have to admit the timing is suspicious,” he murmured.
“It’s a coincidence.”
She was a regular citizen. A librarian. Except she’d temporarily traded books for pet supplies.
Before he could respond, the whine of sirens careened around the corner. A fire engine rumbled to a stop in the middle of the street, followed by several patrol cars. Cade remained by her side as firefighters doused the flames. By the looks of the darkening sky, rain would’ve soon taken care of it.
Deputy Wayne Claxton introduced himself and wrote her information on a palm-sized paper pad. About the age her father would be if he’d lived, the wire-haired, mustached deputy had perfected his poker face, not giving so much as a hint of his thoughts.
“Your car wasn’t running, correct?”
“That’s right.”
“Did you see or smell evidence of a fire before the explosion?”
She’d been too distracted by Cade to notice. “No.”
“You haven’t had any electrical issues? Problems with your ignition switch?”
“No, nothing like that. I take it in for routine maintenance.”
He put away his pad and promised to contact her with the fire department’s investigation results, which he warned would take several days. The tow truck was departing when she felt the first raindrops on her exposed skin.
Cade squinted toward the sky. “You have anything to cover that window?”
Tori’s hesitation vanished at the peal of thunder. “Maybe in the garage.”
In the month since she’d returned, she’d split her time between unpacking and manning the shop, so she hadn’t had time to check out the garage. They quickly rifled through the contents and discovered a couple of sheets of plywood against the rear wall. He also located an electric drill.
In her bedroom once again, they worked together to clear the glass and debris. Wind whistled through the gap. Rain splattered the sill.
While Tori supported the plywood, he drilled the screws along the edges. “Feels like old times. Us doing chores,” he said, his attention on his task. “You gonna pay me in Popsicles like your mom used to do?”
“Sorry. I’m fresh out.”
He grunted and continued working.
She studied his profile, the proud line of his forehead and the jut of his cheekbones. His features had been branded on her mind years ago. Granted, he was even more handsome now than he’d been at eighteen.
He’d once been her closest confidante. When her feelings for him had shifted to something more, she’d kept them hidden for fear of losing his friendship. Remaining silent while he dated other girls was one of the hardest things she’d had to do. Then, on the night of their senior prom, Cade’s kiss had changed everything. That summer, they’d whiled away the days playing in the surf, crabbing in the river and counting stars from her front-porch swing. She’d begun to think of the future in terms of her and Cade as a couple. Instead of heading to a prestigious university as her mother expected, she enrolled in the community college. Cade was supposed to follow in his father’s footsteps and assume the family fishing business. He hadn’t questioned his path, so neither had she.
His proposal had come earlier than expected, but that hadn’t stopped her from saying yes. Cade was her soul mate. Her best friend. Her heart was safe with him.
Or so she’d believed, until the day he’d found her in the college library and delivered the earth-shattering news that he’d enlisted. Signed a four-year contract to serve their country and be at the Marine Corps’ beck and call.
With that day fresh in her mind, her heart throbbed with remembered betrayal.
She wouldn’t be that vulnerable again.
Cade lowered the drill and inspected his work. “Should hold until we can get you a new window.”
“I appreciate your help.”
“Is there someone who can take you to the hardware store?”
Jason worked night shifts at a local factory, and she didn’t want to burden her mom. Barbara needed to rest and focus on managing her illness. Tori’s close friend, Angela Reagan, was probably pulling a twelve-hour shift at the hospital.
“I could contact someone from my church.”
“Or you could let me give you a ride,” he said casually. “My Jeep’s parked at the bank down the street.”
More time in Cade’s company. Great. “Let me get the deposit ready.” She sighed.
Cade began cleaning up the glass. As Tori descended the stairs, a sharp clap of thunder reverberated through the house. The lights flickered out. Startled, her foot slipped, and she grabbed the railing to keep from tumbling down the steep flight.
She reached the bottom tread and sucked in a steadying breath. Shadows draped the foyer and hallway leading to the rear of the house. Weak light slanted into the parlor across from her, the first room customers encountered and the largest on this floor. Tori skirted the large round table in the middle boasting individual dog treats of every shape and color to get to the counter and her register.
A sudden gust of rain pelted the window behind her. She clapped a hand over her mouth.
She was being silly. There was no reason to be on edge.
The leather pouch she used to transport her daily earnings wasn’t in its usual spot. Tori must’ve left it in the office that morning. She walked through the archway connecting the parlor to what used to be the formal dining room. Flashes of lightning illuminated the shelves and collections of leashes and collars. It wasn’t yet seven o’clock, but gloom had descended along with the storm. Hopefully the power outage wouldn’t last too long. Already, the air was growing heavy with humidity.
She entered the former-kitchen-turned-office and immediately the hairs on her nape stood to attention. She reached for the light switch before catching herself. No electricity.
Outside, the storm unleashed its fury. The oaks’ branches thrashed the sides of the house. A crash sent adrenaline spiraling through her system. Calling herself a fool, she marched to the door and, ripping it open, emerged onto the screened porch. Wind tunneled through the screens, twisting her dress hem about her knees. Rain gushed through the gutters and onto the pavers.
A faint scuffling sound registered near the left side of the house. Tori pivoted that direction and caught sight of a hunched figure dashing behind her garage.
Cade carried the box of discarded glass downstairs. The silence inside the house was at complete odds with the fury beyond the walls. Good thing they’d gotten the plywood in place in time.
“Tori?”
He walked through the rooms, fond memories of his teenage years washing over him. This place was linked to the James women. Thanks to Tori’s selflessness, Barbara wouldn’t have to worry about her shop.
