His Winter Rose and Apple Blossom Bride by Lois Richer

well.
    “If you breathe in too much of the fumes they can do damage,” she whispered. “Not to mention the effect on the skin.”
    He watched as she opened the small door of a niche, pulled out a plastic box which held various chemical bottles. She chose a pack of test strips, threw open the lid and when the cloud of steam disappeared, dipped one strip into the water.
    Then she compared the dark navy square with the normal shade on the bottle.
    “Way too much.”
    He noted absently how the tub seemed to fit into the deck, as if it had been built when the original house had been erected, though given the age of the house, that wasn’t likely. “Do you keep the chlorine out here?”
    She shook her head. “Never.”
    “So they brought their own. Nice of them to think of it since they’re using your tub.” In Jason’s opinion, Piper was too pale. “I’m going to call Bud Neely, ask him to take a look.”
    “There’s nothing the police chief can do.” She put the test strips into the box, returned the kit to its storage place.
    “You don’t know that.” Something about her body language, the way she looked at him, pricked his curiosity. “Do you?”
    He could hardly believe what he saw register on her face.
    “You saw someone—a prowler’s been out here before?”
    “Yes. A couple of times, I think.”
    “When?” He thought a minute. “The night I brought you home?” Every hair on his arms stood up. “You mentioned seeing a shadow.”
    “Yes. I’ve seen something several times. But it may not be as bad as it sounds. I think my visitors have something to do with Lookout Point,” she told him. “There are always kids going up there to meet each other. Even when I was a teen it was a popular place. I’m sure those were the lights you saw.”
    “Maybe. But, Piper, this isn’t just a prank. It’s dangerous. If you hadn’t noticed—” He stopped, hating to finish the thought.
    “Not necessarily dangerous,” she amended. “Chlorine is one thing you smell as soon as you open the hot tub lid. After you add it, you’re supposed to leave the tub open to circulate and off-gas. Since the lid was closed immediately, the smell was kept inside. I’m sure I noticed something wasn’t right as soon as I lifted the lid.”
    She touched a button on the control panel that soon had the jets whirring. Clouds of steam rose upward. Along with them, the odor of chlorine dissipated into the night air.
    “I’m calling Bud anyway. If he can’t come out tonight, he or someone from the department can make a trip tomorrow and check things out.” Jason frowned as he scanned the woods, saw the flicker of lights some distance away. “I don’t think it’s advisable to have Lookout Point open after dark. The terrain’s rugged up here.”
    “There’s hardly a reason to have a Lookout Point if you close it after dark,” she murmured. “The lure of the place is the darkness. And the scenery, of course.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Teenagers. Moonlight. You can’t have forgotten. You’re not that old!” Piper smiled at him, her wide mouth tilted in a teasing grin.
    Jason found himself blushing as he wondered what it would be like to go to Lookout Point with Piper. “Watch it,” his brain warned.
    “Thank you for your concern,” she said, her voice back to normal. “You came a long way just to make sure. That warrants a reward.”
    “What did you have in mind?” he asked, his brain still busy with thoughts of moonlight and Piper Langley.
    “I have some apple pie, if you’re interested. And I could make some tea.”
    “You don’t have to.” Jason stopped when she cast a look behind her at the call of an owl. She was still nervous. “But I’d love some pie.”
    “Great. Come on inside.” She led the way into the house, turning on lights as she went. “Make yourself comfortable.”
    After that first interview, before she’d moved here, whenever he’d thought of Piper, Jason envisioned chrome,