Embrace the Highland Warrior

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.”