A Love to Treasure (Sunriver Dreams Book 1) (9 page)

He nodded. “I don’t think he’ll bother you too much. I told him as much as I could and that seemed like enough. He said if I saw you to tell you thanks.”

“For what?”

“He said you’d know.”

She shrugged. “I have no idea. I bought him an ice cream cone earlier. Maybe that was it.”

“Maybe, but I think it had more to do with you taking an interest in spending time with him. I could tell he appreciated it.”

His words eased her mind. “Thanks. Sarah is really concerned about him, and I wanted to do something to help. I wish it’d been more, but I guess the summer has just started, so there’s time.”

“There is at that. Where did they move you to?”

She rolled her eyes. “Nowhere. Can you believe the owner is gifting the place to me? I’d have to pay rent for another house or go home. A letter from Grams convinced me to stay. Plus, I had an interesting project drop in my lap.” She told him about the room makeover.

“That’s different. I’m glad you’ll have something to distract you. I know what happened today really shook you up.” He paused, looking at her, his brown eyes probing. “How’re
you
doing?”

“Fine.” She shifted, avoiding his gaze. She liked Mark, but he unnerved her at times. Like he could read her mind or something.

“Really? Most people don’t sit in the village for half a day to read a book. You sure there’s nothing you want to talk about?”

She sighed and set the novel aside. “I’m afraid to go back to the house.” There. She’d said it. Truth was, when the woman at the property management office told her not to go back for a couple of hours it was a relief. Although staying away the entire afternoon had not been the plan.

He nodded. “I thought as much. I could check the place out before you go inside.”

She blinked and nodded quickly. “Yes. I’d like that very much. How about I grab a couple of steaks from the grocery store and make us dinner? Unless you’re a vegetarian. Then I could whip up eggplant parmesan or whatever you’d like.”
Oh please say you’ll stay
. She did
not
want to be alone in that house.

“Sounds great. I’m a steak kind of man. I’d actually stopped in the village on my way home from work to pick up groceries then noticed you on my way out.” He held up a cloth shopping bag. “I can meet you at your place in say--thirty minutes. Will that give you enough time to shop?”

“Sounds about right.” She bit her bottom lip. Could she stretch her shopping, so she didn’t beat him to the house?

“All right then. Wait for me in the driveway.” He strode toward the parking lot without looking back.

Nicole stood and tucked the book inside her purse before heading across the patio and inside the grocery store. The store was a mass of bodies and carts. She pushed a small cart along an aisle, tossing things in that she needed, then headed to the meat section and picked out two T-bone steaks. She wheeled her way through the throng of people to the produce section where fresh vegetables in various colors tempted her—she loved veggies. Salad and baked potatoes—sudden hunger made her mouth water at the thought. Ice cream finished off the list. Loaded with several bags she trudged to her car. Warm air whooshed out and smacked her in the face as she slid in.

She’d invited Mark for dinner. She already regretted the invitation. She wasn’t exactly the greatest hostess. Her ex-boyfriend had made it abundantly clear he thought her inept in the relationship department. But Mark was only being nice—there was nothing between them, so no need to stress in that area.

A short time later, she pulled to a stop in her driveway and rested her hands on the steering wheel as she stared at the house. Tingles zipped through her body as her heart raced. She wiped her damp palms on her shorts. Could she really go inside after what had happened?

The house looked peaceful with no sign of the break in. It was funny how things could appear normal, when reality was so different. Glancing at her watch, then the rearview mirror, she scanned the street. Mark would be here any minute. Maybe it’d be okay to go inside. Sooner or later she’d need to be able to come and go on her own. There wouldn’t always be a knight in shining armor to protect her. Besides it was still warm enough out that the ice cream would turn to soup if she waited out here too much longer. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I can do this.” If she was going to continue living here, she had to be brave and face her fear head on. A sound coming from the deck made her jump.

Mark snagged the cell phone off the kitchen counter on the third ring. “Hey, Spencer.” He scooped dog food into Sadie’s bowl and set it on the kitchen floor.

“Glad I caught you. I might have a lead in the case. You want to meet me at the station?”

Mark rubbed the back of his neck. He was due at Nicole’s in ten minutes. “Okay, but it’ll have to be quick. Can you fill me in now?”

“Nope. This you gotta see.”

With her food dish now empty, Sadie stood at the back door waiting to be let out. Mark slid the door open and she bounded off the deck. He’d meet up with her in front. He grabbed his keys and hustled to his car with the phone still pressed to his ear. “I can stop, but I’m in a hurry, so it’ll have to be quick.” In reality, he didn’t have any time to spare. Hopefully this would be worth the delay.

Sadie rounded the corner to the house and hopped into the car when he opened the door. The station was out of his way, but if this would help put the people who hurt Nicole behind bars then a few extra minutes were worth it.

“What’s the rush?”

Mark explained his plans for the evening.

Spencer chuckled. “Man you sure don’t waste time.”

“Let it go. It’s not what you think. She’s scared, and I’m trying to help her feel better.”

“You do that for all the victims in the cases you work?”

“No.” He’d connected with Nicole outside the case and considered them friends or at the very least acquaintances.

“You have a smart phone?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay. I’ll send you what I have. That way you won’t have to come here. Let me know what you think.”

Mark disconnected the call and pushed the twenty-five mile per hour speed limit to reach Nicole’s place. He might make it on time. A short while later he pulled up beside Nicole’s empty car. Where was she?

His pulse kicked up a notch, and he cut the engine. He ran to the door and raised his hand to knock.

