"I can't believe Jake behaved like that," Bevis sighed, shaking her head before sipping her glass of red wine; the rain thundered on the roof of the cabin, "I'm glad Caroline suggested we have some time away from the big house, get some distance."

"She has definitely got good taste," Chelsea said, staring into the fire, "I love the garden room ... as you call it," she sighed, "its very calming."

"Did he have an explanation?" Bevis asked.

"Jake? Of course," Chelsea said, "but I'm not sure I believe him ... part of the whole reason for being so protective and keeping me from actually participating in doing my job is because he loves me."

"He ... what?" Bevis spluttered, nearly spraying her wine over the coffee table, "do you think he was being truthful?"

"I don't know," Chelsea said, "I'm past caring what he means and doesn't mean ... I'm going through with the reassignment."

"I hope it's in the same city," Bevis said, "we barely see each other as it is with your working hours, which I now understand and will never complain about again."

Chelsea smiled weakly, "I'm sorry I couldn't tell you more than I did," she sighed, "can you believe I put up with Jake's behaviour and covered for him for three years."

"I know why you did it," Bevis said, smiling broadly, "you like him. You've liked him for a long time, and you wanted him to want you to be part of the partnership ..." Bevis eyed her friend, "... but he kept pushing you away or to one side ... am I right?"

Chelsea stared into the fire, "Spot on, Bev," she whispered, sipping her wine, "there is only so much a person can take of an all-around rejection. I need to cut ties, break away and start fresh somewhere else. I was sent a list of assignments that need all my skill sets," Chelsea glanced at Bevis, "I told them I'd look it through, but I haven't started."

"When did they send you the list?" Bevis asked.

"An hour after I requested the reassignment," Chelsea said, "you know Jake made me so angry ... I've never been that angry before."

"Angry enough to punch him and bruise your knuckles?" Bevis whispered, sighing as Chelsea nodded, "Ah, Chels, I'm so sorry your heart got broken."

"There are rules at work that are put in place for a reason," Chelsea whispered, "and I disobeyed them ... I have no one to blame but myself."

"You're staying to work on the case, though ... aren't you?" Bevis asked, worry racing through her.

"Oh, course I am," Chelsea reached for Bevis' free hand, squeezing it, "I could never leave knowing you were in danger."

"That's what best friends are for," Bevis hugged Chelsea's shoulders, "what did you find?"

"Damning trail of evidence," Chelsea said, "Jake has seen it and doesn't want me working on it."

"Why?" Bevis asked, frowning.

"It's too dangerous," Chelsea said, shaking her head, "as if most of my adult life hasn't been in dangerous situations."

"Men! They always try these strong-arm tactics," Bevis muttered, "did you bring your laptop with you?"

"Of course I did," Chelsea glanced at Bevis, "why?

"Well, since we can't go anywhere or do anything ... outdoorsy," Bevis said, grinning, "want to play detective?"

"Hmm, can we start after we finish our wine," Chelsea asked, "I like that we have time to do absolutely nothing and spend some time together ... it's been a while since we last sat and chatted."

"Sure," Bevis said, watching her friend's expression, "are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm not sure of anything," Chelsea whispered, "I'm not sure ..." she swallowed hard, sighed, closed her eyes and shook her head, "... I'm not sure if what I feel or think right now is processed correctly."

"Chels, did you ever think that Jake is telling you the truth about his reasons?" Bevis asked.

"He may be, but ..." Chelsea shook her head, "I don't know ..."

"You're too hurt to really understand if it's the truth or a move to get you back where you were before," Bevis finished the sentence off.

"Yeah," Chelsea sighed, "I still expect him to do something rash like hacking my laptop to get the information or go off on his own to follow a lead and leave me in the dust again, wondering what he's doing and where he is."

"I'm not surprised you didn't get that promotion if this has been happening," Bevis whispered, "but you're going to prove to your superiors that you're as good at your job as Jake ... if not better."

