Bayley looked up in surprise as Nick bolted through the door of her shop. Stalking over, with a nod toward Chad sitting near the front, he said, “We need to talk.”

Chad immediately stood and followed Nick and Bayley as they moved to the service area and the stairs leading to her office. Once there, Nick closed the door and whirled around, saying, “Johan Volkov has been arrested.”

Her breath left her lungs in an audible whoosh as her knees threatened to give out. Nick’s hands whipped out, grabbing her upper arms, steadying her as he assisted her to a chair.

“Wow,” she said, unable to think of anything else to say.

“Who picked him up?” Chad asked.

Nick replied, “I got a call from Harlan, one of my former FBI superiors who knew I would want to know. Seems the Chesapeake FBI office got him in a routine sweep of the dock area.”

“Will I need to testify against him?”

Smiling down at her, Nick’s hand slid to her back, rubbing circles in comfort as he said, “I don’t think so. They’ve got him on so many other charges that accosting you is actually low on their list of things he’ll have to answer for.”

“What about Gavrill and the family here?” Chad continued to prod.

“From what I hear, Gavrill is working to disengage himself from Johan, but the Feds’ll be trying to go after him as well.”

“Good,” Bayley announced, standing. “So, it’s all over. I don’t need any more babysitting.”

“Whoa, baby,” Nick said, placing his hands on her shoulders. “I’m not ready to make any assumptions right away.”

“But, whoever hired him to get to me now has to realize that I’m no threat. I thought the only reason I needed protection was from him, in case I identified him.”

Chad chuckled, shaking his head. “You’ve got your own mind, don’t you, Bayley?”

Rubbing his chin, Nick said, “I take your point and I know we don’t need a Saint with you, but I still want to pick you up at the end of the day, especially when it’s dark outside.”

Bayley grinned as she slipped her arms around his waist. “That can be arranged.”

“Okay, you two, I’m outta here,” Chad waved as he headed back down the stairs.

Stepping away from Nick, Bayley moved to the door, locking it with a firm click. Turning, she leaned against the door, a seductive smile on her lips. “You want to celebrate the good news?”

His lips curved in answer and his eyes lit as she sashayed his way.

Hating paperwork, Bayley stood from her desk several hours after Nick had returned to work, and stretched. She grinned as she thought of the initiation they had given her office before he left. Looking down at the spreadsheets of her monthly accountings, she closed her laptop, deciding to send them to her accountant the next day.

Moving to her window to view the store below, she smiled. Children were moving in and out of the kids’ reading room and the coffee counter had a small line of people waiting for their beverage. Customers were milling about, searching for books or reading. Bruce and Sally were ensconced at their table, both typing furiously. Thinking of the small printer in the corner reminded her that she wanted to ask the accountant if she could afford to purchase a larger printer for the shop.

From her vantage point, she could see a couple standing behind one of the tall bookshelves. Curious, she stepped a few feet to the left to have a better vantage point. Agnes was facing the man, but it did not appear to be a happy conversation as her arms waved about and the man pointed his finger at her. Just as Bayley was about to go downstairs to ask the couple to take their heated discussion elsewhere, the man turned around and made his way to the coffee counter, plastering a smile on his face as he approached Daphne.

Eyes wide, Bayley watched Daphne greet the man with an attempt to kiss, but he turned his face away at the last second. She noted Agnes peeking at the couple from the corner of the shop. The man left just as Agnes moved back to the table where Bruce was busy at work. Biting her lip, Bayley wondered what she had witnessed. Realizing she had not spent much time with Daphne in the last week, she headed down the stairs.

“It’s nice of your boyfriend to bring us here,” Daphne said, popping another French fry into her mouth.

After checking to see that Daphne was available for dinner, Bayley called Nick to see if he would drop them off at a restaurant near his apartment. Taking a huge bite from her hamburger, she chewed and swallowed before replying, “It’s no problem. He still wants to keep an eye on me even though that guy was arrested.”

Shaking her head, Daphne said, “I still say your life has turned into one of your novels.”

“Crazy, isn’t it?”

The two women fell into a comfortable silence as they continued to eat. Bayley finished her hamburger before playing with the rest of her fries.

“Okay, girl, spill it,” Daphne ordered. “I can always tell when you have something on your mind.”

“I was just wondering about the guy you’re seeing. The one who was at the bookstore today.”

“You saw Lazlo?” Daphne asked, her eyebrows raised in surprise. With a laugh, she added, “Oh, that’s right—you were in your office.”

“I wasn’t spying, honestly,” Bayley rushed. “It’s just that I saw…uh—”

Blushing, Daphne said, “Oh, you saw me hug him. I’m sorry. I know it wasn’t professional of me. I’ll make sure not to anymore.”

“No, no, it’s not that,” Bayley responded. Daphne blinked her eyes in confusion as Bayley hesitated. “Okay, here’s the thing. I know you were upset when Agnes started coming to the shop and writers’ group, monopolizing Bruce’s attention, though I still say he’s not interested in her romantically. But anyway, I knew you were seeing someone else and, today…in the shop…before he came over to you…he was…well, I don’t know exactly what—”

“What are you trying to get out, Bayley?” Daphne accused, her eyes full of a mixture of disbelief and irritation.

“It’s just that he and Agnes were behind one of the bookcases and they were having some kind of discussion.”

“Discussion? That’s it? That’s all you’ve got to report from your snooping?” Tossing her napkin down, Daphne glared at Bayley.

“I told you I wasn’t snooping. I just went to the window to check on business and I saw them having what looked like an argument.”

Daphne pinched her lips together as she stared down at her plate.

“It’s just that I realized they knew each other and I thought it was strange, that’s all.” Silence greeted her. “I just don’t want you to be hurt.”

