“I’m Carrick Montgomery.” He extended his hand.
She took it with reluctance, her fingers cold even through gloves.
“Welcome to Willow Creek.”
Fresh tears spilled down her cheeks like her body hadn’t gotten the message that she wanted to stop. She wiped them quickly with a handkerchief that was already damp with prior surrender.
“I apologize, Mr. Montgomery,” she whispered, voice cracking right down the middle. “This is not how I intended our first meeting to be.”