Page 43 of Craving Vengeance
Chapter Fourteen
Shannon sat quietlyin the passenger seat of Spinelli’s truck, staring out the windshield. She hadn’t said a word since he told her about the interview with Bethany and her untimely death. He was sure Shannon blamed him for this disastrous day.
Outside of waking up with her in his bed, not one thing went as planned. He thought about the ring in his pocket. There was no way he could attempt to go there now, maybe not ever. A sharp pain sliced through his heart at the thought, but he was simply bad news for her. She’d probably never forgive him anyway no less accept a proposal from him. She deserved better.
He parked his truck, sprang out, and hustled around to the passenger side to get the door for her. When he opened the door, she didn’t move. It’s like she was in a trance.
“Shannon, sweetheart, you’re home.”
She flinched. “What?” she asked as she turned her head in his direction. Her eyes still watered.
Spinelli extended his hand toward her. “We’re here, come on. Let’s get you inside.”
Without hesitation, she slipped her hand into his. That had to be a good sign. What was he thinking? It would be so much easier to walk away from her if she blamed him and pushed him away. Then he wouldn’t have to be strong about it. He could just take his beating, tuck his tail between his legs, and go home to wallow in self-pity.
He ran his fingers over the numeric keypad next to the glass door of her apartment building. She’d given him the code weeks ago. The buzzer sounded, and he pushed the door open for her to pass through.
He recalled the first time he held that door for her, a mere couple of months ago. She’d tried to brush him off in that very spot, but he ignored her attempt and proceeded to walk her all the way to her apartment door. Before he was able to leave, she invited him in for some of the gingerbread cookies she’d baked the night before. Well, maybe she didn’t exactly invite him in willingly. Her cute, little, old neighbors may have played matchmaker that night. But nonetheless, he was invited in for cookies. He knew, without doubt, that very night, his life would never be the same.
He stifled a chuckle. Though now was not the time for laughing, he couldn’t help himself as he recalled the craziness he’d undergone over the past two months since he’d met her. He’d gone undercover as Santa Claus to protect her and catch a killer, and today he found himself dressed as cupid and singing freaking love songs to love-struck strangers for Valentine’s Day. He never thought he’d see the day. He glanced at Shannon as she kept pace at his side as they walked down the long narrow corridor toward her apartment door. Her small warm fingers wove perfectly with his.
He’d do it all over again if need be, dress as Santa and listen to a thousand whiny kids as they rattled off their Christmas lists. Dress as cupid and sing to love-struck starry-eyed people all day long. For chrissake, he’d dress as a freaking leprechaun and search the world high and low for a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow if she wanted him to. He was a hopeless case. He’d never be able to walk away from her on his own.
Fear shot through his veins. What would he do if she walked away from him? How would he ever get her to forgive him for the mess he’d caused today?
Shannon fumbled through her purse and surfaced with her apartment door key a moment later. Her hands shook as she tried to enter it into the key slot. Evidently, the day had taken its toll on her. Though she was no longer engaged to Meyers, she once was close to him, and though she’d only dated the others for short periods of time, she had to be devastated by the mere thought that a crazy woman’s jealousy of her had caused their deaths.
Spinelli’d give his right arm if he could go back in time and change the events of the day. Shannon turned the key, but before she could open the door, the apartment door behind them opened. Mrs. Finch stuck her head out. “Is that you dear?” she asked as her thin-lipped smile stretched from ear to ear. “No doubt it is. I can tell from that glorious smell you have your handsome friend with you tonight as well,” she added with a wink.
He liked Mrs. Finch. She was a sweet little old lady who was always happy and bubbly, just like Mrs. Knight, her sister, who lived with her. Though Mrs. Finch was nearly blind, it didn’t seem to slow her down any.
The shuffle of feet sounded behind Mrs. Finch. Mrs. Knight surfaced in the doorway as well. Not only were they identical twins, they still, after decades, dressed the same and wore their hair the same as well. The ladies stood before them wearing their plush-looking pink bathrobes belted at their tiny waists. Their petite feet were covered in matching pink slippers. Curlers held their steel-gray hair in place, their smiles resembled one another, and the sparkle in their eyes was identical.
Shannon smiled softly at her neighbors. “You ladies are up kind of late tonight.”
The two women shared a giggle, and even that sounded the same. “We got caught up in the Johnny Carson marathon on TV. He’s so funny. I just love when he plays that ‘Carnac the Magnificent’ character,” Mrs. Finch beamed. She was the talker of the two.
