His gaze bore into her and she felt her skin crawling again. Then he nodded, turned, and walked out the front door.
Tabitha was still watching him leave when Adam came up behind her.
“Need some help?” He asked.
“No,” Tabitha turned, enormously relieved to see him. She was always glad, but this time she also felt relief.
It wasn’t a good sign. She had no right to be feeling those feelings toward Adam. Part of what she’d told Lance was true.
Adam had things he should be doing - he had employees to supervise, stock to check, payroll and invoices to pay. He just couldn’t keep his mind off of Tabitha Black. The more he got to know her, the more he wanted to know. He didn’t know anything about her really. She held her cards close to the chest and that made him even more curious.
Besides, he had until next week to finish up the payroll. Everything else could wait. Logging out of his computer program, he checked his watch. He should go over and check on Aunt Allie. It was a good excuse to see Tabitha.
He smiled at his logic. But if he had his way, he would just leave his shop to the college girls and be over there helping out Tabitha. She needed his help more than he was needed over here. This place practically ran itself anyway. Thanks to his dad.
The back door to Aunt Allie’s shop was open as usual. He was beginning to wonder if maybe they should start keeping it locked. He’d never worried when it was just Aunt Allie, but now that Tabitha was here, it made him wonder. He’d mention it to her. She could even give him a key. Or he could use the front door just as easily.
He saw her next to the fireplace shaking her head at that Newt boy. Definitely got to start locking the back door. It was people like Newt that they needed to keep from slipping in through the back.
He waited and watched. Newt stormed out, then Adam approached Tabitha.
“Was that Newt?” Adam asked, after watching him storm off.
She shrugged and turned those lethal green eyes on him. “I think his name is Lance. He’s leaving Claire along, but he kept demanding to take me on a date.”
“He’s not too bright, is he?” Adam said, his actual thoughts much more vicious. Whether he was calling himself Newt or Lance was really irrelevant.
“Apparently not. I tried to tell him I was seeing someone.”
Adam blew out his breathe. He would think about that later. “That wouldn’t matter to him. He’s been known to go out with married women.”
“Maybe that’s why he’s using an alias,” she said, a smile at the corner of her lips. She looked away and focused her attention wiping her hands on a towel. She looked like she needed a break. Instinctively, he reached out to move a strand of hair from her eyes.
She jumped and threw an arm in front of her face.
“Whoa!” Adam said, holding his hands up. “I would never hurt you.”
“I know,” she said, “you just startled me.” She didn’t meet his gaze, but instead, picked up the fireplace poker and focused on shoving logs around.
Adam knew she was just saving face. There was no conviction beneath her words. Someone had hit her. He’d been thinking she was a little jumpy, but now he was certain about the reason behind it.
His protective instincts kicked in and he had to fight the urge to make her tell him who it was so he could go kick his ass.
Fortunately, he knew better. He knew that wasn’t the way to earn her trust.
His sister had been married to a guy who hit her twice before she was able to get out of the relationship. She hadn’t known how to leave him. Fortunately, she’d had enough family support that she was able to get away from him before it was too late.
It seemed Tabitha had escaped also. That would explain why she was here with her aunt now. He’d been there for his sister when she’d needed a sense of normalcy. He could do the same for Tabitha.
“I was thinking,” he began, “Can I take you out for dinner tonight?”
He didn’t miss the way her eyes widened. Or the way she flinched away from him, even if only imperceptibly.
“I don’t know,” she said, keeping her gaze on the flames. Her hands were still now and she was leaning on the fireplace poker. “Maybe I shouldn’t go off and leave Aunt Allie.”
Newt – aka Lance must have awakened some old wounds. Maybe he’d start with Newt before he moved to this girl’s ex. He clinched his fingers into a fist. It had been awhile since he’d put a man in his place. Either way, until he figured out what was really going on, he needed to tread lightly.
“Okay,” he said. “And you must be exhausted.”
She looked up at him then with something in her eyes he couldn’t quite interpret. Her lips quivered ever so slightly. He wanted to feel his lips against hers. He wanted to soothe whatever it was that caused her angst.
Unable to resist, he reached out, lightly ran his hand along her arm. Her lips parted. It took all the reserve he could muster to release her and turn away. He wasn’t, however, ready to give up. “I can have pizza delivered and we can eat with Aunt Allie.”
She smiled with such relief that his heart skipped a beat.
“That would be perfect,” she said.
“Okay. You’re closing at seven?”
“I don’t even know what time we close,” she said, pushing her hair off her neck and letting it fall again. “But seven sounds late enough.”
“By the way, if Newt… Lance shows up in here again, you let me know. And I’ll make sure he leaves.”
She smiled teasingly at him. “What are you gonna do?”
“I’m going to have a word with him.”
She seemed to assess him, then nodded. “Yes, I suppose that might work.”
“You just have to let me know,” he said.
“I think I can take care of Newt,” she informed him, something in her tone convincing him, “but if I need backup, I’ll be sure to let you know.”
“Ok, then,” he said.
