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have deceived her for a second time?
    As she stared out at the ocean, watching the waves shift and change, she realized she was falling hard for Easton. Thankfully, common sense told her he wasn’t the one. It was much more likely to have been his father or his cousin. Tara could envision Bennett sneaking into the house and even enjoying such an act.
    She sat there for a long time, going over in her mind what she should do. How could she tell her grandmother that she thought one of their neighbors had broken into the house looking for Grandfather’s codicil? She’d been through so much already, having lost her husband only six weeks ago, and now being ill herself. Besides, Tara had no proof, just speculation. Upsetting her grandmother more now would serve no good purpose.
    She looked down at her cell phone and, without giving it another thought, dialed Easton. He answered after two rings.
    All she said was, “I need you.”
    His reply came instantly. “I’m on my way.”
    It seemed like a moment later, he was there, gathering her into his arms, and the very nearness of him gave her comfort. His hands locked against her spine, bringing her closer and making her body tingle from the contact. She tilted her head back to meet his kiss and savored this moment with him, not wanting it to end.
    She wasn’t worried about telling him of her theory. Both her heart and her head were in agreement on that. “I think I know what the intruder was looking for,” she whispered against his ear. She thought she may have felt him stiffen but couldn’t be sure because his mouth sought hers again.
    This time when their kiss ended, he pulled back to look at her. “And what do you think that was?” he asked, watching her closely.
    “A codicil to my grandfather’s will.”
    His eyes were hooded now. “How do you know about that?”
    “I read about it in his journal.” She pointed to the leather-bound diary next to her foot. “It was one of his last entries. He wrote the codicil, and shortly after, he died.” She bit her lip and looked away. “The only people who’d want to steal it are your family.”
    “Are you including me in that?” There was a distinct hardening of his eyes.
    “Should I?” Her voice cracked a little.
    “I can’t believe you’d ask me that. Do you really think I’d do that to your grandmother? To you?” He ripped out the words bitterly.
    Heat stole into her face. “No… I don’t.”
    “Have you told your grandmother about this?” His voice drifted lower.
    She shook her head. “I didn’t want to upset her.”
    The muscles in his arms relaxed. “I think that’s wise. It’s best not to say anything right now. I’m going to get to the bottom of this, Tara. You can be sure of that.”
    “I believe you,” she said softly, brushing her lips against the side of his face.
    He pulled her closer, holding her tightly against his body. “Whoever broke in last night might come back if he didn’t find the codicil, or if it was something else he was after. You and your grandmother shouldn’t be alone.”
    Her heart fluttered wildly. “What are you suggesting?”
    He kissed the pulsing hollow at the base of her throat. “I’m going to stay with you tonight.”
    And then his mouth was over hers, sending her into a wild swirl of elation.
     
    ~*~
     
    Easton watched Tara walk down the pier, her lithe body as graceful as a dancer’s, and waited for her to disappear inside her grandmother’s house, before he headed home to pack a few things for tonight.
    He went in the back door and didn’t expect Bennett to be home from work yet—staying late was part of his brown-nosing tactic—so it came as an unwanted surprise to see him sitting at the kitchen table, peeling an apple.
    “I take it you’ve been with Tara,” his cousin said, setting the knife down on the table. “Have you found out anything yet?”
    Easton smiled smugly. “As a matter of fact, I have. Addison did carry out his threat. He