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Muffin.”
    His elation burst like an overfilled water balloon. Maybe her banter was because she viewed him as one of the family. He needed to be careful or he’d get hurt.
    He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. Doggone it, no. Protecting himself was his usual reaction. Delilah was special and he’d always known it. He was going for broke on this, and he’d let the chips fall where they may. If she ended up trampling his heart, at least he would go down knowing he’d given it his all.

    This was the fourth florist, and Tom was beginning to think no one would be able to help them. Once again they were told that the lilies of the valley Elin wanted were hard to find even in season, let alone at Christmastime. Several offered white baby’s breath instead, but they thanked them and continued the search.
    They exited the shop, and Tom blinked in the sunshine and stepped to Delilah’s side so his bulk shielded her from the worst of the wind. “We’re beginning to run out of florists. We could go on up to Richmond maybe.”
    Delilah nibbled on her lip, a trait he found endearing. “I’m beginning to think I need to tell Elin what’s going on.”
    â€œYou’re Wonder Woman, but there’s a limit to even what you can do. You can’t fabricate flowers out of thin air.”
    â€œI would if I could. I so hate to disappoint Elin.” She sighed and pulled out her phone. “I’m going to call her.”
    Tom listened to her side of the conversation and saw her shoulders relax. When she ended the call, he took her arm and steered her toward the street. “She’s okay with baby’s breath?”
    â€œYes, thank goodness. Elin is not a bridezilla in any way. She was a lot less stressed about it than I am.” She stepped off the curb and into the parking lot to cross to the truck, parked on the far side of the lot.
    The hair on the back of Tom’s neck prickled, and he looked around at the people hurrying to and from the shops in the small strip mall. His intuition told him they were being watched, but no one appeared to be taking undue note of them. In an apartment above a card shop, a curtain twitched, and he shaded his eyes to stare at the window.
    â€œSomething wrong?” Delilah’s voice held alarm.
    â€œA goose walked over my grave, I guess.” He never dialed down his situational awareness, not even during social occasions. No sense in worrying her though.
    He guided her to the truck and opened her door. A white envelope lay on the passenger seat with her name scrawled across it in bold lettering. “Hold on.”
    She craned her neck to look around him. “A card?”
    â€œLooks like it. I had a feeling someone might be watching us, but I’d hoped it was my imagination. Guess not.” He pulled latex gloves out of his pocket and put them on before picking up the envelope by one corner.
    It wasn’t sealed, so he opened the flap and pulled out the card. The handmade card cover was a picture of Tidewater Inn taken by the shore. His gut tightened, and he flipped it open to read the message inside.
    I’ll be here when you least expect me.
    Delilah gasped. He put his arm around her waist and pulled her against him. “He’s just trying to scare you.”
    â€œHe’s doing a good job.” Her voice shook and she bit her lip. “I wish I knew who was doing this and why. I don’t have a single enemy. It makes no sense.”
    â€œThere are a lot of disturbed people out there. I want you to continue to go through every relationship you’ve ever had, every exchange in the grocery store or parking lot. Maybe something will come to mind that will help us figure this out.”
    â€œOkay.” She blew out a shaky breath. “I think I need sustenance. The smell of those enchiladas is making me hungry. And I need more coffee if I’m going to face any more rejections by