Chapter 16
When Justin woke the next morning, he was dizzily disoriented. He didn’t recognize anything, including the blanket draped across his body.
After a few seconds bordering on panic, he realized he was on the couch next door.
The couch next door. Protecting the girl next door.
He ran his hand through his hair and wished for a toothbrush and mouthwash. And a hot shower. He had slept well, everything considered. He hadn’t woken but once, and then it was with Charlie perched on his pillow, purring and pawing his hair.
He would sleep here again tonight, too. He could feel the fear in the pit of his stomach. Alley was in danger. The man, whether he was THE kidnapper or not, was still a danger to her. He had located her and sought her out for whatever reason. It was the same man who had bothered her before. He had no proof, but he was certain of it. He would be back.
He wasn’t sure what it would take to make her safe. He only knew that he would do whatever it took. He felt under his pillow for the comfort of his 38 pistol. He knew how to use it and, most importantly, he knew when to use it.
Technically, he knew, he was supposed to have asked Alley’s permission to bring a concealed weapon into her home. He also knew that he could be in big trouble if she found out about it didn’t like it.
That was just the reason why he didn’t tell her. He didn’t want to freak her out - first of all by having a gun, and second by explaining why he happened to have one.
If he had to use it, it would be worth the risk. He rubbed his eyes and stretched his legs. He had to tell her - everything - that he carried a concealed weapon and that he trained and used SAR dogs. He just didn’t know when he was going to tell her.
He admitted that he was afraid - afraid it would turn her away from him - much like it had someone in the past - someone he had cared for at the time.
But this was Alley - his childhood fantasy, who, by the way, was so very much better in real life. He couldn’t risk screwing it up. He knew he only had one chance with her. Why was it a guy only got one chance with the girl he really cared about? If he didn’t care about her, he could muddle it all up good and she would still be around.
Alley stared at the bedside clock and listened for sounds in the house. She had been awake for nearly an hour, but didn’t feel inclined to get up. She rarely slept with her door closed, but last night she had not only closed the door, but had locked it. Charlie had woken up around four a.m. and requested to be on the other side of the closed bedroom door. He was an early riser, after all.
This morning the events of last night seemed much less perilous. Indeed, at this point, with the light of early morning shining through her bedroom window, she was much more concerned that Justin was in the next room than the man who had been at her back door claiming to have a lost puppy.
Finally, after telling herself she needed to be brave, she threw off the covers and stood up. She had to admit to herself that she was curious about whether or not Justin had left yet - and Charlie would be hungry by now. She put on her slippers, checked her hair in the mirror, and after deciding she needed a shower, decided to take one later. Padding down the hallway, she knew he was still there. The house just felt different somehow with him there. Charlie ran to meet her and followed her into the kitchen. She wasn’t surprised when Justin spoke to her from the kitchen doorway.
“You’re up early,” he said.
She glanced at the clock. It was a few minutes before seven. “Yes, I suppose I am,” she said, filling the coffee filter with ground coffee.
“Did you sleep ok?” he asked.
She rinsed the spoon. “Yes, and you?”
“Like a lamb.”
“I guess we were safe then.”
He nodded as she filled the carafe with water and poured it into the coffee maker. She turned back to look at him. “You really were worried,” she said.
“I still am,” he said, seriously.
“Thank you,” she said.
“For what?”
“For staying here. For watching out for me.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he said, taking a step toward her.
“Nevertheless,” she said. “You’ve gone above and beyond.”
“Above and beyond what?”
“Above and beyond what a neighbor would do.”
“Is that how you think of me? As a neighbor?” he asked, taking another step forward.
“Well, no….”
“Then how do you think of me?”
“Well, I - um”
He was standing in front of her now. Close enough to touch.
She lowered her eyes. “Justin.”
“What?” he asked, lifting her chin until their eyes met.
“I don’t know what to think.”
“Maybe you think too much.”
Then before she knew how it happened, his lips were on hers. It was truly like coming home again. She melted against him and he pulled her so close they became inseparable. They stood that way, each clinging to the other until time spun out of existence.
Finally, almost to regain breath, they pulled apart ever so slightly. His hands were in her hair, hers dug into his shirt.
“Whatever it was I did,” he whispered against her ear. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Please forgive me.”
She nodded. She didn’t know what he did. Maybe she had done it. Whatever it was, it no longer seemed important.
“Please don’t leave me again.”
She shook her head against him.
Right now she couldn’t think past the feel of him against her. Couldn’t think past the next breath. She wasn’t even sure what he was asking of her. It didn’t matter. She would have agreed to it.
“Let me make you breakfast,” Justin said, nudging her forward ever so slightly. He wanted her. He wanted her skin next to his now. But he wanted that to be special. Not now when he was focused on his day’s appointments and she was focused on being afraid in her own home.
