Page 4 of Three Rules I'd Never Break

He clenched his jaw. “Someone could break in.”

“And you’d show up as soon as they did. I didn’t even have time to get in the shower.” I walked closer to him, taking out a bit of my frustration on the poor deputy. “I don’t plan to live here long if that makes you feel any better.”

“It doesn’t.” Backing toward the door, matching my pace exactly, he shook his head. “Sorry I didn’t recognize you at first with that stuff on your face and wearing only a...” He spun around and hurried toward the rear exit. “By the way, the back door wasn’t locked.”

The heavy door closed with a thud.

After turning off the alarm, I leaned against the door, wishing the floor would swallow me whole.

At least I’d kept my wits about me. I had to find a small victory in the horribly embarrassing situation. Another tiny victory—my towel hadn’t fallen off. That was good.

A knock at the door startled me out of my thoughts.

Eli didn’t need to see me wearing only a towel a second time, so I leaned close to the door without touching it. I didn’t want to leave face mask smear.

“What?”

“I didn’t hear the bolt latch.” Eli didn’t miss much.

I flipped the bolt. “Happy now?”

“Good night.”

There wasn’t anything good about this night. After all the drama, hunger consumed me, but I had to wash off the stupid face mask before I could go out in public. And put on clothes.

So much for not getting caught with my pants down. I’d been caught with them missing entirely. And it rattled me.

Chapter 3

After washing off my calming mask and putting on something more appropriate than a towel, I called my friend Tessa. “Have you eaten?”

“I thought you were on a date. Oh-no.” Tessa gasped. “Was it that bad?”

She was the kind of friend people wrote about in books, the kind who played the sidekick in romantic comedy movies. I probably wouldn’t have survived living in this town without her. She made me feel like I belonged.

Tessa was the absolute sweetest person on the planet, possibly because she made sweets all day.

“The jerk showed his true colors before we even ordered.” I sighed, irritated all over again. “I drove home, and I’m starved. Want to meet at the barbeque joint?” I didn’t have to give more info than that because our town only had one barbeque place, and we ate there often.

“Sure. I’ll be there in a few minutes. I need to change out of my jammies.”

“You don’t need to change. No one will care.” I yanked on my tennis shoes and tied the laces.

She laughed. “I care. I haven’t yet reached that point of desperation. Yet.”

“Desperate. Comfortable. They’re all just words. See you there.” I hung up, grabbed my purse, and walked out the back door.

Out of habit, I always scanned the area behind the building. I didn’t want any surprises. Tonight, I’d already had too many surprises. I circled around the end of the building and stopped.

That dud’s truck was in the lot. Why hadn’t he left when I told him I wasn’t interested? Had he really just been sitting there for a half hour waiting for me to leave?

I stayed in the shadows and watched. Was he in the truck? With my luck, he’d crossed the street to get barbeque, and I’d bump into him again. I didn’t want that.

My phone buzzed, and I stepped back to check my messages. If Tessa was texting and I didn’t respond, she might worry.

How long are you planning to work tonight?

Was the jerk being stupid or persistent? Either way, I didn’t really want him knowing I was living in the back of my shop. Where was Eli when I needed him? He’d been behind the shop only a bit ago.

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