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  “She wanted me to ask if you would be the one to tell her brother.”

  This wasn’t the first time she’d been asked to step between families, but it was the first time she’d hesitated. She knew from their conversation the night before that Sarah was right—Andrew would not be happy with her decision. He probably wouldn’t be too happy with Jessica, either. But he wasn’t the one she’d promised to protect. Sarah was her client and she had to do the best she could for her.

  “I’ll talk to him,” she promised, already knowing how she would regret that conversation.

  She hung up then tossed her phone into her purse, slid on her coat and grabbed her laptop and a stack of papers she had to attend to today. She locked the door behind her. Her car was in the driveway, and she said a silent prayer of thanks to Margo for taking care of getting it home to her.

  A layer of frost covered the lawn and a bitter wind tousled her hair. She pulled her jacket tight and stepped off the porch, scanning the yard and street for anything out of the ordinary. She quickened her pace as she headed toward her car.

  She stopped before she reached it, noticing the line of footprints in the frosty grass.

  She glanced around again but saw nothing and no one unusual in the area. But someone had been in her yard, near her car. The footprints followed the line of the driveway, stopping at the end of the porch.

  Someone had been here.

  She cautiously approached her car, scanning for broken glass, slashed tires or anything out of the ordinary. It looked fine. She tried the door but found it locked as it should have been. A quick glance into the backseat revealed no one crouched behind the seat. She hated that her mind automatically went in that direction, but the footprints did seem to indicate an intruder in her yard.

  “Good morning, Jessica.”

  She startled at her name and her heart raced. It was only Mr. Percy, her elderly neighbor from two houses down, out for his morning stroll.

  “Mr. Percy, how are you today?”

  “I can’t complain. I’m surprised to see you out and about. You should tell your friend to park your car in the garage next time. A pretty young girl like you doesn’t need to be coming and going late at night like you sometimes do without taking precautions.”

  Trepidation filled her. “You watch me?”

  “Well, I don’t sleep all that well so I pay attention to any car that comes down this street at night. We can’t be too careful these days, can we?”

  That explained the feeling she’d had lately of being observed. It had only been the watchful eyes of sweet old Mr. Percy. Why didn’t that soothe her nerves? “You haven’t noticed anyone in my yard, have you?” She pointed out the footprints. “Have you seen anything odd lately? Anyone around the neighborhood that doesn’t belong?”

  “No, can’t say I have. You know I did see Mrs. Cowart’s son out walking the dog this morning. It’s possible the little guy got away from him and he chased him into your yard.”

  Jessica stared at the footprints. They didn’t look as if they’d been made by a fourteen-year-old’s foot. But how big did a teenage boy’s feet get? She didn’t know.

  “I’ll let you get going,” he said. “Have a blessed day.”

  “You, too. Goodbye, Mr. Percy.”

  She waved to him then walked back to her car. She stared at the footprints and felt silly for overreacting again. They didn’t have to mean anything. Perhaps Mr. Percy was right and some neighbor had been chasing a loose pet during an early-morning walk. After all, she’d heard nothing during the night. She shook off her fears. There was nothing sinister about this situation. So someone had been in her yard. It was probably an innocent matter, certainly nothing to freak out about.

  She hopped into her car and started it quickly before the paranoia overtook her. She hated the way she kept reverting back to it. She couldn’t continue to allow Mitch to have such control over her. Would she never overcome her past? Would she never be free from fear?

  * * *

  Knowing Andrew would be in court most of the day, Jessica spent the morning trying to convince Sarah to press charges against her husband, but nothing she said would change the young woman’s mind. Sarah was scared and hurt, but she was still clinging to her loyalty to her husband. Unfortunately, Jessica had seen this type of misplaced loyalty many times before.

  Finally, Jessica could stall no more. It was time to face Andrew and break the news to him about Sarah’s decision. She drove to the courthouse and parked. After locating the courtroom where the Trevino trial was taking place, she slipped inside and took a seat near the back, hoping she could catch a moment to speak to Andrew during a break.

  This wasn’t the first time she’d seen him in prosecutor mode, but it was the first time she’d had no ties to the case so she had no reason to analyze his tactics. Instead, she watched the length of his stride, the swagger in his step and the way he charmed the jury with his boyish grin as he made opening remarks. The case he portrayed sounded solid. She glanced at the jury members. They were responding to him, watching him as he moved, leaning forward to hang on his every word. They trusted him.

  She smiled. She understood their reaction. It was easy to trust him.

  He caught her eye when he turned. A small smile played on his lips. Her face burned with embarrassment, knowing she’d been admiring not his work but his physical presence. And he’d just caught her doing it.

  When the judge recessed for the day, Andrew scooped up his briefcase and headed her way. “Hi, Jessica, do you have an interest in this case?”

  She felt her face redden as she realized the only interest she had in this case was standing right in front of her. “Not really. I need to talk to you.”

  His brows scrunched in worry. “Did something happen to Sarah?” He pulled out his phone to check his messages.

