“You sign this here.” As she obeyed, Maggie felt the postmistress’s eyes on her. It occurred to her that this woman saw every piece of correspondence that came to or from her. Though it was an odd feeling, she found it wasn’t unpleasant. “Big old house, the Morgan place.” The woman figured the total on a little white pad. “You settling in all right out there?”

“Bit by bit. There’s a lot to be done.”

“That’s the way it is when you move into a place, ’specially one’s been empty so long. Must be a lot different for you.”

Maggie lifted her head. “Yes. I like it.”

Perhaps it was the direct eyes or perhaps it was the simple phrasing, but the postmistress seemed to nod to herself. Maggie felt as though she’d found her first full acceptance. “Bog’ll do well by you. So will young Delaney.”

Maggie smiled to herself as she reached for her wallet. Small towns, she thought. No secrets.

“You had a shock the other day.”

Because she’d been expecting some kind of comment, Maggie took it easily. “I wouldn’t care to have another like it.”

“Nope, guess nobody would. You just relax and enjoy that old house,” the postmistress advised. “It was a showcase in its day. Louella always kept it fine. Let the police worry about the rest of it.”

“That’s what I’m trying to do.” Maggie pocketed her change. “Thank you.”

“We’ll get this off for you right away. You have a nice day.”

Maggie was definitely feeling pleased with herself when she walked back outside. She took a deep breath of soft spring air, smiled again at the two men still talking beside the mailbox, then turned toward her car. The smile faded when she saw Cliff leaning against the hood.

“Out early,” he said easily.

He’d told her it was difficult to avoid anyone in a town that size. Maggie decided it was his accuracy that annoyed her. “Shouldn’t you be working somewhere?”

He grinned and offered her the bottle of soda he held. “Actually, I just came off a job site and was on my way to another.” When she made no move to take the soda, he lifted the bottle to his lips again and drank deeply. “You don’t see too many of these in Morganville.” He tapped a finger against the side of her Aston Martin.

She started to move around him to the driver’s door. “If you’ll excuse me,” she said coolly, “I’m busy.”

He stopped her effortlessly with a hand on her arm. Ignoring her glare, as well as the interested speculation of the two men a few yards away, Cliff studied her face. “You’ve shadows under your eyes. Haven’t you been sleeping?”

“I’ve been sleeping just fine.”

“No.” He stopped her again, but this time he lifted a hand to her face, as well. Though she didn’t seem to know it, every time her fragile side showed, he lost ground. “I thought you didn’t believe in evasions.”