I slid into a parking space a couple of blocks down from the bakery. The tourists were out early this morning. Trying to hold onto the last tendrils of summer, I guessed. In two weeks, Justin and Lyla would start school at Sutter Lake Elementary. And not long after that, the leaves would turn. The kids couldn’t wait for the snow. They’d gotten a couple of inches here and there back home, but nothing like what we got in the mountains.

I bumped my door closed with my hip and beeped my locks before shoving my keys into my purse. “Late, late, late,” I muttered as I hurried down the street.

My bag slipped from my shoulder, and as I moved to catch it, I knocked into someone. “I’m so sorry. I wasn’t watching where I was going—” My words cut off as I took in Juliette’s angry snarl.

“Of course, you weren’t.”

I straightened, doing my best to keep my expression neutral. “I’m sorry.”

“You ruined my relationship with my brother. The only person I’ve ever had to count on. But you don’t care about that.”

The cup of coffee I’d had a few hours ago soured in my stomach. “I don’t think it’s ruined. Mason loves you.”

She scoffed, but I saw the angry tears gathering in the corners of her eyes. “Not as much as he loves you, apparently.”

“It isn’t a contest.”

Her eyes blazed now, a heat that looked as if it could burn anything in its path. “You have no idea what we went through. All you see when you look at him is dollar signs.”

“I love him.”

“Bullshit.”

“I do. I know nothing I say will convince you of that, but maybe you’ll see over time. I love him because he’s the kindest man I’ve ever known. I know what mean feels like, and there isn’t a speck of mean in him, Juliette. He’s everything I was too scared to reach for, and now that I know what it’s like to be loved by him, I’m never letting go.”

Juliette’s face turned the shade of a tomato. “I don’t know what kind of con you’re running, but—”

“Ladies,” a deep voice cut in. “Everything all right?”

I looked up at Walker. “You have some convenient timing.”

He grinned at me. “You never know what you might come across on patrol.” He turned to Juliette. “It’s nice to see you again, Juliette.”

“Have you run this—this crook who has my brother bamboozled? Maybe you can talk some sense into him.”

Walker arched a brow. “Bamboozled, huh? You got that kind of mojo, Anna?”

“If I did, I would’ve used it long before now.”

Juliette let out a growl of frustration. “You people need help!”