Van, Becca - Her Shadow Men [Slick Rock 5] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (8 page)

Debbie cut off her monologue and pursed her lips. Remy and Brandon smiled at her as they left her at the door and got to work. She was heading back up to her apartment when footsteps sounded behind her. Turning, she raised an eyebrow in query when she saw Giles following her up the stairs.

“The package includes an alarm and sensors for your apartment as well as new locks for your windows and doors,” Giles stated.

“For God’s sake,” Debbie muttered and led the way inside. She excused herself when she heard her phone ringing.

“Hello.”

“Hi there, Deb, I was wondering if you’re free to share a bottle of wine and some snacks,” Leah said.

“Um, where? I have Giles, Remy, and Brandon Alcott putting in a new security system here at the moment.”

“Then I’ll come there. I’ll see you soon.”

“Okay,” Debbie replied then looked at the handset because Leah had already disconnected the call. She replaced the receiver and went to her kitchen to rummage in her fridge and cupboards. Ten minutes later, she heard Leah knock on the door. She let Leah in and led her into the small kitchenette where she had a small table and four chairs. She had figured it would be easier to talk in there since Giles was working in her living room and bedroom at the moment.

“So what’s been going on?” Leah asked as Debbie got out the bottle opener.

“I was burgled last night.”

“Oh my God. Are you okay? Sit down, I’ll do that. Tell me what happened.”

Debbie ran through the events of the previous night and how she ended up staying with Britt and Daniel. She left out the part about having sex with them and took a sip of her wine. She eyed Leah’s glass of juice and cursed the fact she had again forgotten her friend wouldn’t be drinking. She guessed she was just too rattled to think straight.

“Well, I’m glad you had the sense to upgrade your security. I know you’ll probably sleep better with the new system and so will I. Are you sure you’re all right to stay here by yourself?”

“Yes, thanks, Leah. I’ll be fine. I didn’t call the security company though, Britt and Daniel did. I was going to tomorrow, but they didn’t give me a chance,” Deb said and frowned.

“They obviously care for you and want to know you’re safe. That is so romantic. So when are you going to take them to bed?”

Leah had asked Debbie the one question she was hoping she wouldn’t. She felt her cheeks heat and lowered her head, trying to shield her face with her hair.

“Oh my. You already have, haven’t you?” Leah asked. “So what was it like? I want all the deets, girl, and I’m not leaving until I get them.”

To her and Leah’s surprise, Debbie burst into tears. She didn’t even really know why she was crying. No, that wasn’t true. She was lying to herself. Leah stood up and held her while she cried. Once she had stopped and was in control again, she began to talk. And when she started she couldn’t stop. All her insecurities poured out, and she even told Leah how much Britt and Daniel were working their way into her heart. Leah was the only person she could be totally honest with, and she valued her friendship greatly.

“Deb, you’re being too hard on yourself. Connell and Seamus were flattered when you came to them. Of course I was jealous at first, but I quickly got over that once my men explained the situation to me. You were hurting when you were with them, and men being men, they didn’t refuse when they should have. You had nothing to do with what your ex did to me. I know you have feelings for those two Delaney men. You think you can hide it from yourself, and you can keep believing that if you want to, but you and I both know you want them and are maybe a little in love with them.

“We all take risks when we put our hearts on the line, honey. Love is…can be a scary thing. But you don’t know how things will pan out with them. Don’t you want to try and have a relationship with them? You never know, they maybe just what you’re looking for.”

“I can’t, Leah. I just can’t open myself up to being hurt again. It’s just too painful.”

The sympathy in Leah’s expression iced over, and she firmed her mouth. “And here I was thinking you were the bravest woman I know. I wouldn’t have confronted a burglar, but you did. You could have been killed, for crying out loud. You have a bruise on your cheek and here you are telling me you’re too scared to have a relationship that could be the best thing you ever had. You’re a coward, Debbie Newsome. I love you like a sister, but right now I’m too mad with you to stay. I’ll call you in a few days.” Leah said. Debbie watched openmouthed as Leah gave her a quick hug then left.

Debbie was in turmoil. Distraught with what Leah had said, she downed the contents of her wine glass and poured another. She sat in her kitchen nibbling and drinking until her vision went hazy. She tried to concentrate when Giles came into the kitchen and explained how to use her newly installed security system. She gave him a wave when he smiled at her and left. The door closed quietly behind him, and she was alone once more.

Chapter Nine

Debbie felt like death warmed up, but she put on a smile and opened her shop to her first customers at nine the next morning. She was glad her alarm had been on because she knew she wouldn’t have awoken by herself. She’d even put on some makeup this morning, trying to cover up her pallor. She had popped some painkillers with nearly a gallon of water before she had made her way to the store, and she knew it would be a while before they began to work. She sipped at her coffee as three women browsed the racks of lingerie, giggling and chatting as they did.

She looked up when the bell tinkled, admitting a tall man dressed in a suit. She had never seen him before, but that didn’t mean he didn’t live in Slick Rock. Even though it was a small town, she knew she would never meet all the residents.

Debbie felt her skin crawl as he stopped in front of the counter. She had no idea why, but he gave her the jitters. “Hello, can I help you?” she asked politely.

The man gave her a broad smile. “Yes, thanks. I’m looking for a gift for my girl and thought you could help me.”

