Stirring Attraction(28)

The door swung shut behind her as she followed Dominic into the back room, blocking out Noah’s voice.

The Employees Only space held an industrial-­sized dishwasher on the right, complete with stainless-­steel surfaces for loading and storing the racks. Boxes of liquor, wine cases, and kegs lined the walls. A door stood in the back, leading to the staff parking area. Lockers lined the wall on the left. Another door, this one to a bathroom, stood at one end. And a desk, piled high with papers, filled the remaining space.

“It’s more storage than break room,” she said.

Dominic nodded and headed for the desk. He set down the file. Then, he picked up a pen, moved a few things around, and located a notepad.

“Have you found something?” she asked. “In the file?”

“No,” he admitted. “But I have an idea.”

Her hope surged but was quickly chased by doubt. What if he was trying to calm her? What if he wanted to avoid another night on her couch watching her sleep? He’d refused to let her take a shift watching over him. She’d waited until the sun rose, when her fears subsided, to offer. Still, the answer was no. Instead, he’d driven her over to his dad’s place and taken a shower while she’d enjoyed eggs with the police chief again.

“I know you probably did this for one of the deputies, but I want you to make a list of anyone who might have held a grudge against you.”

She accepted the pen and paper from his outstretched hands. “You’re right. I did this at the station. I couldn’t come up with many names though.”

“No angry ex-­boyfriends?”

She raised an eyebrow. “Aside from you?”

“I’m not upset with you, Lily.” He ran his hand through his overgrown locks. “I’m just . . .”

“Determined to show the world your surly side?” She carried the pen and paper to the desk and sat down.

“I’m pissed off at how everything turned out.” He folded his arms in front of his chest and leaned back.

“You can’t change the past.” She glanced down at the blank piece of paper.

“No, but I can do something with your list. More than my dad and his deputies had time for, I’m guessing,” he said. “My father is good at his job. But he has a lot on his plate. When all the facts pointed to a random guy, and no other leads appeared, well, he set the case aside. It’s been weeks and there’s no proof someone is after you.”

Except in my imagination.

“It felt personal,” she said. How many times had she repeated those words? Each time hoping that someone would believe her. Because if they couldn’t catch him, if they couldn’t put an end to her paranoia, how was she going to show up for school and teach her kids? She couldn’t tend bar forever. She barely knew how to shake up a drink.

I belong with five-­year-­olds.

“Is the list I made for the police even in the file?” she asked.

“It is,” he said. “But I want you to start from scratch. And take your time.”

“This won’t take long,” she said as she picked up the pen. “My dad is the only person I’ve argued with recently. And I think I would have noticed if he came after me with a knife. Plus, he’s back in rehab. Court-­ordered this time after a driving-­under-­the-­influence arrest.”

“Did he have any friends? Someone who might pick up his cause?” Dominic demanded.

“I put one of his old drinking buddies on the original list. Your father looked into him and said he was locked up in Salem that day. Plus, the guy who attacked me was younger. The men who spend their days drinking with my father aren’t physically fit.”

“What about at work?” he asked.

She felt him move behind her and read over her shoulder as she jotted down the names she’d placed on the list for the police. “I get along with all of the other teachers. I love the principal.”

“Anyone jealous of Ted?” he asked.

“Again, just you.”

She added three additional names, writing “new” in parenthesis next to each one. Then she turned and handed him the paper. “Two disgruntled parents and a guy I met in a bar during a girls’ night out. I never learned his last name and I don’t recall what he looked like, but he went home with my friends. Shelby might know. She’s a librarian in town.”

“I’ll start with the unhappy parents.” He scanned the list. “Want to tell me what pissed Louis Stanton off?”

“Nothing really,” she said. “He wasn’t listed as an approved adult to pick up his son. I think it had something to do with his divorce. I couldn’t let him take his child, but he was very pleasant. He took the form and agreed to send it in to the main office. I’m not sure if he did, but he didn’t show up at pickup again. According to his son, he works out of state.”