#######
I pulled into the lot behind the bookstore and saw Clark pacing back and forth near the backdoor.
Before I could get out of the car, he was at my door. “Where have you been? You always get here by eight. Your aunt said you left nearly an hour ago. I was worried.”
He helped me out of the car and pulled me into his arms. I explained that I was running away, but decided I was better off in town. If there was a knock-down, drag-out fight between Mags and me, I needed to be where people liked me. He leaned back a bit and looked in my eyes. He pulled me close again and kissed the top of my head.
“Don’t ever scare me like that again.” He dropped his arms and slipped his hands in his jeans pockets.
“Okay, I promise.” I turned to unlock the door.
I felt Clark’s hands on my shoulders, and he turned me around. Before I knew what happened, he kissed me. A sweet, gentle kiss. He smiled at me and pulled me close again. This time the kiss was mind-bending, toe-curling, and left me breathless.
He smiled again and said, “I’ll bring dinner tonight. See you around seven.”
I watched him jog back to the hardware store. I was pleasantly speechless. I pulled out my phone and texted “passionate kiss” to Georgie. I knew she was too busy to answer now, and I needed to open the bookstore and call Lucas. Yummy was barking in his carrier. Poor dog must be jealous. My thoughts jumbled.
#######
Lucas was not in, and I left a message. Yummy and I busied ourselves around the store. I unpacked a shipment of new releases and placed them on the proper shelves and added a few to the window display and a table I used for new release promotions. My heart hurt when I unpacked two new mysteries. Inga would have loved them.
I glanced at Yummy and said, “Look, two new books Inga would love. We’ll have to read them in her memory.” I took one and began to read out loud. Yummy settled at my feet and stared up at me. I wondered if Inga read to him. He was very attentive.
Lucas returned my call a little before eleven and assured me he would speak to Mags on my behalf.
“Annie remember there was a handwritten note leaving Yummy to you. There is no way anyone will go against Inga’s last wishes. Leave Margaret to me. I will see you tomorrow morning at eleven for the reading of the will. Don’t worry,” Lucas assured me, but I was still worried.
#######
I woke at my usual time although I was not planning on opening the shop until after the reading of the will. Clark insisted on sleeping on my couch again. The way he kissed me goodnight I’m sure I could have convinced him to follow me upstairs, but I’m not ready for a serious relationship. I’m enjoying our friendship, and Clark seems happy, too.
I smell coffee. Clark must be awake, too. What do my neighbors think seeing his car in my driveway two nights in a row? Oh well, I can’t stop gossip, and it will give Claudine and Mags more reasons to convince people I am an awful person.
I laughed and headed downstairs.
“Good morning, I smell cinnamon. Are you baking cinnamon rolls?” I absent-mindedly licked my lips. I love cinnamon.
“Sure am,” he said. “I know today is going to be hard. Not only do you have to go to the reading of the will, but Mags will be there.”
I dropped onto a kitchen chair, and Clark brought me a cup of coffee. “I’ve been thinking about all of this, Clark. I think Mags is behind all of this nonsense especially after I was served with papers yesterday. Detective Berg doesn’t seem to take me or Officer Bill seriously. I’m going to call Chief Elroy. I’m angrier than afraid now.” I sipped my coffee.
“Chief Elroy? Not Clifford Elroy?” Clark asked.
“Yes, he’s been chief for two years now. He’s a fair, honest man. Why” I stared at him.
“Clifford Elroy is a few years older than I am,” Clark said. “When I was a senior in high school he was a rookie cop. On prom night, six of us went down to the lake with a bottle of wine. I was opening the wine when a searchlight lit up the area, and Elroy walked up. I was handcuffed and taken to the station.”
I couldn’t help it; I began to laugh. Clark stared at me like I was losing my mind. The look on his face made me laugh harder. Then Yummy began to yip and bark, and I laughed so hard I could barely catch my breath. When I did, I wiped the tears from my eyes and said, “Sorry. Please finish your story.”
“I’m not sure I want to finish it now.”
“Please,” I said trying to act coy and flirty.
He grinned and said, “Not much else to tell. My dad and the old chief came to an agreement since I was leaving in a few weeks. No arrest or ticket. I did see Elroy the day before I left town, and he shook a finger at me saying, ‘If you ever come back I’ll be watching you, boy.’ I told him that was fine, but if I ever saw him out of uniform, I would let him know what I think of him. If he remembers, he may not want to help you if I’m around.”
I took another sip of coffee and looked at him over the rim of the cup, “That was a long time ago. I’m sure you both grew up. He did become a nice cop, and you are a nice guy. I’ll vouch for you both.” I smiled at him again and tried not to laugh.
He stood and asked, “Do you want me to take Yummy with me now? Then you won’t have to stop at the store before you head
