For Rose, the next few days passed in a blur as she wore a trench between Town Hall and home. Jackson settled right in, joking with Lily and talking with Mom—though in private he often wondered aloud to Rose what he would do next. It made her heart ache. As much as he denied it, she still felt as though this rift between Jackson and his family was her fault. But her hands were full preparing for the next meeting of the Town Council.

The day before the meeting was planned, she got to work at eight and hunkered down in her office. She returned an email from Sukh at the airport and answered a few questions from various townspeople, but it was hard to focus. Everywhere she looked, she wondered if one of her colleagues had been in on Decker's scheme.

When her phone rang at three, she picked it up distractedly. "Yes?"

"Hi Mayor," said Jas. "I have the RCMP on the line."

Rose straightened. "Please. Thanks."

Jas patched the call through. Rose took a deep breath.

"Mayor Whitfield here," she said.

"Hi Mayor." The woman on the other end of the line had a slight East coast accent. "It's Constable Power. We spoke the other day."

Rose's heart beat harder. "Yes, I remember. What can I do for you, Constable?"

"Our investigation is ongoing," said the Constable, "but we had enough information, thanks to you, to arrest Mr. Decker on suspicion of theft early this morning."

Rose expelled a heavy breath and closed her eyes. "Thank you."

"Mr. Decker will have an opportunity to post bail," continued Constable Power. "So, he'll be back in the community while the Crown considers the case. But with conditions. He'll have to stay away from Town Hall."

Rose's lips thinned as she considered this. "I guess I can inform security."

"I think that's for the best. You know where to find me if you have any concerns. Call us any time."

They said their goodbyes. Rose hung up, then leaned forward in her chair and rested her forehead in her hands. She didn't think she had anything to fear from Decker, but she wouldn't be surprised if he made an ass of himself, given the chance. At least he was out of her hair for a day or two.

She leaned back and looked up at the ceiling, releasing a pent-up breath, then she shook herself and gathered her things, resolving to call it a day and go home to Jackson. She was more than prepared for tomorrow night's Council meeting.

The sun was blazing outside. She strode across the parking lot to the Bronco, juggling her bags, when a peculiar, sudden prickling along the back of her neck made her stop and look around. Her brow furrowed, and she clutched her bags tightly in her fists. There was no one around except for a few pedestrians walking on the other side of the street. Rose shook her head and snorted. This business with Decker had frayed her nerves. She got into the truck and drove away, letting air in through the open windows.

When she got home, she found Jackson and his brothers standing on the lawn. Their red sedan was parked in the driveway. She hopped out of the truck and greeted them warmly.

"Denman, Dalton. Good to see you."

She was glad to see them. She'd been worried they wouldn't come at all, that perhaps Jonah would put pressure on them to stay away. But the twins looked at ease. Tall and raven-haired, they were dressed more casually than she'd ever seen them, but she supposed even Denman and Dalton McBride had to capitulate to the scorching summer heat sometimes.

"Hi, Rose." Dalton polished his glasses on the hem of his shirt and squinted down at her.

Denman grinned. "I'm starting to feel bad. You're the only one around here with a regular job."

Rose chuckled as Denman elbowed Jackson in the ribs. Jackson narrowed his eyes at his brother, then smiled at Rose and embraced her in a tight squeeze.

"You're home early," he murmured. "Ready for your meeting tomorrow night?"

"Yes, I think so." Rose squeezed him in return. "The police arrested Decker today, by the way."

Jackson whistled. "That's good news."

"They said he could get out on bail. Maybe tomorrow."

His brows lowered. "Well, that doesn't sound safe for you."

Rose shrugged. "Alex Decker may be a thief, but he's not a danger. Still, I'll inform security at Town Hall. Don't worry."

He frowned. "I don't like it, Rosie."

"I don't like it either," Denman interjected. "Maybe we should come to this meeting of yours."

Rose waved them off. "I really don't think he would try anything in a room full of people." She softened at the dubious look on Jackson's face. "But I appreciate your concern. If you boys want to come to the meeting, I'm not going to stop you."