A little off-balance, she agreed. “Ok,” she said softly. It wasn’t what she had expected.
As Justin scrambled eggs, he tried to compose in his mind what it was he needed to say.
“Alley,” he said, as she refilled their coffee cups. “I have to ask something of you.”
“All right,” she agreed, though it was more of a question.
“You have to stay inside today with the doors locked.”
“Ok…,” she said.
“And, please, don’t let anyone inside.”
“I can take of myself,” she said, and he caught a hint of the resistance he had known he would meet.
“I know you can take care of yourself, but I think that man may be dangerous.”
“Why do you think that?”
He shook his head as he scooped eggs into two plates and set them on the counter. “I just think he may be. I don’t want you to risk me being wrong.”
“You know something,” she said.
“No,” he answered, too quickly.
He knew she didn’t believe him.
“Tell me what you know,” she demanded. He almost caved under her penetrating stare.
He sighed. “I truly don’t know anything about the man who was here yesterday. But I have followed the kidnaping case.”
“Followed?”
“Yes, I’ve kept up with it. And I have friends who are searching for the girl.”
His mentioning friends reminded Alley of the brunette he had disappeared with.
“A girlfriend?”
“No,” he said, as realization dawned. “But a friend who is a girl.”
She gave him a questioning look.
“I’ve worked some with Brenda and her dog.”
“You are Brenda are close.”
He smiled. Because he suddenly knew what had happened. She had seen him hugging Brenda. And, of course, he had left with Brenda and broken his date with Alley.
“We’ve known each
other a long time. And, yes, I was with her the other night when I couldn’t call you. Since Brenda is working on the case, I couldn’t tell you.”
Alley seemed to digest this information. It seemed plausible enough. “You kissed her,” she blurted out.
She had seen them. He had forgotten about that. “Actually she kissed me.”
Her incredulous look said it all. The disbelief. The distrust.
“That’s just how she is,” Justin insisted.
“And that makes it ok to just let anybody kiss you at will?”
He just stared at her. Then he burst out laughing.
She glared at him.
“If you knew Brenda, you’d know she’s not someone anyone would want to kiss at will.”
“What’s wrong with her?”
“There’s nothing wrong with her. Exactly. She just isn’t like you.”
“Like me?” He was digging himself into a hole.
“She’s different from you.”
“Different?” At least he wasn’t laughing anymore.
“Well, yes. You’re the kind of girl I’d want to go around kissing.”
“But, you kissed her anyway?” She persisted.
He laughed again, though not so hard this time and shook his head. “You’ll just have to meet her.”
“I don’t know if I want to meet her.”
“You might like her.”
“I like most people.”
“I know,” he said, wryly. “What’s more, she’ll like you.”
“Most people do,” she said softly.
“Yes, they do,” he said, taking a step toward her.
“Do you?” She found herself asking.
“What’s not to like?”
She shook her head. “That isn’t what I asked.”
“But it’s true. You’re perfect.”
“No one’s perfect,” she said, taking a step backward.
“You’re perfect for me.”
Her heart stuttered. Did he mean that?
“What can I do to convince you?”
“You stood me up. I’ve never been stood up.”
“I was working.”
“You have a cell phone. And… you have my phone number.”
“You’re right. And that was my mistake. I didn’t think you would understand. Please.” He reached out and touched her cheek. “Let me make it up to you.”
“How can you?”
He smiled. “I don’t know. At least let me try.”
“That might be interesting,” she said, giving him a sideways look.
“I can make it interesting,” he said, running his fingertip down her cheek.
She felt a little chill run down her spine. When he tilted his face toward hers, she closed her eyes and leaned forward. This was something she so wanted. His lips were soft against hers, then firm, demanding.
She leaned against him, her lips drinking him in.
When he pulled away, she moaned.
“Am I forgiven?” he asked.
“I don’t know yet,” she answered, her voice husky.
“Then I’ll just have to keep trying, won’t I?’ he asked, and kissed her again.
Chapter 17
Alley stood looking through her small wardrobe and found herself wishing once again that she had access to the clothes she had left in Dallas. It had been two days since her reconciliation with Justin. Her distrust had slowly unraveled and she had regained that feeling of hope and optimism that can come only with new love.
However, she was almost to the point of biting her nails. Tonight she would be meeting Brenda, the cute little brunette who had known Justin longer than she had. He had been true to his word in arranging for them to meet so that she could feel comfortable that Justin and she were not… more than just friends.
She finally decided on a pair of jeans and a light blue button front shirt. It was a clean, wholesome look, and that was how she was feeling lately.
She was just checking her appearance in the full length mirror, when her cell phone rang.
“I hope you aren’t too terrible busy tonight.”
“Granny?” Alley froze. It had been - well - forever since she had heard from her grandmother.
“Yes, Dear, Are you terribly busy?”
