Like a Charm

by Candace Havens

  Maybe I can pick some up while we’re shopping tomorrow.

  I put the two dresses in a hanging bag and threw in my makeup, toiletries, curlers, jeans, boots, and my black pump Manolos to go with the wrap dress. And I found my black Marc Jacobs twill coat.

  I slipped out of the Theory fitted jacket and pants I had on and pulled on some jeans and a red cashmere sweater.

  “Don’t forget your scarf,” a woman said behind me. I didn’t jump this time.

  “I thought I told you guys not to come up here.”

  I turned and saw an elderly woman. She had to be at least ninety. “I’m new, dear. Didn’t know the rules. Could you help me find a crocheting book?”

  Do they crochet in heaven?

  “Sure. Give me a minute. I’ll leave it on the counter downstairs for you. But for future reference, no one is allowed up here.”

  She dissipated, just as I heard Caleb’s steps on the stairs.

  “Who are you talking to?” He made his way to the landing.

  Oh, boy. “Myself. Trying to remember some things before I leave. I thought you were watching the counter.”

  “I am. I had to ask you where to find Prom Dates from Hell. There’s a young girl downstairs crying because she can’t find a copy. All of her friends have read it and she’ll just die if she doesn’t get it this weekend.” He said the last part with a very good imitation of the teen whine and threw his hand against his forehead for effect.

  I laughed. That book was still one of the most popular among the teen set. I’d ordered three extra copies for just such an occasion.

  “Under the front desk there are copies I haven’t shelved yet. Give her one of those, and don’t forget to run it through the computer.”

  He smiled and waved his hands behind him like he was wearing Superman’s cape. “I get to be a hero.” And he ran back downstairs.

  By the time I made it down and set my bags on one of the reading tables, he was helping the young girl check out. The thirteen-year-old was all smiles and definitely flirting with my boyfriend.

  That seemed so weird. My boyfriend. When had I started calling him that?

  He handed her the book, and she gave him another toothy smile.

  After she left, he turned to me. “I’m, like, the totally coolest guy she’s ever met.”

  I laughed out loud. “Totally?”

  He nodded.

  It was three thirty and the place was empty. “You want to go ahead and go pack?”

  “Oh, I came prepared.” He held up a hand. “Just in case you said yes. I don’t suppose you’d consider closing up even earlier?”

  What the heck, it’s Friday afternoon. I shrugged. “Sure. I need to do something real quick. I’ll lock up and meet you in the truck. Go get it warm.”

  After grabbing my bags, and kissing me hard, he headed out.

  I went in search of a crocheting book. I set it on the counter and the elderly woman reappeared.

  “Oh, thank you dear. And it has doilies—lovely.” She grinned. “Martin is the last name. Edwina Martin.”

  I brought her up on the computer, scanned the book, and handed it to her. I still hadn’t figured out how the computer could bring up dead people who had never been here before. When I had asked Terry, he’d replied, “It’s in the book.” I’d been searching for the stupid tome, but it was nowhere to be found.

  “Take care,” I told Edwina.

  By the time I made it to the door the book was gone and so was Edwina. I wasn’t sure I’d ever get used to it.

  “You guys keep an eye on the place.” I didn’t see anyone, but I heard the two dogs barking.

  It would be great to get away from this surreal world and spend some time with Caleb. When I came back, I’d search every inch of the place for that book.

  * * *

  Places I Love in Dallas

  The West Village

  Tiffany

  Mansion on Turtle Creek

  Anywhere Caleb is

  Shipley Do-nuts

  Neiman Marcus

  The zoo

  Magnolia Theater

  Tom Tom Noodle House

  The Cheesecake Factory

  * * *

  Chapter 24

  I am never afraid of what I know.

  BLACK BEAUTY

  By Sewell, Anna, 1820–1878

  Call #: F-SEW

  Description: 232 p.: ill; 21cm

  The traffic as we neared Dallas was insane. We sat in the same spot for almost twenty minutes on I-30. Caleb didn’t seem stressed at all, but traffic gets on my nerves. I don’t like the feeling of being trapped. It was just as bad in Atlanta, which is why I chose to live close to my office. I seldom drove, or left the comforts of downtown.

