Page 31 of Shielding Serena

“Hmm,” she said as she leaned into his touch. “I’ll have to think on that.”

She began to disengage, to push away from him, and the hand remaining on her hip spasmed in involuntary protest. That got a smile, and she leaned in for one last fleeting meeting of their mouths.

“Sweet dreams, Walker,” she said. “I know I’ll be having some.”

He groaned and dropped his head to the back of the sofa, making her laugh that full-throated laugh. “See you in the morning.”

She shot one last smoldering look over her shoulder and left the room, and Walker kicked himself for being nine kinds of fool.

Walker Landry was going to be the death of her, Serena decided as she lay in her big, froofy, empty bed. But she had to respect his sense of honor, even while she plotted a way around it. Because one thing she knew was that she wanted him. She wanted him in her bed and in her life. She liked him as a man and loved the way he made her feel.

They had a past. What was it they called it in romance novels? A second-chance romance? Well, she was all for that.

She dropped off quicker than she thought she would, and when her internal alarm went off at four-thirty a.m., she popped out of bed, feeling remarkably refreshed.

She opened the app on her phone and walked through the steps that Quentin had shown her to make sure that the living area and the business area downstairs were secure. All of the systems were green, as was the door at the top of the stairs. As much as she’d hated having him install the security system, she had to admit it gave her peace of mind in this old, creaky house.

She took her quick shower and got ready for her day, and was downstairs waiting when Gena showed up at five. She let her in and walked her through adding the app on her phone to disable the system, in addition to pinpointing where all the cameras were.

They put last night’s pre-prepped food into the ovens and set up the next batch. When that was done, she carefully boxed the jewelry that Marlon Jones had been looking for, topping it with a great big bow. When he showed up again, she would make his day.

When the doors opened at six, it was almost as busy as it had been the day before, with a few of the new customers returning, and other townsfolk who hadn’t made it in yet and wanted to see what all the hubbub had been about.

Walker made an appearance around seven and gave her a smile that warmed her from the top of her head to the tips of her toes.

Marlon showed around eight, on his way to work, she presumed, and was suitably thrilled by the gift box she presented to him, happily forking over the hundred bucks for the set.

Serena noted the way Walker watched every move the man made, and when Garrett walked in with his face perfectly expressionless, she saw the way Walker’s whole body tightened.

Oh shit. He had definitely picked up something she hadn’t.

Garrett strode to the counter, and when Marlon turned to leave, he saw the sheriff and went stock still.

“Mr. Jones, please come with me,” Garret said, and reached out to grasp Marlon’s arm.

“What for?” Marlon asked, his voice squeaking a bit before he got control of himself.

“For questioning in the attempted break-in of The Menagerie,” Hanson said, his voice low, and cast an apologetic glance toward Serena. “We can talk more at the Sheriff’s Department.”

Serena felt her whole body go cold and Walker slipped from his seat and moved behind the counter to stand at her side.

Could he have assaulted her? And then stood here with such elation when he got the necklace and earrings? Was that what he’d been after the whole time?

“I didn’t do anything!” The whine was back in Marlon’s voice and it was loud enough to draw everyone’s attention, despite Garrett’s attempt at discretion. “I tried to get in, but the lock was too good, and when I told him that, he stiffed me.”

She felt Walker’s arm slip around her waist and she leaned against him, trying not to shiver uncontrollably. How could she have missed Marlon’s duplicity?

“Sure,” Garrett said. “You can tell me all about it. At the Sheriff’s Department. Your PO has already been notified.”

“Shit,” Marlon said, and turned pleading eyes toward Serena. “Don’t let my parole officer revoke me, please Miss Blackstone. I swear, I only tried because he was going to pay me.”

Garrett was pulling him away, and even though a crowd hadn’t physically gathered, everyone had heard the exchange, and there were many, many fingers flying over phone keyboards as the door closed behind the two men.

“Let’s take a little break,” Walker said and steered her toward the kitchen. “Gena’s got it for a few minutes, right?”

“Absolutely,” Gena assured both of them. “Come back when you’re ready.”

Walker settled her at one of the stools on the other side of the kitchen island and brought her a glass of water. She gulped it, then set the glass down on the countertop.