Page 30 of In Dangerous Water

I’d take this time off and get my head together about everything that had happened. The time in Ames Crossing could be good for me. A sort of reset. Feeling steadier with a plan in mind, I climbed from the car and shut the door behind me.

Taking another moment, I leaned against Skye’s car and simply appreciated the beauty of the formal fall gardens that my temporary home overlooked. The leaves in the woods at the back of the property were a butterscotch gold, and the peacefulness began to work its magick on me almost immediately.

I heard the crunch of footsteps against the gravel pathways and saw Chauncey Marquette. He hesitated for a moment, thengave a friendly wave as he walked through the gardens and over to me.

“Good morning,” I said.

“It was smart to drive a different car,” he said.

“It was Skye’s suggestion—and it’s her car,” I admitted.

“When I first saw you, I thought itwasSkye. With your hair under the hat and the sunglasses, you truly look like her.”

I tugged the sunglasses off. “It’s a disguise. It’s silly and probably overkill—”

“No,” he said. “It’snotsilly. It’s smart.” He handed me a set of keys. “Would you like some help carrying your things up?”

“Nah, it’s fine,” I said. “It’s not a lot.”

“We stocked the fridge and pantry,” he said.

“Oh. That was nice. You didn’t have to—”

“We wanted to,” he said. “We also pulled the wrought iron café table and chairs out of storage for you.” Chauncey pointed to the side of the carriage house. “In case you felt like eating outside.”

I craned my head and saw a deep green table and chairs arranged on a small brick patio. “What a pretty space,” I said, smiling at the table that had a striped umbrella.

“Ryder and Angela built that patio when they lived here,” Chauncey explained. “Ryder liked to grill, and they wanted a spot for outdoor dining.”

“It’s great,” I said.

“You’ve got mine and Estella’s cell numbers, and Philippe and Gabriella’s, right?”

I nodded. “I do.”

“Good. I’ll text you the security officer’s number as well. Make sure you add it to your phone.”

“Of course.”

Gabriella came hustling around the side of the family’s wing. “Morning!” she called out. “I’m here to help you settle in.”

Gabriella cheerfully shooed Chauncey off and before I knew it, she was taking my suitcases out of my trunk and hauling them up the steps to the apartment over the carriage house.

It was impossible not to like Gabriella Midnight-Marquette. Her curling blonde hair was pulled back in a long ponytail, and she moved like lightning. Even though I tried to tell her that I was fine, she insisted upon helping bring my things up the stairs.

“With the twins in kindergarten now, I have free time in the mornings,” she said. “I’m still trying to learn what to do with it. Besides, Iwantedto help you.”

“Well, thank you.”

She nodded. “Did Chauncey give you the codes for the door to the family’s wing?”

“He did.”

“There’s also a laundry room here for you to use. It’s downstairs off the garage.”

“Yup. Chauncey and Estella showed me.”

She gestured to all the boxes and my suitcases. “You sure you don’t want me to stay and help you put your things away?”

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