Chapter 46

Amy got in her Jeep outside Emma’s. The day in Toronto with the theatre group had been a blast. She’d dropped Jess, another local Jack’s Bay girl off with promises to make a date for another rendezvous soon. Then she’d fielded a call from her mother, declined an invite for supper that evening. When her mom had pressed, she’d told her she was having dinner with a friend.

And the rest of that did not go well.

Her mom had heard that Nathan was doing her renovations, and wanted to know why she was hiding that fact. “But you knew I was going to have renovations, done, Mom! You told me you’d checked with Dare, and he was booked solid.”

“I did. But I thought you’d wait until he, or someone of good repute, was available.”

“I did,” she snapped back. “For crap’s sake, mom, the man was a SEAL. Delta North Team, Special Ops, too. How much more reputable do you want your men?”

“Say what you want, Amy, he left. I just don’t want you getting mixed up with someone who might hurt you. The whole family’s got issues. His father’s on the run, wanted for murder. And his uncles? They’re slime, honey. I know you like to give people the benefit of the doubt, but you need to stay away from them. That’s one family you don’t want to get mixed up with.”

“I’m not getting mixed up with the family, mom. Nathan’s doing the renos, and he’s doing great. I don’t know what I’d have done without him. And his dog and Prince are playmates.”

“Nonsense. You get mixed up with a man, you’re mixed up with his family. It’s automatic. You don’t sign a paper. It just happens.”

She cut the conversation short. “Say goodnight, Mom.”

“Oh, fine, honey. But you take care of yourself, okay?”

And with that they signed off.

She was just about to put the Jeep in gear when she got to feeling something odd, almost blistery under her skin. She turned to see a man with hunched posture watching her from the sidewalk, his face shaded.

A chill ran up her spine. She’d know that slovenly figure anywhere.

Mortimer. Nathan’s uncle.

She’d never liked that man. No one did. Mom was right. He was totally creepy, the sliminess and dishonesty just reeking off him.

And he was staring straight at her. The man was angry at her.

She leaned her elbow out of the jeep. “Something I can help you with?”

His eyes widened a smidge and a faint smile curled about his lips. “You have a good day, Ms. St. James. So many things to watch out for. So many things that could go wrong. Take care of yourself.”

Was that a threat?

A rejoinder was almost out of her mouth when he smiled again, turned, and slunk down the street.