to who it possibly could be that would leave her such a book. And for one brief moment, though she wasn’t sure why, it crossed her mind that Dorian could have left it. “No…” she shook her head. “That’s silly. He obviously has a good head on his shoulders…Why would he leave me such nonsense?” She put the book aside and went off to dress for the day.
Paul was ringing up groceries for a couple in their mid forties when Amber entered, book tucked under her arm. He smiled brightly; glad to see her, but when he saw she had a book with her, his brow furrowed slightly, wondering what it was for. After handing the couple their change and bidding them a good day, he greeted Amber, “Hi…”
“Hi! Take a look at this!” she replied, handing the book over.
He took it, running his right hand fingertips over the title, puzzled. “…Vampires?”
“Yeah! Same reaction I had when I found it at my front door last night.”
He drew back in surprise. “Your front door?”
“Weirdest thing…It was late…around eleven. I heard a loud bang on my porch. Looked out…Seems my screen was unlatched and had blown against the wall. When I went to reach for it to close it, I tripped on this thing.” She tapped the cover with her fingernail. “Paul…Someone left it there!”
“That is weird!” He glanced around the store. It was void of customers. He opened the book up and read the handwritten warning inside the front. “Woe!” He turned a few pages and skimmed over some of the pictures.
“Needless to say…Kind of gave me the willies… Especially after seeing some of those very vivid depictions…illustrations. I wanted to call you. But by then it was after eleven. I was afraid you’d be asleep. I didn’t want to disturb you.”
He sat the book down by the register, looked her straight on and took her hand. “Amber…I told you to call me if anything came up. I didn’t say…unless I was asleep. Maybe this is something to be concerned about…and maybe it isn’t. Still, it is surely something worth wondering about. Either some kook left you this…Or someone’s playing mind games with you. Either way, I don’t like it.”
“Not real thrilled with it either. And I did want to know what you thought of it.”
“Like I said… I don’t like it. That’s what I think of it. If it was a kook…some kind of weirdo, he could be dangerous. And if someone’s playing mind games…equally as dangerous. I was a little apprehensive about you staying out there alone. Now…I am even more so.”
“It’s not like I can just up and move. I just moved in.”
“Not suggesting that. Only, please don’t hesitate to call me when something weird happens. I don’t care what time of day or night it is.” He chewed at his bottom lip, pondering.
“What?”
“You like dogs?”
“Yeah…Used to have a Collie when I was growing up.”
“I think you should get a dog.”
“I hadn’t even thought of it.”
“And not some little Chihuahua. Maybe another Collie, if that’s what you prefer? Only I think you should have a German shepherd or Dobie…Even a Rottweiler.”
“Now that you mention it…I probably would feel safer with a dog.”
“I have a friend…Actually she’s your mail carrier…Jerri Reeves. She raises Rottweiler’s. But if you’d like some other breed, we can drive into Seattle…I know there’s at least one pet store that sells dogs.”
“Never had a Rottweiler. I’ve always thought of them as being really…fierce.”
“They can be very loving and gentle pets, too. But fierce when you need them to be.”
“Okay…I’m not all that picky. But if I get a puppy…It’s going to be a while before he or she will be much protection.”
A spritely elderly woman with silver hair walked in just then and Paul waved to her. She waved back and headed for the dairy section.
Returning his attention back to Amber, he said, “Let me give my friend a call. When Judy gets home, maybe we can run down and see what she has?”
“Sounds good.”
He handed her book back. “You might want to keep this for a while.”
“Guess I should. Since I have it, maybe I’ll read it. Probably not any clues in it…but I am hoping it will give me an idea or two.”
“Who knows,” Paul said. “Maybe.”
The elderly woman was bringing her milk up to the counter. She smiled pleasantly at Amber and Amber smiled back.
“Ethel,” Paul said, “this is Amber Dalziel…New to our neck of the woods here…so to speak. Amber this is Ethel Brooks...Sheriff Brooks’ mom.”
She looked up at Amber with bright gray eyes. “Hello, Amber…My… you’re a pretty one. You married, honey?”
“No…” Amber replied, not wanting to go into the painful explanation of being a young widow.
