Kerry took her usually seat at the bar while Jameson tinkered in the corner on the register system. Landon slid the glass across the counter to Kerry and she lifted it in the air.
“To you, Landon.”
“To us,” he replied, that flush he loved growing on her cheeks.
They both knocked back the shot of whiskey and Landon was surprised when she didn’t even flinch. Gesturing toward the bottle, he silently asked if she wanted more and she nodded.
They spent the next hour sipping the whiskey and working with Jameson to learn the new program. It seemed simple enough to Landon, but he was sure he’d mess it up at some point. Thankfully he knew where to find a genius software tech.
Just as Jameson was leaving, Cliff and Preston strolled back into the bar, the sheriff’s uniform now replaced with a T-shirt and a pair of jeans, but his badge glistened from its placement on his hip. Landon knew that the man’s job was rarely over despite having a deputy and assistance from the next town over.
“Hey, did you find anything?” Kerry asked as she jumped down from her stool. Landon stayed back behind the bar, but listened closely.
“We couldn’t find any fingerprints on your rental, the note, or on the window. But Cliff was able to pull some grainy footage from the cameras. Whoever it was kept their face out of view, like they already knew where all of the cameras were located. We got a profile shot, but nothing conclusive.”
“So, what does that mean?”
“It means we keep our eyes peeled and you let Landon stay with you until we know more.”
“Ugh!” she groaned as she sat back on the stool and took a large swig of her drink. “This is not what I expected. Now I’m supposed to sit like a waiting duck.”
“I’m sorry that we didn’t have better news regarding the note. But we did get word that your friend Mary is safe and she has taken a leave of absence and staying with a cousin of another servant in town.”
“Well, that’s a relief at least.”
A week past and Landon kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. His life was turning out in a way that he had never thought he’d get to experience – true and utter happiness. He woke every morning with Kerry nestled up against him and went to bed with her in his arms after spending countless hours making love to her. And he did love her. It was fast and out of control, but it was his truth. He suspected Kerry felt the same, but neither of them was budging on sharing first.
Landon had packed a bag and moved into her house under the pretense that he was keeping her safe, but he was waiting for Kerry to invite him to stay forever. She spoke daily about making her life in Carson permanent, but she didn’t want to abandon her people or the crown. The decision was something that she grappled with d
aily, and Landon wished he could help but it wasn’t a decision he could make for her.
No other incidents had happened but that kept Landon, Kerry, and the rest of the town on edge. Something wasn’t right. Kerry was certain that her parents hadn’t instigated the activity and worked to get along better with them. It would take time but she was hopeful.
Landon left Kerry in the storage room loading glasses and the new napkins while he walked around the area with Preston to inspect the new security system. Landon wasn’t leaving anything to chance.
Preston probed about Landon’s relationship with Kerry and ribbed on his that they were both already domesticated. His friend even joked that himself and the Connelly’s were all waiting on the engagement announcement any day now.
He couldn’t imagine proposing to Kerry after only knowing her for a week. But then again, he never would have imagined that she’s be in his life, let alone that she was a real-life princess.
“Hey,” she called out from the back with boxes unfolded and stacked in her arms. “I’m going to take these to the dumpster.”
“Alright, well, wait for me. I can help you.”
“That’s okay. I have them.”
“Kerry.”
“Fine! There is another pile in the corner of the storage room.”
Landon and Preston both made their way over to the storage room as Kerry left through the back door to access the dumpster in the alleyway. The boxes were neatly broken down and stacked in the corner. Both men grabbed the remainder of the cardboard and followed the hall to the back door.
“Kerry?” Landon called out as he blindly descended the few concrete stairs that led to the alley. By the time he took the final step, he noticed boxes scattered along the ground. His heart lurched as he dropped his own boxes and looked around the barren alleyway.
Fear shot up his spine as the possible scenario unfolded before him. Landon wasn’t sure if the shout came from his lungs or from his heart, but it sounded just the same as he screamed out her name, “Kerry!”
***
Why had she been so stupid? Landon had told her over and over not to go anywhere without someone, preferably him. But she had been naïve in thinking that everything was okay since nothing had happened in a week. She should have known better.