Ten minutes later, Bree opened her eyes to see the stewardess removing their drinking glasses. “He went out like a light, didn’t he?” the brunette whispered with a little laugh.

Bree nodded, regarding her seatmate with a dry half smile. His eyes were closed, his legs stretched out, and he was clearly enjoying the deep sleep of the just.

So much for the hunt and chase, and that foolish little frisson of fear. Mr. Manning had never been a danger, anyway, not to Bree. She could take care of herself; she always had. She’d work herself out of this no-talk nonsense and get back to managing her life…

And what a tremendous job you’ve been doing of that lately, Bree, a small voice whispered in her head.

Bree sighed, suddenly feeling a mixture of depression and confusion. Closing her eyes, she curled up toward the window-as far away from her seatmate as possible-and fell asleep.

Chapter Two

The mental pictures were so vivid to Bree that they never seemed part of a dream. It was just…happening again.

Charcoal clouds drooped low, and snow pitched down helter-skelter. Bree curled a protective arm around the diminutive shoulders of her grandmother, and squeezed. “I don’t believe I let you talk me into taking you out in this weather,” she scolded.

“Couldn’t stand to be cooped up another minute. What a winter this has been!” Gram chuckled, her pale blue eyes nestled in a sea of soft, wrinkled skin. “We bought out the stores, didn’t we, Bree? Haven’t a penny left in my purse.” Her lips compressed as Bree gradually stole two more packages from the armful Gram was toting. “What do you think I am, helpless? I can carry my own load just fine. Don’t you start treating me like a senile old woman who has to be humored.”