LITMIR.BIZ

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they went into her office, Bree released the dog from his leash. Papadum immediately commenced a detailed inspection of the room. Bree took a seat at her desk and gestured toward two other chairs before turning to her mom. “How’s Dad?”

      “Oh, you know. Worrying about the farm, as usual. While the rest of the Colton family is celebrating the unseasonably cold weather because it means the ski season could be extended, Calvin is concerned about the impact on his animals.”

      “To be fair, that is his job,” Bree said.

      Audrey’s smile was mischievous. “I know. But when I want him to admire the winter wonderland outside the farmhouse, it ruins the effect if he says, I wonder if I should move the calves to the south barn.”

      Kasey entered at that moment, carrying a tray laden with mugs of coffee, cream, sugar and a plate of cookies. Rylan rose to help her, and she smiled gratefully as he took her burden from her and placed it on the desk. When he returned to his seat, both Bree and Audrey were staring down at the tray. While Audrey’s expression was one of surprise, Bree’s was more like shock.

      “Aren’t those the cups Nonnie gave you?” Audrey asked. The bright hand-painted cups depicted a variety of different animals.

      “Yes.” There was a hollow note to Bree’s voice that Rylan didn’t like.

      “I didn’t know you’d started using them.”

      “I haven’t. I wouldn’t.” Bree turned to look at Kasey. “Where did you get these from?”

      “They were in the kitchen next door. I thought you must have bought them to brighten the place up.” Kasey looked bewildered. “Is there something wrong?”

      Even though she smiled at her assistant, Rylan could tell Bree’s expression was forced. “It’s not a problem. Thank you for the drinks.”

      When Kasey had gone, Audrey turned to Bree. “Care to share?”

      In the instant before she answered, Bree flashed a glance in Rylan’s direction. It was a plea. Work with me. In response, he pressed his knee lightly against hers beneath the desk. Her shoulders relaxed slightly.

      “I know what must have happened,” Bree said. “I was sorting out my own artwork for the show. At the same time, I’d been cleaning out the display shelf where I keep Nonnie’s cups. Nonnie was my mom’s mother,” she explained to Rylan. “She was also the person from whom I inherited my artistic ability. When I was a child, she painted this set of cups for me. They’re too precious to use.”

      “They’re beautiful.” Rylan admired one of the intricate hand-painted pieces.

      “The box containing the pieces from the shelf in my apartment must have somehow gotten mixed up with one of the boxes containing my paintings.” Bree turned to Audrey with a shrug. “It’s easily done when everyone is so busy.”

      Audrey’s shrewd gaze assessed her daughter for a moment or two. “Is that the best you’ve got?”

      Bree gave her a look of near-perfect innocence. “What do you mean?”

      Audrey pursed her lips and shook her head. Glancing at her watch, she picked up her tote. “Lucky for you, I have to go or I’ll be late for my shift.” She got to her feet and stooped to kiss Bree’s cheek. “Work on that story before we meet again, loved one. It has more holes than a piece of Swiss cheese.”

      After she’d gone, Bree gave a little sigh. “I hate lying to her.”

      “Don’t worry,” Rylan said. “She didn’t believe you.”

      Bree gave a little laugh. “I had almost convinced myself that the coffee-thing, like the recorder, was due to my own absent-mindedness. But this?” She gently touched one of the cups. “There’s no mistaking this.”

      “Someone is sending you a message,” Rylan said tersely, “and it isn’t a pleasant one.” When she raised her eyes to his, he could see the fear in their depths. “It’s time to tell me all of it, Bree.”

      She nodded. “Not here. Do you like Thai food?”

      He raised her hand to his lips. “You just found my weakness.”

      She turned to look at Papadum, who had fallen asleep and looked like a large, unusual rug. “AppeThaizer allows dogs. I’ll make reservations for seven o’clock.”

      “Okay.” Rylan got to his feet. “I’ll be in the promotions office if you need me.”

      When he reached the door, he turned back to look at her. She was already reaching into her desk, but there was a crease between her brows that troubled him. He wanted to go to her and smooth it away. More than anything, he wanted to tell her that he was there to protect her.

      Once Bree knew he was deceiving her, their closeness would be over. That scared him more than the shadowy figure who was threatening her. He could deal with the external danger, but he honestly didn’t know if he could cope with having to watch Bree walk away.

      * * *

      I should have smashed those cups and used the pieces to slice your pretty face.

      The voice Bree had chosen for her text-to-speech software was light and female. Most of the time, she found it soothing. Whenever she converted one of the threatening emails to speech and listened to it, the gentle tones somehow made the words even more frightening.

      She gripped the edge of the desk with both hands, feeling as though a pillow was being pressed over her mouth and nose. Enough air was getting through to enable her to breathe. Just. But she was fighting to function. Each thought took a huge amount of effort.

      She couldn’t ignore this any longer. This time there was a direct link between the emails and the person moving her belongings.

      Rylan. Every instinct urged her to go to him. Relief flooded her veins at the thought of his strong, reassuring presence. She was halfway out of her seat when the alarm on her cell phone buzzed.

      “Two o’clock appointment.” This voice was different. Robotic and mechanical. She’d set the reminder for ten minutes before her meeting with Lucas Brewer, the lighting engineer she employed for her shows.

      Biting back an exclamation of annoyance, she headed for the hall. Papadum, who had been snoring like a freight train for most of the day, decided to accompany her.

      “I guess you must be thirsty, big guy.” Bree patted the end that didn’t wag.

      Pausing in the kitchen, she found a bowl and filled it with water. Leaving Papadum to the noisiest drinking she had ever heard, she went into the bathroom. A glance in the mirror confirmed her worst fears. She looked flustered and wan at the same time. Splashing cold water on her face helped a little. A fresh spray of perfume and a new application of lip gloss restored a little more normality. With a nod at her reflection, she returned to her office to collect the documents for her meeting.

      “Oh, my goodness!” She gazed at Papadum in horror. “What happened to you?”

      The dog was seated next to her desk. Long frothy strands hung from his jowls. He made a soft moaning sound.

      Since Rylan was at the opposite end of the building, Bree decided to call him. “Papadum is foaming at the mouth.”

      “I’m on my way.”

      Bree ducked into Kasey’s office. “Tell Lucas I’ve been delayed.” She thrust a file at her assistant. “Here’s the lighting specification. I’ll be with him as soon as I can.”

      She returned to her office and sat on the floor next to Papadum, stroking his back. The dog hiccupped miserably. Rylan arrived a few minutes later.

      “I don’t know what happened,” Bree told him. “I gave him a drink and left him alone in the kitchen for a few minutes. When I got back, he was like this.”

      He knelt next to

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