"Thanks, Bev," Chelsea smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes, "you've always been a fantastic friend and my non-stop cheerleader."

A knock at the cabin door brought the women's gazes toward the heavy wooden panel; they looked at each other before Bevis put her glass of wine on the coffee table and moved toward the window nearest the door. Peaking through the lace curtains, she sighed, shaking her head.

"Jason and Jake," she said, looking at Chelsea, "do I leave them out there?"

"That's a bit rude," Chelsea chuckled, "even for you. I'm tempted, but no ..." she sighed, sipping her wine, "... let them in. I have to face him sometime."

Nodding, Bevis opened the cabin door, smiling at the drenched men, "Hi there, forget your umbrella?"

"We came in the boat," Jason said, squinting at her through his dripping hair plastered to his head, "and yes ... he did forget his umbrella. Can we come in?"

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"Sure, leave your shoes on the mat over there," Bevis said as she pointed to the area the women had prepared for dripping clothing, "you can hang your coats on the hooks above them."

"Thanks," Jake said, looking around as he moved through the door, his eyes settling on Chelsea, "hi ... how are you?"

"Hey," she whispered as her eyes moved from his face to his feet, "... fine, but you won't be if you don't stop dripping all over the floor."

Glancing down, he muttered an apology before moving to the mat and taking off his wet outer clothes.

"Can I get you something to drink?" Bevis asked, watching the two men as they dried their wet hair.

"Whatever you're having," Jason said, glancing at the table, "wine...I take it. Will be fine, thanks."

Nodding, Bevis disappeared into the kitchen, returning with two more glasses and another bottle of wine. Jake took the chair closest to Chelsea, his eyes never leaving her as she stared into the fire. Jason took the bottle from Bevis, silently asking with an outstretched hand for the corkscrew; she smiled and handed it to him before looking at the silent pair at the fire.

"What are you two doing here?" Bevis whispered to Jason as he opened and poured the wine.

"He was becoming unbearable," Jason said, "it was either visit you two or drown him."

"Why is he ..." Bevis glanced over her shoulder as Chelsea stood, moving toward the kitchen, "Chels?"

"Getting some snacks," Chelsea said as she disappeared, "be right back."

"What is wrong with your brother?" Bevis hissed, "he's acting like a stalker."

Jason sighed, closed his eyes and nodded, "I know," glancing at Bevis, he grimaced, ".... nothing I'm saying is getting through to him. He wants to see Chelsea and won't take no for an answer. Even my mother has ideas of what to do to him ..." he rolled his eyes as Bevis gasped in surprise, "... he's that annoying."

Bevis watched as Jason moved toward his brother, who was staring at the kitchen door; bumping his shoulder, he held out a glass of wine, "If you're going to behave like an idiot, I'm taking you home and give you a cold dunk in the river on the way."

Jake shook his head, "What?"

"Stop staring," Bevis said, glancing toward the kitchen before continuing, " ... it's creepy."

"Oh, sorry," Jake said, sighing, "she still won't talk to me."

"Of course not," Bevis said, "and she won't consider it if you act like a stalker who simply needs a bush to jump out of."

"I'm not behaving ..." his words trailed off as he met two exasperated stares, "... I am ... damn," he muttered, glancing at the door as Chelsea returned to the room with a platter of snacks.

"I'm sure you two are starving," Chelsea said, "hungry Bev?"

"I'm a little ... snakish," Bevis said, "thanks, Chels. What have you two been up to?"

Bevis looked across at Jake and Jason as she settled on the couch next to Chelsea; surprisingly, Jason moved away to look out of the window, leaving Jake to answer the question.

"Not much with the rain," Jake said, sipping his wine and helping himself to a plate of food, "the house seems strangely silent without the two of you and Candy ... well ... she is more annoying than usual."

Jason chuckled, "Only to you, Jake."

