Page 43 of Guarded Hearts

If she saw those stems, she would really understand the gravity of the situation.

As he checked the last hour of security footage, he focused particularly on the driveway. A delivery van had driven up to the ranch, the vehicle unmarked. Unusual for any floral business; they typically used the sides of their vehicles to advertise.

When the driver got out and pulled the box out of the back door, Carson enlarged the photo. Not a face he recognized from Willowbrook, and he knew pretty much every resident there.

The driver walked to the front door, not looking right or left, and mounted the steps. His attire of a simple polo shirt and pair of khaki pants was as unremarkable as the van he drove.

He cradled the box close to his body, indicating that it couldn’t be laced with a substance that would poison Layne. A relief of sorts, but Carson’s jaw still didn’t unclamp from the bellow he was biting back.

Then he knocked on the door, Faye answered, and he handed her the box. Carson thought the guy drove away quicker than most delivery drivers would, but that could just be his jaded perspective. It was just that if he were delivering a gift meant to terrify the recipient, he’d hightail it out of there.

A couple more minutes passed before Oaks arrived, driving his personal truck rather than the Black Heart SUV.

He parked next to where Carson stood in the driveway and climbed out.

“I’ve told you a hundred times to drive the company vehicles.”

Oaks waved a dismissive hand. “You know I prefer my old Chevy.” His stare fell over the box. “That it?”

“Yes.” He moved toward the box, bending to open the lid and show Oaks the stems. Then he withdrew the envelope and held it out to his brother.

“Anything on the footage?”

“I think the guy knew what he was delivering, or at least suspected that it wasn’t on the up and up. Other than that, no clue as to the identity.”

“Any license plate?”

“No. He was good at keeping it on the down-low. He backed up and kept the plates off camera.”

Oaks held the small envelope on his palm. “I’ll get this analyzed at the private lab right now. I’ll drive it there myself.”

Carson nodded. “I appreciate it. Be careful.”

“Be awesome, you mean.”

Carson gave him a flat look, which Oaks ignored. He took the box and drove off, headed to the lab.

He returned to the house. One part of this job he disliked was delivering difficult news to the people he protected. The factthat he already knew how Layne would react caused him even more dread.

He didn’t want to see the fear glimmering in her beautiful eyes. Since the first day they ever met, a deep protectiveness had roped his heart to hers.

As he entered the house, he drew a deep breath, steeling himself for the conversation he needed to have with her. It was a new threat. Intercepted. But still a threat.

When he walked into the study, she was dabbing at her eyes with a tissue.

His gut clenched. It felt like she’d punched him.

What had she read in that letter to bring her to tears?

She looked up at him, eyes shining.

“Layne. We need to talk.”

She blinked rapidly as if to dispel the wetness in her eyes. “Okay. Give me a minute.”

He nodded and watched her walk out of the study. As soon as she was out of the room, he picked up the letter open on the desk and skimmed it.

Fuck. Had he really been that damn sappy? When it came to her, he had.

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