Chapter 1
Luke King stood in line at Hartwell’s Hardware, a box of exterior screws and a pair of cabinet hinges in his hands.
He had three hours of work ahead of him at Refuge Cove and approximately forty minutes to get back before the lumber delivery arrived.
He didn’t have time to be standing in line behind a man who appeared to be returning every item he’d ever purchased, receipt by receipt, while Harvey Hutchins worked through each one like a man who had all the time in the world.
However, this was life in a small town. His mom always told him to stop and smell the roses more. He reminded himself of that now.
Luke shifted the box of screws to his other hand and waited.
Several minutes later, the man ahead of him gathered his refund and moved on. Finally.
Luke set his items on the counter.
Harvey looked up from the register, his weathered face creasing into a grin. “Luke King. Haven’t seen you in a couple of weeks.”
“Been busy.” Busy seemed like an understatement on most days. Between his job and his family, he hardly had a moment for himself. He told himself staying busy was better for him. Too much downtime gave him too much time to think.
“How are those kids of yours?”
“Good. Cora lost another tooth. Liam’s playing baseball.” He paused. “Jonah’s keeping me on my toes. He’s a busy one.”
Harvey shook his head slowly, still smiling. “Three kids. A business owner. A single dad. Don’t know how you do it, son. Bravo to you. Bravo.”
Luke didn’t have a good response for that.
He did what he had to do because there was no other option.
Every morning, he got up and got the kids fed and out the door.
He did his job and paid his bills. He tucked his kids in bed and patched their boo-boos and tried to give good advice. That was his job.
Harvey ran the hinges across the scanner. “How’s the expansion coming along out at that retreat center?”
“Getting there.” Luke pulled out his wallet.
“Thought you were just a kennel and retreat center out there.” Harvey squinted at the register screen. “Adding more cabins for the guests?”
“Something like that.” He kept his answers vague. It was safer that way. The real mission of Refuge Cove was top secret.
“Well, good for you.” He ran the screws across the scanner and announced the total.
As Luke handed him the cash, the back of his neck prickled.
The same feeling had hit him at various times over the past month. He’d told himself it was nothing—just exhaustion and stress from everything he was juggling. But he had his doubts as to whether or not that was true.
His gaze scanned the front of the store and stopped on a woman lingering near a seasonal display by the window. A baseball cap was pulled low over her face, a dark ponytail emerging from the back, and an oversized olive-green jacket enveloped her small frame
Though her face was concealed, Luke could tell she wasn’t looking at the merchandise in front of her.
Was she checking him out? Women occasionally did. But he had no time for and no interest in pursuing any type of romantic relationship.
His second thought was the Hendersons. Was this woman affiliated with them? Was she here to cause trouble?
The Hendersons lived next door to Refuge Cove, and they’d been intent on stirring up trouble for Luke and his family for a long time. They’d never forgiven the Kings for buying their land.
Then there were the Hardings. Richard’s family. They’d been quietly making life difficult ever since Richard went to prison for what he did to Luke’s sister Sarah.
Either situation could account for someone keeping tabs on him.
Luke took his change from Harvey without looking down. “Thanks, Harvey.”
Wasting no more time, he grabbed his purchases and started toward her, his determination growing with every step.
The woman was still there, half hidden behind a rack of work gloves, her head angled down.
It was time to find out why she was watching him. He’d never been one to play games.
Just as the thought solidified in his mind, the woman turned. Her eyes widened when she saw him walking toward her.
The next instant, she darted out the front door.
Luke cut between two customers and hurried outside into pale spring sunlight.
He spotted the woman jogging across the lot, her head down and her ponytail swinging.
“Hey, stop!” he called.
She didn’t.
The fact she was running only confirmed his suspicions that she was up to no good.
He lengthened his stride, determined to reach her.
He was only fifteen feet away.
Ten.
He was close enough to see the tension in her shoulders, the deliberate way she wasn’t looking back.
“Wait!” he called again. “I just want to talk.”
She kept going.
He couldn’t let her get away. It was time to end this.
It was time to finally get some answers.
Before Luke could second-guess himself, he surged forward, reached out, and grabbed her arm.