Adam wasn’t sure what to make of Tabitha in that moment. He’d taken her for a vulnerable young woman, but now he was seeing a teasing facet of her overlaid with a confidence that he hadn’t expected.
Chapter Eleven
When she saw him, Tabitha almost dropped the half dozen books she was bringing from the back of the shop. Standing at the check-out counter, he was engrossed in a conversation with Claire.
Frozen where she stood, Tabitha watched, barely breathing.
He had his eyes on the floor, but he was smiling and nodding.
She couldn’t hear what they were saying. Didn’t really want to know.
Needed to know.
He must have been watching for her. Claire must have told him where she was, because he looked up, glanced at Claire, then looked straight at Tabitha.
Even from across the room, his eyes seemed to pierce straight to her soul.
How could she ever have thought she loved this man?
By the time she took the next breath, he was studying the floor again.
She shivered.
“Tabitha,” Claire called. “There you are. Bobby was waiting for you.”
She moved forward slowly, her every instinct telling her to turn and run.
He said something to Claire before taking a step in Tabitha’s direction.
She steeled herself and took two more steps forward. Then her body refused to go any further.
“How have you been?” he asked.
She could almost believe that he cared. “How did you find me?” She asked, her voice barely a whisper.
“It wasn’t easy,” he said, lightly, moving forward, taking her by the arm, and steering her out of Claire’s earshot.
His hold on her arm was a little tight. The familiar grip that would leave bruises under her sleeves. She tried to pull away, but he only held her tighter.
“Let go of me,” she said under her breath.
“You were hard to find,” he insisted, grinding his fingers into her arm. “The least you can do is to b
e civil.”
She winced, biting her lip to keep from crying out as the cheery music of Jingle Bells played in the background
With what he made sure looked like simple guidance he shoved her into an empty chair and, with a smile plastered on his face, sat on the coffee table across from her, effectively blocking her in.
Tabitha was certain that anyone watching would see them as just a couple of old friends catching up.
“What do you want? Why are you here?”
“Don’t you think a husband has a right to talk to his wife?”
“I’m not your wife.”
“Is that so? Did I miss the divorce hearing?” he answered, sarcasm dripping from every word. “Oh, no, that’s right, it’s in two months.”
“Six weeks.”
He laughed. “It’s funny how we keep up with upcoming things that we dread,” he said.
She glared at him, but he only turned his gaze to the floor.
Tabitha hated that about him. She hated that he wouldn’t look at her when she was mad at him.
Oh, it made him seem submissive to anyone observing them, but she knew that beneath that submissive demeanor lived a heart of evil.
Why had it taken her almost two years to figure this out?
He glanced back up at her when she was silent.
“What do you want?” she repeated.
“I just wanted to come by and see how you’re doing.”
She shook her head, but he wasn’t looking at her.
“I don’t want you here,” she said softly, knowing the danger of the words.
He lifted his gaze to hers. He had that look in his eyes and she cringed. She knew that if Claire hadn’t been watching them, he would have hit her then.
She knew that he wouldn’t hit her with an audience. He wouldn’t hit her, but he could still hurt her. She would have a bruise on her arm tomorrow. He’d been known to pull her into what looked like a loving embrace all the while pulling her hair. Or pinching her.
She started to rise, but he shifted his leg to block her.
“I didn’t ask what you wanted,” he said, with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I don’t much appreciate you running off like you did.”
“I had to come here to help out,” she said, reflexively. Instinctively not mentioning her aunt just in case he didn’t know about her.
“Your old aunt fell down and hurt herself,” he said with a nod, “but that’s not why you came here.”
Tabitha shivered. How did he know this? How long had he been watching her? She’d thought she was safe here, but all this time, Bobby had known where she was.
The fear that was doubtless evident in her face must have been what he was looking for.
“I have to go now,” he said, “but I’ll see you later.”
“Goodbye,” Claire said. I never want to see you again.
“I’ll be seeing you.” With a smug expression on his handsome face, he rubbed his hand against her shoulder and, after kissing her on the cheek, sauntered out the front door, waving good-bye to Claire on his way out.
Tabitha wiped at her cheek. Charming. That’s how he had gotten her. By being charming.
If only he weren’t so good at hiding his evilness.
Finally, taking a deep breath, she looked around the store. Except for her and Claire, it was empty. It was as though Bobby had scared them all away.
As she stood up, Claire approached her. “He’s a nice guy. How do you know him?”
Tabitha groaned inwardly, unconsciously rubbing her arm. “We go way back,” she said.
“I hope he stops by again soon.”
Tabitha blew out her breathe. “Yeah,” she said. “I’m sure he will.” She said and started toward the stairs. “If you need me, I’ll be in the tub.”
Her hands shook as she filled a cap with bubble bath and ran it under the hot water. After checking the lock on the door a second time, she pulled her hair back with a band, and stepping into the water, she sank into the bubbles.
It was only then that she began to feel a little in control.
Bobby had been so charming and seemed so harmless when she met him at work. …
They’d been married about six months before she began to suspect something wasn’t right. Sometimes when she asked him a question he wouldn’t answer. He’d just look at her or ignore her. Or keep asking her why she wanted to know.
