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  Should he be insulted? Yeah, it was exactly what he’d planned to say, but still. He had carried the woman down a fucking mountain. But he should be glad they were on the same page and needed to check his ego where it belonged. “All right. Friends?” he asked.

  “Yeah. Friends,” she said, her voice softer than those pretty eyes. Both punched him right below the belt. Figuratively.

  He whistled, and Zena bounded around the porch and lurched inside, sliding into a box. She fell back onto her butt and then panted, her tail wagging across the wooden floor. “Down girl,” he murmured.

  She flopped down, sighed, and put her nose on her paws.

  Heather chuckled. “She is so well trained.”

  “She’d better be,” he allowed. They trained all the time, so the canine had better behave. Not that he didn’t adore her, and she knew it. After rescuing Heather the night before, he’d played with the dog as a reward for an hour before making them both go to sleep.

  Heather’s phone buzzed from her backpack, and he reached in without thinking and turned to hand it to her. She’d gone pale.

  He paused. “You okay?”

  “Yeah.” She visibly shook herself out of it. “Seriously. I’m fine.” She reached for the phone, glanced at the screen, and frowned.

  “Does an ‘unknown caller’ concern you?” he asked. Yeah, he’d taken a look at the screen.

  Her laugh was off key, and her hands shaky. “No. I’m sure it’s just a telemarketer. It’s a new number, so almost nobody knows it.” She clicked the phone off. “So. Pizza?”

  “Sure.” His mind was already ticking. Who was she afraid of?

  Heather patted her stomach after eating truly delicious pizza. Her brain was a little fuzzy from the wine, but her ankle no longer hurt, so there was a bright side. “Make sure you thank your grandmother for the pizza.” She couldn’t help but stare a little at Quint across the table. In the soft light as the storm strengthened outside, he looked large and formidable in her kitchen. Strong and protective. “Quintino.”

  He grinned. “She tried to call me Tino when I was younger, and my dad quickly nicknamed me Quint.”

  “Do you have siblings?” she asked.

  “Yeah. I have five brothers.” He reached and poured them both more wine. “I also have many, many, many cousins, and we’re all close.”

  She sipped the rich Cabernet and let the warmth spread throughout her body. “Like Anna and Donna.”

  “Yes,” he said, taking another drink.

  “Are those Italian names?” Not that it mattered, but now her curiosity had arisen.

  He chuckled, and the sound wandered along her nerve endings, electrifying the sensation. “Yes and no. Their dad married a full-on Irish woman, and the compromise was that each of the girls got an Irish and an Italian name. So we have Donatella Tiffany, Contessa Carmelina, and Annabella Fiona Albertini in that family. We’re all close, and I’m sure you’ll meet them if you stay in town.”

  How freaking charming. She loved that story. How she wished she had cousins like that. “They live here?”

  “No. All three live over the pass in Timber City, but they come home a lot.”

  Timber City was about fifty minutes through a mountain pass, and Heather had already headed over to do some shopping. It was a quaint touristy type town with lakes, rivers, and many golf courses, from what she’d seen. “I take it they attend this already famous family barbecue every Sunday?”

  “They’d better,” he said, his grin boyish. “How can Nonna work on matchmaking them if they’re never around? She’s been on a tear with Tessa lately, and I think it’s because Anna put her up to it, but I can’t prove that fact. It has been nice for her to concentrate on poor Tessa and Nick Basanelli and leave me alone for a while.”

  Speaking of which. Heather had no right to ask. “What about Jolene?” Yeah, she’d asked. Must be the wine taking effect.

  Quint sighed. “Jolene was a mistake. Way back when, she was older in high school, and I didn’t really know her. This August, I returned home from a job that was pretty rough. I got home, got drunk, and ended up in Jolene’s bed.” He held up a hand. “Not an excuse, I know. But then she wanted to date, and we went on a few dates, and then I found out she was dogging Anna and writing crappy articles for the paper about my cousins. So I ended it.”

  “Were the articles factual?” Heather took another drink of the deep wine.

