“What does the size of his ears have to do with being a secret admirer?” Nina asked.

“I mean that’s why he was shy. The kids called him Dumbo. He was afraid to approach me. I was so popular all the boys wanted to court me. That’s when my hair was naturally red, of course. The color of love, you know; that’s what Willy said in his note. Poor boy. Kids are so mean sometimes. Teasing someone just because of the size of his ears. Nowadays, he would just put one of those big metal rings in it. The bagger down at Kroger had holes so big I could’ve stuck a poker through them. His ears were big, come to think of it. That’s why I didn’t go out with him.”

“The bag boy asked you out?” Nina asked, in astonishment.

“No. Willy. He turned out to be a wife beater. Secret admirers can be dangerous. How about you, Cody? Are you seeing anyone?”

“Uh…” Cody shook his head.

“Hmmm,” Matilda said, looking at Shay.

Cody leaned closer to Shay, his voice low at her ear. “Think I should tell her exactly how much I’ve seen of you?”

Shay stomped his foot, missed, and hit the cat’s tail. It hissed and clawed its way out from under the table, using Matilda’s purple pants as a ladder. Matilda let out a screech and flew backwards in the chair, feet sticking in the air. Everyone jumped up and rushed to see if she was okay.

“Oh my Lord,” she said, as Marcas and Cody hauled her to her feet. “I think that cat’s possessed. Did it mess up my hair? Where’s my water bottle? I’m feeling dehydrated.”

Cody’s cell phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket and looked at the number. “I have to take care of some business with Sam. You sure you’re okay, Matilda?” When she nodded, he excused himself. “I’ll see you ladies in the morning.”

Who’s Sam?” Matilda asked, giving Nina a worried look.

“His FBI contact,” Marcas said.

“Well, that’s all right then,” Matilda said, frowning at her push-up bra, which had shifted off center during the fall.

After half an hour, Marcas left, and Nina and Matilda insisted on getting to bed early, since they planned to leave at dawn. Shay suspected Nina’s trip was to make sure Shay was all right. The cat went out too, and Shay headed to her room, still thinking about Renee. The others doubted the car was Renee’s, but what if someone had stolen her car? Oh, come on, Shay. What were the chances that her best friend’s car would show up on Skyline Drive behind her and not stop when Shay tried to wave her down? Maybe the men were right. She was probably addled from the wreck or it was another red car with a rainbow bumper sticker. After all, she had been thinking about Renee a lot. And she couldn’t be the only person in the world with a rainbow bumper sticker.

Shay opened her door, and the first thing she saw was a red rose on her pillow. Who had put it there? Aunt Nina didn’t like roses. Shay picked it up and sniffed. Did Cody feel responsible because his brakes failed? Or was he trying to make up for the past? Shay put the rose on her dresser and tried Renee’s number again, and then Renee’s parents. Still no answer. They were probably at their cabin. There was no cell phone service there.

Shay had just gotten out of the shower when she heard the tap at the window. She peeked around the bathroom door. Cody was sitting in the tree, motioning for her to open the window. Her head reeled as if she’d gone through a time warp, traveling back nine years. Cody had perched in the tree, forehead pressed to the glass, waiting for her to let him in. She didn’t. She hid in the closet, her eyes swollen with tears, until he finally dropped his head in anguish and left.

Shay dried off, quickly dressing in yoga pants and a soft T-shirt, then opened the window. “What are you doing?”

“You didn’t think I was going to let you sleep here with Nina and Matilda as guards? Might as well invite the stalker in for tea. Take this.” He handed her his Dopp kit, then stuck his head and one arm through the window. “This is tight.” He tried to pull himself through. “I think I’m stuck.”

“You can’t be stuck,” Shay said, leaning over him.

“My shirt’s hung on something.”

Shay lifted the window higher. “It’s a nail.” She freed his shirt, and he twisted sideways, wiggling his body until he landed on the floor with a thud.

“Quiet. All we need is for Nina and Matilda to see you.”

“They’re both half deaf.” He rubbed his shoulder. “That wasn’t as easy as it used to be.”

“You’re twice the size you were the last time you climbed in here.”

Cody glanced at her face. “You look terrible.”

“Pardon me while I swoon from flattery.” Wasn’t this the man who just tried to make out with her beside the back porch?

“As long as you fall on the bed. You have a concussion.”

She gave him a hard stare. “You’d better not have handcuffs on you.” She hadn’t forgiven him for that.

