Christine paused as she waved another employee to come over to assist them. “I beg your pardon?”
“My mother thinks Todd would appreciate the family heirlooms.” Bonnie shook her head wearily. “She wants him to present them to his fiancée on a special occasion. What fiancée is he on now? Number eight?”
“Hush, now,” Faye said. “It took Todd some time to find his true love. That necklace will seal the deal. Mark my words.”
“Here is Laurie to help you with the box,” Christine said, even though Faye and Bonnie were familiar with the procedure. “Please let me know if you need anything.”
As Christine returned to her office, she thought about the jewelry that dear departed Stanley had given his wife. The pieces were old, heavy and didn’t fit the current styles, but Christine thought the ritual had been sweet and romantic. Faye relived the memories every time she wore one of Stanley’s gifts.
Christine was about to sit down at her desk when she heard the unfamiliar throaty growl of a motorcycle. That was odd. No one in Cedar Valley had a motorcycle.
She glanced out the window as she saw the rider turn into the parking lot. He wore a black motorcycle jacket, faded jeans and boots and a black helmet. There was something familiar about the lean, muscular body. She wondered who’d bought a bike over the weekend. She didn’t remember anyone coming in asking for a loan.
As the man parked in front of the bank and removed the helmet, Christine went still. That looked like Travis Cain. She blinked. The same high cheekbones and angular jaw.
She blinked again and stared at his harsh features. Her skin went hot and then cold. Her heart leaped in her chest and she gasped.
Oh, no. That was Travis Cain. What was he doing here?
There was only one answer. He was here to see her. Christine looked at her dull brown dress and her hands automatically went to her tight braid. Oh, no, no, no. She dropped to her knees and hid from the window. She couldn’t let this happen.
The panic pulsed in her body as she looked for an escape. She had no second door. The walls were glass. There wasn’t another exit.
She needed to make a run for it. Christine was about to stand when she heard the heavy footsteps on the marble floor.
“Good morning, sir,” Laurie said with a tinge of curiosity. “How can I help you?”
“I’m here for Christine Pearson.”
Christine shivered when she heard Travis’s voice. It was husky and confident. The man didn’t need to raise his voice. He always gained attention the moment he stepped into a room.
“She should be in her office,” Laurie said. “I’ll take you there.”
8
CHRISTINE DOVE UNDER her desk. She winced and gritted her teeth when her knee bumped against the sharp edge of a drawer. She tried not to make a sound as she curled her body tight. Resting her forehead against her stinging knee, she closed her eyes. Her pulse was racing, her heart pounding in her ears, as she listened to Laurie’s squeaky flat shoes get closer.
“Christine?” Laurie’s voice grew louder as she stepped into the small office. “Huh, that’s strange. I could have sworn she was here.”
Christine pressed her lips together and prayed Laurie wouldn’t investigate and walk around the desk. The older woman would immediately call her out. Laurie wouldn’t understand that she was hiding from Travis until it was too late.
“She must have just stepped out,” Laurie continued. “Perhaps I could help you?”
“I’m not a customer,” Travis said. Christine’s heart did a slow, funny flip at the sound of his voice. “I’m here on personal business.”
“Really?”
Christine scrunched up her face at Laurie’s intrigued tone. The woman was hardworking and helpful, but her favorite pastime was gossiping. She could probably get information out of a hardened criminal with a carefully placed question and a cookie.
She didn’t want Travis talking to Laurie. Christine was tempted to jump out from under the desk just to keep Laurie and Travis apart. Maybe she could cause a distraction. Christine looked around the room as the anxiety pulsed inside her. She had nothing.
Perhaps she didn’t have anything to worry about. Travis was discreet. He was friendly but private. He didn’t reveal a lot about himself.
She wasn’t sure why she hadn’t noticed that before. He’d entertain her with stories about his travels, but he was hesitant to answer any personal questions. She knew that he had risked death while snowboarding in Alaska, but she didn’t know where he was born. She was sure he would respond in the same manner to Laurie’s pointed questions.