Page 35 of The Murder Club

“Or they could be something.” He folded his arms over his chest. “I think it’s interesting that whoever left them there chose a time when your neighbor happened to be away from home.”

She flinched, as if his words had caused her a physical pain. “You think they were watching my house?”

“That. Or they were at the nursing home and saw Dorinda there. They would know that your observant neighbor wasn’t around to witness them leaving the package.” A knot formed in the pit of his stomach. “Either possibility means that someone in Pike is responsible. You need to tell Zac about the texts.”

“I will.” She heaved a heavy sigh of resignation. “Tomorrow. For now, I want a hot bath and an evening of mindless reality shows.”

Dom reluctantly accepted her less-than-subtle hint to leave. “Lock the door. And call me if you need anything.” He held her gaze, a slow smile of invitation curving his lips. “And I do mean anything.”

Her eyes darkened with an awareness that made his heart pound. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Chapter 7

Gage waited until he heard the rattle of his secretary’s car driving away from the lumberyard before he opened the bottom drawer of his desk and pulled out the bottle of vodka he’d stashed there during lunch.

Usually he forced himself to wait until he was in the privacy of his home to pour his first drink. He’d been banned from the Bait and Tackle last year when he chucked a mug at a waitress who wasn’t serving him fast enough. And even the Roadhouse, outside of town, had asked him not to return. He’d warned himself that it was bad enough to be the town drunk without continuing to make a public spectacle of himself.

Tonight, however, even his home was off-limits. He’d paid a damned fortune to hire a maid service from Grange to come over and clean the house. The Realtor had warned him that it had to stay spotless if he wanted to sell as quickly as possible. He wasn’t going to risk getting drunk and trashing the place.

Not when he had a mountain of debts from his unfortunate string of bad luck at the poker tables and was in dire need of some quick cash.

It was a need that shouldn’t have been necessary. Not if he’d gotten the money that was supposed to be his when his mother finally had the decency to die. Gage took a swig of vodka straight from the bottle and flopped back in the worn leather chair, allowing the bitterness to bubble through him.

He’d known that bitch of a nurse was worming her way into his mother’s affections. Whenever he forced himself to visit the nursing home, all she could talk about was “sweet Bailey,” and how she’d baked her favorite cookies or played a stupid game of bridge. Like Bailey wasn’t paid a salary to take care of the old farts. But it wasn’t until his mother was dead that he realized she’d changed the will. Now he was in a frantic scramble to get his hands on some cash until he could prove that Bailey Evans had stolen his inheritance.

Taking another swig, Gage brooded on the bad luck that had plagued him since he was born. Everyone assumed he was so lucky to have parents who could hand him the family business. As if he’d ever wanted to work in a stupid lumberyard. Or listen to his dad’s nagging every second of the day. Nothing he did was ever right, whether it was helping customers or sweeping the floors. As if anyone gave a fuck. This place was destined to become a molding pile of shit. With him trapped inside.

Was it any wonder he needed a drink or two to make his life bearable?

What he needed was a stack of money and a one-way ticket out of this hellhole.

Imagining the pleasure of loading up his van and disappearing, Gage was interrupted when he heard the sound of the outer door closing. Dammit. His secretary was supposed to lock it on her way out. Now he was going to have to deal with some stupid yokel looking for a couple of screws or a cheap piece of plywood. No one ever wanted anything that could bring actual profit to this miserable business.

Shoving himself to his feet, Gage crossed the office and opened the connecting door. He was vaguely aware that his balance was already sketchy. Maybe he should run to Bella’s and pick up a pizza before he continued with the vodka.

Eager to get rid of the intruder, Gage stepped into the public area, frowning at the darkness. Even when the lumberyard was closed there were emergency lights near the exits.

Cautiously shuffling forward, Gage struggled to peer through the gloom. He couldn’t see anyone. Had he imagined the sound of the door? It wouldn’t be the first time. Once he thought his dad was sitting next to him, despite the fact that he’d been dead for years.

Still, he forced himself to move forward. The thought of a pizza had made his stomach rumble with hunger. Trying to decide between pepperoni and sausage, Gage never saw the shadow that moved in behind him. Or the two-by-four that was swinging through the air. It wasn’t until a shattering pain blasted through his head that he realized he wasn’t alone after all, and that he was about to leave Pike sooner than he expected. Only not in the way he always dreamed . . .

* * *

It was after seven the next morning when Bailey crawled out of bed. Plagued by nightmares of being chased by an unseen intruder, she’d tossed and turned most of the night leaving her feeling lethargic and she dragged herself to the shower.

Thankfully, by the time she was dressed in a fresh pair of jeans and a flannel shirt with her damp hair pulled in a ponytail, she’d managed to clear the fog from her brain. It helped that the sun was shining and the dogs were dancing around her feet with their usual goofy enthusiasm.

Even when they charged toward the front door, yapping with a deafening greeting, she didn’t allow the dark clouds to return. Whoever was approaching the house was someone they recognized. Not that she was going to do anything stupid. She moved to peer out the front window to see who was there before opening the door.

Her breath hissed between her lips as she caught sight of Dom standing on the porch, the morning sunlight adding a sheen of gold to his hair and his green Henley clinging to his broad chest with spectacular devotion. Excitement blasted through Bailey as she recalled the searing heat of his fingers, which had brushed over her cheek, and the taste of his kiss.

It had been so tempting to melt into Dom’s arms. When he touched her the passion blasted through her with a shocking hunger. She didn’t have to think about Gage’s ugly accusations, or the fact that she didn’t have a job, or the mysterious stalker. There was nothing but sheer pleasure.

So why was she so hesitant to give into temptation? After all, she’d urged Lia to leap into an affair with Kaden. Who cared if he was only going to be around for a few days? Or that he wasn’t the sort of man to settle down? He was sexy and fun and Lia was happy when he was around. Why not enjoy what short time they had together?

When it came to taking her own advice, however, she wasn’t nearly so casual about a temporary relationship. Probably because when she thought of being with Dom there was nothing casual about what she wanted. He’d haunted her thoughts from the second she’d met him, and even when he’d returned to Vegas she’d replayed the time they’d spent together over and over. What would happen if she gave into the desire that sizzled through her like magic?

The past had taught her that there was a cost to caring about someone who was destined to leave. Was she prepared to pay it?

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