“Want to search me and make sure?” His leer died as he turned to close the window. His body tensed. “Turn the light off.”

“What?”

“Turn the lamp off. Now!”

Shay hit the switch. Cody opened the curtain a sliver and stood still, watching.

“What’s wrong?”

“Not sure. I saw a streak of… something.” He let the curtain drop. “You can turn the light on.” He pulled out his cell phone and punched in a number. “Lach, you on guard duty? Check the woods again, and keep a close watch on Nina’s house until the others get here.” He hung up and turned to face her. He saw the rose and frowned. “Where do I sleep?”

“Nina’s in her room, and Matilda’s in the one next to it. Both beds on the other side of the house are made up, and there’s the one downstairs.”

“Too far away.” He took the blanket from the bottom of her bed and draped it over the small sofa, then unzipped his jeans.

“What are you doing?”

“Getting undressed.”

“Why?”

“I’ll do a lot of things. I won’t sleep in jeans again.”

“You’re going to sleep here?”

“I am.” He shucked his jeans, stretched, and grimaced at the small sofa.

“Why didn’t you bring something to sleep in?”

“I’m wearing underwear.”

“Don’t you ever wear pajamas?”

“Not if I can help it.” He picked up his Dopp kit and padded toward the bathroom, giving her a long look at his backside in boxer briefs. “I’m going to brush my teeth.”

“Geez.” She took a blanket from the bed and put it on the sofa, accidentally knocking a photo album off the table. It fell open to a picture of the MacBain boys in full knight garb, scowling. Shay had paid them from her allowance to pose in the costumes. She was the damsel, of course, draped in yards of calico fabric Laura MacBain had found in her attic.

The bathroom door closed, and Shay’s skin tingled as Cody moved behind her, looking over her shoulder. He reached around her and turned the page to a picture of a young Shay and Cody, the same day she chipped his tooth. He flipped another page, and a loose photo fluttered out, falling to the floor. Shay picked it up and looked into the smiling faces of the people she grew up believing were her parents, Bob and Nancy Logan, who died in a plane crash and were buried in a cemetery in Vermont. Who were they? Distant relatives? Actors? Picture frame models? She lost not one, but two sets of parents, neither of whom she knew. Or were they both a lie? The only proof would be to dig them up and check DNA. She felt the old frustration raising its head as she closed the photo album and put it away.

“I’m sorry, Shay.” Cody closed a warm hand over her shoulder and then pulled her into his arms. “We were trying to help.”

She closed her eyes, standing stiff-armed in his embrace. The warmth of his body took the edge off her irritation, and she relaxed against him, letting her softness melt into his harder planes. What was it about him? She couldn’t even think straight when he was near. Her face was pressed against his shoulder, and she could see the bruise her teeth had made on his neck. “I shouldn’t have bitten you, even if you did deserve it.” She touched her lips to the mark.

He pulled in a harsh breath and his hands slid down, resting at the top of her hips. He dropped a kiss on her hair, before moving lower. He nipped her ear with his teeth, and she went boneless, sagging against him. His legs bumped the sofa, and they both sat down hard, Cody first, Shay sprawled across his lap. She licked the bite on his neck, and he groaned.

There was a knock at the door. “Shay?”

Shay scrambled up, patting her hair and clothes, then swiped a hand across her lips, as Cody slipped into the bathroom. She opened the door. “Yes, Nina.”

“Just wanted to say good night.”

“Good night, Nina. It’s good to see you.”

“I’m so glad you’re home. I worry about you, with all the terrible things happening in the world. You look tired, dear. If you’re not sleeping well, Matilda has some pills that’ll knock you out cold.” She turned and looked up the hall. “Matilda! What are you doing? I swear… I have to go.” Nina hurried off, muttering to herself.

Shay closed the door. Cody stood just inside the bathroom watching her. “My turn,” she said, walking toward him. With each step, she prayed, first that he would move; then that he wouldn’t, so they could pick up where they left off.

He moved, and Shay sighed with relief as she entered the bathroom. When she returned, he was settled in. If you could call it settled, with his feet hanging off the end of the sofa. “You don’t look comfortable.”

“I’d be more comfortable in a bed,” he muttered, looking longingly at hers. He glanced at the rose again.

Was he waiting for her to thank him? “Did you leave the rose?”

“No.”

Probably Jamie or Marcas. If Marcas ever gave up being a warrior, he would make a damn fine husband, thoughtful, sensitive, and all male. Shay pulled back the covers and climbed into bed.