  While a competent driver, Caleb was a speed demon. We made the three-hour trip in two and a quarter. And the last fifteen minutes had been spent inching forward bit by bit.

  It wasn’t much longer before we exited the highway. He made a few quick turns and five minutes later we were pulling into a parking garage. I’d been mesmerized by all of the shops surrounding the building and didn’t get a chance to see much of it.

  “We’re here.” He pulled into a parking spot marked 28D next to a beautiful silver Mercedes sedan.

  He jumped out and ran around to let me out of the truck.

  “You crack me up.” I laughed as I took his hand.

  “Tell me you don’t like the Southern gentleman touches.”

  I reached up and kissed his cheek. “You know I do.”

  He smiled. Grabbing our bags from the backseat, we made our way to the elevator. He wouldn’t let me carry anything except my purse, and he looked liked a loaded-down bellman.

  “Can you push twenty-eight?” he asked as the elevator doors shut. A quick trip up, and when the doors opened it was to a long hallway. I followed him to the end.

  When he opened the door, I walked through into a breathtaking sight. I took little notice of the apartment. It was the view that captured my attention.

  “It’s beautiful.” The windows, which wrapped around the entire corner of the building, looked out onto the city of Dallas, twinkling with brilliant light.

  “One of the perks of being up so high.”

  I nodded and moved forward. “It’s a different view, but the same kind I have in my place in Atlanta. I like seeing a vibrant city out my window. It makes me feel alive.”

  He wrapped his arms around me and squeezed. “You are very much alive.”

  I turned in his arms and wound mine around him. “I feel that way when you are around.”

  “Oh, no. Don’t move like that,” he said as I pressed my hips into his. “We have reservations.”

  “I am kind of hungry.” I licked my top lip.

  He laughed. “You are a wicked woman. Come on, I’ll show you the bedroom.”

  At my raised eyebrow he added, “So you can freshen up.”

  I smiled and winked at him.

  Before following Caleb, I spent a moment taking in his apartment. All of the furniture was low, chocolate leather, and sleek, very much a bachelor pad. A huge plasma TV, larger than mine at home, graced the inside wall over a fireplace.

  He flipped the light on in the bedroom. The walls were a deep chocolate brown. A leather headboard and plush bedding made his bed irresistible looking. The lamps on the bedside tables were silver and gave off a soft glow.

  “This is a nice place.”

  He shrugged. “Except for the artwork and photos, most of it was here when I bought the place. I built the bookcases and side tables for the bed, and painted everything. I’m not really around that much, but it’s home. For now.”

  He pointed toward an opening. “Bathroom is in here.” He set my tote bag on a large granite vanity and hung the garment bag on a hook on the back of the door.

  “I’ll rummage through the closet for something. Like I said, it’s casual. You can wear whatever you want. People will be dressed in everything from jeans to formal
wear. In the summer they wear shorts. It’s that kind of place.” He held up his watch. “We only have about a half hour to get ready. Good news is it’s right across the street.”

  “Thanks.” I didn’t have time for a shower, but I threw water on my face and did my best to freshen up.

  I removed the dress from the bag to shake it out. One thing about Diane’s dresses, they travel like a dream. The taffeta hadn’t fared as well. I’d have to press it before tomorrow night.

  Pulling my hair out of the ponytail I’d worn all day, I fluffed it around my shoulders. The curls held tight and I decided to leave it down.

  I reapplied makeup, using black eyeliner to make my eyes look a little deeper. Adding a pink shadow near the brow and gray on my lid gave my eyes a smoky look. Usually I keep the lips light, but this was Dallas. I went for the deep wine-colored lipstick.

  I’d worn a black bra and thong, and I slipped the black dress over it. The clingy fabric fit my figure perfectly. It’s the kind of dress that makes everyone look sexy. I pulled on black thigh-high hose, as it was too cold to go without anything on my legs, and slipped my feet into the Manolos. As high as they were, they were still pretty comfortable to walk in.

