He knew one French word, but he refrained from saying it as he stepped into the cold. He hoped that Becky’s visit with her parents happened soon and lasted a long time. The idea of living in the same town with her took some of the steam out of his resolve to settle down in the area. The idea of pursuing a job that would have him working at the same high school was idiocy.
He started walking down the beach, hunching his shoulders against the cold. His frustration started to wear off as he walked along the water and listened to the winter waves brushing the shore. The Boston Ballet. He shook his head with an almost grin.
He planned on getting back at the innkeeper’s sister, and he’d have fun doing it.
fourteen
It was good to be back at the inn. Becky dropped her suitcase in her bedroom and walked through the first floor, turning up the heat and giving the rooms a once-over. Everything looked as she’d left it before Christmas. She turned on the indoor and outdoor holiday lights and smiled. They were very festive, and she was in no hurry to take them down.
No guests were scheduled during the month of January, which was no surprise. A less hectic pace would be nice as she started the coming semester. Maddy’s family would be a day or two behind in their return, and as far as Becky knew, no work would be done on the house while John was gone. She truly had the place to herself for a couple of days.
Plenty of wood remained stacked by the fireplace in the sunroom. She’d settle in for the evening with a book or a movie. The last week and a half with her parents had gone well, but it had left her with a lot to think about. She wasn’t ready to do that, yet.
Half an hour and most of a box of matches later, a fire roared in the fireplace. Becky wrapped herself in a blanket and curled up with a book she’d found in Maddy’s little library on the corner shelf. Three days remained until classes started, and Becky was determined to enjoy the time before taking on the kids again.
She opened her thriller and hoped it didn’t get too intense. She didn’t usually scare easily, but she did feel a little isolated, alone in Maddy’s big house. She glanced out the window, hoping to see Otis’ lights on next door. He was either away visiting family or friends, or maybe he’d just gone to bed early. She hoped it was the latter. She liked the idea of having someone close by.
***
At ten-thirty, she was still reading, riveted by the story unfolding in her hands. The woman in her book was also alone, not in a big old house, but in a deserted bus station. She’d figured out ‘whodunit’ and had missed the last bus out. The woman huddled in the bathroom, hiding and hoping the ‘who’ wouldn’t do it again.
Becky put the book down to get her bearings. Her heart rate was up a bit, and she had to give the author credit. It had been a long time since a book had done that to her. She looked around; everything was as it should be, though she needed to stoke the fire. She considered the dwindling pile of wood. A trip outside would be necessary to replenish the stack. No way I’m doing that tonight.
She snuggled into her blanket. She should probably go to bed, but she wanted to stay by the fire while it had a little life left in it. Besides, she wasn’t about to leave her friend alone in the bus station until morning. She’d read until everyone was safe and sound.
***
“So, how was your Christmas?”
Grace yawned. “Becky? What time is it?”
Becky tried to sound casual. “Oh, around midnight, I guess. Sorry to call so late. I just got in a little while ago and I thought I’d check in and see how you were doing.”
Grace yawned again. “Well, I’m fine, but I was sleeping. I have to get up early to open the shop.”
“Oh, right, of course. I’m sorry, I lost track of time.”
There was a momentary silence on the other end of the line. “Becky, are you okay?”
She tried not to look out the oversized windows onto the porch. Why had they decided against shades? Any serial killer could be looking in at her and she’d never know it.
“Becky?”
“I’m sorry, I’m fine.” She pulled one of the pillows on top of her. “Okay, well, honestly, I’ve been reading kind of a scary book, and I got myself a little freaked out.”
She could hear Grace’s sigh. “Put the book down and go to bed.”
“Well, that’s the plan.”
“But?” Grace’s voice took on a different level of concern. Becky felt bad, but she was just so happy to be speaking to a live person. Maddy hadn’t answered her phone.
“Well, I’m sitting in the sun room with all these windows, and, I don’t know, I could swear I heard someone out on the porch.”
“Oh. That is creepy.”
Becky would much rather be told she was crazy.
“Well, what’s Burt doing?” Grace asked. “He’d bark if there were anyone out there, right?”
“Sure, he would, but he’s not here right now. I’m supposed to pick him up at Frank’s in the morning.” If I live through the night.
“Oh, shoot.”
“Yeah, I really wish he were here. I wouldn’t think twice about the noises - I never have before.”
“Well, maybe you should call the police. They won’t mind coming and checking the place out.”
“I really don’t want to make a big deal out of it. It’s probably nothing.”
“You don’t sound like it’s nothing, and you usually don’t get scared like this.”
“Well, yeah, not usually.”
“Seriously, Becky, that’s what they get paid for. Just call them.”
“I don’t know. I think it’s just the book. I swore off romances, so I tried a thriller.”
Another audible sigh. “Well, that’s what you get for swearing off romance.”
Becky rolled her eyes.
“Want me to send Tank over? He’s not that far down the beach.”
