Penn smiled at Brooke. He understood that this was against her grain to obey orders, but he had no choice. He had to convince her to stay at the house until he was sure the danger had passed.

“Thank you, Brooke. Now tell me more about your writing.”

She blushed a little. “It’s not something I talk about, but I hope to get a contract someday. Then I could quit my part-time job at the coffee shop.”

“I didn’t know you work at a coffee shop.

“Not ...