The door swung open, and Nicole screamed. “You scared me! What are you doing standing here?”

“What are
you
doing inside? I thought you were going to wait for me.”

Her chin lifted, and fire smoldered in her eyes. “I was, but then there was a sound on the deck, and it scared me. I couldn’t stand not knowing what caused it. Turned out to be a squirrel, and I realized how silly I was behaving so I went inside. Plus I bought ice cream and didn’t want it to melt.” Her face softened. “Sorry. I’m still a little jumpy, but I knew you’d be here any minute.” She brushed past him and strode toward her car. “I didn’t hear you knock.”

“That’s because I didn’t get a chance.” He sidled up to her as she opened the door. One bag sat inside a plastic crate on the back seat. “I can get that.”

“Thanks.” She waited for him to grab the bag. “I hope you’re hungry. I have a feast planned.” She stopped. “Is that your dog?”

Sadie sat beside his car.

“That’s Sadie. I hated to leave her home since I’ve been away all day. Do you mind?”

“Not at all, but she has to stay outside. I don’t think the rental agency allows pets.”

“No problem. She can hang out on the deck.” He whistled for his dog.

“She’s beautiful.”

“Thanks.” He squatted and scratched Sadie’s back. “She’s a good girl.” He stood and opened the gate to the deck. Sadie sniffed the deck then stepped into the area as if it was home. “I think she likes it here.”

“We can go in that way too.” Nicole stepped past him, then moved toward the French doors. She waved a shaky hand toward the kitchen as she led him inside.

Interesting. It looked like she was more nervous than she let on. “Did you still want me to check things out and make sure we’re alone?”

Her eyes widened. “If you think it’s a good idea.”

“It can’t hurt. Wait here.” He moved to the hall and looked in the bathroom—clear. The bedrooms were clear as well. He checked all the closets and under the beds then up in the loft. “No one’s here besides us.” He turned and she bumped into him. He grasped her shoulders to steady her. “Whoa there.”

“Sorry, I didn’t like waiting at the door. It gave me the creeps. Which is nuts since I came in on my own earlier, and I had Sadie with me, but when
you
thought you should check the place out, I got creeped out again.”

He lightly squeezed her shoulder. “Relax. I think you’re perfectly safe. Whoever was here earlier is long gone. I’m sure you have nothing to worry about anymore.” He never should’ve planted a seed of doubt in her mind. It was just him being overly cautious and borrowing trouble.

“That’s what they said at the property management place too. Speaking of which. They brought over two new television sets.”

“Now that you mention it, I did notice the new TV’s. They move fast.”

“Yeah. I think they were trying to make me feel better about staying here. They replaced the lock on the doors and cleaned the house too. It was nice walking into a fresh and clean smelling place again.”

His phone vibrated, indicating an incoming text. “Hold that thought. I need to check something on my phone. Be right back.” He opened the French doors and stepped onto the deck with Sadie at his side as a woodchuck scurried across the planks then hopped onto the dirt below, staring at him as if offended. “Leave it,” he said to Sadie as he pulled out his cell and accessed the info Spencer had sent. It looked like Nicole’s place hadn’t been their lucky break like he’d hoped. He pressed in Spencer’s number. “Hey, I have the picture. Any chance the plate can be enhanced?”

“It’s doubtful.” Spencer sighed. “Did you notice the deer is blocking the license plate?”

He pulled up the picture again. “Good point. At least we know the make and model.”

“We got lucky the bicyclist came forward with this photograph. Apparently he rides around snapping shots of nature all over Sunriver and said he had a bad feeling about the vehicle when he saw two men carrying a large screen TV out to it, so he snapped the shot.”

“Too bad he didn’t get the men in the picture.”

“No kidding. I asked him to let me look through his collection in case he inadvertently caught the thieves elsewhere.”

“Good.” Footsteps tapped on the deck. He looked over his shoulder. Nicole held a plate with two thick steaks piled on top. “Give me a call if anything else turns up.” He pocketed his phone.

She pressed her lips tight and studied something beyond his shoulder, then her eyes locked with his. “Do you think the thieves will return?”

Chapter Nine

Nicole gazed toward her rental house from her seat on the deck and unease gripped her, even with Mark inside the house checking out the new TVs. This summer was turning into a rollercoaster of emotions, and right now it was a nightmare. If Grams hadn’t been so insistent she not leave Sunriver, she’d be safe at home right now. Instead, she was scared and alone. Well not exactly alone, but Mark would eventually leave and then she’d be alone. Mark couldn’t assure her she was completely safe here. No one could. What if the burglars came back? Sure, it wasn’t likely, but no one could guarantee they wouldn’t return. She shivered.

She opened the grill lid, wincing at the loud squeak. Using tongs, she placed the steaks onto the hot rack. The aroma from the sizzling meat made her mouth water.

“Those are nice TVs. I wish my rental had an up-to-date television.” Mark stood in the doorway.

She jumped as the timbre of his voice broke the quiet of the evening and hoped he hadn’t noticed. Her hands clutched the tongs until the metal pinched her fingers.

He walked over and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “You need to relax. I know you’re concerned the burglars will return, but all the evidence points to a simple break-in. You aren’t the target of some big crime ring. The rest of your summer should be uneventful.” He gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. With a tender smile, he closed the lid and removed the tongs from her hands. “Maybe I should take over from here.” He gently steered her to one of the deck chairs. “Be right back.” He strode inside and came out with tall glasses of iced tea.