Jack scooted his chair back and stood, his gaze moving over her face before settling on her eyes. Her breaths quickened. Had she imagined his eyes had stopped at her lips before moving on?

“Call me, text me, email me with new information.” She couldn’t hold back her smile. “I’m absolutely sure I don’t want you driving all the way out to the ranch to deliver the news, especially if it means you ruin your record of never getting caught in the rain.”

“Oh, that’s already gone. Obliterated.” He sent her a crooked smile.

Terra wanted to touch the corner of his dimple. “Why’d you ruin it?” Just for me?

“You already know. I had to make sure you were okay. Now that I know you are, stay that way. Be safe tonight, Terra.” Jack headed down the hallway. “I’ll let myself out.”

He didn’t know that she’d followed him to turn off the alarm and stood at the door as he ran to his truck in the rain.

Terra closed and locked the door and armed the security system again. She pressed her back against the door and released the breath she’d been holding. Another disaster averted. She was safe for the moment. Safe from the likes of Jack Tanner.

Why had Providence suddenly thrown him back into her life in such a profound way?

EIGHTEEN

Terra plopped down on the sectional with her laptop. She’d made popcorn and hot chocolate and turned on the television so she wouldn’t feel so alone in this big, dark ranch house. She considered several romantic comedies and decided she couldn’t stomach those tonight. Her one and only serious romance so far had been anything but funny. Tragic was the word.

She wouldn’t count the debacle during her time with the NPS as a romance.

Terra continued searching. Nope to crime shows and psychological thrillers. Especially with that old picture of her great-great-great—how many greats again?—grandparents hanging on the wall. Something about the photograph made it look as though the eyes followed her everywhere. She’d never liked it as a kid, and sometimes it had given her nightmares. She paid no attention to it as an adult, but alone in this big house on a stormy night, the same stormy night she thought someone had followed her, she suddenly felt those eyes were watching her again.

They were watching her now. She chuckled at the idea that she was definitely not alone if she counted her great-greats to keep her company. A shudder crawled over her and she rubbed her arms, then found a Disney movie that didn’t involve a princess.

Except, she knew she wouldn’t actually watch the movie. Instead, she opened her laptop. She would work on finding Jim’s murderer by looking for possible connections through online auction houses.