Chapter 15

Rose knew her happiness couldn’t last. The morning after, she went to her apartment to shower and get ready for work. Seth had made it difficult for her to leave, though, as he’d kept kissing her and luring her back into bed. After they’d eaten breakfast, he’d carried her to his bed again, the sex slow and tender and so amazing Rose couldn’t believe any of it was real.

Toweling her hair dry, she heard her phone ring. Her heart beat in excitement, thinking it was Seth, but when she saw it was an unknown number, her heart sank.

“Hello?” she answered. She refused to sound scared.

“Rosie, it’s been too long. I got your message,” said Johnny, his voice almost jovial. “I’d love to meet with you, but I don’t have much time to waste. How about Saturday afternoon, at the Sanditon Pass?”

“That’s at least an hour away. I don’t have a car—”

“Figure it out.” His jovial tone melted away. “Either agree to meet me there, or you can kiss your boyfriend and your brother goodbye.”

“And what if I sa