"Thank you," said Jackson. "I'd feel better being there."

"Sounds like a plan to me," said Denman. "Anyway, we should get going before Dad realizes we're gone."

Jackson nodded. "Thank you for coming."

"Any time, Red."

Rose hugged the twins one by one, then stepped back as they sauntered to their car and drove away. She clasped Jackson's hand and laced her fingers through his.

"You okay?" she asked softly.

He took a deep breath. "Yeah." He shook himself, then smiled at her. "Anyway, we've got the house to ourselves. Your mom and Lily are out at a matinee."

Rose grinned. "Whatever will we do with our time alone?"

"I can think of a few things."

She giggled. "Lead the way, handsome."

His laugh was rich as he led her into the house.

***

After a night of loving Rose, Jackson woke early, with dawn still a blush of pink over the mountains. Rose slept soundly with her hand under her cheek, her lustrous, brown hair in disarray around her face. He smiled, then eased himself out of bed gently so as not to wake her. He wandered down the hall, past Lily who was asleep on the couch in the living room, and into the kitchen. He fixed himself a coffee and scratched his head as he yawned.

As he strode to the table to sit down, he stopped by the door and peeked outside, scanning the sky. It was still mostly dark. He paused, frowning. Rose's truck sat in the driveway. Something about it looked off, but it was hard to tell in the dark. Carefully, trying not to make noise, he opened the door and padded outside barefoot across the lawn with his coffee in hand.

As he neared the Bronco, the strangeness became clear. The truck was sitting on the ground, with all four tires deflated like black rubber balloons. Jackson got down on his knees to inspect the front driver's side, peering closely in the darkness. He swore. Someone had slashed Rose's tires.

He pushed himself to his feet and looked around the neighbourhood. An eerie prickling made the hair on his arms stir, but the street was quiet. As he studied the slashed tires, a cold ball of anger formed in his belly. If someone was trying to intimidate Rose, they were about to regret it. He was furious.

He stalked back into the house and set his mug down on the counter with more force than was necessary, his blood burning. There was no way to keep this from Rose, but it might scare her. He rubbed his eyes and went back to the bedroom to wake her.

"Rosie," he whispered as he sat on the bed. "Wake up, my love."

She sighed as her eyelids fluttered. "Jackson?"

He smirked. "You were expecting someone else?"

She batted at his leg playfully before pushing herself up into a sitting position. "Ha, ha." She smiled. "Good morning."

He took her hand. "I'm sorry to wake you. I have some bad news."

As he told her about the truck, her face fell, and the smile disappeared.

"Are you sure?" she asked, incredulity in her voice.

"I'm afraid so."

Rose expelled a heavy breath and muttered under her breath. "What the hell is happening to my town?"

"I don't know, Rosie." Jackson rubbed the back of his neck. "I can't help but worry that it has something to do with me being here."

She looked at him sharply. "You?"

"All of us. The McBrides. I don't think we're welcome in Dogwood."

She shook her head. "Nonsense. The only people who resent your return are idiots like Alex Decker and his sycophantic friends. They're the exception, not the rule. And they're just as mad at me as at you. I'm the one who turned Decker in. This must have been the work of one of his lackeys."

Jackson frowned. "Well, they sure sent a message. I don't think you should go to this Council meeting tonight."

"I have to," she said. "I'm sure as hell not going to let that thieving goblin intimidate me." She lifted her chin. "We'll call Constable Power down at the station, let her know what's happened. Perhaps they can spare an officer or two to watch Town Hall tonight."

Jackson sighed. With her chin up and her eyes blazing, he could tell there was no arguing with Rose.

"Okay, Rosie. Whatever you say. But I'll be there. And the twins, too." He squeezed her hand. "If you need me, I'm there."

She nodded, and he pulled her into a tight hug, resting his chin on her head and trying to comfort her, but his brows lowered as anger surged and simmered in his veins. No one messed with the McBrides—nor anyone they considered family. Alex Decker would get what was coming to him, one way or another.