"What did I do to annoy her?" Jake asked, glancing at his brother.

"At the moment, everyone wants to dispose of you in one way or another," Jason said, "if I didn't get you out of there, you'd be another missing person before dark."

"So you brought him here," Chelsea said, her eyes moving from the flames to meet Jason's gaze.

"No, I got him to go on a boat ride," Jason said, sighing, "he brought himself here."

"Why?" Chelsea asked, finally meeting Jake's gaze.

He shrugged, cleared his throat and sighed, "To see you."

"Why?" she repeated.

"Because I miss you," Jake said, "not having you there or being able to talk to or ..." he made an exasperated gesture, "Chels, I meant what I said last night."

"Sure," Chelsea said, "why are you really here?"

Jake frowned, looking at her sideways, "What do you mean?"

"The entire time I've known you, there has never been a moment you're not angling at something," Chelsea said, "I've watched every manoeuvre you have to get what you want. Unless something miraculous has happened in the past two days..." Chelsea shook her head, "this ... you being here ..." she sighed, "what do you want, Jake?"

Jake stared at her, "To see you, to talk to you, to work with you," he said, his grave expression and serious gaze never leaving hers.

"Fine," she said, "I'll get my laptop, and we can talk about the evidence."

Jake blinked as Chelsea pushed from the couch, striding from the room, "Chels ... I ... it's not ..."

"I don't think she's interested in anything more you have to say," Jason said as the bedroom door closed.

"That is not what I meant if she thinks that's why I came here," he whispered, looking appealingly at Bevis.

"If you meant what you said, you're going to have to prove it to her," Bevis said, "it may not stop the reallocation, but it may keep her in your life."

Jake nodded as he sipped at his wine, "I really messed up."

"Yeah, you did," Jason said, easing into a chair near Bevis, "what evidence is Chelsea talking about?"

"I'm not sure," Bevis said, "she hasn't told me what there is, but apparently, it's damning."

Chelsea pushed away from the bedroom door, inhaling, counting to ten and exhaling. Jake's sudden appearance had jarred emotions frozen in place, his constant staring had started to push through the numbness, and she couldn't believe she had nearly accepted everything he said.

"Will I never learn?" she muttered, putting her glass of wine on the bedside table as she sat on the beautifully clothed mattress rubbing her face, "you need to get a grip ... work the case ... leave emotions in the puddle outside ..." inhale, exhale "... don't fall for his manipulative lines."

Standing, she scooped up her laptop and glass, pausing at the door as she solidified her determination and pulled it open. Walking into the sitting area, she found Jake and Bevis deep in conversation while Jake stared dejectedly into the flames.

The look on his face surprised Chelsea; she had never seen the intense emotion evident for all to see; he had always been a closed book, in control ... guarded. He turned to look at her smiling gently with ... emotions showing in his eyes ... slowing a little as she approached him, Chelsea felt confusion flutter.

"What did you find?" he asked softly, waiting for her to sit on the cushion once more before moving to the place behind her on the couch.

"You saw it already," she said, frowning at his actions, "why do you want to know again?"

"It was two days ago," he said, watching as she opened her laptop and accessed the secured information, "I may have seen it, but I'm honest enough to say I don't correctly remember what you found."

"Huh," she grunted, "here, have a look."

Passing the laptop to him, she shifted to the coffee table to get a plate of food, leaving him to review the information. Instead of giving him any further attention, she concentrated on the conversation between Jason and Bevis. At this point, guarding her heart and mind was more important than mending fences to make Jake feel better about himself. Staring back into the flames, she waited while she ate her first meal that day and sipped at her wine.

It would be interesting to see how quickly he left after seeing the evidence she had found. Did she place a bet with herself on the length of time it would take before he bolted from the cabin?

Shaking her head, Chelsea wondered why she had buckled and given in to what he wanted; closing her eyes, she repeated silently to herself ... work the case; leave your emotions in the puddle outside.