Silent Night 3(18)

“Excuse me,” a voice whispered from behind her.

Reva turned, frowning in annoyance. But her frown disappeared quickly as she gazed at the guy standing near her.

Curly dark hair, a strong jaw, golden-brown eyes, broad shoulders. A total babe.

“Hi,” she murmured in a throaty voice. “Can I help you?”

“I hope so.” The guy smiled at her. “Is Liza Grogan here? I’m supposed to pick her up.”

“And you are . . . ?”

“Oh. Her boyfriend. Grant Nichols.” He grinned. “What about you?”

“I’m Reva Dalby,” Reva told him.

“Dalby?” Grant looked impressed. “Like in the store?”

“Exactly.” I’d like to get to know this guy, Reva decided. She glanced toward the revolving door. Ellie was just pushing through it. Liza couldn’t be seen. Good.

“Listen, Grant,” Reva murmured. “Liza is working right now.”

“Oh. She got the job?”

“You sound disappointed,” Reva remarked.

“Well. . .” Grant hesitated. “No, I’m glad for her, I guess. She’s really serious about modeling, but when she gets work, I hardly ever see her. She actually goes to bed at nine, can you believe it?”

Even better, Reva thought. “Models need a lot of sleep so they look fresh,” she told him. “I couldn’t stand it myself. I’m such a night owl.”

“Me, too,” Grant replied. He grinned again, as if they shared some kind of secret.

Perfect, Reva thought. He’s actually coming on to me now. She flicked another glance toward the set. Liza was still out of sight. Now was the time to set something up with Grant.

Reva smiled and took a step toward him.

The showroom door slammed against the wall. Reva spun around to see the door slam shut again.

Grace burst into the room.

Reva frowned.

“Reva?” Grace called hoarsely. She took a step closer. “Help me!”

Reva gasped.

Grace’s left eye was swollen shut, and blood poured from a wide slash in her bottom lip.

Grace took another wobbly step. “Help me—please!”

Then her eyes rolled back in her head and her knees buckled.

Reva screamed in horror as Grace collapsed in a heap on the floor.





Chapter 12





A BROKEN MANNEQUIN


Reva rushed across the room and dropped to her knees beside Grace.

Behind her, she heard loud gasps from the models. “Grant, what happened?” Liza cried.

“I don’t know,” Grant replied. “She just walked in and—whomp! She’s on the floor.”

Grace moaned. Her eyelids fluttered. “Rory,” she muttered hoarsely to Reva. “It was Rory!”

Reva’s mind spun. Rory? Here at Dalby’s?

Loud footsteps pounded across the stage. The three models and Grant surrounded Reva and Grace.

“Shouldn’t somebody call an ambulance?” Ellie asked anxiously. “I mean, look at her face!”

Grace shook her head and grasped Reva’s wrist with cold fingers. “No ambulance!” she pleaded. “Please! Just let me rest a second.”

Reva glanced up at the others. “You might as well go,” she told them. “I’ll take care of her. See you tomorrow morning at rehearsal. Nine sharp.”

As they left, Reva shot Grant a private smile. Then she turned back to Grace. Carefully, she helped her roommate to her feet and guided her down the hall to the ladies room.

Grace sat down shakily on a padded bench while Reva dampened some paper towels at one of the sinks. “What happened?” Reva asked, wringing out the towels.

“I took a walk down Division Street. He must have followed me,” Grace replied. “But I never saw him. Anyway, I was almost back when he dragged me into one of the loading bays behind the store and—he hit me.” She broke off, shuddering.

Reva handed her the towels. “We have to tell the police.”

“No.” Grace winced as she dabbed at her lip.

“But look what he did to you!” Reva argued. “You can’t let him get away with it!”

Grace shook her head. “I don’t think he’ll bother me again.”

“You call a split lip and a black eye bothering you?” Reva cried. “Don’t be a wimp about this, Grace! You have to put that psycho away!”

“You don’t understand,” Grace told her. “I know Rory. He wanted revenge and he got it. He’ll go away now.”

Reva rolled her eyes. If that’s what Grace thinks, fine. It is her problem—she can handle it herself. “Listen,” Reva said, “I still have tons of stuff to do for my Reva Wear show.”

“Yes. I know how important it is to you.” Grace smiled with one side of her mouth. “Go do what you have to do. Don’t worry about me.”