Page 113 of Finding Amanda

"I don't want you here. I've made arrangements. Someone will be with me the whole time."

"Someone as in . . . who, exactly? The store manager can't stay with you all afternoon, can he?"

Amanda considered telling him the truth. What better way to get back at him? But even in this, he didn't get to know what she was up to with Alan. He gave up that right when he slept with Annalise. "You're not my protector anymore."

Mark said nothing. Amanda continued. "I've taken care of it." She turned right into the parking lot and spied Alan standing in front of the bookstore. "I'm here, anyway. My escort's at the door already."

"Please, honey, be reasonable."

She pulled up beside Alan and shifted into park. "I'll be fine. Good-bye, Mark."

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Amanda waved to the two women as they exited the store. When they were out of sight, she collapsed in her chair. A quick glance at her watch told her she'd been standing, signing books, and sharing recipes for an hour and a half. Not that she'd had many people stop by her table, but a few stayed. That last pair had been there for twenty minutes before they decided to buy her cookbook.

Alan sat beside her, silently. He'd only walked away once, when she was surrounded by a crowd. She smiled at him. "You must be bored to tears."

He set his magazine on the table. His hands were trembling again. "Not at all," he said. "I got some reading done, and I was near you. I can't think of a better way to spend the day."

Amanda massaged her tired back and looked around at the displays of books. Not a customer in sight.

"It's really starting to come down out there."

Beyond the glass doors, Amanda watched the snow swirling in the breeze. "That explains the dwindling customers." She checked the clock. Half an hour to go, not a shopper in sight. "I wonder if we've seen the last of them today."

"I'm afraid we have." A tinny beep sounded from Alan's watch. He silenced it and grabbed a small pill bottle from his coat pocket. He removed the top, popped a yellow pill into his mouth, and swallowed it without water.

"Aspirin?"

He gave her a small smile. "Something like that."

Amanda looked back at the snow. "Are you staying close by?"

Alan slipped the pills back into his pocket. "I inherited a summer home from my parents. It's in Alton. I hardly ever use it, but it has so many great memories, I can't bring myself to sell it. I'm staying there tonight."

"Alton's near Winnipesaukee, isn't it?"

He nodded.

"I'm sure it's nice. Sorry to hear about your parents, though."

"They've been gone for a while." He straightened her business cards and bookmarks. "Actually, I wanted to show you something this afternoon. It's not too far from here—maybe ten minutes. Do you have time?"

Amanda looked outside at the snow. "I have to be back by five-thirty to get dinner started."

Alan tented his trembling fingers. "Shouldn't take long." He met her eyes and held them. "It's really important to me."

What could she do? He'd come all the way from New York to spend two hours with her. How could she refuse him a few minutes of her time? She looked out the front door. The parking lot was nearly empty. The snow was falling but not sticking to the road yet. It barely covered the grassy area out front.

"Whatever it is, I'd love to see it. It doesn't look like anyone else is going to come. Let's pack up early and get out of here."

Mark droppedthe girls at his mother's house, kissed them goodbye, and began the long drive to Concord. His thoughts bounced from one terrifying thought to another. What if Gabriel was at the store with her right now? He eyed the phone sitting on his passenger seat. If only she'd answer. Even if she just yelled at him to stop calling, at least he'd know she was all right. But she'd been ignoring his calls ever since she'd reached the store.

You're not my protector anymore . . . I've arranged for someone to be with me . . .

Who was acting as Amanda's protector today? Was it Alan? Would Mark show up at the bookstore to meet his wife's new boyfriend?

Would he be able to keep from killing him?

---