  “Maybe factual but with a definite slant that made Anna and Donna look bad,” he said. “Jolene has a mean streak, and I didn’t know about it until they found out I was dating her.” He grimaced. “They made sure I knew it all, and I still gave her the benefit of the doubt, which she exploited.” He finished his drink, and his masculine neck moved as he swallowed. “We all make mistakes, and that was mine for the decade.”

  Her phone buzzed, and she reached for it from the counter. It was another unknown caller. It had to be a telemarketer.

  “Why don’t you answer it?” Quint asked, his body still.

  Yeah. Why didn’t she? There was no way Jack had tracked down her new number. “Hello?”

  “Hello, gorgeous. How’s northern Idaho?” Jack asked.

  Panic ricocheted throughout her extremities, and her fingers and toes tingled with the anxiety. “You have the wrong number,” she said, ending the call. Then she looked up at Quint while putting the phone aside. Her ears rang. “Darn telemarketers.” Her voice came out hoarse. How had he found her so quickly? She’d only had the new number for two weeks.

  “You okay?” Quint’s voice sounded like he came from far away.

  “Of course.” She reached for her glass and downed the rest of the contents in three large gulps. “I’m fine.” She put the glass gently on the table.

  He cocked his head, and that dark gaze bore right through her. “Uh huh. How about you tell me what’s going on? I can be a great sounding board.”

  She blinked and forced a smile. “Nothing is going on.” The man had saved her enough for this lifetime, especially since he’d already put her into the friend zone. Of course, she’d put him there, too. Mainly because her life was a disaster, and he apparently liked sporty looking blondes with mean streaks, and she so did not fit that bill. “While I’m sure you’re accustomed to helping your cousins with problems, I’m a big girl and can handle mine.”

  “So you admit you have a problem,” he drawled.

  She faltered. “No. If I did, I could handle it.”

  “Honey, all of my cousins can handle their own problems and normally do, especially since half the time, they create the problems. However, we’re all smart enough to ask for help when we need it. Right now, you’re shaky, pale, and look like you’re about to bolt.” He glanced at the crutches leaning against the wall. “Or hobble. Either way, who was on the phone?”

  “Nobody,” she lied. So Jack knew she had a new number, but the state was big, so he probably didn’t know where exactly she was living. The wind threw ice against the windows, and she jumped.

  Quint stood and threw all the garbage away before taking the empty wine glasses to rinse out in the sink. His broad shoulders tapered down to a narrow waist. “I can help.”

  “You already have,” she said honestly, trying really hard not to look at his hard butt. Nope. Failed. He had a spectacular behind. She cleared her throat. “I appreciate everything you’ve done, and again, thank you for the pizza. Or thank your grandmother.”

  He turned around to face her. “I will. Or you can thank her yourself at the Sunday barbecue. I’ll pick you up at three in the afternoon.” With that, he headed toward her door.

  She stood. Barbecue? Had she accepted the invitation? The more time she spent with Quint Albertini, the more she wanted to break free from the friend zone. Big time. It was Friday, and getting over this silly crush she had on him in a day wasn’t likely. “That’s probably not a good idea.”

  His chuckle as he opened her front door didn’t help. “No kidding. Lock your door
.” With that, he and Zena left her alone in her quiet, messy, solid house. She hopped to the door and locked it, peeking out the side window as they jumped into his truck.

  Yep. Quint had a truly excellent ass. But she had enough to worry about.

  Her phone buzzed again from the kitchen.

  Chapter 4

  The snow finally let up around midmorning on Saturday, and Heather sat on her floor emptying boxes, enjoying the moment as sunlight poked through the clouds outside and made the room brighter. Christmas music played from the kitchen, and she hummed along, trying to calm her nerves. Jack had kept calling until she’d just turned off the phone the night before.

  A knock sounded on her door, and she yelped. “Um, just a second.” It couldn’t be him. She needed to get a gun. Wasn’t it legal to carry anywhere in Idaho? What was the law? She pushed to her foot and hopped toward the door, looking through the side window at three women on her front porch. Were they selling something? She opened the door. “Hello.”