  Caleb came to the door and blew out a low whistle. He was dressed in dark gray pinstriped slacks with a cream-colored dress shirt open at the neck. “Maybe we’ll order in.” He moved toward me.

  I held out my hands to fend him off. “Nope. You had your chance, big guy. I want my night out on the town. Then, if you’re really, really good, maybe we can play later.” I felt flirty and fun.

  He grabbed my hands and kissed my knuckles. “Oh, I promise to be very good.” His voice was low and husky and it made parts of my body heat instantly.

  He held out my coat and I slipped my arms into it.

  The walk across to the restaurant wasn’t far, but the frigid air made it seem longer.

  It wasn’t long before the heat of Tom Tom Noodle House surrounded me. Sleek, modern, and very Japanese, with touches of bamboo and natural fibers, it was warm and inviting.

  We were shown to a booth with low seats and small, colorful pillows. It was elegant, but not overstated.

  Caleb ordered us a mixed plate of sushi and I had my first glass of wine in months. It was heaven.

  The restaurant was packed but I only saw Caleb.

  Picking up a spicy tuna roll with chopsticks, I sighed. I hadn’t been this happy in forever.

  I woke up to whispering. At first I worried the dead people had found me. Please not here. But I soon discovered Caleb was the one who interrupted my dreams.

  “Kira. Wake up. We have to go shopping.” I could smell soap, as if he’d just stepped out of the shower.

  I cranked open one eye. He was freshly shaven and dressed in a soft creamy sweater. “What time is it?”

  “Almost seven.”

  I groaned. “Stores don’t open until ten, Caleb.”

  “Oh, no, babe. It’s almost Christmas. Most of the stores around here are open very early. Every place will be packed if we don’t get a move on.”

  I was so warm and comfortable. Snuggling into him, I said, “We could just shop online.”

  He laughed. “What fun is that? It’s not Christmas if you don’t have to fight crowds, traffic, and rude salesclerks who have to deal with picky people like us all day.”

  “You make it sound so exciting. How can I resist?” I rolled over and squeezed my eyes closed.

  “There’s a big breakfast of eggs, bacon, and croissants at the café downstairs if you hurry up.”

  “Bacon?”

  “Yep. Nice and crispy, just the way you like it.”

  “Give me twenty minutes.”

  “You got it.”

  I was good to my word. Twenty minutes later I was dressed and ready to go, having taken the quickest shower of my life.

  It’s a good thing we had a big breakfast.

  Had I any idea what a shopping machine Caleb was, I might have stayed in bed. I’m fairly certain we hit every store at the Galleria.

  Granted, I had no trouble finding a pair of Kate Spade jeweled pumps that matched my dress for the evening perfectly.

  By noon Caleb had made three trips back to the truck to deposit our bags. Most of them were his. I didn’t want to be nosy, but I couldn’t help wondering whom all the presents were for.

  “Do you have a big family?” I finally asked.

  He shrugged. “Yeah. Why?”

  I smiled. “No reason.” I stared down at my three shopping bags, one of which was full of stuff for me. I definitely needed to make new friends.

  I had managed to pick up Humanity jeans for Justin and a modern silver tea set I knew Rob would love. I had no idea what to get my parents until we came across a store with DVDs. They had several seasons of Doctor Who and Battlestar Galactica that I knew my dad would enjoy. I’d dipped into his stash when I was sick and knew which ones he needed to finish his collection.

  In front of Tiffany, I stopped. “Do you mind if I take a quick look?” I turned to Caleb. “I want to see if I can find something for my mom.”

  He gave me a strange look.

  “I know she doesn’t seem like the kind of woman who would want something in a blue box, but I haven’t met a girl yet who has turned one away.” I laughed.

  “Absolutely. We can go anywhere you want.” He smiled but it seemed stiff.

  “Are you worried I’m going to try and get you to buy me something?”

  He laughed. “Oh, no.” He waved a hand. “It’s just that you’ve talked about your mom so much and she just doesn’t seem like someone who would wear jewelry.”