Becky could hear her friend’s grin. “I’d rather have a S.W.A.T. team storm the place.”
“He wouldn’t mind stopping by and making sure you’re safe.”
“Are you kidding me? He’d mind like crazy. And I’d never live it down. Hold on ...” Becky was sure she’d seen a shadow moving across the porch. She swallowed a little squeal.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes,” she whispered. “But I think I saw something out there.”
“This is ridiculous. I’m calling the police.”
“What if it’s the officer who always comes to the shop whenever I’m there? He’s relentless. He’ll think I’m making some creepy move on him.”
There was silence as Grace conceded her point. “Well, there are, like, half a dozen guys on the force. And that one woman.”
“She’s terrifying.”
“I know. Probably just what you need.”
“Well, then I’d feel really stupid. I just need to deal with this by myself.”
“Which is why you’ve kept me on the phone for the last ten minutes.”
“I just wanted a witness.”
“Right. I’ll explain everything I saw to the police.”
Becky smiled a little. Then she heard another unwelcome sound. “Oh no. My phone is dying. I have to plug in.”
“Well, call me back when you do.”
“I will. Thanks, Grace.”
***
“Just go check on her. Please. And Tank?”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t scare her.”
“Okay. “
“I mean it. I’ve been on the receiving end of your pranks. Don’t do it. Not tonight. She’s really freaked out.”
“Got it. I’ll just go make sure the house is secure.”
“Tank ...”
“What?” His tone oozed innocence.
“You never talk like that.”
“I’m a changed man, Grace. Just a good deed doer out to do a good deed.”
“If you scare her, I’ll ... Just don’t do it, Tank.”
He grinned again. “Good night, Grace.”
Tank traded sweats for jeans and threw on a pair of boots. He hadn’t been asleep when Grace called, so it wasn’t a big deal to go on her little errand. He’d been watching some sports re-caps and then an old movie while he worked on replacing the kitchen faucet. The owners of the house had given him carte blanche on any repairs he felt like doing. So kind of them.
There were a dozen or so houses between his and Maddy’s Inn and though the air was cold, it was a fairly easy jog down the beach. He’d actually sort of missed fighting with Becky over the holidays and was looking forward to sparring with her again, after he taught her a lesson about reading scary books in the middle of the night. He grinned again at the thought. He’d made a science out of scaring his little sister when they were young. It wouldn’t be too difficult to recall some of those well-honed skills.
Becky would be furious. Tank could hardly wait to have her angry with him again. He kind of liked her flashing eyes.
His breath caught a little as his body processed the cold. What kind of an idiot would be out terrorizing women on a night like this? He slowed his jog as he approached the house. Okay, he was that idiot. He hoped he was the only one.
The inn was lit up like a jack-o-lantern. Didn’t Becky know that anyone could look in and watch every move she made? The thought was disconcerting, and he picked up his pace again, jogging up to the house. He still doubted that anyone was prowling around, not in this little town, but if someone was out there, Becky was giving him a show.
It was the middle of winter. Did the woman ever wear pants?
***
Becky drummed her fingers on the kitchen counter, cursing her old phone battery. She’d forgotten that if she let it completely run out, it was a while before the phone would charge enough for her to turn it back on. She could use Maddy’s house phone, but she didn’t have Grace’s number memorized. The phone book was ... somewhere. She wasn’t about to go looking for it.
She pulled the rather small blanket around her shoulders. It really hung more like a cape and didn’t offer a whole lot of warmth. Her pajama shorts and T-shirt weren’t cutting it like they had when the fire was blazing. She’d have to put warmer pajamas on when she went to bed - if she went to bed.
She shivered. That stupid book had turned her into a jittery mess. She was furious with herself, but she just couldn’t seem to tap into her rational mind. Every time she started to calm down there was a new shadowed movement outside, or the wind blew a branch against a window, or the stupid old house would creak in some terrifying new way. Becky was about to jump out of her skin. She really needed to get Grace back on the line and get some perspective.
She tried turning the phone on again. Nothing. She took a deep breath. It was time to put on some jeans and a sweatshirt and face her fears. She couldn’t go on like this. Facing the windows, she backed up toward the door to her room. She reached back for the countertop she knew was there, missing it with her hand, but hitting it with her hip. The jolt made her jump again. She turned and sped into her room.
Turning on the overhead light, she spun around, trying to face every possible danger at once. Nothing seemed out of place. Her heart pounding, she slowly walked to the door that led out to the side porch. There was no reason it should be unlocked; no one had used the door in two weeks. Still, she had to check.
The lock was secure, and she was breathing a sigh of relief when she heard a creak overhead. She froze and waited for a painfully long moment. Nothing. If there was something upstairs, it stopped moving. She slowly let out the gasp that had been her last breath. She looked at the window and then overhead again. Pants. She needed pants and something for her feet. Then she’d face whatever was out there or above her.