“Sure. Do you have anything particular in mind?”

“Not really. I thought you could suggest a couple of things.”

“Okay. Well, come with me and I can point out a few items. Do you know her size?” Debbie asked as she looked up at him. She tried not to shudder when his eyes ran over her.

“I’d say she’s about your size.”

“All right. I think a teddy or a set of underpants and a camisole. Do you know what color she likes?”

“She likes purple in all shades.”

Debbie felt the hair on her nape stand on alert. She picked up a teddy in a light-lilac color and showed it to him. It was one she had been thinking about buying herself. “How about this one?”

“Yes, thanks. I think that’s just the thing.”

“Do you want me to gift wrap if for you?”

“Please.”

Debbie was quick and efficient but fumbled slightly when tying the bow. When she was finished she rang up the sale and handed the man his change. She sighed with relief when he walked out.

She didn’t get the time to think over her reaction to the stranger as she was kept busy right up until closing. Her hangover had finally dissipated, and now all she wanted to do was find something to eat and crawl into bed.

She locked up, counted the money in the register, and removed most of her takings. It had been a good day financially, so why wasn’t she feeling happy? She set the alarm and locked the back door. She made herself a toasted-cheese sandwich and sipped her fifth black coffee for the day while she ate. She had needed the extra caffeine to get her through the day. She cleaned up and headed for the shower.

Debbie had just stepped from the shower when she heard knocking on the door. She didn’t feel up to company right now, so she ignored it. The knocking stopped, and as she pulled on her comfortable, large T-shirt she liked to sleep in when she was feeling down, her phone began to ring. She ignored that, too. Her answering machine would pick up, and she would call back tomorrow. She turned the volume down on her phone before she could hear who was calling and climbed into bed.

She tossed and turned. She had thought since she was tired after a long day and had been suffering from a hangover she would have dropped off to sleep quickly. That wasn’t the case. She stared at the ceiling for hours on end, her mind in turmoil. She couldn’t seem to decide what to do. Her thoughts went around and around until she was ready to scream with frustration. She threw the bedcovers aside and padded out to her kitchen in bare feet. She was about to flip on the light, but she hesitated when she heard a sound outside her apartment door.

Debbie picked up her bat, which she now kept next to the front door and held her breath while she listened. The noise was strange. It sounded like paper crackling. Then she smelled smoke.

She reached out to the doorknob and snatched her hand away when it burned her skin. She raced to the kitchen, grabbed a pot holder, and ran back to the door. She fumbled with the lock as it burned her fingertips, but she was eventually able to get it open. She used the pot holder to turn the metal knob and jumped back when flames began to push inside. She was stuck. There was no other exit, and she was trapped.

She skirted the flames and slammed the door closed. She reached for her phone and dialed 9-1-1 and placed the receiver to her ear. There was nothing there but silence. Her phone was dead. She dropped the phone and ran to her bedroom. She tipped the contents of her purse on the bed, looking for her cell. It wasn’t there.

She tried to remember when she had last seen it and slapped a hand to her forehead when she remembered she had left it next to the cash register in her shop. She had no way to call for help and no way to get out of the burning building.

She slumped down on her bed as tears of fear leaked from her eyes. No, she wasn’t about to give in. She had to keep calm and try to think of a way to escape. She stood up and pulled a pair of jeans on and a wool sweater over her shirt. She slipped on her boots and began to check the windows.
Shit, where are the keys to the new locks?
She couldn’t remember.

She was so hot and tired. Smoke was everywhere now, and if she didn’t get out soon she was going to suffocate. There was only one thing she could do. She was going to have to smash a window and jump. She went into the bathroom off her bedroom, grabbed a large towel, and doused it with water. She wrapped the dripping towel over her head and mouth and ran to the kitchen. The flames were everywhere, and she felt the light hairs on her hands shrivel as she picked up one of the timber chairs and ran back to her room, the only place that didn’t have fire in it yet. Only smoke. There was lots of smoke. Her lungs felt tight and clogged, but she didn’t let that stop her. She heaved and pushed her bed until it was away from the window. She tugged and ripped the curtains down and threw them on the floor. Her energy was sagging, and she knew she needed more oxygen.

Debbie got down on her hands and knees and then lay flat on the floor on her stomach. She removed the now-dry towel from her mouth and gulped in air. Once she was feeling steady again, not so light-headed, she stood up and began to swing the chair at the glass. Shards exploded out, and she swung the chair again and again, until most of the glass was gone. She pulled the towel from her shoulders, folded it, forming a pad, and placed it over the jagged edges. She climbed up on the window ledge and looked down.

It was a lot farther than she had thought, but she didn’t have a choice if she was going to survive. She took a deep breath of clean, fresh air and began to cough. She swayed but reached out and gripped the window frame to steady herself. Then she jumped.

She landed awkwardly and felt pain pierce her right ankle. As she fell forward, she ducked her head and rolled. When she stopped moving, she pushed herself to her hands and knees and crawled away from her burning building.

Now that she was out, reaction began to set in. She was so cold, and her body was shaking. Feeling uncoordinated, she collapsed against the brick wall at the entrance to the alley. Just as she slumped down, a loud explosion permeated the air, and she felt something hit her head. She slid to the ground, unconscious before she finished falling.