  I sighed. “True, but I saw something a few months ago when I was shopping in New York that I think she’d like. And I just wanted to see if maybe they have it here.”

  Caleb smiled and guided me in the door.

  The place was a sea of humanity and I could barely get to the counter where they showcased the bracelets. I found exactly what I was looking for, a delicate silver bracelet with tiny butterfly, turtle, bee, and dragonfly charms. My mom loved anything to do with nature.

  Finally, I had my little blue box wrapped with a beautiful red ribbon. I searched for Caleb.

  Thinking he’d stepped out to wait, I made my way to the door of the store. My phone chirped and I thought maybe it was him.

  “Hey.”

  Silence.

  “Hello?”

  “I’m coming for you,” a man whispered.

  Shivering, I held the phone away and looked for the caller ID number. It was a blocked call.

  “Who is this?”

  The line went dead.

  Chapter 25

  The venom clamors of a jealous woman Poisons more deadly than a mad dog’s tooth

  THE COMEDY OF ERRORS

  By Shakespeare, William, 1564–1616

  Call #: F-SHA

  Description: xli, 79 p.; 20cm

  My stomach churned and bile rose in my throat. The crowds were thick and I leaned back against the cool glass of the Tiffany store window.

  Someone touched my shoulder and my heart skipped a beat.

  “Are you okay?” Caleb’s worried eyes searched my face.

  I stared down at the phone for a minute.

  “Who called?” he asked.

  “Wrong number,” I said distractedly.

  Chills ran up my back. I knew whoever it was hadn’t dialed wrong. I’m coming for you.

  I gave him a weak smile. “I hate to be a party pooper, but I need to rest.” My hands were shaking and I tried to will them still.

  He touched my cheek. “You feel warm. Maybe we should get you back to Sweet so Sam can take a look at you.”

  Warm? I felt chilled to my core.

  “No. I just need to get away from the crowds and rest for a little bit. You can keep shopping if you want. I could just go to the car.”

  He ushered me toward the parking garage. “Don’t be silly. We’ll go home.”

>   As we were driving back to his apartment, I closed my eyes, my mind rushing over the last few weeks. If it hadn’t been for the weird letter that had been sent to my apartment, I wouldn’t have taken the call seriously. But the events were too close to be a coincidence.

  Back at the apartment, he pushed me toward the bedroom. “You go get in bed. I’m going to order us up some lunch.”

  “Caleb.” I grabbed the sleeve of his sweater. “I’m okay. I just need to sit down for a little bit. I promise I’m not sick again.”

  His hand covered my hand. “I can’t help but care about you, Kira.” He leaned in and kissed my cheek. “Please, go lie down. If nothing else it will make me feel better.”

  I gave a soft laugh. “Okay. You win. But if you’re so worried about me, can I get whatever I want for lunch?”

  He nodded.

  At the moment the idea of food made me ill, but I’d have to eat soon or he would get suspicious. “I want a big cheeseburger.”

  Smiling he hugged me. “That sounds good. I’ll get one too. Now go rest.”

  I couldn’t sleep. My nerves were a mess. When I heard the delivery man knock, I made my way back to the living room. Clouds were rolling in and we were so high up it felt like we were a part of them.

  We dined at a small table in his kitchen. He had a college football game on the plasma without any sound.

  “I think maybe I just needed some protein.” After only a few bites I did feel much better. “This is delicious.”

  His mouth full, he nodded. Then he swallowed. “Are you going to tell me who was on the phone?”

  I jerked my attention back to his face.

  “I saw how you looked at the store. You were scared, Kira. Not sick. I want to know what’s going on. We promised to tell each other the truth.”

  I couldn’t lie to him and I didn’t want to. This was one problem I didn’t want to handle on my own. I stared out the window to the busy streets below. “I don’t know what the truth is.” I shook my head. “I received a weird letter in Atlanta. It said, ‘You’re responsible and you’ll pay.’ That’s it.

  “Then, the guy on the phone said he’s coming for me.”