Erika Vincent
Vianne Summers
WindSwept Narrows
Book Twenty-Two
Karen Nichols
Copyright 2012 by Karen Nichols
Smashwords Edition
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Chapter One
The nagging thought inside her brain said she had seen the woman before.
Detective Natalie Templeton sat in her car, foot propped up and note pad on her knee. She was making a list of the places she’d been. The people she’d met in the last ten days. Places she’d been. She envisioned each place as she wrote, tapping the pen against her cheek and frowning at the last entry.
The sandwich shop by the Point.
Xavier ‘Zee’ Moore watched the blonde at the table furthest out from the shop.
She’d been there every day for the last three days and spent most of the time there with either books or a laptop open and fingers flying over the keys. She bought things through the day so he really didn’t have a reason to complain. The staff hadn’t said a thing about her other than she was polite and quiet.
Until now.
The only glimpse he had of her hair were the thick bangs she kept shoving out of her eyes and off her glasses. She wore a Greek fisherman’s cap in black over her head and never took it off.
He had an idea she was slim but she always wore the same thick Irish crème sweater that looked about three sizes too big, a pair of worn jeans and sneakers. She had a large cloth tote at her side, always tucked between her knees as she sat back and stared a lot of the time out into the stretch of Puget Sound that was laid out before them.
He looked out at the dark lenses of her glasses, watching them deepen in color as the clouds parted and brightened the end of April when the sun made an appearance. Zee slung the once clean towel over one shoulder and went toward the door, the hard clap on his shoulder jolting him.
“It’s a tough job, boss,” Kyle Danvers chuckled.
“Yeah...then I should be delegating it to you,” he grumbled.
“To the victor go the spoils,” Kyle tossed back. “Besides, it’s not in my job description to tell a pretty blonde she needs a bath.”
Zee let loose with another low growl before shoving his shoulders back and striding out of the comfortable sandwich shop. He was rubbing the back of his neck as he approached, watching her chew on the corner of a full lower lip. She pulled her sunglasses off and looked up when his shadow fell over her book, wide pale lashes and bright blue eyes blinked repeatedly, simply returning his stare.
“Can I help you?” She finally said when he didn’t move. “Is something wrong?”
“I hate to lose a good customer but…there have been a few comments…less than…good comments…” He searched an extensive vocabulary for the right less than offensive words to use.
Erika Vincent listened to the deep, soothing voice; a pair of hooded blue eyes and hair that was way too short for all the surfer awards decorating the inside of the shop. She sat up and sighed.
“I’m sorry. I probably should have found a motel,” she packed her tote, both of them bending to pick up the keys that fell from her bag. “Had to give up the car for a little while…just in case…”
“Give it up?”
“People following me,” she murmured, her head shaking tiredly. “I know I need to wash some clothes somehow. And me…” She stood up and flashed him a smile. “It’s okay. You have a nice shop. A girl can only survive in washrooms for so long.”
“Umm…thanks…wait…” he met the curiously arched brow. “Upstairs. Big bathroom and washer and dryer. I won’t be up there until after five.”
Silvery laughter made her glasses jump on the small nose.
“That is the sweetest thing. Napping on park benches leaves a lot to be desired but I couldn’t impose…”
“It’s an offer. No imposition at all,” he held out his palm. “Zee Moore. Owner and it’s my apartment upstairs.”
“Erika…and you’re awfully trusting, Zee Moore,” but she looked longingly toward the second story with windows opening toward the beach.
“I’m pretty sure you’re a safe risk,” he’d seen the laptop she used, a very high end one that she worked with ease and familiarity. He also recognized the master car key on her ring and knew there was a bit more to the mysterious Erika than he knew. “You don’t look like a drug user or dealer,” she only offered a crooked grin at him. “And if you were going to steal things, there’s plenty of dumb people wandering the streets.”
“Your confidence is…interesting,” she said wryly, her head shaking. “It’s kind of you to offer and I really appreciate it, but it would be best if I…”
“There’s shampoo and stuff in the bathroom, help yourself,” Zee put an arm around her shoulders and led her to the side of the building. “Friends just don’t allow friends to wander around stinking and scaring the customers.”
“And subtle,” she murmured, clearing her throat and trying again. “Mr. Moore, while your offer is very kind,” she repeated firmly, her feet unable to find a good grip when a man was built like a professional ball player and virtually moving her to the stairs.
“I’m sure I can hide you from anyone who comes asking, Miss…”
“Erika,” she repeated quietly, climbing the stairs to avoid falling on her face. She was so tired.
“Clean towels in the cabinets, help yourself. Soap in the laundry room and the spare room is down the end of the hall,” Zee continued propelling her forward, briefly wondering where his sanity had gone.