And he was jealous. Even if she spoke to a male student, he would be irritated.
They’d been married only a couple of weeks short of two years before he hit her. Actually, the first time was a shove.
The second time, he had grabbed her arm, leaving an ugly bruise. The next time, he’d twisted her arm.
Each time, he brought her flowers the next day – yellow roses. He’d been apologetic. Said he’d let his temper get the most of him.
On their two-year anniversary, he’d hit her in the ribs. And the yellow roses had followed – the same day.
That’s when she’d gone to the counselor. At the time, she hadn’t found the counselor to be very helpful. He’d merely listened and reflected her words back to her. But the more she thought about it, the more she’d been able to sort out what she needed to do.
She heard Aunt Allie’s television turn on to the sound of the Jeopardy theme song and shook herself out of her reverie. This was no time to spiral down memory lane. She was sharing dinner tonight with a good man.
Not all men were mean like Bobby. Tabitha knew that. She hadn’t been raised around abuse. Hence her predicament.
As she toweled off, she repeated that sentiment to herself. Most guys are nice guys.
Adam was a nice guy. She didn’t want him to know what she’d been through. And yet...
Maybe if he did know, he wouldn’t look at her… that way. That way that suggested that perhaps he might be a little bit interested in her. The way that gave her ideas about being interested in him. He was a good man. He deserved someone who didn’t have a dark past. Someone who wasn’t tarnished with a divorce in progress.
She could be friends with him, but nothing more. Not that he had indicated that he wanted anything more than a friendship.
Using her round brush, she meticulously dried her hair, then began carefully applying her make-up, choosing a soft brown eye shadow with a glittery hue.
“You’re going to spoil us if you keep all this up,” Aunt Allie, said as she took a bite of the cheese pizza, her plate balanced in her lap. Tabitha sat on the end of her bed and Adam had slid a chair next to the nightstand.
“And what’s wrong with being a little spoiled?” Adam asked, opening a bottle of soda he’d brought along and pouring it over ice from Aunt Allie’s freezer into glasses from her cabinet. As far as he knew, he hadn’t forgotten anything. Yet, Tabitha seemed more reserved than usual. Aunt Allie seemed to have noticed it, as well.
“This is sort of like a picnic, isn’t it Tabby?” Aunt Allie asked.
Tabitha nodded with a strained smile. “Yes, it’s nice and you didn’t have to get out of bed.”
“I have to tell you that I’m getting out of bed tomorrow. I can’t just lie here any longer.”
“They doctor said you had to wait until your next appointment,” Tabitha said.
“What does he know?” Aunt Allie asked.
“What are you going to do first?” Adam asked.
“I might just go downstairs and sit.”
“You wouldn’t be bored. About twenty-five people asked after you today.”
“We had that much business? Goodness and here I am stuck up here in the bed.”
“I guess that’s the way it goes,” Adam said, before taking a bite of pizza. “You must have gotten all the business. I barely had three people come in.”
Tabitha took a deep breath, and, finally, for the first time that night, made eye contact. His heart stumbled a little when he gazed into those clear green eyes shaded by a smudge of eye shadow. She looked good. Something was different abou
t her hair and her lips were glossy.
She looked good, but something wasn’t right. He hadn’t figured out what it was yet, but he would. Something had happened between the time he’d suggested they stay in and the time he’d shown up with the pizza. He was certain if he could get her alone, he could find out what it was.
Or maybe he’d just kiss her.
And then find out.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I just don’t feel well.”
“What’s wrong with you, honey,” Aunt Allie asked.
“It’ll be okay,” she said, patting her aunt’s hand. Then with an apologetic look toward Adam, “I just need to lie down for a bit. I’m sorry.” She gestured to the pizza boxes. “This was really nice of you.”
Adam shrugged when Aunt Allie looked at him questioningly as they heard Tabitha’s footsteps disappear down the hall.
“I’m sorry,” Aunt Allie said. “I don’t know what gets into her sometimes.”
“There’s no need for anyone to apologize,” he said, though he had a strong feeling that Aunt Allie did know what had gotten into Tabitha Black.
Chapter Twelve
The next day dawned dark and rainy. Tabitha woke early, before daylight. It was Monday, and she had the morning to herself. She stretched and reveled in the sense of safety that came from being cocooned inside the warm house. She liked knowing that the store was locked up and no one could get inside until they opened at ten.
She changed Aunt Allie’s sheets, vacuumed the top floor and the bottom floor, then went back up and cleaned the kitchen.
At nine, she heard someone pounding on the back door. She went downstairs to let Claire in. Claire had parked around back next to the back door, but was soaked beneath her umbrella nonetheless.
Oops. Tabitha had made a point to lock the deadbolt on the door. Claire had a key to the lock, but not the deadbolt. No one had warned Claire. “We’re keeping the back door locked now – even during the day.”
“Okay,” Claire said. “Good. I always thought we should.”
“Really? Why did you think that?”
A Very Merry Christmas Gift (Winter Kisses Book 1) Page 6