  “Hi.” The first woman was about five-four with rich brown hair and sparkling grayish-green eyes. “I’m Anna.” She slid a heated latte into Heather’s hand and walked inside, looking around. “This place looks awesome. Check out what they did with the floors.” Then she moved toward the kitchen. “Oh, the granite is exquisite.”

  The next woman had dark hair, brown eyes and looked a lot like Quint. “Excuse my sister. She’s usually falling out of trees or getting arrested and isn’t housebroken yet. I’m Donna.” Donna held out a hand, and Heather took it to shake.

  “I’m Tessa.” The third woman moved inside and looked around. She had reddish-blonde hair, green eyes, and adorable freckles. “Quint sent us.” She carried a box toward the kitchen. “I brought donuts from Smiley’s Diner in Timber City where I work. I didn’t know what kind you liked, so I brought an assortment.” Her voice carried as she moved.

  Donna smiled. “Give in now. We’re here to drink coffee, eat donuts, and help you unpack. You have a broken ankle, and it’ll take forever without help.”

  Heather hopped with her latte to the kitchen. “This is really kind of you, but I’ve got it under control.”

  Anna flipped open the donut box on the island. “Plates?”

  Heather pointed to the cupboard.

  Tessa opened it to bring out Appleware. “I love this pattern. We have it in our family, too.” She put four salad plates on the island. “What kind do you like?”

  Heather’s head spun. “Um, chocolate?” She liked all donuts, really.

  “Here you go.” Anna tossed a chocolate donut on a plate and then put a maple bar on another plate to hand to Tessa. “Donna, do you want maple or sugar-glazed?” she called.

  “Don’t care,” Donna said from the living room. “I forgot how tall these ceilings were. The place is so roomy.”

  Anna put a maple bar on a plate and then took one with sprinkles for herself. “How’s the ankle?”

  Heather ate a bite of the fresh donut. If she kept hanging out with the Albertinis, she’d need to buy new clothes. “It’s okay. I find that hopping is easier than using crutches.”

  Anna ate her donut. “Yeah. I hurt my ankle earlier this summer, and hopping was definitely the way to go.”

  “After falling out of a tree,” Donna said quietly against her latte, her lips twitching.

  Anna rolled her eyes. “I was being chased by a couple of guys with guns. It happens.”

  Heather paused. What in the world?

  Anna waved the unspoken question away. “Long story. I’m a lawyer.”

  Did that explain guys with guns and trees? Perhaps for the Albertini family, it did. “Listen. I really appreciate you coming, and it was nice of Quint to call you, but you must all be busy with your own lives.” Running from guys with guns at the very least. Although, the idea that Quint had tried to provide her with assistance warmed her in inappropriate places, and she had to knock that off right now.

  Tessa reached for a partially unpackaged box on the small table in the kitchen nook. “It’s either us or our mom, Quint’s mom, and probably Nonna. You’ll be engaged by sundown in that case.”

  Heather gulped.

  “Sundown?” Anna sputtered. “What are you, in a western now?”

  Tessa grinned. “I’ve been watching Longmire on Netflix. That Bailey Chase is a hottie. He plays Branch.” She pulled out a bowl made of pink depression glassware. “Oh, this is beautiful.”

  Heather nodded. “I found it in an antique store near Sun Valley. We don’t have many family heirlooms or collections or anything like that, so I figured I’d start one, you know? I like the pink, green, and watermelon depression glassware.” It was classic and beautiful.

  Tessa looked around. “You need a curio cabinet.”

  “It’s on the list,” Heather agreed. “There are several antique stores around here, and I was going to start shopping before all of this happened. I’ll still shop but not as fast.” Her ankle wouldn’t be broken forever. It really was nice to have company. “There are four green glasses wrapped up in the bottom of that box.” She’d found those on a trip to Portland.

  Tessa instantly dug for them.

  Donna looked around. “I say we do one room at a time instead of splitting up. Start with the kitchen?”

  Three sets of very different colored eyes turned their focus on Heather. She knew when she was outnumbered, so she smiled. “Sounds good to me. Thank you.” Since she’d put Quint in the friend zone, maybe she could be friends with his whole family, too.