“This is a really bad idea,” Erika stumbled on the landing, her hand on the wide wooden railing.
“For who?”
“Believe it or not, for you,” Erika couldn’t stop the long yawn from breaking free, her body wedged against the railing.
“Whatever you’re running from, I’m pretty sure I can handle it,” he told her easily, shoving his key into the door and pushing it open. “Please. Even people hiding from things need a friend.”
“Even friends can be bought,” she said almost to herself.
“Then consider yourself lucky, Erika, because I’m giving it away for free today only, and trust me, I can’t be bought,” Zee gave her a little shove inside and saw the indecision in her eyes. “I’m downstairs if you need anything.”
“Thank you.”
Zee just nodded and closed the door. He made it to the ground level, cleaning tables and tossing trash into the bins when Kyle gestured him to the counter. He could see the
wariness in the younger man’s stance and frowned.
“Cop. Said she had some questions,” he said softly.
“Pretty sure we’re legal, Kyle,” but Zee had a feeling what the lady cop was there for and went to talk to her, Erika’s words echoing in his mind and making him frown. Even friends can be bought.
“Xavier Moore?” Natalie Templeton showed him her badge before sliding it back into her pocket. “Detective Natalie Templeton. Do you have a few minutes for some questions?”
“Detective,” he gestured to an empty table. “Zee, please and I’m the owner. Privileges. Can I offer you a cold drink? On the house.”
“I’d love an icy root beer,” she said, waiting while he called Kyle over and made the request. “Thank you,” she pulled a large photo from the folder she carried. “Have you seen this woman?”
Zee looked at the photo and kept his features perfectly stoic, his shoulders up and down in a slow, practiced move.
“We get plenty of customers that could fit that look,” he kept staring at the too flouncy wedding gown, long golden hair and very sad blue eyes. “Who is she?”
“Erika Vincent.”
“Doesn’t look the criminal type…never seen a mug shot in a wedding dress before,” he said casually, studying the photo. There was an almost sad, confused look in the blue eyes.
“She’s not a criminal, Mr. Moore. According to her parents, she’s missing,” Natalie had seen the recognition in his eyes.
“Parents…not husband?”
She almost laughed at the attempt to be casual, his eyes not leaving the photo. She had to admit to seeing that look in her new husband’s eyes often over the last week.
“She isn’t married. She vanished two days before the ceremony,” Natalie slid the photo back into the folder.
“Vanished or got cold feet? Maybe she had a boyfriend and changed her mind,” Zee rationalized thoughtfully.
“I was here getting sandwiches the other day and I was positive I saw her sitting at one of your outside tables,” Natalie put the straw in her mouth and drank the cold soda.
“I’m pretty sure I didn’t know anyone like this but I remember seeing you a few days back,” Zee met the violet eyes with a shrug.
“I think I need to find out what Miss Vincent is running away from,” Natalie stood up and extended her palm. “Thanks for your help.”
“If I see her, what should I tell her?” Zee walked with her toward the small parking lot to the left of the shop.
“If she’s afraid and needs help,” Natalie handed him her card. “Have her call me, and only me. Until I find out the why, and I’m pretty sure I’m missing a big piece of the puzzle, I’m going on the assumption that she chose to leave. And since she’s well over eighteen, I can’t very well force her to go somewhere she doesn’t want to be. Even if I had an idea where she might be. Have a great day,” Natalie waved and pulled keys from her pocket, humming to herself as she went to her car.
Zee went back to the counter, sending Kyle to making the subs and pulling drinks for the lunch crowd filtering in on a bright and sunny spring Friday.
He was itching to go up and make sure she hadn’t run when he came back to the shop, but continued working until five. He closed out the register and prepared the deposit, sliding it into the safe in his office and making sure the alarms and doors were locked. He checked his watch on the way upstairs. He had half an hour to get ready.
Zee stared down at the woman stretched out on his bed.
The photo had been physically accurate, to an extent.
She’d lost a few pounds. Now that the cap wasn’t on her head, the long gold hair easily curled to the middle of her back.
What are you running from, Erika Vincent?
He was on his heels when the pale lashes fluttered and opened lazily.
“Hi,” Erika frowned, finding a place in her memory for the rugged face now staring at her. “You have pretty eyes.”
“I was thinking the same thing of you.”
“Oh…I must have been really tired.”
“I pulled your laundry from the dryer. Interested in going to a party with me tonight? I could use a date,” Zee listened to his own words and winced.
“Somehow you being dateless seems a little improbable, Zee,” she frowned and pushed herself up, too aware of the thick quilt she’d wrapped herself in. She kept it gathered close and raked a set of slim fingers through her hair. “What is your real name? That seems like a handle someone gave you when you surfed.”
