Deadly Obsession
Page 34
Reya took a deep breath. "Tell ya what. If you don’t want to go back to the dorms, then why not go through the boxes of inventory in the back? See what all we need and check the emails for any interesting queries or photos that Horizons might be interested in."
Mica nodded and slid off the stool. Her sandals slapped against the hardwood floors, echoing in the shop.
Charlie huffed out a breath. "She’s been like that since the phone rang earlier. I think it was the roommate’s mother."
"Understandable." Reya bent and picked up her purse, briefcase and bag. "Anything interesting as of yet?"
Charlie shook his head and went to the next display case. "Nope. But then, technically, we’re not open yet, so who knows what else the day may bring."
"If we’re lucky, hopefully, nothing."
"Funny thing about expectations and days and what fate deals out. They rarely all work together as we’d like them too."
Charlie had the annoying habit of spouting off sage advice as if he memorized little Confucius quotes.
And Reya hardly needed Charlie to let her in on that little secret. She’d been around plenty, long enough to know that life, or in her case, lives were never what was expected. They were filled with twists and turns and unexpected surprises.
Her motto--expect the unexpected.
She worked through another hour, rearranging things, setting things as she wanted them, then rearranging them again. She needed to change the bedding in the window display case to something lighter. The sun had already faded the black to gray in places. Then again... Something shimmered along her nerves. She glanced out the window, scanning the street, but nothing alerted her.
"What is up with you? Is it this thing with Mica?"
Reya pulled herself back and rolled her eyes. "You’re such a sympathetic soul, Charles."
He hated his proper name. Which was why she wasn’t surprised to see his frown. "I am sympathetic. I just meant--"
"I know and no that’s not.... At least..." She shrugged. She couldn’t explain it to Charlie. He was--she tilted her head--normal, as far as the locals went.
The man had worked for her for three years since she bought the property from him. He’d leased the spot as an art gallery, but she’d wanted more, a shop, a jewelry boutique. But she had liked that he was settled and somewhat established even if he was tired of the day to day and wanted something else.
Strange. He’s just sort of stayed on.
He was the same height as she, had that distinguished, gray-templed and character-lined male face that could fall anywhere between forty and sixty. His eyes were a sharp hazel.
If she were guessing, she’d have to say almost fifty. Maybe a couple years older.
"What?" His salt and peppered brows beetled.
"Oh, um..." Reya shook her head. "You look nice today."
He flashed her a smile full of charm and the hint of the devil. "Black and beige are my colors, I’ve always said."
"How old are you?"
"Is that a come on?"
"Charles."
"Fifty-two." He straightened one of the black velvet busts that held a strand of citrine and topaz, wrapped and linked in bronze. He licked his lips. "Care to go out to dinner with a fifty-two-year-old?"
If she were what she appeared, the man was old enough to be her father. But then things were never what they appeared to be.
She grinned and ran a hand down her tunic jacket. "I’ll think about it."
The bell above the door chimed and energy tingled along her skin. She knew without turning around who stood there. Like a bolt of lightning, electricity arced through her, shooting from her head, swimming along her nerves, and twisting her gut to pool at the base of her spine.
Reya swayed and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. And she smelt him.
Slowly, she turned. He stood there in his starched Wrangler jeans, boots and button down, a gun clipped to his belt along with a badge. His hair was a bit longer than most, just grazing the top of his collar. His face was still the same, not too narrow, nor wide or blunted. It was a strong face, chiseled with sharp angles and lines. The dark of his eyes shimmered as his gaze met hers, and she couldn’t help running a look down the long, lean lines of him.
She sighed.
"Hello, Reya."
About this Title
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Table of Contents
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFETEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
EPILOGUE
Chapter One