“Look, I know Lazlo’s totally different than Bruce. He’s very dominant, but he likes me as a lover, unlike Bruce, who just seems to like me as a friend.” Looking up at Bayley, she added, “It feels like you’re trying to stir up trouble where there doesn’t need to be trouble. Maybe she was just in his way as he looked for a book. You don’t have to make everything seem like such a big mystery.” Pushing her chair back, Daphne said, “I need some time to myself, Bayley. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Before she could apologize, Daphne stalked away from the table, leaving her alone and feeling miserable. Slumping in her chair, she played with her French fries a little more before leaning back, sighing. “ ‘Instinct is a marvelous thing. It can neither be explained nor ignored,’ ” she said, looking at Daphne’s empty chair. Standing as she paid the bill, she wished Agatha Christie had more words of wisdom for her.

“Can I ask you something?”

Lazlo rolled away from Daphne, stalking to the bathroom to dispose of the condom, assuring it held firm. The last thing he wanted was some bitch claiming to be pregnant by him. Unless it were her. The idea of the beautiful Bayley carrying his child flamed his lust. Hearing Daphne calling out to him again, he grimaced. Sex with her was bearable—somewhat uninspiring—but she proved to be submissive enough. But her…it was Bayley’s face he thought of when he was on top of Daphne. Staring into the mirror, he whispered to the empty room, “Some day…she will be mine.”

“Lazlo? Are you coming back to bed?”

Wiping the grimace from his face, he walked back into the bedroom, bending to snag his boxers and pants off the floor.

Daphne watched as he began to dress and sat up in bed, letting the sheet slip to her waist. “I thought you might stay the night with me.”

Looking at her, his dick stirred at the sight of her perky breasts, but he zipped his pants instead. “You know I don’t stay the night.”

Sighing, Daphne pulled the sheet up to her chin, his callous demeanor while dressing making her self-conscious. “Will I see you tomorrow?”

“I have meetings for most of the day. If I can come by tomorrow night, I will.”

“If you want, I could come to your house sometime,” Daphne offered, her smile hopeful.

Piercing her with his dark eyes, Lazlo said, “I come to you, when it suits. Not the other way around.” Continuing to stare, he asked, “Is that a problem?”

Shaking her head quickly, she replied, “No. No problem.”

Hearing the click of the door as he left, she slid down, grabbing the pillow as her tears flowed.

“I think I screwed up.”

Nick was sitting on the sofa, Mr. Lickers lying next to him as his hand rubbed the cat’s chin. Having just finished a conversation with Bernie, he was relaxed and satisfied with his uncle’s recovery. Looking up as Bayley walked into the room, her t-shirt was emblazoned with a large owl on the front, its eyes wide open and placed over each breast. Her sleep shorts were covered in dogs and, distracted by her ever-changing array of sleepwear, he just stared.

“Nick, did you hear me? I said I think I screwed up.”

Blinking away from the owl staring at him, he said, “How so?”

Plopping down on the sofa next to him, she rubbed Mr. Lickers absentmindedly. “I upset Daphne.”

“You two have been friends for years,” he said. “I’m sure whatever you said, she’ll be fine.”

“I don’t know. It was about the new guy she’s dating. He seems kinda weird and I brought this up to her.”

“And she didn’t take it well.”

Shaking her head, she said, “Nope. Not well at all.”

“I thought she was dating that writer in your group?” Nick asked.

“Bruce? She was really interested in him and I think he still likes her, but she met this other guy, who doesn’t come around much, now that I think about it. And that’s fine with me because, quite frankly, when he does, he gives me the willies. And then Agnes—that’s the new girl writer that you swear never looks you in the eyes—anyway, when she started coming, she always hung out with Bruce. I never saw that either of them was interested in the other, but Daphne felt left out, so I think she started really focusing on this new guy.”

“Wait, he gives you the what?” Nick asked, attempting to follow Bayley’s story.

“You know…the willies. Kind of like the creeps only less creepy.”

“The willies,” Nick repeated.

“Are you going to let me tell my story, or just keep interrupting?”

“Is your story going to start making sense?”

Snorting out a giggle, Bayley shook her head. Nick twisted his body toward hers and apologized. “Please go on. Tell me about how this guy gives you the less creepy creeps.”

Shooting him a pretend glare, she said, “He doesn’t come into the store usually. I’ve only met him a couple of times and he’s dating my best friend. He picks her up outside and the few times he has been in the store, it’s as though I can feel his eyes following me around.”

At that statement, Nick sat up straighter, his intuition triggered. “Go on.”

Shrugging, she said, “Well, this afternoon when I was working in my office I happened to look down from my window and saw he and the new girl, Agnes, behind one of the bookcases—” Seeing his raised eyebrow, she hastened to explain, “No, no, not like that. They appeared to be arguing. I mean, you don’t argue with a complete stranger…well, not unless they cut in front of you in line or something like that. Although sometimes, I’ve wanted to fuss at people who are acting like a jerk out in public—”

“Bayley.”

“Oh, yeah. So, I figured they must know each other which is weird. Then he goes over to speak to Daphne after slapping a smile on his face. I brought it up to her when we had dinner and I think I insulted her…or her boyfriend.”

“You want me to check out this guy? I don’t like the idea of someone in the store that gives you the willies.”

“Oh, he’s harmless, I’m sure. I just wish Daphne would go back to Bruce.” Shrugging, she added, “And I hope she doesn’t stay mad at me.”

Mr. Lickers hopped down from the sofa and padded into the kitchen to root in his food dish, so Bayley slid into his vacated spot, next to Nick. He wrapped his arm around her, pulling her in close. Kissing her head as they embraced, he assured, “I have no doubt that Daphne will show up tomorrow, all anger forgotten…all back to normal.”

“I hope so,” Bayley yawned, purring as she snuggled closer to his warmth.