But she couldn’t tell him anything. Her own family had to come first. She raised her chin. “You don’t know the area or any of the locals, and you don’t exactly look like you’re familiar with the wilderness.”

Danny’s gaze met hers. His eyes hardened with anger and wounded pride.

“Thanks for your time.” Danny straightened. “I’ll let you know if Rossi says anything interesting.”

He turned away and walked out, leaving a swath of emptiness and vulnerability in his wake. Mandy followed him to the door and flipped the deadbolt with a finality that spanned more than the moment. Three generations of the inn being open and welcoming had come to an end. The snick of the lock represented the end of an entire lifetime of feeling safe and secure.

Returning to the kitchen, she finished forming the loaves. She placed the pans in the refrigerator to cold-rise overnight, even though the dough’s chances of rising evenly were iffy because she’d beaten the daylights out of it. She paced the kitchen. Emotions that had been worn smooth before his visit were freshly honed. Normally, cooking was therapeutic, the kitchen her sanctuary, but not today. Despite his ruthless determination to dig up all the emotions she’d buried, Danny Sullivan made her feel other things she couldn’t afford. A bond had formed when they’d saved Jed’s life together. Lying to Danny gave her an ache in the pit of her stomach.

She moved away from the oven.

No, she couldn’t help him in any way. The threat she’d received had been clear enough. Mandy already had enough guilt on her conscience to make a psychiatrist salivate like one of Pavlov’s dogs.

Thunder boomed in the distance. The rush of falling water drew her to the front parlor window. The rain had increased from drizzle to downpour. Water was pouring off the eaves. A clog in the gutter. Grateful to have something physical to do, Mandy donned her waterproof jacket and jogged out the back door. Rain and damp air cooled her face. She stopped short at the sight of Danny sitting in his old car in the parking lot. A pang of longing zinged through her. She ignored it and jogged across the lawn.

Why couldn’t she have met him before December, before the shadow of fear and death cast her life in darkness?