LITMIR.BIZ

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shouldn’t be living in that house alone,” Alan said.

      “Thanks, but I’m a big girl, Alan.”

      “She’s not alone. I’m staying over the garage,” Luke offered.

      Alan and Natalie looked at Luke as if he’d just announced Martians had landed in the town square.

      “My friend, the chief, was worried about the perpetrator coming back so he asked me to stay close,” he explained.

      “The perpetrator?” Alan said. “Are you a cop, too?”

      “I’ve had some experience in law enforcement, yes.”

      “What kind of experience?” Alan pushed.

      “You want my résumé?” Luke pushed back.

      “Take the discussion outside, guys,” Krista said. “I’ve got to get moving if I’m going to open by eleven.” She corralled everyone out the back.

      Alan hesitated and turned to her. “Dinner tonight?”

      “No, but thank you. I’m still jet-lagged.”

      Alan touched her arm. “You shouldn’t have opened today, Krista.”

      “It’s the busy season, you know that. The Christmas teas cover half my expenses for the year. I can’t lose that revenue.”

      “But—”

      “Look,” she interrupted Alan. “I appreciate your concern, I really do. But the Sass twins won’t clock in for another hour and I need to get back to work.”

      Natalie and Krista hugged. Krista stepped back into the shop before Alan could get another hug. She shut the door, leaving the three of them standing by the herb garden.

      Luke’s cell vibrated and he checked the caller ID. It was his supervisor, Agent Marks.

      “Excuse me,” he said to Alan and Natalie.

      With a nod, Luke walked to his car and answered his cell.

      “McIntyre,” he said.

      “Any progress?” Agent Marks questioned.

      “Not yet, sir.”

      “Did Miss Yates recognize last night’s assailant?”

      “He was wearing a mask.”

      “Do you want to bring her in for protection?”

      “She’d fight me on it.” Luke saw in her eyes how devoted she was to her business and it sounded like this was the prime season for revenues.

      “It’s your call. I’ve put an alert out on her luggage.”

      “Thanks.”

      “Be careful,” Marks warned. “And call for backup if you need it.”

      “Yes, sir.”

      He pocketed his phone and eyed the tea shop, an old brick house converted into a small restaurant in the heart of town.

      “Nice meeting you,” Natalie called out to Luke as she breezed to her older-model Volvo in the parking lot.

      “You, too,” he said.

      With a curt nod, Alan walked to a newer SUV and took off. Luke noted Alan’s license plate and would call it in later. There was something about that guy…

      Luke couldn’t be jealous, not over a complete stranger like Krista. More like, his protective instincts were kicking in. He’d seen how Krista needed space, didn’t like Alan touching her. Whatever that guy thought of their relationship, Krista had a completely different take on things.

      Luke should head back to Krista’s house, get tools and start his handyman cover. Instinct told him not to leave her alone, not even for a few minutes. He called the chief’s private line.

      “Cunningham,” the chief answered.

      “It’s Luke McIntyre.”

      “Everything okay?”

      “Yes, sir. I was wondering if you could do me a favor and swing by the tea shop with some tools. I’d rather not leave Krista alone.”

      “Put you to work, did she?”

      “Not officially, but I’m trying to convince her it’s a good cover.”

      He chuckled. “I’ll bring by my toolbox. We think we got something on the perp’s car. A dark green minivan with an Ohio plate was dumped on the other side of Silver Lake. Fits the description.”

      “So the guy’s still close.”

      “Looks that way.”

      A scream echoed from the tea shop and Luke bolted for the house.

      FOUR

      He should have checked the entire building, every corner, beneath every table, inside every teapot before leaving her alone in there.

      He whipped the back door open. “Krista!”

      Nothing.

      “No, no,” he ground out between clenched teeth. He raced to the stairs leading to the second-floor office. Taking the stairs two at a time, he pulled out his firearm, got to the top and spun around, pointing the gun into the room.

      Directly at Krista.

      With round, terrified green eyes, she dropped the teapot in her hands and it crashed to the floor into pieces. He swung the gun around the room.

      They were alone.

      “What happened?” He holstered his gun. He took a step toward her and she backed up.

      She was scared out of her mind. Because of Luke.

      He put out his hands in a calming gesture. “I’m sorry about the gun. Okay? Just breathe.”

      Luke took a deep breath and she mimicked him.

      “Are you okay?” he asked.

      She nodded affirmative.

      “You screamed. Why?” He didn’t move, didn’t step closer. But he wanted to. He wanted to put his arm around her and calm her down, stop her trembling.

      His touch would probably make her shake more considering he’d just pulled a gun on her.

      “What happened?” he asked.

      She pointed to the broken teapot on the floor. Lying beside it was a dead mouse.

      “That’s why you screamed?”

      She nodded again. “It was…in the teapot. So, so I was checking other ones and you…” her voice hitched.

      He threatened her with a gun.

      “I’m sorry. I thought…never mind. I tend to go to the worst-case-scenario places. But you’re okay, that’s all that matters. Everything’s fine.”

      But it wasn’t fine. There was no way a mouse could open the lid of a teapot and climb inside.

      “Has this happened before?” he asked.

      “We have mice problems. All restaurants do,” she said, defensively.

      Good, she was coming out of her fright.

      “The teapot was on my desk when I came upstairs. Strange, because I don’t remember leaving it here.”

      She touched the calendar desk pad. Somewhere, deep down, she sensed the danger as well. But for now, Luke would shelve the possibility of this being a threat against her and help her get her bearings back.

      “Krista!” a girl called from downstairs.

      Krista didn’t answer at first. She just stared at Luke. He stepped aside, giving her ample room to pass. The last thing

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