Dead by Midnight - Beverly Barton [173]
“Yes, ma’am. I will.”
When she went back out front, she found the shop completely empty. Good. She was glad she wouldn’t have to rush any customers out the door and into the rain. Peering through the full glass door, she realized she could barely see the sidewalk in front of Treasures, let alone the buildings across the street. Just as she started to flip over the sign to read Closed, a clap of thunder rattled the shop windows, making her gasp and jump. Suddenly the front door swung open, startling her. Buddy Pounders tromped into Treasures, tossed back the hood on his raincoat, and smiled at Lorie.
“It’s coming a damn monsoon,” he said.
“I was just closing up,” Lorie told him. “Is there something you need?”
He glanced around the shop. “Are you here all alone? No customers left?”
“No customers,” she told him.
“Well, I came by to ask you something,” Buddy said.
“You did?” She couldn’t imagine what Buddy needed to ask her. Something about Mike maybe?
“I…uh…are you and Mike a couple?” he asked. “I mean, are you two dating each other and nobody else?”
She started to tell Mike’s deputy that it was none of his business, but instead she said, “Mike and I are trying to figure things out.”
“Well, while you’re trying to figure things out, would you consider dating somebody else?” Buddy’s lopsided boyish grin probably appealed to most women.
“Are you asking for yourself or for someone else?”
“For myself,” he admitted. “I’ve admired you for a long time, Miss Lorie. You’re one fine-looking woman and I’d be proud if you’d go out with me sometime.”
Lorie managed not to laugh in Buddy’s face. He was a sweet guy with youthful good looks to go with his adorable smile. But he was years too young for her, probably not a day over twenty-five. And she was and always would be in love with Mike Birkett.
She placed her hand on Buddy’s arm covered by his damp raincoat. “I’m flattered. Very flattered. But right now, I’m not seeing anyone except Mike.”
Buddy’s face turned beet red. “I sure hope he’s got sense enough to marry you. But if he doesn’t, well, somebody should tell him that there are plenty of guys who’d be interested, me included.”
Smiling warmly, she said, “Thank you, Buddy.”
He cleared his throat. “Well, I guess I’d better be going. You lock up after I leave.”
“I will.” And she did.
With the door locked and the CLOSED sign prominently displayed, Lorie headed for the kitchenette. The lights flickered. Oh, dear. She didn’t make it across the shop before the lights flickered again. Another deafening roar of thunder, followed by a blinding lightning flash, stopped Lorie in her tracks. The lights went out, sending the entire shop into darkness. Only the fading daylight coming through the glass door and the display windows across the front of the shop enabled her to see anything at all.
The children were alone in the back, Hannah probably frightened and M.J. trying to be brave. Since she was halfway across the shop, she decided not to go back and search for a flashlight under the checkout counter. Feeling her way more than seeing, Lorie took small, careful steps, doing her best not to run into anything. Once she reached the back wall, another streak of lightning illuminated the open door leading to the rooms behind the shop. She stepped over the threshold, placed her hand on the wall, and took her time going down the hallway between the storeroom and the kitchenette.
Feeling a whoosh of air coming from somewhere nearby, she stopped and listened. Just as she started to call out to the children, someone grabbed her from behind and placed a sweaty hand over her mouth.
You’re mine now. I’ll never let you go.
He had been patient. He had waited for such a long time. Too long. Didn’t she understand that she belonged to him, that they were destined to be together forever. And there was only one way he could make sure Mike Birkett would never have her, that she would truly be his and only his for all eternity.
He supposed he had known all along how this would end