremely angry if I’m about to find out that I’m not Garret’s only lover.

I release my hold on the collar and extend a hand toward the woman. “I’m Erin Burkley and this ferocious beast is Harlan.”

“Hannah Peterson.” Hannah shakes my hand. Her grip is strong and confident. “I’m Garret’s housecleaner.”

A massive weight slides off my shoulders. She’s his housecleaner, not another lover. Garret’s still the nice, stand up guy I believe him to be.

Harlan, bored with the conversation, turns and pads back towards the bedroom. Hannah watches him go. “What does old Sammy think about having a dog around the place?”

“He seems to spend most of his time pretending Harlan doesn’t exist, but Garret swears that Sammy likes the extra company.”

Hannah bends down and opens the cupboard under the sink. She shoots me a sly look over her shoulder. “Something tells me that Sammy isn’t the only one who’s happy having extra company around the place.”

My heart picks up its pace. “What do you mean?”

“I’ve known Garret for a long time and up until the past few days, I’ve rarely seen him smile, but the last few times I’ve been here, that’s all he’s done. And he’s had this stupid, moony look about him. I’m betting you’re responsible for all of that.”

“Really?” A warm sensation unfurls in my belly, and I glance toward the bathroom. “Garret seems like he’s always cheerful.”

Hannah snorts. “He’s a good guy, but he’s also lonely.” She glances around the apartment. “Who wouldn’t be with all this space and no one but a bad-tempered cat to share it with? If you help him feel less alone, than you’ve just become one of my new favorite people.”

The bathroom door swings open, releasing a giant ball of steam into the apartment. A second later, Garret, wearing a pair of faded jeans and a tattered blue T-shirt, his wet hair sticking to his skull, appears.

He grins, first at me, then at Hannah, and closes the distance between us in a few short strides. He slings an arm over my shoulder and pulls me tightly against his side. “Hey, Hannah. Eli with you?”

For the first time since she entered the apartment, Hannah’s face darkens. “No. Eli’s at the tutors.”

“How’s that going?” Garret asks.

Hannah shakes her head and turns to fill a bucket with warm water. “I don’t know what’s going on with that kid, but I have a bad feeling. First, he gets himself kicked out of school, and yesterday, he kept muttering something about the police. I hope he hasn’t done anything to get himself into real trouble.”

Garret reaches out and lays a hand on her shoulder. “Hannah, he’s a good kid. He’s just going through some stuff.”

Hannah blows out a huge sigh. “I know that. I really do. I just hope that he gets over it before he lands himself in more trouble than he can ever hope to get out of.”

“You need to stop worrying so much,” Garret tells her. “Erin and I are going out to see a movie. Want to come with us?”

Hannah laughs and shakes her head. “Sorry, three’s a crowd.”

“Okay, but if you change your mind, feel free to swing by. We’re just going to that little place a few blocks from here. They’re showing a bunch of Hitchcock films.” Garret removes his arm from my shoulders and laces his fingers through mine. “I’m happy to pick up the tab.”

“That’s sweet of you to offer, but I think the best way to burn through my irritation with my son is by working. Plus, I’ll be able to get more done while you’re not here.” She lifts the bucket of steaming water out of the sink. “Oh, before I forget.” She reaches around behind her and tugs an envelope out of her back pocket. She hands it to Garret. “I ran into a guy out in front of the building. He asked me if I knew you and when I said I did, he asked that I pass this on to you.”

“Thanks.”

Garret waits until we’re in the elevator before using his fingertip to slit the envelope open. He withdraws a single sheet of paper and frowns at it.

“What is it?” I ask.

He shrugs. “I don’t know.”

I lean closer and read the large letters that are printed in a heavy hand across the paper.

You’re going to be sorry

Chills race up and down the length of my spine. “Sorry about what?”

Garret balls up the letter and the envelope and shoves them into his jeans pocket. “Not a clue. Probably someone pissed off about a business deal I’m involved with.”

He cups a hand around my hip and tugs me closer. “I can think of other things I’d rather be doing than worrying about some idiot who likes to pass secret notes.” He lowers his head and covers my mouth in a deep kiss that sends the blood rushing to some interesting places.

“I like the way you think,” I murmur against his lips. Yet, even as we deepen the kiss, I can’t stop thinking that the note might not be as harmless as Garret wants to believe.