THOSE THREE SIMPLE words did something very complicated to Zoey’s heart. She could be offended that he thought she needed checking on. Instead, she felt flattered and...cared for. Could she take care of herself? Of course. But it was nice to know someone else cared enough to show up. The fact that it was Mike McKinnon added a layer of warmth to her complicated feelings, softening the edges and making her skin tingle. The man who’d been showing up in her dreams lately—and not as just a pal—had come through for her without being asked.

The first giant drop of rain that splatted on her cheek felt like someone had thrown a tiny water balloon at her face. And another. And another.

Mike walked by her, sliding his arm around her waist and pulling her with him toward the house. “Inside seems like a really good idea right now.”

She went along without saying a word until they were safe and dry in the kitchen.

“Mike, you should get home before it gets bad—”

A huge crash of thunder overhead made the pictures on the kitchen wall rattle. The lights flickered briefly.

“Too late for that. I ran into Logan at the grocery store—the place was nuts with people grabbing milk and bread—and Iris told him you’d hurt your wrist. I wanted to make sure you were able to batten down the hatches here.” A flash of lightning lit up the windows in blue light, followed by thunder that sounded like dynamite being set off outside the walls. Her shoulders tensed, and Mike moved closer. “But I guess I’m too late for that, too. You were able to get everything put away?”

She nodded. “I would have opened the barn door for you to park inside, but it’s full of patio furniture and vehicles.”

“My car will be fine where it—”

The wind slammed into the western corner of the house so hard the timbers groaned from it. It wasn’t just a single gust—it stayed at the same intensity, whistling at a high pitch as it roared past the windows and doors and wrapped around the house.

“Jesus,” Mike muttered. “Can’t believe I’m saying this, but...basement?”

“Good idea.” Zoey opened the door and headed down ahead of him. They were near the bottom of the wooden stairs when the power went out abruptly, throwing them into pitch darkness. Mike pulled out his phone and had the flashlight on within seconds, lighting the way. She reached up on a nearby shelf and found an LED lantern. There were half a dozen of the things scattered around the house for emergencies. She didn’t mind storms, but she hated being stuck in the dark.

She turned it on and held it high. “I guess they weren’t kidding about this storm being bad, huh?”