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He rose from the recliner. “I’ll walk you home.”

“Do you really think that’s necessary? I don’t want to be a bother.”

“We can’t know from what direction the danger might come. Just wait there for one minute.” He hurried into his bedroom and grabbed his gun and holster. Once they were on, he returned to the living room.

She obviously saw his gun and gazed up at him. “But I thought we’d figured out that the killer is somebody in town.”

“We might be wrong about that. Besides anybody from town could easily walk into the swamp to come after you.” He walked with her to the front door, and together they stepped outside.

Twilight had fallen, painting the surroundings in a deep purple light. Thick shadows danced around the base of the trees, along with a humid mist that swirled in the air.

As they walked, he stayed close to her side, his gaze shooting all around. They didn’t speak, so the only sounds were bullfrogs croaking and occasional rustling in the bushes they passed.

He walked with her up the bridge to her front door. She unlocked it and then turned back to him. She wore the colors of twilight well, and he thought he’d never seen her look prettier.

“I work until three tomorrow, so I can be ready to go by around three thirty,” she said. She surprised him by reaching out and taking his hand in hers. She smiled up at him. “I guess we had our first fight tonight. I know you aren’t happy with the outcome, but I appreciate you.” She squeezed his hand and then released it.

He was filled with a sudden sharp desire to take her into his arms and kiss her lush lips. An electricity snapped in the air…sizzling all through his veins. He leaned slightly toward her.

Her eyes widened a bit, and her lips parted as if in open invitation.

What the hell was he doing? He snapped himself upright and took a step back from her. “Then I’ll just see you tomorrow. Good night, Monique.”

“Good night, Jacque.”

He waited until she was safely in the shanty, and only then did he turn to head back to his.

He was still trying to process everything that had happened. The note scared him for her. Who had left it? How on earth had anyone found out what they were doing? One thing was for sure, he definitely found her stubbornness absolutely maddening. It had been one thing to indulge her in her desire to find her mother’s book, but now the note brought a new layer of danger to the whole thing.

He reached his shanty and went inside. He collapsed back in his recliner.

He couldn’t believe how badly he’d wanted to kiss her. She had full, luscious lips that appeared to beg for a kiss. But kissing her would only make his situation worse.

The last thing he wanted to do was deepen how much he cared for Monique. It was bad enough that he cared about her at all. One thing he had learned in life was the absolute hell that occurred when you lost somebody you loved.

He might not love Monique, but he’d definitely grown to care about her, and that scared him. Because of her desire to ignore danger and continue on her path, he would do everything in his power to keep her safe.

Then, when this was all over, he’d go back to being the loner he intended to be.

Chapter Five

“That color looks absolutely gorgeous on you, and the fit is perfect,” Monique said to Nicole Adderman, a young woman who was a frequent shopper. She was trying on a deep emerald-colored blouse that looked terrific against her pale blond hair.

Nicole looked at herself in the mirror on the outside of the fitting room door. “It does look nice, doesn’t it?” She turned and smiled at Monique. “I’ll take it.”

Minutes later Monique was once again alone in the shop. She glanced up at the clock on the wall. She was working until close tonight, and she had three more hours to go.

For the last week, she and Jacque had been out doing their thing. They’d focused on prominent people who lived in one-story homes. Jacque now had a back seat full of donated books, but the one book they sought remained elusive.

Jacque continued to be an enigma. At times brusque and withdrawn and at other times a bit more open, there was just something about him that continued to draw her to him. Aside from her simmering physical attraction to him, she sensed a deep pain inside him, one she wanted to root out and soothe. It was odd, really. His silences drew her closer to him, and his brusqueness she met with a soft voice and an attempt to coax out one of his stingy smiles.

The bell tinkled over the door, and Nola walked in. “You used to stop by my house pretty regularly for a little girl chat. Now I have to come chase you down at work if I want to see you.”

Monique grinned. “I do miss our girl talks, Nola. So are you here to chat or to shop?”

“Definitely to chat. I’m out of money right now, so I’m not doing any shopping,” Nola replied.

“Do you need to borrow some money?” Monique asked in concern. Nola had been a constant since childhood. She was the favorite aunt who always had candy in her purse and a warm hug for all the Santori girls. If she needed a little cash to tide her over, Monique would be more than happy to help her. Nola had never married and had always considered Mystique and her girls, her family.