1. Raine

CHAPTER 1

Raine

I t's always nice getting out and about early in Wildwood. The day is calm and the air is crisp and clean. I smile and there's a skip in my step. The dark streets will be full of shoppers and happy people later in the day.

It's Christmas in July and we're all running happy little sales to draw people in during a slow season. It's almost funny what I see when I pass everyone's windows. The diner is lit with Christmas lights and there's fake snow lining the corners of the window with holly and berries.

I stop at my store and grin. I've taken it to a whole new level. I've got a full-grown Christmas tree in my window that's still in a pot because it's going to be replanted when I'm done with this. I've got red roses in clear tubes that are scattered all around the tree as well as beautiful white carnations and baby's breath. My own kitschy little decorations and lights light it all up and tie it all together. The live flowers have to be changed out every few days sadly but it's a romantically sweet interpretation of my business and I absolutely adore it! The top of the tree is lit by the traditional beautiful little angel but the porcelain doll is holding a porcelain trail of red poinsettias and white roses. The whole thing is very much me and my interpretation of my store.

The streets are still dark and still but a cat yowls as something clatters to the ground by my store in the alley. I stop and stare, wondering what the hell that was.

But when nothing comes out of the darkness, I breathe out and turn to open my door. Another noise behind me startles me and I whip around, screaming when a hand grabs my elbow. I hold my keys out and swipe at the hand.

A heavy grunt and then the man runs away and I stand, shivering and wondering what the hell just happened.

Until I scurry inside and pull my cell phone out to make a call, locking the glass door behind me and peering outside into the dark, a shiver skating across my chilly skin.

My brother picks up the phone with a low growl. "Do you know what time it is, Raine?"

"Colt? I-I think I need to tell you something. And you're not going to be very happy with me."

I can almost feel him focusing, settling. "What's going on, sis?" His deep voice is calm and controlled. My own nerves settle as I listen to him and tears start to my eyes. I sniffle and rub at them where they're prickling as I fight the tears.

I take a deep breath and mutter. "Just remember. Please don't yell at me."

He gets quiet. "Sis, tell me what's going on."

"Colt. I've noticed that sometimes I don't feel like I'm alone. And I feel like I'm being followed."

I hear a thump. "I'm gonna be there in five minutes. Maybe less. Where are you exactly?"

"I'm at work. Someone just grabbed my arm outside and I-I'm scared. I don't know what's going on." By the time I finish the rushed-out sentence, I'm panting and my eyes dart left and right.

"Hell!" he mutters. "I'll be there in two minutes. Get the hell away from the door but keep it in sight."

"It's alright. He's gone."

"I fucking doubt it, sis! You should have told me this earlier. Now I will be there and we're gonna have a serious talk. Since when do you not tell me something important like this?"

He doesn't wait for me to answer. I start to hang up the phone and he hollers, "don't you dare hang up this fucking phone!"

I jump and grimace. Something tells me that I'm gonna seriously regret telling my big brother anything. As the Sheriff of Wildwood, he's been focused on cleaning up any little pockets of bad around. To the detriment of his own sleep and piece of mind.

I barely get my body moved away from the front door and behind the counter where the fancy register that I absolutely love to use is and I groan when a loud crash outside brings my head up.

Colt's huge shadow looms outside the glass. He taps on it, his mouth moving even though I can't hear it, I know exactly what he's saying. I grimace and jump out from behind the counter, moving quickly to unlock the door.

He stalks inside and I swear it's a good thing that the glass door can't be slammed or it would be lying in pieces around us.

"What the hell, Raine? When you moved here, I told you that I didn't want you coming around this place, wandering around this city in the middle of the night. It's not safe!" he snarls.

"It is safe. This is a little blip." I pause and wince. I know that he's about to hit the roof and I'm not sure I'm ready for it. But I take a deep breath.

"This actually isn't the first time this has happened." I wince and shut my eyes waiting for the explosion that I know is coming. It doesn't take long.

" What the hell, Raine? You're my sister and I love you but if you don't start talking I'm gonna put you in cuffs and haul your ass to my jail!"

Well, that wasn't as bad as I was thinking it would be. I think.

"Okay. Remember last year when I moved here? I moved after I was being followed back and forth to work."

"Did you talk to the cops?" His ice-gray eyes lock on me, intent, predatory.

I shiver. It's a really good thing that Colt is my brother because if he was hunting me down, I think I'd be scared to death.

I nod my head. "I did. They couldn't do anything since he hasn't done anything."

"So what did he do this time?"

I was over by the door, unlocking it, and someone grabbed my arm."

"Guy?"

I think back and nod again. "Yeah, definitely a man."

"And did you see him at all. Hair color, eye color, height, weight, anything?"

I shake my head and sigh. "I'm sorry. I was so surprised I really didn't look. I just tried to get away from him. And it was dark." I stop to think. "Actually the light over my door was burnt out."

He nods his dark head. "Fine. But I'm still pissed at you. You shouldn't have kept this from me. Has anything else happened since you got here?"

I think back and remember a couple of times when it felt like there was someone watching me and grimace. "I'm not sure. Nothing I can point to but it did feel like someone was following me once or twice."

He groans and pushes his big fingers through his hair. "I cannot believe that you've been dealing with this all alone. This is not some kind of game. If this person followed you here to Wildwood, then they've got an agenda, a plan. You can't just let this go."

I nod my head and my shoulders fall. "I'm so sorry. I thought it would go away when I moved."

He pulls me into his arms and sighs. "I get it, sis. I really do. But now we're gonna have to deal with it from behind the eight ball because he's obviously set up shop right now. And there are a lot of new people running around thanks to the movie company being here and construction jobs and so much more. But don't you worry. I'm getting some help for you."

I jerk out of his arms and glare at him, tapping my toes and crossing my arms. "What does that mean?"

"I'm calling Knight to come watch over you."

I'm shaking my head before he can even finish the sentence. "No! No way! I can handle this. You can handle this. We don't need him."

"Knight is retiring from New York and he's looking for someplace to retire and I've mentioned Wildwood. I haven't been able to talk him into joining the police department here but he will be able to protect you twenty-four-seven. He's got all the time in the world to take care of my little sister and I know he will. This is non-negotiable." He turns on his booted heel. "I'm gonna take another look outside and then I'm gonna get a car to stay outside at least while it's so quiet."

He slams through the door, the bell tinkling merrily at his exit. I growl under my breath and wheel on my own heels, stalking to the back.

Hopefully Grayson Knight, my brother's best friend doesn't come running when he asks for help. It would be the first time but I can always hope.

Because the man that I've had a crush on for most of my adult and teenage life cannot come here. My poor heart cannot take seeing him again.

He's already made sure that I know he isn't interested in me. I think that's all I need to know. I have to protect myself and the worst thing that I can do for my own heart is let Grayson Knight anywhere near it again.