***
Tank circled the house and found no recent tracks in the snow. All of the first floor lights on the beach side were on, including the Christmas lights. The ones in the front of the house were off, the Christmas lights excepted. All in all, it looked very festive. He circled Otis’ house for good measure and then the house on the other side of Maddy’s Inn. He was relieved to find no one lurking around.
He looked up at the second floor of the inn. He supposed it was possible that someone was up there, but he hadn’t seen more than Becky’s prints leading from her car to the porch. If someone were inside, they’d been there for a while. Tank didn’t think that was likely.
He walked back to the beach side of the house and contemplated his next step. He could call Grace and tell her that things looked secure. She could tell Becky, and, though she’d be irritated that he’d been creeping around the place, she might rest easier. On the other hand, on the off-chance that someone was inside the house, he should probably walk through and make sure.
He patted his phone pocket; empty, of course. He’d have to go for option two.
He stepped up onto the porch. Scaring Becky had seemed like fun a half hour ago. Now, not so much. She’d be furious with him for getting in her business, and most likely there’d be no reason for him to be there at all. He walked to the door. Should he knock? What would scare her least?
***
Fully dressed, and her hair brushed for good measure, Becky felt more confident. Reason was starting to return. The book had put ideas into her head that were simply not rational. She was out in the middle of nowhere, not in a crime-ridden section of a big city. The house was old and creaky and the wind was howling more than usual. That was it. She was a big girl, and she wasn’t going to hide from her fears, anymore. She’d turn every light on and search every room. She’d even check the porch for any sign of a disturbance out there. Then she’d throw her book into a snowdrift and go to sleep. She almost smiled at how silly she’d been acting. She and Grace would have a good laugh about it in the morning.
Walking into the kitchen, she considered the windows that normally offered a breathtaking view of the ocean. She tried to recall the happy association, and not just see a row of black voids, separated by flimsy little curtains. She took a deep breath.
I can do this.
A big gust of wind howled through, and Becky jumped as the remaining logs clunked and settled in the fireplace. Her heart pounding, she walked into the sunroom and confirmed the source of the racket. She took the fireplace poker and pushed the wood toward the back, deciding to hold onto the handy metal stick as she checked the porch. That’s where she’d heard the most alarming sounds earlier. She’d peek out and make sure there were no footprints, and then search the rest of the house.
The inner door opened with more creaking than Becky had ever recalled hearing before. She flipped on the porch light and slowly opened the outer door. A little bit of snow had blown up onto the porch; a nice even layer that would clearly show ...
A scream caught in Becky’s throat as she noted the huge prints in the snow. All of her fears flooded back over her like a tidal wave and she barely had the presence of mind to raise the fireplace poker when the hulking figure advanced.
***
She was going to try to kill him. Tank looked on in disbelief as Becky raised her weapon with both hands and prepared to bring it down on his head. This is how she answered the door?
Apparently, knocking was not a good idea.
He did the only thing that would keep both of them from serious injury. He caught her hands, taking control of the poker, and spun her around. He applied gentle but decisive pressure until the metal rod dropped at her feet. Then he pulled her back into his chest, giving the poker a kick across the porch for good measure.
It was not exactly the rescue mission he had planned.
***
Becky had never felt anything like the raw panic that took over when she came up against a real intruder. The adrenaline surge was an unparalleled sensation. She truly felt like she could do serious damage with the fireplace poker, and wasn’t the least bit hesitant to try. It never occurred to her that the intruder in the dark, hooded jacket was someone she knew and loathed.
It did finally occur to her when the beast had her in some sort of body lock. She’d fought against the supposedly unknown villain, unleashing all of the fear that her book and too much time in an empty house had inspired. Of course, it was Tank, there to witness and even inspire another round of indignity on Maddy’s porch. She needed to find a new place to humiliate herself.
First, she needed to find a way out of his vise grip. She could barely breathe. With an effort, she let her body relax, and in the moment before Tank let her loose she could feel his own adrenaline pumping. So maybe she’d scared him a little, too. There was some satisfaction in that.
Satisfaction, she could handle. The other emotions beginning to surface as she remained wrapped in his admittedly very strong arms were not emotions she cared to explore. She began to tense up again and Tank lowered her gently to the porch. He loosened his grip but didn’t let go.
“You okay?”
“I’ll be okay when you let - me - go,” she replied, twisting her limbs free.
She rounded on him immediately. “What are you doing out here?” She shoved him for good measure.
Now that she knew she was safe, relatively speaking, a whole new kind of adrenaline kicked in. She was furious. She wanted to shove him and punch him and pound him for all of the fear and anxiety and the host of new and unexpected emotions she’d experienced in the last few minutes.
So she did.
***
Tank focused on catching his breath. It didn’t help that Becky was in full-on attack mode again, but at least she didn’t have the fireplace poker this round. He stood with his fists clenched at his sides and let her shove and punch. If she reached for his face, he’d stop her. For now, she needed to vent. She must have been really scared. He felt kind of bad.
Done With Men Forever (Clairmont Series Book 3) Page 11
