“If you don’t have him, do something. You should have him,” Jennie told her. “Anyway, I just stopped by because my car needed a little work. I’m leaving in the morning.”
“That’s good. Family is good, Jennie. Give us a call and let us know you got there okay.”
“Ah, you’re sweet. I will do so,” she promised.
Then she was gone.
Lauren and Jared returned, and friends from one of Lauren’s art classes came in while Jared was talking to a friend he knew from a band.
Restless, Casey glanced at Jared and said, “Running out for just a minute.”
She wasn’t sure Ryder would appreciate it if she honed-in on his meeting at the coffee shop, but she just needed out of the shop for a minute.
Being anxious was something that seemed to grow within her.
She had barely started down the street when someone slipped out of a narrow alleyway between the storefronts, taking her hand and drawing her back, whispering quickly at the same time. “It’s me. It’s okay. But come back here.”
Ryder. He had her hard against him. She turned in his hold, confused. He was looking down the street. She saw one of the men she had seen before in her shop. She remembered the pictures in the Marceau house library.
Larry Swenson. She twisted in Ryder’s arms, so close that she was looking up into his face. He looked down at her. It was almost as if they were in a lover’s embrace. He grimaced, then glanced back down the street before looking into her eyes again. He touched her face gently. “I’m sorry. I want to see what he’s up to.”
She nodded, staring back at him.
Larry Swenson paused in front of A Beautiful Mind.
He looked in the shop, frowned, and moved on.
“Go back in. Do you mind? Braxton is watching the place. I want to follow Swenson.”
She nodded.
“Quickly, okay?”
She nodded again. Then, he was gone, long strides taking him behind the man who had looked into the shop.
She hurried back as she had promised.
The afternoon sun was starting to set when Ryder arrived back at six.
“Hey, girls, get out of here,” Jared commanded. “My night. And, Casey, you lucky devil, you’re back on the late shift tomorrow.”
“All right, then,” she said, glancing at Ryder. He hadn’t said anything about his excursion following after Larry Swenson.
“Yep, I’m getting my things,” Lauren said. Then she added, “Hey, Casey. Don’t forget, Miss Lilly’s granddaughter’s group is coming in tomorrow,” Lauren reminded her.
“I won’t forget.”
Casey noted that Ryder had been talking to Jared, and both were laughing.
“What’s up?” she asked, but Jared waved a hand in the air and bid them goodnight. They waved goodbye to Lauren at the door and then started to Ryder’s car.
“What happened with Swenson?” she asked.
“He stopped on the next block and made a phone call. I couldn’t get close enough to hear without being seen, but he looked at the shop the whole time he talked. He had to have reported he didn’t see you in there.”
“I could have been in the back in my reading room.”
“True. The thing is, it hasn’t been happenstance or simple shopping trips. Larry Swenson has an interest in the shop. And you. And he called someone else to report.”
“Do you think he knows you’re watching over it—and me?”
“Maybe. But Braxton and his people will be watching tomorrow; I’ll be at the board meeting with Stephanie.”
“So, now—”
“Now, we wait until tomorrow.”
They reached his car. As they got in and he pulled out into traffic, Casey remembered she had a long and busy day coming up.
“So, since we’re on hold, may we drop by my apartment? I’d like to pick up one of my books.”
He arched a brow at her. “You’ve seen the library at the Marceau house.”
“A particular book,” she told him. “I’m giving a speech tomorrow to a group of school kids.”
He smiled. “Sure.”
He was silent then, but it looked as if he were inwardly laughing about something.
“What? What were you and Jared laughing about?” Casey asked.
He shrugged. But he was...smirking.
“What?” she prodded.
He glanced her way and then shook his head before laughing out loud.
“Premeditated sex,” he told her.
“Oh, God!” She groaned.
“It’s okay. I told him not to worry. I haven’t known you long, but it’s been long enough to know you’d feel horribly uncomfortable in Stephanie’s house, so...no premeditation.”
On the one hand, she was mortified. On the other...
She remembered the way his eyes had roamed over her. And the feel of his hand as he touched her cheek. The thrill she felt at even the simple brush of his arm. The strong feel of his body against hers.
“You’re right.”
He nodded.
She took a deep breath for courage and spoke while looking straight ahead. “But we are going by my apartment.”
He glanced her way, arching a brow.
“Premeditated sex?” he asked her.
She looked at him and saw the intensity in his eyes. “What do you think about the idea?” she asked softly.
“Wow.”
“Is that a...?”
“I’m all into that kind of premeditation, Casey.” His voice had deepened, and his fingers tightened on the steering wheel. But then he seemed to force himself to relax. “I mean, Jared made me laugh, telling me about Lauren’s terminology, and I never would have presumed anything. You must have some idea how attractive you are, which has nothing to do with the fact I really do like and admire you.” He licked his lips and turned to pin her with his gaze. “But the idea is beyond appealing.”
She thought over all she’d been through the last few days. The death of a friend, the possibility of murder, the fear of being targeted. “We don’t know where we’ll be tomorrow, Ryder. Which is fine with me. I mean, we’ll both be in New Orleans, but—”
“We have no guarantees,” he said.
Casey looked at him then said softly, “If I’ve learned anything from all this, none of us even has a guarantee there will be a tomorrow.” She winced. “I didn’t say that to be hurtful in any way—”
They had reached her neighborhood, if not her building. He pulled the car off the road, reached over, touched her face, and kissed her.
“No guarantees,” he whispered. “And life is beautiful. I would like to experience it with you tonight, Casey. Intimately.”
She smiled, touching his face, letting her fingers trace the fine contours of his cheekbones, and then running a fingertip lightly over his lips.
“We should really get a room.” He smiled.
“I have a room,” she breathed.
“We should really get in your room.”
“Drive.”
He chuckled and drove the rest of the way to her place. He parked, and they got out quickly, Casey reaching for her keys as they did so. She opened the main door.
Miss Lilly was there, and they both came to a dead halt.