Page 55 of The Murder Club

He turned back to meet her curious gaze. “I thought I saw someone in the window.”

“You probably did,” she assured him. “We have equipment in there, along with most of the cleaning supplies. The maintenance staff is always complaining when they have to go in there during the winter. The building has electricity, but it’s not heated. The night janitor, Kyle, claimed he got frostbite when he came over to get a mop and bucket.”

Dom judged the distance between the two buildings. It wasn’t a large gap, but winters in Wisconsin could be brutal. It wouldn’t be much fun to have to dash through the snow and ice to get a mop.

“It does seem inconvenient.”

“It is, but the county owns the building and allows the nursing home to use it for free. That means the Donaldsons don’t have to pay to add on storage rooms.” Bailey rolled her eyes at her employers’ stinginess. “And for every employee who complains, there are two who want it kept open so they can sneak over and have a cigarette there without getting caught.” Bailey wrinkled her nose, visibly shivering as she glanced toward the aging structure. “I think it’s creepy.”

“Let’s get out of here,” Dom abruptly suggested. As an answer, Bailey hurried to crawl into the SUV, revealing her eagerness to be away from the nursing home. Or, more precisely, to be away from the Donaldsons.

Dom hurried to join her, pulling out of the parking lot and zigzagging his way through the small town until he at last found the road that led to the highway. Still, it wasn’t until they were several miles away from Pike that Bailey sent him a startled glance, as if belatedly realizing they weren’t on the road to Kaden’s house.

“Where are we going?”

“Away,” he told her, his gaze sweeping over her pale face before returning to the road.

She’d claimed that she was happy she’d confronted the Donaldsons, but he sensed the meeting had left her feeling emotionally drained and questioning her future. Right now she needed a break from any mention of stalkers or mysterious deaths.

Bailey heaved a soft sigh and settled back in the soft leather seat. “Away sounds perfect right now.”

Switching on the radio, Dom headed north as Bailey closed her eyes and allowed her body to relax. He smiled, strangely pleased with the knowledge she trusted him to keep her safe.

It was over two hours later that he finally veered off the highway. They’d had breakfast at the local diner, but he’d chosen a piece of apple pie that Kaden had assured him was the best in the state. He hadn’t exaggerated. It was delicious, but it was long gone. Now his stomach was rumbling for nourishment.

Following the wooden signs, he stopped at a local orchard that offered farm-to-table luncheons and fresh apple cider. The air was crisp, but the sun was shining, and it was a perfect day to eat outside at the tables that were arranged near the apple trees.

By mutual consent they kept the conversation light, discussing their various tastes in reading and sharing stories of Dom’s early days at the pawnshop and Bailey’s college years. It was exactly what they both needed: a few relaxing hours to simply enjoy each other’s company.

It was late afternoon when he pulled through the heavy iron gates and parked in front of Kaden and Lia’s house.

Bailey unbuckled her belt and sent him a genuine smile. “That was . . .” Her words trailed away as he arched a brow. “It was wonderful.”

He chuckled as she managed to avoid the word “nice.” “Better.”

They slid out of the vehicle and together strolled around the edge of the house to enter the fenced-in backyard. Immediately Bailey was surrounded by dogs who wiggled and yapped in an effort to capture her attention. With a laugh, she bent forward, giving each of them a scratch on the back that only intensified the wiggles until Dom was nearly knocked off his feet.

“I think they missed you,” he pointed out the obvious.

“It wouldn’t matter if I walked to the end of the driveway and back, this is how they would react.”

“Pure, unconditional love.”

She straightened, holding up her hand with a rueful grin. “With lots of slobber.”

Dom stilled as he gazed down at Bailey, something monumental shifting inside him. It wasn’t just that she was beautiful, with her eyes shimmering with flecks of gold in the sunlight and the wind tugging at her satin brown hair. Or that she looked happier than he’d seen her since he’d returned to Pike. It was in the absolute certainty that his life would be an empty shell without this woman at his side.

The emotions were shocking, complex, and yet completely uncomplicated.

Whatever sorcery the universe used to concoct the perfect companion, it had waved its magic wand and created Bailey Evans for him. Now he had to discover a way to make sure she was equally enchanted.

Stepping forward, he intended to wrap her in his arms when a low chime destroyed the moment. The sound was muffled, but there was no mistaking the sound of an incoming text.

Bailey’s smile faded as she reluctantly reached into her purse to pull out her phone.

“Oh,” she breathed as she gazed at the screen.

“Is it from the stalker?” Dom glanced around, sensing that the bastard had to be close. Perhaps even watching them now.

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