Ryan came back, holding Lacy against him looking very pale and sick. “You’re staying with us tonight, Liz,” Ryan said firmly. ”I won’t take no for an answer.”
Before she could protest Lacy looked at her and pleaded with her. “Please, Liz, I’m scared for you and I don’t want you to be alone.”
Liz sighed and agreed. She didn’t want to stay alone anyway.
Ethan felt relieved that at least for tonight Liz would be protected. Tomorrow he would try to talk to Liz and apologize. He was realizing he had been wrong to judge Liz. He hadn’t stopped thinking or dreaming about her since the Halloween party and he had to know once and for all if something could develop between them or not.
Chapter 5
“Shush, people, talk quietly.” Lacy groaned, leaning her head on her hands. She sat at the diner, trying to drink coffee even though her stomach protested at the thought.
Stella was standing next to them listening to Liz’s account of what had happened last night. She patted Lacy’s back soothingly. “Poor Lacy, you and Liz had quite the exciting night, I hear.”
Liz frowned and nodded, drinking her coffee and thinking about yesterday. What a day it had been, from her argument with Ethan to the break-in at her store. She now had to deal with a possible stalker. Her days were getting better and better. What happened to peace and goodwill and all that? Didn’t stalkers take a break for Christmas?
Ryan had dropped Lacy and Liz off at the diner before going to work. After finishing her coffee, Liz would walk over to her store and open up. She had been telling Stella all about their crazy night.
“I can’t believe someone in this town would do that to you, Liz. Everyone likes you,” Stella observed, shaking her head in confusion and looking concerned. “What are you going do? Maybe you should close for a few days and give Ryan and the guys a chance to catch this crazy guy.”
Liz shook her head then regretted it when her head hurt. “Ryan promised to get this creep soon and the deputies are driving by often to check on me. I’ll be okay, Stella. This creep is not ruining my business. I’ve worked too hard to build it up.”
Ally came out of the kitchen with aspirin for Lacy, who had stayed quiet. She chuckled when she saw Lacy leaning her head on the counter and groaning. “Put me out of my misery, Ally, please and I’ll never drink again.”
Ally laughed softly and made her take the aspirin with her coffee. “I’d have a headache, too, if I got an hour-long lecture on the dangers of drinking first thing in the morning.”
Stella laughed out loud then lowered her voice when Lacy winced. “Sorry, I take it Ryan is not too pleased with your little party. Wish I could’ve been there.”
Lacy mumbled something that sounded like “no.”
“I got a good hangover remedy for you girls. Raw eggs, Tabasco sauce, and Alka-Seltzer in a blender with some cold coffee. Works every time,” Henry, Ally’s assistant cook and longtime friend offered, rubbing his hands together and looking eager to make his hangover cure.
Liz got up in a hurry, finishing her coffee. “Thanks, Henry, but I feel better already. Got to get to work. It’s a busy season for me.”
“Coward,” Lacy muttered under her breath so Henry wouldn’t hear her while Stella and Ally laughed.
Liz just smiled and waved and left out the door before Henry made his concoction.
* * * *
The morning passed slowly. A few customers wandered in doing Christmas shopping despite the dropping temperatur
es. At lunchtime Gary walked in. “Good morning, Elizabeth,” he said cheerfully, looking perfect as always. She wondered if he even owned jeans and T-shirts.
“Gary, what are you doing here?” she asked with a sigh. She really wasn’t in the right frame of mind to deal with Gary, not today. She was tired and her head hurt.
“I’m on lunch,” he answered, leaning on her counter and giving her a charming smile. “It’s been a very busy week at the bank with the holiday season, but I made time for you.”
When she didn’t reply he kept on talking. “I heard from Stanley you had some problems with a vandal. That’s just awful. I have a Christmas party at work tomorrow night. Come with me so we can have time to talk. Stella will be there,” he offered gallantly, as if offering her the world.
Liz looked at him. The man was persistent, that was for sure. He obviously had not heard the word no very often. It would be easy to say yes to one more date, but she didn’t want to encourage him.
“Gary, I’m sorry. You are a nice man,” Liz lied, but she didn’t like to hurt people’s feelings. “I don’t think it’ll work between us, so maybe you need to put your efforts into someone else,” Liz said softly. He may be self-centered but she would do her best to be polite as her parents had taught her to be.
He looked puzzled as if she had lost her mind. “Of course we will work out. We both have money and sophistication. There is no one else in this pokey little town like us. We belong together. Darling, you are Roger Daniels’s daughter and my family owns the bank. I don’t understand why you are being so stubborn. We could go far together. If you insist on having a hobby, then you can open up your little boutique in any city.”
Did he just say her store was a hobby? Liz took a deep, calming breath, feeling her headache come back with full force. “Gary, I have made up my mind already. I love it this town and I’m not moving.”
His mouth tightened with aggravation. “Fine, you are obviously upset so I will leave for now, but this isn’t over!” he said angrily and walked out the door, slamming it hard, and Liz winced at the loud sound.