Page 30 of Gavin

“You’re important to me,” he said sincerely. “The most important female in my life and I want to treat you like a queen.”

Nora returned to the porch, filling goblets with ice water and glasses with wine, then she set filled plates before them. After fetching a basket of sliced bread and a dish of butter, she said, “Make yourselves at home. If you need anything, please call and I’ll come right out. I’ll bring dessert when you’re finished. Otherwise, enjoy the evening.”

As Nora left, Gavin stared at the curtains that covered the space. He got up from the table and moved to the curtains, pulling one section back to stare out into the coming darkness as the sun set. The woods were thick around Nora’s home, and Sadie didn’t know if he’d be able to see much of anything. But he sure seemed to be staring intently into the woods.

“What is it?” Sadie asked as her skin prickled with unease.

He waited a moment before answering, letting the curtain drop back into place. “I don’t know,” he said. He sat back down and picked up the glass of wine to take a drink. “I just felt like we were being watched.”

“Someone from the security team?”

He hummed. “Maybe. Just a strange feeling.”

“Do you want to call someone?”

He shook his head. “I’m sure it’s nothing.”

“If you’re sure?”

“Yes, let’s enjoy this meal that Nora made.”

“It’s perfect.”

“It sure is.”

Conversation flowed easily between them as they ate Nora’s delicious food. Sadie swore it was the best meal she’d ever had in her life, and she could tell that Nora not only knew her way around the kitchen but genuinely enjoyed cooking for others. When they’d finished their dinner and amazing dessert, they thanked Nora for her time and effort, and Sadie gave her a hug.

“You’re welcome anytime,” Nora said. “I heard that you worked at a library.”

“I did, I loved it,” Sadie said.

“I have a library in my den, you’re welcome to come peruse my books anytime.”

“That’s so sweet, thank you.”

They left her home and as they walked to the truck, Gavin kept looking over his shoulder.

“You still feel weird?” she asked.

“Yeah.”

He opened the truck door for her. “What are you going to do?”

“Call Ryan and then talk to Midas if I need to. I feel like I’m just being paranoid, but we are at the edge of the territory and Nora’s home is pretty isolated.”

“Will she be okay out here alone?”

He nodded. “I’ll be sure to ask Ryan to send a patrol out here to keep an eye on things.”

He shut the door and lifted his phone to his ear as he made his way to the other side. He didn’t get into the truck until he’d finished talking to not only Ryan but Midas. When he got in the truck, he set his phone in the cup holder.

“Ryan said no patrols were in this area while we were here, so whatever I was sensing could be just general wildlife or it could be someone was watching us that shouldn’t have been.”

“How would anyone know we were there? And why would someone want to watchus?”

“I don’t know, sweetheart, but Midas agrees with Ryan. They’re going to increase patrols and check the footage from the security cameras we have in the woods around the town. Maybe it was nothing, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

“Definitely.”

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