She flinched at the sound of the name she'd discarded so many years ago. “Like you said, that was a long time ago. Maybe I've changed. Are you the same person you were all those years ago? Would you let another woman come between you and Burke now like you did then?"
"Of course not,” Dani insisted.
"So you've changed. Can't you give me the same credit?” She finished loading the groceries into the car and shut the trunk. A cart corral sat only a few feet away, so Cyndi wheeled the cart over, pushing it into the metal stall. Dani was still standing in the same spot, watching her.
"I'm not sure I believe that anyone can change that much.” Dani sighed, her fingers twisting in the strap of her purse. “I want to believe.” Cyndi could see the torment in the other woman's eyes. “I don't want Shamus hurt, not any more than he already has been."
Cyndi flinched, the keys gripped so tight in her hand that the metal dug into her palm. “I never wanted anyone hurt. I tried to get Shamus to leave me alone at first, but he's very stubborn. He's also an adult who can make his own decisions. I like him a lot and I want to be with him."
This time it was Dani who flinched away. Cyndi had stopped short of saying that she was in love with Shamus. One step at a time.
They stood there for what seemed like the longest time. Finally, Cyndi decided to make the first move. “Shamus is working out at the house every day if you'd like to stop by and have a look at it."
"You're really turning it into a bed and breakfast?"
Cyndi shrugged. “I really am. I've been working in the hotel business for ten years now."
"It's hard to imagine that place as a B & B.” There was no mistaking Dani's confusion.
"Like I said, times change.” Cyndi strolled to her side of the door and unlocked it. Dani followed close behind.
"I'm still not sure I like the idea of Shamus being involved with you."
Cyndi yanked open her door and tossed her purse onto the passenger seat. “I'm sorry about that, but the only opinion that matters to me is Shamus'."
A breeze came up and Cyndi noticed a piece of paper flapping against the windshield. Looked like someone had stuffed a flyer or something underneath her wiper blade.
Reaching over, she ripped the piece of paper out from where it was wedged and glanced down at it. She could hear Dani's voice in the background, but it gradually faded as all her attention focused on the paper in her hands. It wasn't a store flyer. The huge block letters, cut from newspaper print and pasted onto the plain white paper were all too familiar.
Cyndi felt the world around her recede as the words blurred in front of her. GO HOME, it said, OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCES.
"Cynthia?” She jumped when she felt a hand on her arm, falling back and striking her elbow against the car frame. Dani was staring at her with concern. For a moment, Cyndi thought she must be hallucinating. “Cyndi?” the other woman asked again, worry etched on her face.
"Did you see anyone around my car?"
Dani pulled her hand away, a frown forming. “No. What's going on?"
Reaching into her car, Cyndi grabbed her purse and dug out her cell phone, all the while scanning the parking lot. It wasn't overly busy, but there were people coming and going. Dialing quickly, she waited until the phone was answered. “I need to speak with the sheriff.” She paused. “Tell him it's Cyndi Marks."
She could feel Dani's confusion, but didn't even spare the other woman a glance. She felt so cold inside. She couldn't fight this unreasonable kind of hatred. It seemed to take forever for the sheriff to pick up the line. As succinctly as she could, she told him where she was and what she'd found. He'd told her to stay put and that he had men on the way.
She hung up and hit her speed dial. This time Shamus picked up on the second ring. “On your way home?"
"Not yet.” Her voice quavered in spite of her best intentions.
"What's wrong?” She could hear him moving in the background.
"I got another note. It was tucked against my windshield when I got out of the store."
"Get in the car and come home."
"I can't.” She half turned her body away from Dani to try to keep her conversation private. “Patrick said to wait. He's on his way and there's a sheriff's cruiser pulling in now."
"I'm on my way."
"You don't have to come. I can deal with this.” She was steadier now that the authorities were here. She recognized the two men who climbed out of the car and came toward her and Dani.
"I'm on my way,” he reiterated.
"Okay. I've got to go.” She ended the call and tucked her purse away as the officers came toward her.
Shamus's heart was racing as he drove, barely managing to keep the truck at the speed limit. He'd known something like this could happen if she went out alone. That's why he'd been running all the errands or going with her.
He should never have given into her pleas, should have demanded that she wait until he could go with her. “Yeah, like that would work,” he muttered under his breath. Cyndi was a very independent woman, used to running her own life. She wouldn't take kindly to him telling her what to do.
His hands tightened around the steering wheel as he maneuvered the streets, heading toward the grocery store at the other end of town. Logically, he knew she would be safe with uniformed deputies surrounding her. But he knew he wouldn't rest easy until he saw her for himself.
The store came into sight and he could see several official vehicles parked in one area, so that's where he headed. He parked his truck and was out in a flash, striding across the blacktop. Because he was tall, he saw her immediately. Her face was impassive as she answered questions, but he could see the tension there.
As if she felt his presence, her head swung around and her eyes met his. He saw the relief in them and knew it mirrored his own. He scanned the crowd and noticed Patrick stop talking when he realized Cyndi was no longer listening to him. Their gazes met and Patrick nodded at him. Shamus inclined his head and kept walking, his long legs eating up the distance.
Reaching out, he pulled Cyndi into his arms, wrapping them tight around her. She was safe.
"I'm okay.” Her voice was slightly muffled against his shirt, but he heard her all the same.
Over the top of Cyndi's head, he saw his sister watching him. What was she doing here? He'd find out, but right now, all that mattered was Cyndi and getting her somewhere less open.
"We're going home.” He met his brother's gaze.
Patrick rubbed his hand over his jaw and sighed. “Okay. That might be for the best. I think we've got everything we need for now.” He flicked his gaze over Cyndi. “I'll be by later."
He started to herd her toward his truck, but she dug in her heels. “Shamus, I can't leave my car here. I've got a trunk full of groceries."
Shamus raked his fingers through his hair. “I'll come back and get your car later."
Cyndi frowned up at him. “There's no reason I can't drive it home now. You can follow right behind me.” She laid her hand on his chest, directly over his heart. “I'll be fine,” she whispered so no one else could hear.
Glancing around, Shamus realized that everyone was studiously looking everywhere else but at him. That is, everyone except his brother and sister who were watching him and Cyndi with great interest.
"Fine.” He knew he was acting like a jerk, but he really wanted to toss Cyndi over his shoulder, stuff her into his truck, and take her somewhere away from this town. Somewhere she'd be safe.
He kept his arm wrapped around her as he guided Cyndi to her car and settled her inside. “Wait for me.” He shut her door and faced his siblings. “I want a full report as soon as possible,” he informed his brother.
He could tell that Patrick was torn between being amused at Shamus's highhandedness and being angry. Fortunately, humor won out. “No problem. As soon as I finish here, I'll let you know. And Cyndi can't take the car yet. We haven't finished going over it."