  For the first time in a month, she didn’t feel so alone. “But I am buying lunch, and nobody gets to argue with me.” It was probably a good idea to set limits with all of the Albertinis right off the bat.

  Donna set her latte down and reached for a box on the floor. “We already ordered from Nordeliano’s across town. We’re distantly related.”

  Well. All right then.

  Late afternoon, Heather looked around her newly put together office. It was perfect. The Albertini women had been great help, and Donna was an amazing organizer. By the end of the day, Heather felt like one of the family.

  Anna sat on the floor, organizing file folders in the cabinet alphabetically. “You’re dumb to put Quint in the friend zone.” She didn’t look up.

  Heather started and then returned to organizing her pens in the top drawer. Donna and Tessa were finishing up in the guest room, so at least she didn’t have to explain to all of them. “I’m not in a good place for a great guy like Quint.” It was the easiest explanation.

  Anna looked up, her eyes more green than gray in the soft sun coming through the wide window. “I get that. Is there a good place?” She frowned and looked back at the file folders. “I’ve found that when you find the guy, you create a good place. Well, probably. Heck. What do I know?”

  Heather reached for a notepad to stack with the others near her computer. “Have you found the guy?”

  “I think so,” Anna said. “You’ll meet Aiden, I’m sure.”

  It was so odd to feel such quick acceptance. It was nice, too. Heather was saved from answering when the door rang. “Please tell me you didn’t order dinner as well?”

  “Nope.”

  “I’ve got it,” Donna called out from the living area. She returned moments later with a bouquet of red roses. “These are beautiful.” Searching through them, she frowned. “No card.”

  Heather’s abdomen cramped. Heat rushed to her temples. Jack had found her. Her address. Did he have a private detective or what? She couldn’t put it past him. “I’m sure they just forgot the card,” she said, her hands starting to shake.

  Anna lifted an eyebrow. “Not Quint. He’s not a rose type of guy. Right?”

  “Right,” Donna agreed, turning the roses around. “Plus, he’d leave a card.” She focused on Heather. “Do you have a secret admirer?”

  “No,” Heather said, keeping her voice level. Jack was anything but a secret, although since she couldn’t prove anything,
he was good at being secretive.

  Anna shut the file drawer and stood, stretching her back. “Did you see who delivered them?”

  “Yeah. It was one of the Melanetti kids. He works for Jenny’s Flowers.” Donna angled her head. “I can call Jenny and ask who bought them. It’s probably just a neighbor and she might’ve forgotten the card? Or the kid dropped it. Happens all the time.”

  “That’d be great,” Heather said, turning in the office chair. Had Jack left a trail? She’d been keeping a notebook of all odd occurrences since they’d broken up, and if she could tie him to the roses, it’d be the first real proof she had that he wouldn’t leave her alone. Or maybe the flowers were from some welcoming neighbor, and she was chasing ghosts again.

  “Sure thing. I’ll put them in water before I dig my phone out of my purse in the kitchen.” Donna hustled out of the room.

  Silence thickened.

  “So. Who are you afraid of?” Anna asked, her gaze intelligent.

  Heather rolled her eyes. “Nobody. I swear, you Albertini folks are an inquisitive bunch.”

  Anna chuckled. “You have no idea. I take it Quint already asked.”

  “Yes,” Heather sighed. “I have an ex-boyfriend who is persistent, but I thought he’d give up when I moved so far north. In fact, I don’t even think he really knows where I am. My imagination is overactive sometimes. I’m a writer/illustrator and it comes with the job.” She hoped. Even so, that pit in her stomach wouldn’t dissipate.

  “What has the ex done?” Anna asked.

  They couldn’t keep calling him the ex. “His name is Jack, and when I broke things off, he started calling a lot. Texting about our future. Sometimes he was cajoling and sometimes he got angry. Never threatening—at least not obviously. Then he started showing up wherever I was, and it just got creepy, but I couldn’t point to anything he did that would get him in trouble.” Moving had been the best thing to do, especially since she wanted to live near her Grandma and was ready for a change anyway.