“Duly noted.” He stood and held out a hand. “There may not be much we can do about Nicole, but I can relieve your mind on one score with the lighthouse. I talked to my accountant, and if you can raise the amount we discussed last week, I’ll donate the difference between that and my other offer as a charitable contribution to the foundation.”
“Yes!” She pumped her fist in the air and did a little happy dance.
Ben chuckled. “Gee . . . I was hoping you’d show a tiny bit of enthusiasm.”
“Sorry. I do have a tendency to get carried away when I hear good news.” She gave him another hug. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He hugged her back, then took her hand and walked her toward the door. “I’ll stay on the porch until I hear the beeps from your alarm system.”
“I thought you said Nicole was at the motel.”
“Last report, she was—but humor me. This woman is a master manipulator. I wouldn’t put anything past her.” He tipped the shade on the window adjacent to the door and scanned her front yard.
“I know you want us to keep our distance, but will you stay in touch by phone?”
“Count on it.” After stealing one more quick kiss, he slipped through the door and shut it behind him with a soft click.
Some of the supercharged air in the room exited with him . . . and all at once the house felt very, very empty.
And very lonely.
Odd.
For two years she’d been perfectly fine living here alone—and she’d resolved to never again give any man a smidgeon of control over her state of mind.
Yet as she ran up the stairs, set the alarm, and watched from the upper window while Ben strode toward his truck under the security lighting, she faced the truth.
If you cared for someone, they did affect your moods . . . and your feelings . . . and how you viewed the world.
And she cared for Ben.
A lot.
In fact, if she hadn’t already fallen head over heels for him, she was on the verge of tumbling.
So as soon as Nicole was out of the picture and it was safe for them to get together again, she intended to take some hands-on action to accelerate that process.
If she could wait that long.
22
Nicole was gone.
At least her car was.
Glass of OJ in hand, Ben tipped the slat in the front window blinds a tad more and gave the street a sweep in both directions.
There were no vehicles parked on either side this Wednesday morning.
Was it possible she’d tired of her game after only five days? Gotten his message, given up, and left town?
It was almost too much to hope for.
But it was worth checking.
He set his glass on the table by the front window and tapped in Lexie’s number.
After four rings, he prepared to leave a voicemail—but she answered at last, sounding sleepy.
“Ben. Hi.” She cleared her throat. “What’s up?”
“Did I wake you?” He peered at his watch. Cringed. Maybe eight in the morning was a bit early to call her personal cell.
“I was pulled into a county-wide situation late last night that cut into my sleep, but I was about to get up. Trouble with your visitor?” The last vestiges of slumber vanished from her voice as she asked the question.
“No. That’s why I called. Her car’s not in front this morning. I was wondering if you or one of your officers could drive by and see if it’s at the motel.”
“Sure. But checkout isn’t until eleven. She might be sleeping in. Stand by.”
“Thanks.”
Ben slid the phone back in his pocket. If wishing could bring it about, this episode would end quietly—but he had a feeling Nicole’s absence today didn’t mean she’d called it quits.
Lexie confirmed his suspicion when she buzzed him back ten minutes later, while he was shaking some Cheerios into a bowl.
“She hasn’t checked out of the motel, nor given any indication she’s planning to. However, her car’s not there. Has she shown up at your place?”
He retraced his steps to the living room and surveyed the street again. “No.”
“She might have gone out to eat or do some shopping.”
A logical assumption—but nothing about Nicole was logical.
“That’s possible.”
Based on Lexie’s next comment, she shared his skepticism. “Given what you’ve told me about her, I’m not convinced, either. I’ll have the patrol officers keep an eye out for her.”
“I appreciate that. Sorry again to bother you so early.”
“No worries. Call anytime. Being police chief in a town this size is a 24/7 job.”
Ben wandered back to the kitchen and ate his cereal standing by the rear door. All quiet in the backyard too.
Considering his schedule for the next few hours, Nicole had picked an optimal window to disappear. Having her shadow him to his meeting at the orthopedic practice in Coos Bay would be more than a little disconcerting. Likewise if she followed him to his official interview this afternoon for the urgent care center position.
But unsettling as it would be to have her on his tail while he made his rounds, the question strobing across his brain like a red alert was just as unnerving.
If she hadn’t checked out of the motel . . . and she wasn’t watching him . . . where was she—and what was she doing?
Unbelievable.
Marci stared at the crowdfunding website tally for the lighthouse fund. Yes, she’d done a social media and PR blitz to announce the campaign—but could it actually have generated 20 percent of the funds needed to purchase the landmark in less than a day?
“I’m going to clock out, Marci, if that’s okay.”
She continued to ogle the screen as Rachel spoke. “Sure. Fine. Listen—take a look
