Page 91 of Somebody's Watching Me
He was walking too fast, and Jamison almost tripped when they reached the pavers surrounding the pool. “You can’t shut me out forever, William.”
“Oh, of that I’m sure, but it doesn’t change that I’m not leaving until I know you’re inside.”
The rear kitchen door flung open, and her father emerged. “What’s happening?”
“Take Jamison in and lock up the house.” Liam released her right as Rowan’s motorcycle roared to life, the growl of its engine carrying through the dark night. “We have a lead on Sinclair.”
Chapter 22
“And it didn’t even work.”
Rowan’s lips twitched. “It did work, but the end result was not ideal.”
Leaning on the bookstore counter as she read through receipts, Annabeth’s gaze lifted to him sitting on the small settee in the rear of the shop.
“Not ideal?” Her button nose scrunched. “Really?”
“Not bad, but not ideal.”
The shop bell jingled, and a woman stepped in, ending their conversation.
“Hello, Lisa.”
Annabeth knew every customer by name, and if they were a tourist, she made sure to jot down their information to send postcards throughout the year. Nothing over the top, but enough to form relationships that returned in the form of repeat business. People across the country would order books from her, remembering their time at the quirky little bookshop on the beach.
This one looked well put together, with perfectly styled short blonde hair and a picture-perfect smile. Rowan figured her for a year-round Firewater resident.
“Is it here?” Lisa asked.
“I made sure we were here when the delivery truck arrived.” Annabeth popped below the counter and dug out a thick hardcover. “Isn’t it beautiful?”
Rowan watched the two women fawn over the book, releasing oohs and aahs as they marveled at some etchings on the front.
“Thank you so much for thinking of me. This book completes the collection,” Lisa said as she paid. “You’ll have to come by and see my library once it’s finished. Wayne is having a ladder installed and everything.”
The excitement in Annabeth dimmed. Not enough for the woman to pick up on the change, but Rowan did.
“Maybe one day,” Annabeth replied. “Are you coming to the party tonight?”
“Oh, yes, and I love what you’ve done out front.”
“Well, I had a little help hanging the spiderwebs.” Annabeth placed the book in a canvas bag. “My friend Rowan comes in handy sometimes.”
Lisa glanced over at him, and Rowan gave a wave, realizing he probably looked like a giant sitting on doll furniture.
“Friend?” Lisa pressed her lips together and turned back to Annabeth. “Honey, that man back there does not belong in the friendzone.”
Rowan liked this Lisa person. “Enjoy the book,” he said as she left, the bell jingling once more on her exit. When his gaze returned to Annabeth, she was smirking at him. “What?”
“Stopflirting with my customers.”
“Hey, I’m a selling point for the store. You did say I look like a book boyfriend?” Rowan wiggled his eyebrows at her. “Isn’t that what you called me?”
A blush tinged her cheeks, the victory his. “I did say that.”
Being alone at the shop with her was proving to be damn difficult, thus why he resigned himself to sitting on the small couch to watch from a distance as she hurried around the place in her thin white crop top and high-waisted black slacks.
And suspenders. Who knew suspenders would do it for him?
