* * *
TESS WAS FUMING when she finally let herself out and locked the back door of Fabulous Interiors on Wednesday afternoon. She didn’t care what Todd Berry’s excuse was this time. She was so done with him. This was the third time in just over a month he’d failed to show up to do a job without having so much as called. She had gone out herself in his place to install tile today, which she hadn’t dressed for. She had no doubt the splotch of mortar on her blouse was permanent. The things she’d intended to accomplish today had gone undone. And, of course, she had to go back out to the Lacombes’ house tomorrow to spread the grout.
And, blast it, she liked installing tile. When she didn’t have a long list of other things that needed to be done. This was why the store relied on contract installers.
Of which she now had one fewer to call on.
Keys in hand, she reached her car, parked in its usual spot beside the big green Dumpster. She cringed every week when she heard the garbage truck drop the container back into place. Please don’t let them miss. So far, so good.
Then she saw her front tire and whimpered. Oh, crap. All she needed was a flat. A slow leak? Maybe she’d driven over a nail...
Heart pounding, she walked around her car. All four tires were flat. Slashed.
She made another circle, looking for a note or another kind of message. But apparently the slashed tires were the message.
Tess called 911, then a local towing company. And, finally, she scrolled her contacts until she found Deputy Zach Carter’s number, which she’d added right after he’d left her house last Thursday despite her certainty she would never need to use it.
Please let him answer. She desperately wanted to hear his deep, calm voice.
He answered on the third ring with an urgent, “Tess?”
She sagged in relief. “You recognized my number?”
“I put it in my phone,” he told her without apology. “Is something wrong?”
“Yes. Um, Monday morning, someone taped a nasty note to the back door of my business.”
“I heard about that.”
“Just now, I locked up and was about to get in my car to go home. But, gee, what do I find? All four tires have been slashed.”
“Are you parked on the street?” His voice had changed indefinably. Became cop.
“No, the alley. All the downtown merchants do. The street parking is for customers.”
“Are you alone?”
Suddenly wary, she turned to look up and down the alley. “I don’t see anyone else.”
“Go back inside,” he ordered. “I’ll be there in five.”
“No, I’ve already called 911 and for a tow truck. One of them will show up anytime.”
“You’re vulnerable, Tess.” The tension in his voice got to her. “Don’t wait out there alone.”
“Okay, now you’re scaring me,” she told him, hurrying back across the alley. Thank God she still had her keys out.
Then she heard an engine and looked to see the tow truck lumbering toward her.
“Tess?” Zach said. “Are you there?”
She slumped against the shop door, willing her pulse to slow. “Yes. Yes, I’m okay. The tow truck is here. You don’t need to come.”
“I’m already on my way.” He was gone.
She dropped her phone back into her handbag and smiled wryly at the muscular young guy hopping out of the tow truck. “Am I glad to see you.”
“I get that a lot,” he said with a grin.
She told him they were waiting for the police and then discussed options. He could load her car and take it to the tire store or he could go pick up four tires for her and change them here. Of course, she’d still have to take her car in for an alignment, but she could wait until tomorrow. Deciding on choice number two, she called Les Schwab and explained, agreed on the best tires for her car and gave the man her credit card number.
By that time a shiny black pickup had pulled into the alley behind the tow truck, and Zach had jumped out and started toward her, his gaze locked on her face. His intensity made it impossible to look away.
Tess was embarrassed by the rush of relief she felt. It wasn’t as if she had been assaulted or even that she’d been waiting alone. But until this minute, she hadn’t felt safe. Her knees seemed about to give out. The awareness she felt for Zach as a man—tall, lean, strong and purposeful—didn’t help.