Page 4 of One Last Kiss
Chapter 2
Abby had wine, music, and good food—thanks to her own fine cooking. Who needed a man to have fun on a Friday evening? Certainly not her.
Her hair was pulled back with a few strands hanging loose in her face, and her jeans and t-shirt were already a little dirty. This was her idea of heaven.
God, she was going to miss this restaurant after she sold it. It’d been her dream long before Sam had helped her build it. But she was moving on, in more areas than one. Sam should have been served his papers yesterday. He hadn’t mentioned it to her at the christening earlier. It was as if he hadn’t gotten the memo at all. Or maybe he just didn’t care.
She reached for her glass of red wine and took another huge gulp. She was on her third glass, which had done wonders for her mood. This weekend she was cleaning the restaurant from top to bottom, and clearing out the cobwebs of her emotional life as well. Topping off her glass, she headed down the hall toward the stairs that led to the basement. She’d decided to start there and work her way up.
There weren’t a lot of places in coastal North Carolina that boasted basements, but when she and Sam had designed this place, they’d decided they wanted one for extra storage. Abby ran a Meals on Wheels program for the shut-ins in Blushing Bay. The basement kept a wealth of donated food items and non-perishables that she rationed out along with her hot meals. She planned on talking to the person who bought The Landing and making sure they continued the charity.
Her wine swooshed out of her glass as she tugged on the basement door to no avail. She’d called Mr. Loftin, a local locksmith, on several occasions just to get it open because it tended to stick. She tried again, putting her full weight into it. This time, it swung free and, consequently, her wine went flying backward.
She flinched at the distinct sound of breaking glass.Great.She’d get the mop when she was downstairs and start with this mess first. She flipped on the light switch and peered into the basement. She’d always gotten creeped out going down there. It was a silly fear. It was just dark, even with the light on, and she didn’t do so well with confined spaces.
Heading down the steps anyway, she mentally reviewed her to-do list and blocked out thoughts of creepy basements and Sam. Seeing him in the same church where they were married, and wearing a nice suit made her heart a little achy. That was another reason that leaving Blushing Bay was a good idea. It was time. Now that her father had passed away, her only family here were her in-laws—soon to be ex-in-laws once Sam signed those papers. She had her best friends, Grace and Krista, of course, but they were busy with their new families. And Abby could still visit. Atlanta was an eight-hour drive. It would only take an hour and a half by plane.
As she came down off the last step, something scurried in front of her. She only saw it from her peripheral vision, but she screamed bloody murder anyway. She didn’t stop screaming until she heard a deep baritone voice barking at her from the top of the staircase.
“What the hell is wrong, Abby? You okay down there?”
She screamed again, this time because she was supposed to be alone in the restaurant.
“Sam?” she shrieked as her eyes focused on him at the top of the staircase. “What?…How?”
“I have a key, remember?”
About that. If she was planning on selling, she’d need to tell him. She was technically the full owner of The Landing. It was her prerogative if she wanted to get rid of the place. And he couldn’t be using his key to let himself in once she did.
“There’s broken glass and red liquid on the floor, and you’re screaming like someone is strangling you. Are you okay?”
She sucked in a breath and scanned her surroundings for the critter she’d seen a moment earlier. Since when did she have mice? She’d have to call someone to take care of that before selling. “If someone was strangling me, I wouldn’t be able to scream much less breathe,” she said, irritation lining her voice.
He was frowning when she looked up. “Listen, Abby.” He started to descend the stairs.
“No, no, no.” She hurried up the steps as her words suddenly stuck in her throat.
Sam looked completely baffled as she raced in his direction. Or more accurately, toward the basement door, which was quickly closing behind him.
Clang!
The door slammed shut with such a force that she jumped a little. Then her body, which was still in motion, rammed against Sam’s with a reverberating thud. Her heart also made a thud that only she could hear.
“You idiot!” she snapped.
Sam didn’t move until she made a show of pushing him to the side. She climbed the rest of the stairs and turned the knob to no avail. She gave the door a push, but it didn’t release.
“I can’t believe this.” Turning back to Sam, she glared at him with her bestsee what you did nowlook. “Can you pull out your cellphone and call one of your brothers to come let us out? The door is broken.”
“I could.” He hesitated. “And I would…if I had my cellphone on me. It’s in the truck.”
Her knees went weak.
“It’s fine. I’m stronger than you. I’ll get it open.” He was standing beside her at the top of the staircase in a heartbeat.
She stepped down and gave him room, then watched as he pushed, pulled, cursed, and kicked the door.
Her breaths grew shallower with each failed attempt. She heard the little wheeze in her lungs.
