Twilight at Blueberry Barrens (Sunset Cove #3)(42)

He retraced his steps and had just reached the kitchen when he heard footsteps on the back deck and saw Kate’s form through the open window. The door to the basement was behind him, so he yanked it open and rushed into the darkness. The musty scent of the space enveloped him, and he waited for his eyes to adjust to the dim light from the basement window. Old wooden shelves containing home-canned goods lined one wall, and a rusty, dented freezer occupied part of another wall. More shelves held old paint cans and cleaning supplies.

The door at the top of the stairs creaked, and the overhead light came on. Footsteps started down the steps, and his pulse pounded in his ears as he looked around for a place to hide. There, under the worktable. He shoved aside the old plastic tablecloth covering it, then scrabbled under the table and pulled the plastic back into place. There was a small gap he could see through, but he doubted she’d be able to see him.

Her shapely tanned legs paraded past his vision and kept him riveted. She walked past his hiding spot to the shelves full of canned food, then put some of the jars in the box she carried. Green beans and sauerkraut. She turned toward the table, and he held his breath as she approached.

His hand went to the gun holstered at his side. He didn’t want to reveal himself to her in these circumstances, but the place he’d prepared for her was ready if he had to.

She moved past him to the refrigerator and put several bags of frozen corn and peas into her box. His knees cramped and he shuffled them. Her head came up at the small sound, and she looked around.

Her blue eyes were wide, and she clutched the box to her chest. “Hello?” The word came out a bit strangled. “Uncle Paul?”

She was so close he could reach out and grab that shapely thigh if he wanted. And he very much did want, but he curled his fingers into his palms to stop himself. Her breath came in short, quick spurts, and it made his own chest heave with excitement. She was so close. Would she greet him if he flung back the tablecloth? Couldn’t she feel his love and devotion, the power of his desire for her? They could be so happy together. He pictured them cuddling on the sofa while they watched a movie and ate popcorn.

He licked his lips. Then she suddenly whirled and sprang toward the steps. Her feet pounded up the stairs, and there was a click that plunged the basement into darkness. He immediately crawled out from under the table and mounted the stairs as fast as he dared. One creaked a bit and he stopped and waited by the basement door. The back door slammed, and he heard her on the phone telling someone she’d been spooked by a noise in the basement.

Probably Claire. He would have to do something about that unhealthy dependence she had on her sister. All in good time though, all in good time.

*

Drake inserted Kate’s key into the back door and unlocked it. “It pays to be careful.” She hadn’t wanted him to search the basement, but he’d taken one look at her white face and had insisted on checking it out. There had been too many things going on for him to be comfortable with ignoring it.

Kate pulled Emma and Phoebe against her sides as Drake opened the door. Jackson pressed against her leg and whined as if he sensed her turmoil. “Please don’t tell Danny. He’ll say I’m crying wolf again. I’m sure it was just a mouse or something.”

Drake shoved open the door and stepped inside. His gaze went to the security system. “The alarm is disarmed. Did you forget to engage it when you left?” He turned back toward the door so he could see her.

She shook her head. “It must have already been disarmed when I came for the food. I forgot all about it.” She glanced around. “I left the window in the kitchen open too. I have to quit doing that.”

“You’re sure you turned it on before you left this morning?”

She hugged the girls closer to her. “I-I’m not sure. This dratted chemo brain. Turning it on hasn’t gotten into my muscle memory yet, so maybe I forgot to do it.”

And maybe the guy had figured out how to disarm it already. “I’ll check with the alarm company. They’ll be able to see today’s history.”

Her eyes went wide. “Oh! I have an app on my phone that does that.” She let go of Emma and dug in her monstrosity of a purse and pulled out her phone. She swiped it on, then scrolled through the icons. “Here it is.” A few moments later she gasped. “I activated it at eight o’clock when I went to your cottage. It was deactivated a few minutes later and never turned back on.”

“It’s possible it was a glitch, but I don’t like it.” The girls both looked a little scared. Unfortunately, there’d been no option but to bring them down here. “Luke and Claire should be here any minute. I’ll have Luke check out the house with me. You and Claire can take the girls back to the cottage.” He went back out onto the deck with her.

She slipped her phone into her pocket, then slung her purse over her shoulder and clasped hands with the girls. “I think I’ll take them back to the cottage now. I’ve got bear spray.”

He started to protest, then heard tires crunch on the gravel driveway. Luke’s big truck came into view, and Claire leaped out of it before it had stopped rolling. “Looks like the cavalry has arrived.”

Claire’s cheeks were pink, and her hair lay unbound on her shoulders as if she’d just taken it down. Tail wagging, Jackson went to greet her and she rubbed his head, but her frown stayed in place.