“No, not at all,” Alley said, turning away from the mirror and beginning to pace. “Where are you?”
“I’m at the airport.”
“At the airport? Where?’
“Here. In Shreveport.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I got your message and you just sounded like something was wrong, so I came back as soon as I got your message.”
“But Granny…”
”Anyway, can you come over and pick me up?’
“At the airport?”
“Of course. Is that a problem?’
“No, of course not.” Her mom had taken Granny to the airport, so it made sense that someone would have to pick her up. “Why didn’t you call already?”
“I couldn’t get my cell phone to work. Then there was no place to charge it. I’m on a pay phone right now. And the connection was so quick in Atlanta, I didn’t have time to call.”
“Ok, I’ll be right there.”
“That’s wonderful. I’ll take you to dinner.”
After finalizing their plans, Alley hung up the phone and sat on the side of the bed.
She had no choice. She had to go. She and Justin were scheduled to meet Brenda in Monroe, at least twenty minutes in the opposite direction that she needed to go. Would he go without her? Suddenly she felt a little sick to her stomach. Why wouldn’t he go without her? He and Brenda were good friends.
She had to call and let him know she couldn’t make it. She dialed his number. The phone rang about twenty times. How could someone not have voicemail on their cell phone?
She hung up and dialed again. No answer. No voicemail.
She finished getting dressed, gathered up her handbag, and dashed out the back door. She would just go by his house and tell him in person.
She went to the back door first and knocked. And waited. No answer.
Going around to the front door, she knocked again. Rang the doorbell. And waited. No answer.
Taking a deep breath, she dialed his cell phone again. Again, no answer.
She stood looking around. The neighborhood was quiet. No cars. No neighbors. The York’s garage door was tightly closed and she had no idea whether or not anyone was home.
She rang the doorbell again. And hated herself for doing it. If anyone was home, they were seeing just how desperate she felt.
She glanced at her watch. Granny was sitting in the airport waiting for her.
She ran down the front porch steps, and hurried to her car. She’d done all she could do. She had to get on the road.
She wouldn’t call him again. Whatever he was doing, he would see that she had called and would call back when he could. He could be out on a farm delivering a colt. Doctors in the country did that kind of thing. Didn’t they?
She didn’t even know. Maybe he just saw dogs and cats. She should ask him.
Would he go without her? With Brenda? Was she inadvertently pushing them closer together?
She hit redial and dialed his number again.
Counted twenty rings. Hung up.
This was just horrible. Would he get a text message? She typed in Call me. Important! and hit send.
She waited.
She got onto the interstate and checked her phone. No messages. No calls. She checked the volume. Everything was working properly.
The phone rang and she answered without checking the caller id.
It was Granny. “Have you left yet?”
Alley was overwhelmed with guilt. “I just left. I had to take of something first.” She felt guilty because she had felt disappointment that the call hadn’t been from Justin.
“Ok, Dear, just be safe.”
“I will Granny. I’m sorry I’m not t
here already to pick you up.” Granny was always so understanding. It only made the guilty feelings worse.
Alley hung up the phone a few minutes later and resisted the urge to call Justin again. She had to let him call her back when he was ready. He hadn’t been concerned about standing her up, so she shouldn’t be concerned about standing him up.
But she was. She had never stood anyone up in her life. She reminded herself that it wasn’t intentional. She had called and would have left a message if he only had voice mail. It wasn’t her fault he wasn’t with the twenty-first century.
Chapter 18
Justin was elbow deep in cow. He had promised himself that he would never work with farm animals. He had focused his career on dogs and cats and intended to keep it that way. However, when his old high school pal, Mark, had phoned, saying his vet was out of town and his prize cow was having a difficult birth, Justin had gone against everything he had promised himself and bailed out his friend.
Right about now, he was wondering if a high school friendship was worth it. He and Mark rarely talked, but that, he supposed was how guys were. Once a friend, always a friend. So here he was. Helping Elsie to give birth.
His phone had been ringing. He knew this. He also knew that it was Alley calling. She had a special, sexy little ring that he had attached to her phone number. At the moment, however, he wasn’t about to touch his cell phone.
“Have you lost your touch?” Mark asked, coming from somewhere in the back of the barn where he had conveniently found something more important to do for the past two hours.
“You know as well as I do that cows aren’t my forte.”
“How hard can it be?”
“If that’s what you think, why don’t you go ahead and make this delivery yourself?’
Mark laughed and squatted down beside him. “What can I do?” he asked.
“You can stick your arm in here and help me turn this little fellow around.”
“You must be kidding,” Mark said, leaning back.
“Nevermind. You never were good for much when it came to anything squeamish.”
“That’s why you’re the vet and I’m the farmer.”
“I think maybe you should have stuck to crops.”
Mark laughed again. “You could be right. Although that’s what I have you for.”
Love Me Tomorrow Page 13