  “Sarah’s fine.” Jessica reached her hand out to stop him, but when her fingers touched his arm, a jolt of electricity caused her to momentarily forget what she wanted to say. She stared up into his questioning eyes as he waited for her to finish. “There is something we need to discuss.”

  He glanced at his watch then back at a group of people standing across the room. Jessica recognized one of them as the district attorney.

  “If now isn’t a good time, we can talk later.”

  “No. Let’s talk now.” He took her arm and led her through the doors of the courtroom.

  “This won’t take long.”

  He led her to a bench outside the courtroom and they took a seat. Jessica noticed the D.A. glancing toward them.

  “If you really need to go...” She pointed his way.

  He shook his head. “I’ll catch up with him later. What’s going on?”

  “It’s Sarah. She is refusing to press charges against Robert. She won’t testify against him either if the D.A.’s office decides to pursue the case.”

  His whole body seemed to clench. “What? Why?”

  “She’s afraid. It’s not an uncommon phenomenon.”

  “I’ll talk to her.”

  The sternness in his tone bit at her. “You can’t bully her into making this decision. She has to take these steps on her own.”

  “I’m not going to bully her. I’m just going to help her along.”

  She knew his kind of “helping.” “You can’t do that.”

  “Why not? I’m her brother.”

  “You just can’t. All you’ll do is push her away.”

  He grumbled and rubbed his face. Frustration dripped from every muscle. “I don’t even understand my sister anymore.”

  “Control is a difficult thing to give up.”

  “It’s better than giving up your life, isn’t it?”

  “Said the man who is always in control.” Her thoughts slipped into words before s
he had a chance to stop them, but she didn’t care. The condescension in his voice rubbed her wrong. Who was he to judge anyone? He’d never been in Sarah’s situation.

  Or hers.

  “Wait a minute. How did this turn around to be about me? I haven’t done anything but try to help Sarah.”

  “You judge her for the choices she’s made.”

  “She’s made bad choices. That’s not my fault.”

  “No, but a little understanding wouldn’t hurt. Isn’t she paying a high enough price? She doesn’t need her perfect brother looking down his nose at her, as well.” Jessica hopped up so fast she knocked over his briefcase.

  Even as she stomped away she knew she was being irrational. Just being with him, listening to him, dredged up memories she’d tried to bury for years. It wasn’t Andrew’s fault, yet he was catching the blame.

  He reminded her so much of Dean with his protective nature and the frustration in his voice. Dean hadn’t known how to help her, just as Andrew was finding it hard to take care of Sarah. She should be trying to make it easier for them both but instead she was struggling herself. After all these years, after all the families she’d counseled, why was this coming up now? And, more important, how did she stop it from happening so she could focus on her job?

  She rushed down the courthouse steps and walked quickly toward her car, aware that Andrew was behind her. She couldn’t—wouldn’t—let him see the tears pressing to let loose.

  She stopped as she neared her car and noticed something on her windshield. Beneath the wiper, she spotted a white envelope. It wouldn’t have caught her attention as anything more than a flyer if a bright red rose wasn’t sitting on top of it.

  Andrew caught up to her. “We need to talk about this. What did I say that upset you?”

  She ignored his question and pulled the envelope from the windshield. Her name was typed in the center. She tore open the seal and pulled out a folded piece of paper. The note was typed and unsigned, but the five little words stopped her cold. She quickly scanned the area. No familiar faces jumped out at her, but someone had been at her car. Someone had left this note for her to find. This she couldn’t write off as paranoia.

  Andrew noticed her demeanor. He reached out and touched her arm. “You’re shaking.” His voice grew stern. “What’s the matter?”

  She held out the note and he read it.

  You can’t stop true love.

  Someone was out there taunting her, watching her, stalking her. And no one knew better than Jessica not to take this threat lightly.

  THREE

  A scowl formed on Andrew’s face as he read the note again. “There’s no signature. Do you have any idea who this is from?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t know.”

  “Who knew you were coming to the courthouse today?”

  She struggled to think clearly. Who had she told about her plans? “Mia, of course. Anyone at the shelter.” Had she mentioned it to Mr. Percy? “I don’t know, but I come to the courthouse several times a week. Anyone who works here would know that.”

  “You couldn’t have been inside for more than an hour after you parked. That’s not a lot of time to track down your car and leave this note without being seen.”

  “Do you think whoever did this was...” She took a steadying breath as she realized where his logic was headed. “He could have followed me from my house.” She thought about the footprints in her yard earlier that she had been too quick to dismiss. “I think you’re right. I think he followed me here.” She told him about the footprints.

  “Did you call the police?”

  “No. I felt foolish even telling my neighbor. He convinced me it was probably someone from the neighborhood chasing after a pet.” She mentally kicked herself. Why had she allowed Mr. Percy to soothe her suspicions so quickly? She should have trusted her instincts when they told her something was wrong. She pulled out her phone. “I’ll call Margo.”

