Page 69 of Smoldering Nights
Izzy squeezed his fingers, her jaw tightening.“If he comes for me again… I want him to see he didn’t break me.”
Mitch’s gaze was fierce.Proud.“He won’t get the chance.”
Outside, the woods whispered.But inside, Izzy Payton was done being afraid.
Chapter35
The morning air was crisp when Mitch stepped out onto the cabin’s small porch, scanning the quiet woods.The humidity was already climbing for the day, but everything looked untouched.Secure.Just as he’d left it during the last sweep.
Inside, the scent of coffee filled the small kitchen.Izzy stood by the sink, re-dressed in jeans and a soft plum sweater, her damp curls pulled back.She looked calm on the surface, but Mitch knew that look in her eye, steely, stubborn, determined.
“I’m going in today,” she said without preamble.
Mitch paused mid-step.“Izzy, we’re close to catching this guy.It’s not the time to make yourself visible.”
Her chin lifted.“Exactly why I need to go in.I’ve been hiding long enough, Mitch.My customers are starting to lose faith, and so was I.But I’m done with that.The longer I stay away, the more power I give him.It's time I pull up my big girl panties and take this situation by storm.I've done nothing wrong.My father didn't either.He built a beautiful business, and I'm letting him down.I'm not doing that anymore.”
Mitch crossed to her slowly, his hand resting on the back of a chair.“You’re not giving him anything.You’re being smart.Strategic.”
“I’m being buried,” she said quietly.“I need to show my face.Get back to my life.Or what’s left of it.”
He exhaled, watching her.This wasn’t recklessness, it was resilience.And that made it harder to argue.
“I’ll go with you,” he said after a long pause.“Stay with you the entire time.I’ll bring my laptop and work from the shop.No negotiations.”
She gave a small nod.“Deal.”The smile she bestowed on him made his heart jump.She was a beautiful woman.Not just outside.She had the spunk he admired and the business sense, too.Responsibility was strong in her, and he admired the hell out of that, too.She was the full package.
By late morning, they pulled up to Petal Pushers.The boarded window still stood as a reminder of the chaos, but the fresh flowers out front brought a softness that made Mitch glance at Izzy.She stood straighter just seeing it again.
"I'm going to call today to get the window repaired.I have to make this place look like it's open, not falling apart."
He grinned as he watched her straight posture and the determination rolling off of her."Okay."
Inside, she moved through the space like a woman reclaiming what was hers.Wiping counters.Flipping the sign to OPEN.Reorganizing the display in the front window.
Mitch set up on the side table with his laptop, keeping the shop’s front door in his peripheral vision at all times.But he could also see the back door if he gave it a side eye.If he felt Noah was too close, he'd have Jayson join him for the day, right here.
Traffic was light for the first couple of hours.A few loyal customers came in, offering cautious smiles and carefully worded encouragement.Mitch scanned every face, every vehicle that passed the shop.They were genuinely concerned for Izzy and only offered their best.Plus, they left with flowers in their hands and smiles on their faces.
Then, just after lunch, the door jingled again.
Noah strode right in like he hadn't just spent the night running from police.
He wore a clean shirt with an old company logo again,Clearway Supply,but Mitch recognized the man immediately.Pale.Eyes too wide.A strange, eerie calm settled over him as he approached the counter with a medium-sized brown box.
Izzy froze beside the register.Mitch rose silently and moved to her side, between her and Noah.
“Got a delivery for Ms.Payton,” Noah said, placing the box on the counter with exaggerated care.“Time-sensitive.”
“No deliveries were scheduled,” Mitch said evenly.
Noah’s smile didn’t reach his eyes.“Guess someone wanted it to be a surprise.”
Izzy didn’t speak.Her grip on the counter was white-knuckled.He could hear her breathing coming in spurts.
Mitch stepped forward.“You can leave it.We’ll handle it.”
But Noah’s smile widened.“You might want to open it now.Wouldn’t want it to go off at the wrong time.”