Ethel smiled sweetly at Paul and pat his hand that was resting on the counter. “Maybe you should get to know this young lady, Paul?” she winked.
Paul grinned hugely. “Already working on it, Ethel.” He gave Amber a hopeful glance.
“Smart boy!” Ethel said and winked at Amber. She dug in her purse then and pulled out a five for her milk.
Paul rang up the purchase and handed over her change. Speaking to Amber, she said, “Paul’s a really nice young man, hon. Can’t go wrong with him.” She then gave Amber a pat on the shoulder and walked off with her milk.
Paul said, “You have a good day, Ethel.”
“Yes! Have a good day!” Amber said.
“Oh…I will!” She turned briefly smiling with a mischievous glint in her eyes. “You two be careful now.”
That brought on a chuckle from Paul. “That Ethel is a character.”
“That’s what I gather.”
“Hope she didn’t embarrass you?” Eyes searching hers.
“Not at all. I found her …charming.”
“Yes…And not really shy, either.”
“I got that.”
The bell over the door tinkled and a couple of men and a woman came in the store.
“Looks like you’re getting busy. I’ll go.”
“Okay…I am glad you came, though. And I’ll call you when Judy gets here. I’ll come pick you up.”
“Thanks, Paul.” She said taking her book and inserting it under her arm.
“No problem…See you later.”
“Yes…Later.” She left, feeling somewhat better and even excited at the prospect of getting a dog.
Paul knocked on the door just after four. Amber was ready to go, slipping into her jacket and stepping out onto the porch. Their eyes met and he kissed her sweetly, and then drew back. “Guess we’d better get going.”
“Yeah…”
He took her hand, squeezing it warmly, and led her out to his Dodge, opened the passenger door for her and helped her step up into the truck. She really liked the fact that Paul, though they were both young, had some of what their generation might consider old-fashioned manners. Derek had been like that. Yet, at the same time, he had recognized her independence and abilities to do many things that men could. She was beginning to see more and more qualities in Paul that were a lot like her late husband. He was definitely endearing in that respect. She did like him a lot.
Still, Dorian’s beautiful face never quite left her thoughts. She could almost feel those fabulous eyes burning into her at this very moment. She almost felt ashamed thinking of him, sitting here next to who was an obviously wonderful man, and not too shabby looking at that.
“Penny for your thoughts,” he said, as he backed the truck out and headed east.
“Nothing…”
“You sure?” looking dubious.
“Just wondering how getting a dog is going to work out. I need to get food…Didn’t even think of that until this very moment.”
“Relax…Got you covered.”
“What?”
He skewed his head back slightly. “Look back there… Got you a fifty pound sack of Iams. I called Jerri before I left
the store. She said she raised all her dogs either on Iams or Purina.”
She glanced back. Sure enough, there was a big sack sitting just in front of the gate. She turned her attention back to Paul. “You didn’t have to do that!”
“I know,” he grinned, keeping his eyes on the road.
Now, she was feeling her independent feathers being ruffled slightly.
“Something wrong?” He said, looking at her askance.
Normally, she would have protested, priding herself on being able to provide for her own needs. But, after gazing into those green eyes that were so anxious to please, she decided better of it. She didn’t want to hurt his feelings. It was a really nice gesture, something he didn’t have to do. In fact, she realized, he didn’t have to do any of it.
“Didn’t overstep any boundaries, did I?” he asked.
“Oh…No…Of course not. Really sweet of you. But why don’t you let me pay for it?”
“I get it,” he said, breaking into a smile of understanding. “I disturbed your sense of independence.”
She laughed melodiously. “Crap! You read me like a book!”
“That’s because you’re a lot like my mother…”
“Really?”
“Yep.”
“Funny…You’re a lot like my late husband.”
He exhaled and said, “Well…I guess we already know one another pretty well, don’t we?”
They both laughed.
“Tell you what…Why don’t you humor me this time…Let me pay for the dog food. I do get it at a discount. And I promise that from now on, I’ll ask before I act. Is it a deal?”
How could she resist? He was so charming and nice. He really just wanted to be there for her, something she definitely did need. She felt really good in his presence, comfortable. There was something