If You Know Her: A Novel of Romantic Suspense

Oh, nothing. You know, if you want, since you’re here, if you want to go bake something fattening and chocolatey, I wouldn’t mind,” Roz said. Her voice had the high, harsh note of somebody who was clinging to her temper by a thread.
    “Hmmm. I bet. I don’t think you need the caffeine, darling.”
    “No. I just need the chocolate.”
    Lena could tell that much, she mused. “You know what? I think you’re probably right. Chocolate is exactly what you need.” She swung her legs off the couch and stood up. “Come on, Puck. Let’s go whip up something fattening and chocolatey.”
    Roz laughed. “Lena, it’s not necessary.”
    “Of course it isn’t.” She smiled as she felt around for Puck’s leash. “But I want to. Forward, Puck.”
    She didn’t mention to Roz what a relief it would be to get out of that small office. Whatever had her so on edge was about ready to send Lena through the roof. Roz had slipped outside a few minutes earlier and when she came back, her mood had been just as erratic, just as harsh.
    In the name of sanity and friendship, Lena figured chocolate was the best thing she could offer since Roz didn’t want to talk about it.
    Her phone rang as she pushed into the smaller family kitchen Roz and Carter used. She wasn’t going to use the Inn’s kitchen—the day staff would already be working on lunch and dinner. Lena didn’t want to get in theway. Pulling her phone out, she said, “Hey, gorgeous. Yes, I’m behaving for the sitter.”
    “Have you talked to Carter?” Ezra demanded, his voice flat and hard.
    “What? No—”
    “Good. Don’t mention his name, don’t be anywhere that he might be able to be alone with you. You have Puck, right?”
    An icy shiver raced down her spine. “Ezra—”
    “Don’t ask any questions,” he said, softening his voice. “I don’t want anybody hearing you ask them—not Roz, not Carter, not
anybody
. Trust me, okay? I need you to trust me and just do what I ask … no questions. Please?”
    As terror settled like a cold, slimy ball in the pit of her stomach, Lena whispered, “Okay.”
    “I’m on my way. I’ll be there soon,” he said. Then the call disconnected.
    Swallowing, she lowered her hand. Puck leaned against her leg and whined. She reached down and rested a hand on his head.
    Carter …
    “I don’t know if I want to get married here,” Hope said, climbing out of the car and staring at the Inn. Then she sighed. She didn’t want to mess with handling the details all by herself, either.
    Yeah, she had a few months, she knew. They weren’t in any big rush, but she needed to at least figure out what she
wanted
, right? Because Remy didn’t care. He wanted whatever would make her happy. Hope just didn’t
know
what would make her happy.
    Hitching her bag up onto her shoulder, she headed into the Inn. It wouldn’t be too, too busy, she didn’t think. Not if she got here before lunchtime, and not inthe middle of a workweek. Plus, this was a good way to keep her mind off everything else.
    Which was actually why she was here. She needed to keep her mind off everything else.
    Inside the Inn, just behind the hostess desk, she saw a woman who looked vaguely familiar. Hope hid her wince as the woman beamed at her. “Well, hello, Hope … I bet you’re here to talk wedding plans …”
    “Ah … if Roz has a few minutes …” She gave the woman’s discreet gold name tag a quick glance. “Tammy.”
    “Normally we do prefer appointments, but you’re a friend of Roz’s.” Then she winked. “And family to me. I’m Remy’s third cousin—one of many.”
    “Many, many,” Hope said before she could stop herself. This time, she didn’t hide her wince. “I’m sorry. I’m still trying to adjust to tripping over soon-to-be relatives every time I turn around.”
    “It’s okay. I still don’t know who all I’m related to and I’ve lived here all my life.” Tammy smiled. With a wave of her hand, she gestured down the hall. “Go down there and go through the door marked private. There’s a hallway and you want the first doorway on the right. That’s Roz’s office. She should be in there or in the kitchen.”
    Hope smiled her thanks and headed down the hall. As she did, she pulled out her phone. She was supposed to be over at Law’s, working there, but she suspected Nia would be there and she wasn’t up to feeling the vibes between those two, plus she’d promised Remy she wouldn’t be anywhere alone