Erika watched the corner of his mouth lift, a cute sun drenched smile that fit the tanned, rugged features.
“Xavier Moore,” he said after a long minute, his head tipping forward slightly. “I saw the little black dress in your collection. And I’d bet you have shoes in that giant bag you carry around.”
“A few basic necessities every girl should have,” she admitted carefully. “What kind of party?”
“Congratulations for a good friend. He finished his physician training,” he liked the pretty smile, the full lips tipped a little. “So will you come with me? I know Cecily, his mother and she’ll have great food and knowing Tre, some decent music.”
“I’m not in the guest room, am I?”
“My room. But it’s okay. I put your clothes in the other room and I’ll turn around while you…wrap up and head down the hall.” Zee stood up and stepped back. “I can go in the other room if it would help.”
“I saw your wall. You were in the military. You’re much thinner without all the gear,” she said quietly, sliding to the edge and standing up, gathering the quilt around her to keep from tripping. “I think I might like a party, thank you. Won’t take me a few minutes, I promise,” Erika managed to get behind the bedroom door before letting the quilt fall, collecting it carefully and laying it on the bed.
He’d laid out her clothes in nice, neat piles. All folded and stacked.
She’d stuffed her huge carpet bag as full as she could before she disappeared.
And now all of it was laid out on the double bed in an apartment of a man she just met. Erika found what she wanted, dressing quickly and adjusting the sleeveless, square neckline of the little black dress and zipping the back with a quick turn in the mirror.
Not as snug as it used to be, she thought, finding the few pieces of make-up from inside her pack and applying a light pink lipstick, some highlight around her eyes and some concealer for the circles beneath them. She sighed and nodded before slipping the four inch heels on and buckling the very slender straps around her ankles.
Chapter Two
Xavier Moore felt the brick wall slam into his psyche the instant she stepped from the room at the end of the hall. This was what she had been hiding beneath the loose jeans and way too big sweater.
She was about five-ten, long legged and slender. The black dress stopped just above her knees and the strappy heels were open toed and showed off sparkling pink toes. She looked up and offered a slightly tentative but pleased smile before striding forward and stopping in front of him.
“This is much different for you than the T-shirt and jeans,” she told him brightly, fingers up and straightening the silver-blue tie he’d knotted over the pale blue silk shirt. He definitely filled out the dark blue jacket and slacks. All the way to the very shiny shoes.
Zee stared down into the wide blue eyes. She had a rounded chin, small nose, sweetly contoured cheeks and a high forehead. The bangs he’d seen were brushed to the side and the long hair twisted and pinned in a thick soft braid against the back of her head. And he felt like he was suddenly on his way to the homecoming dance.
With the girl every guy wanted on his arm.
And he’d convinced her to go with him.
“Zee? You’re staring,” Erika bit her lip and stepped back. She looked down and back up, frowning. “Did I forget something?” She used one finger and pulled her bodice out. “Nope…everything bottled up.”
“Sorry, Erika, don’t mind me,” Zee
inhaled and stepped to the side. “After you. I think I was caught in some kind of time lock there for a minute and the fact that you’re incredibly beautiful made my brain shut down. What are you doing hiding under those clothes way too big for you and a hat that made you look like you belonged on a fishing boat on the coast of Greece?”
Erika listened and held onto the rail as she went to the street and waited.
“Are you always like this?” She moved forward when his palm came around her and settled on her hip, guiding her past the parking lot to the garage behind the building. “Thank you for the compliment.”
“Like what? Curious? You’re very welcome and every word of it was sincerely true.”
“Nosy? Throwing yourself into the middle of something that…”
“We’re friends. Friends are curious.”
“Friends?” Erika dragged her tongue around her lips. “Friends protect one another, even when they don’t realize they need it.”
“A mystery woman,” he clicked the keys in his hand and went to open the door for her, the low sports car chirping at his command. “I’ve never had someone try and protect me before.”
“A sandwich shop owner with a Jaguar,” Erika raised one pale brow and slid into the very comfortable contoured seat. “And if you’re this outgoing with everyone you meet, you need someone to protect you.”
“Guess we both have past lives that made us what we are today,” he said simply, backing the car out and closing the garage. He glanced over as he drove, guiding the car along the coastal rode to the resort. “Believe it or not, I’ve never offered the use of my apartment to anyone before. Something just made me think you needed a safe place to be for a while.”
“Thank you. I honestly do appreciate it. I had no idea I was so tired.”
“Maybe I could help, Erika.”
“I’m thirty-one years old. Independent and self-sufficient,” she intoned cheerfully.
Zee listened to the words that sounded like she repeated them regularly to herself.
WindSwept Narrows: #22 Erika & Vianne Page 1
