Page 36 of Saving it with My Best Friend's Brother

His smile was everything—warm and real and just for me. Then his expression changed, eyes fixing on something behind me. The warmth vanished, replaced by that protective intensity I was coming to know too well.

“What’s wrong?”

He moved to the window, pulling me with him. In the moonlight, something white fluttered on the glass.

Another letter.

The young always repeat their parents’ mistakes. How tragic that history might repeat itself on that same mountain road.

The festival starts tomorrow. Hope everyone’s insurance is paid up.

Especially yours, princess.

Hunter’s arm came around my waist protectively as we read the threat. The warmth of his touch helped steady my shaking hands, though I noticed his other hand had clenched into a fist.

“They’re just trying to scare us,” I said, but my voice trembled.

“This is more than that.” Hunter carefully removed the letter from the window, his movements controlled in a way thatsuggested barely contained rage. “They’re watching us right now. That guard’s timing was too perfect.”

I hadn’t thought of that. I scanned the darkness beyond the window, wondering who was out there. The moonlight that had seemed romantic moments ago now felt exposing.

“Come on,” Hunter took my hand. “We shouldn’t stay here.”

He led me through the quiet halls to the main lobby, where the legitimate night security guard, Joe, sat at the desk. I’d known Joe for years—he’d worked at Pine Haven since I was a teenager and had watched me grow up running these halls.

“Everything okay, Ms. Horton?” Joe asked, noting our serious expressions.

“Joe, could you do a perimeter check?” Hunter’s voice was casual, but I felt the tension in his hand holding mine. “And radio Thomas to check the parking lot cameras?”

“Sure thing, Mr. Miller.”

Once Joe left, Hunter turned to me. The overhead lights cast harsh shadows on his face, emphasizing the worry lines around his eyes. “I hate to say this, but maybe we should postpone the festival.”

“No.” I squared my shoulders, feeling the same determination that had driven Mom to fight for what mattered. “That’s exactly what they want. To isolate us, make us afraid.”

“Amelia...” His hands framed my face, his touch as gentle as a butterfly, despite the strength I knew those hands possessed. “I can’t risk anything happening to you.”

Something inside me softened at the gentle way he said the words, the same way his voice had always been able to reach past my defenses. “Nothing will happen. We’ll have security, crowds, and media coverage. Like I said before, they can’t operate in the open.”

“You’re incredibly stubborn, you know that?” But he was smiling slightly, his thumbs tracing patterns on my cheeks.

“Part of my charm?”

“Part of why I’m falling for you,” he breathed.

My breath caught. Before I could respond, Joe’s voice crackled over the radio at the desk.

“Mr. Miller? You should come see this. West parking lot.”

Hunter’s expression hardened. “Stay here.”

“Not a chance.” I gripped his hand tighter. “Together, remember?”

He hesitated, then nodded. We hurried to the parking lot, where Joe stood examining Hunter’s car. The night air bit through my sweater, but the chill wasn’t what made me shiver.

All four tires were slashed.

But that wasn’t the worst part. Written in white paint across the hood was a message:

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