“Listen, sugar. I want you to be careful. I’m going to stop by the hardware store today and pick up some better locks for your front and back doors. I’ll install them later.”
She wanted to protest his heavy-handedness, but couldn’t. She’d planned to do the same thing later when she finished sifting through the mess in the front room. This would save her some time. “That’s fine. Just save the bills so I can reimburse you, and add the labor to the bill for the electrical work.”
He nodded and released her. She stepped back, already feeling the separation growing between them, and it was more than physical. Jonah’s mind was already elsewhere.
“I’ll be in my office if you need me. You don’t need to wait until Patrick arrives. The doors are all locked, the deputy is outside and I have my cell phone with me. I’ll be fine.”
Not waiting for a reply, she turned on her heel and strode back to her office.
It was time to finish with this mess. Then she planned to take some measurements.
Shamus had promised to drop by later this afternoon to look at her plans for this room.
He’d seemed confident that it wouldn’t be a problem for him to build the shelves and cabinets she wanted for her new shop.
Jonah’s talk about locks reminded her that she needed to look at the overall security of the house. Not only did she want better locks, but possibly shutters for the windows in the front room, plus a lock for the inside door. It would be her office, her store and her livelihood. She didn’t want to take any chances with it, especially after last night.
Chapter Eight
The sheriff had come and gone and the boxes in her office had been repacked and piled in the center of the room. Nothing was missing. That was a relief to Amanda. But the police still had no leads on who her attacker might be, which was more than a little worrisome.
Still, she didn’t want to dwell on the negative. There were plenty of positive things in her life at the moment. She had a new home and would have By the Book up and running again within two weeks. Besides her online business, which was doing very well, she’d have her small shop open too. She also had several good friends in this town.
Then there was Jonah.
She listened and could hear muted sounds coming from the kitchen. Jonah hadn’t left until Patrick arrived and he had returned an hour later. It hadn’t escaped her notice that the sheriff had stayed until Jonah returned.
Not that she minded the company. She wasn’t stupid and knew she’d be jumpy for a few days. She also wasn’t looking forward to tonight. It wouldn’t be easy to sleep alone, but she would do it. There wasn’t any other choice. Jonah couldn’t baby-sit her forever.
Besides which, she wasn’t about to let some stranger frighten her or chase her away from her new home.
A knock came on the front door. Amanda wiped her hands on the back of her jeans, and left her office, taking care to close the door behind her. She opened the door and stared at the stranger standing in front of her. He was a tall man, thin, with brown hair that was starting to turn gray at the temples.
A quick glance at the curb assured her that a deputy was still stationed there. The sheriff had told her he’d leave a man there until tomorrow morning, but then he’d have to pull him. A small town didn’t have the resources for more. Amanda suspected he’d already gone well beyond what any normal police force could or would do.
The man waiting on her doorstep didn’t look happy.
“Can I help you?” She kept the door partially closed, ready to slam it if necessary.
“You the woman opening up the bookstore?”
Sensing a potential customer, she put on her best professional demeanor. “Yes, I am.” She offered her hand. “Amanda Barrington.”
He looked it, but didn’t take it. She reluctantly lowered it back to her side, her nerves returning.
“I’m Hector Baker. I own a shop on the far end of Main Street. It’s called the Buy and Sell. You might have heard of it.”
Bewildered, she shook her head. “No, I’m sorry I haven’t. I’ve just moved and haven’t settled in yet. I’ll be sure and stop by.” She was still no closer to knowing what he wanted from her. Was this just a social visit from another local business owner? She didn’t think so. Mr. Baker didn’t seem to be in a particularly social mood.
“I sell a lot of books.” He pulled back his shoulders and frowned at her. “A place this small doesn’t need another bookstore. You might want to rethink opening a shop here.”
Hector frowned at her. “Heard you had some trouble here last night.”
Amanda heard the underlying threat in his words. After last night, her nerves were on edge, but she stood her ground. Jonah was in the house. If she yelled, he’d come running.
There was no sound, no footsteps, but suddenly she felt Jonah behind her. He tugged the door wider so that Hector got a good view of him standing behind her. “You know anything about that, Hector?” Jonah’s voice was low, his tone mild, but it sent shivers down Amanda’s spine.
Hector took a step back. “No. No, I don’t know anything about it. Just what I heard down at the diner. Everyone is talking about it.” He squinted at her. “Someone tried to choke her. That’s what they’re saying. And she don’t sound so good.”
“Mr. Baker.” She waited until she had his attention, eager to nip this problem in the bud. “I don’t think my business will interfere with yours at all. Do you sell mostly popular novels and paperbacks?”
He nodded. “I do real well with them too. I trade with some folks and sell with others.”
“I deal primarily in collectables, not in paperback fiction. In fact, I’ll have to stop by your shop and pick up some reading material for myself.”
Hector stared at her hard, as if trying to assess if she was telling the truth. “You do that. In the meantime, I’ll be keeping an eye on you.”
“That a threat, Hector?” Jonah tried to ease her to one side, but she held her ground.
This was her problem and she had to deal with it.
“No threat. Just a fact.” Turning, he ambled down the walkway and made his way to a dusty brown truck that was parked at the curb.
“Well, that was my first welcome from the local business community.” She frowned.
“If you don’t count Cyndi, which I don’t because she’s my friend.”
Knowing she was rambling, she shut the door. Jonah stood waiting patiently beside her. She really should lecture him about butting into her business. Instead, she went up on her toes and planted a kiss on his chin. “Thank you.”
Jonah looked slightly bemused as if she’d surprised him with her action. He’d obviously expected her to tell him off for butting in. She’d had her say to Mr. Hector Baker, but she suspected it wasn’t the last she’d hear of him. Amanda was smart enough to pick her battles and this one wasn’t worth squabbling over with Jonah.
“I’m going upstairs to straighten up a bit. If you need me for anything just give me a shout.” She could feel his eyes on her as she walked up the stairs. It wasn’t her fault that there was an extra bit of swing in her hips as she did so. No, it was his fault for making her feel so sexy.
She worked upstairs for an hour, unpacking her suitcases and putting away her belongings. She’d have to move the things in her closet to paint it later, but she needed to be able to find her clothes.
She also unpacked a box that contained several books she was reading. She stacked them on the shelf in the nightstand, promising herself she’d get back to them soon. It was then she remembered Cecilia Sutter’s journal. She’d meant to tell Jonah about it before they’d gotten distracted by the sheriff’s phone call.