  It took only minutes before a patrol car stopped beside them. Margo’s unmarked car squealed to a stop behind the patrol car. She hopped out and was at Jessica’s side in an instant. “Jessica, are you alright?”

  “I’m okay,” Jessica assured her.

  “She found this on her car,” Andrew said showing her the note and envelope. “We both touched the letter but neither of us touched the rose.”

  Margo scanned the paper. “Do you have any idea who could have left this?”

  She shook her head.

  Margo took command. “Well, whoever left it had to touch the windshield wiper. I’ll have the car towed to the garage so the forensics team can dust it for prints. An officer will drive you to the shelter.”

  Jessica stood up. “I’m going home.”

  “I’ll take her,” Andrew offered.

  Margo glanced her way waiting for her say no, but once again she was truthfully glad for the offer.

  “I would appreciate that.”

  “I’ll go get my car.” He returned moments later, pulling up in his silver sedan and opening the door for her.

  As she slid into the passenger’s seat, she admired the feel of the leather and was reminded again of how very different they were. Andrew lived in a world of high-priced cars and expensive suits. She juggled bills and begged for donations in order to keep the shelter running month-to-month. Yet they both saw the worst of the world and fought against it.

  In that way, they were kindred spirits.

  Maybe even more so now that he was learning first-hand the dangers of her life.

  She’d seen a different side of him with his sister. Was it possible Andrew Jennings was more than he seemed?

  She was glad when he pulled up to her house. She gathered her papers, trying to gather up her courage as well and hating the way her heart skipped at the thought of approaching the house knowing that someone had been in her yard this morning. This was her home, yet someone was purposefully trying to make her afraid to enter her own house.

  “I’ll walk you to the door.” He got out, circled the car and opened the door for her.

  Her initial instinct was to insist she didn’t need it, but truthfully she was thankful for the offer...and for the steadying hand on her arm. She felt better having him with her to face the empty house and having his strong presence beside her.

  She only hoped he couldn’t feel her shaking or if he could, that he would think it was because she was frightened and not because his touch sent shivers through her.

  She stopped him at the porch steps. “I’m good from here. Thanks.” He was already getting too close for comfort.

  The afternoon light cast a soft glow over his face as he eyed her. “Are you sure? You’re shaking. Let me walk you to the door.”

  “I’m fine. It’s just been a very long few days.”

  “I know what you mean. I couldn’t even sleep last night. After our confrontation with Robert, I was so wired. I couldn’t settle down. That must be how you feel all the time with the risks you take.”

  “I try not to take risks.”

  “You can’t deny in your line of work you make enemies. You certainly made one in Robert.”

  She couldn’t deny his assertion but it didn’t help alleviate her ever-growing paranoia. Was it possible Robert or any one of the husbands or boyfriends of the women she took in was purposefully taunting her? “My job may have certain risks, but I try to keep my personal and professional lives separate.” And Andrew was definitely part of her professional life despite how close she felt to him right now. She moved up onto the porch step away from him to accentuate her point. “Thank you for bringing me home. Good night.”

  “Good night.”

  She ducked her head beneath the wind chimes she’d strategically hung low to alert her when someone stepped onto her porch and headed fo
r the door, stopping as something crunched under her feet. Andrew hopped up onto the porch, hitting the chimes and sending them wailing. She jumped, startled by the noise. That haunting sound of metal on metal always struck fear in her. He stopped them with his hand, but it didn’t stop the thunderous pounding of her heart.

  She leaned against the railing for support as he quickly apologized then knelt down and picked up a piece of whatever was on the floor of her porch.

  “It’s glass shards,” he said glancing up.

  She followed his gaze toward the light mounted by the door and knew it was likely the shattered remains of the bulb. The afternoon sun cast a shadow on the porch, making it difficult to see the shards. She quickly unlocked the door and clicked the wall switch for the living room. Light flowed from inside the house, illuminating the porch enough to see shattered pieces of white tinted glass.

  Someone had been on her porch.

  Someone had purposefully broken her light.

  * * *

  Andrew stood and peered beneath the porch light mount. Only the stem of the bulb remained screwed into the socket. “It probably just shattered,” he said, seeing how her face went blank with shock at the idea that someone had been on her porch.

  Their discussion about making enemies must be weighing on her mind. Why had he said that? He tried to put her mind at ease. “It was probably a bad bulb. It’s not uncommon.”

  “No. I know.” But the way she clutched her arms together and the furrow of her brow told him she was rattled by the event...and after the day she’d had, who could blame her for being shaken.

  “Do you want me to take a look inside, check the house for you?”

  “No, really, it’s fine. I’m fine.” She made a brave showing, but the tremor in her voice belied her comments. “I’ll go get the broom.” He watched her walk inside, stopping and staring at her desk for several moments as if something was out of place, as if someone had been inside. Finally, she touched a photograph and moved it ever so slightly before disappearing into the kitchen. She returned a moment later with a replacement bulb as well as a broom and dustpan. He screwed in the new bulb then helped her sweep up the broken glass.