Page 5 of Stranded With the Biker

I shookmy hair from the drizzling rain outside and stomped my feet on the huge black doormat at the vendor’s entrance.

“Bye, Hugo!” “Hey, man!” two vendors called, and I waved goodbye. “See you Wednesday!” The other called, and I nodded.

It was obvious that not only was this space pretty cool, but the people were as well. From what I could see, most of the vendors at the market were polite, if not, dare I even say, friendly. Maybe even a tight-knit community.

From the way Kari’s things sold, I wondered if she would contemplate getting a booth for the Valentine’s Day Craft Fest I’d heard some of them talk about. I stepped back into the old warehouse that had been gutted and converted into a huge market space. With the economy as it was and being in the heart of LA, it made sense for whoever owned the spot to convert it into something like this. I rolled my neck while looking around, slightly surprised by how empty it seemed.

Kari’s booth was toward the back, and as I made my way over, I heard the big doors in the front shut loudly. Then another set in the back. I frowned but made my way to the booth. After I helped Nicole, Piper had been nowhere to be found. But thatwasn’t unusual. The only thing that helped bat away the anxiety that she had left was the fact her car was still parked next to the truck I was driving today.

When my booth, along with Piper’s, was within my sights, my brows drew together. There on my table lay the yellow- and black-striped cardigan.Shit,I mumbled under my breath, moving my ass over to my table a little faster. I looked at the pretty sweater. A bright teal envelope sat right on top. I picked it up and took out the paper inside. Feminine handwriting greeted my eyes.

Hugo,

Here is the sweater for your sister. Consider it a gift. Hope her arm heals soon.

Always, Piper.

P.S.

Hope you have a great two days off.

Shit.Damn it.That meant she had slipped out of the place without me noticing. Just when I thought I made some progress! Now I had to wait around for forty-eight hours to see her again. I didn’t even have her number to call or text her a thank you. Wasn’t that just my luck?

I slipped the paper back into the envelope when something on the back of it caught my eye. In ink just a little darker teal than the paper was her business logo. Beneath that was an email address and a phone number.

Maybe I could see her before we had to get back to working at the craft fair? Maybe I had a chance after all? That was all I could think about just moments before the whole building turned pitch black.

“What the fuck?” I wondered out loud. The hair on the back of my neck stood up. The lights were out, and it didn’t seem like there was anyone else in the building. No way, no how was Ifucking stranded all alone in an empty building! Was I? I patted my pants pocket and winced.

“Shit,” I whispered to myself before rubbing my face. I’d left my phone in my truck. Just my damn luck!

Piper

I walkedout of the bathroom and looked around the very dark, very quiet warehouse.

“Hello!” I called out, but there was nothing. Not a sound. Oh god. I swallowed. I could deal with a lot. When we had a mouse in our rental and it freaked out both Allie and Win, it was me who caught it. Not to mention about a million spiders I’d had to rehome. Not much fazed me. But the dark? That I wasn’t a fan of, and double that if I was in the dark all alone. I heard a rustling toward my booth.

My back hit the wall by the bathroom. Had everyone seriously left? Without checking if everyone was gone!? To be fair, I had seen Matty and Brady, the two head organizers and owners of the fair by the huge back doors saying goodbye to vendors as they walked by. They had said goodbye to me, but I’d turned back around when Mother Nature called. I didn’t want to risk it. Last time I did that, my bladder had almost exploded in the middle of bumper-to-bumper traffic.

But they’d seen me!

I mean, I was almost positive they had.Didn’t they?

“Obviously, that’s a negative, Batman,” I mumbled to myself. With a deep breath, I started to make my way to my booth. I was pretty sure I’d left my phone on the table. Anxiety and fear started to trickle their way up my spine. I hated being stuck in the dark! Why couldn’t I have kept my phone attached to me like everyone else in the world?!

No. I would just call someone. I was pretty sure I had the organizers’ number saved in my phone. Or maybe I could search it online? Maybe Matty and Brady hadn’t gone too far? Or maybe they had a security team that drove around who could open the door and let me out?

I reached my table, frowning when nothing was on it.Shit, where did I leave my phone?I shut my eyes for a split second and stopped in my tracks. The box from which I’d pulled the cardigan out for Hugo’s sister. I’d tossed it in there when I took the empty boxes back so I could restock over the next two days. My eyes opened, and I was surprised at how quickly my vision had adjusted to the darkness.

Not a moment later, my heart felt like it leaped into my throat. A big dark shadow cast behind me. Everything in my body, from the top of my head to the soles of my feet, locked up tightly.

“It’s me.” Hugo’s rich voice made my body sag with relief. Before I knew what I was doing, I’d turned around and launched myself at him. Thankfully, he didn’t seem too surprised by my reaction. His long muscular arms simply wrapped their way around me, holding me close.

“I thought I was stuck here all alone!” I shrieked. Thankfully, my words were muffled against his chest. I hoped he didn’t think I was some kind of dramatic crazy woman!

“Shh,” he soothed as his big warm hand stroked the back of my head. “It’s okay. Everything’s ok,” he reassured me. His scent filled my lungs and settled deep inside me. I didn’t wantto move, but I knew there was no way I could cling to him like a second skin any longer. It was bad enough I’d embarrassed myself already.He must think I’m such a scaredy cat.I pulled my cheek off his warm chest and glanced up at him.

“I’m usually not this easily freaked out,” I blurted with an overwhelming need to explain. “You have spiders to catch or a rodent, even a frog, I’m your girl?—"

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