“So...why didn’t you ask for his number?” Caleb prodded.
“I don’t know,” Gina shrugged. “I mean, the guy is pretty hot.”
“See,” Lexi pushed Gina’s shoulder playfully.
“Fine.” Gina rolled her eyes. “If he comes in again, I’ll see if he’s interested.”
“Good. Then maybe you’ll find something else to focus on besides me and my love life.”
Laughing, both Gina and Caleb said their goodbyes.
“They’re not wrong, you know,” Joe looked at her pointedly after the other two had gotten in their cars. “I know it’s only been a short time with this Trevor fella, but youaredifferent. It’s like there’s an extra little bounce in your step. And I, for one, am tickled to see it.”
Lexi’s cheeks became warm as she grinned and gave Joe a big hug. “Thanks, Joe. You know”—she pulled back—“It’s not too late for you, either. You’re a handsome, successful man. You should find yourself a nice woman to settle down with.”
Joe’s eyes lit up with his smile. “I did find a nice woman. Was with her for forty-two years before the Good Lord took her to be with Him, instead. My Helen’s up there waiting for me, and when my time comes, I want to be the same man I was when she left me. With a heart that belongs to only her.”
It was one of the sweetest things she’d ever heard. Blinking quickly, Lexi hugged Joe again. “Your wife was a very lucky woman.”
“We were both lucky.” Joe hugged her back and then broke away. “Now, go on home and get some rest. From the way those two talked you’re gonna need it when that boy of yours comes callin’.”
Lexi gasped. “Joe!”
“What? You think I don’t know what sex is? Let me assure you, little lady. This old man had the moves back in the day.”
When he began to swivel his hips and dance around, Lexi nearly lost it. “Goodnight, Joe,” she chuckled, shaking her head as she got into her car.
The entire drive home, Lexi thought about what the others had said. She knew they were right. Shewashappier. More so than she’d been in a very long time.
Butterflies danced around in her belly as she wondered when Trevor would come back home. Though, he’d only been gone for four days, she’d missed him terribly.
At first, that worried her. Was she getting too attached, too quickly? Then, she realized it didn’t matter. The fact was, she already cared about him more than any other man she’d ever dated. Crazy or not, she couldn’t help how she felt.
Finally home, she couldn’t wait to wash the stink of the diner from her hair and skin. After indulging in a long, hot shower, Lexi dried off and threw on a tank top and some loose pajama shorts. She was half-way through blow-drying her hair when the power went out and the whole house went dark.
“Great,” she groaned, knowing she’d tripped a breaker. The house was old, and this usually happened about once a month.
Stumbling her way to her nightstand, Lexi pulled a small flashlight from the top drawer and carefully went downstairs. She went to the utility closet just off the kitchen and began searching the black, rectangular switches.
“That’s odd,” she whispered to herself. None of the breakers were out of position. If she hadn’t tripped one, then why were the lights out?
She didn’t remember any storms being in the forecast, and the skies had been clear when she’d left the diner. Maybe there was a downed line somewhere, and the whole neighborhood was without power.
Deciding to check and see, Lexi made her way to the living room. She stood in front of the oversized window near her front door and looked across the street at Mrs. Siemens’ house. The older woman’s porch light shone brightly. A quick glance at the other houses told Lexi the power was working just fine. All except for hers.
A strange, gnawing feeling settled deep in her gut. Nervous now, she quickly double-checked the locks on her front door. Thankfully, they were still locked.
Knowing she’d never get to sleep if she didn’t check the back door, too, Lexi turned and started for the kitchen. She’d made it half-way between her front door and the other room’s entryway when a large shadow stepped into her view.
A man was in her house. A man wearing all black, including a stocking cap and gloves. It took her brain about half a second to process what that meant.
With her eyes locked on the threat standing before her, Lexi screamed and turned to run. She’d almost made it to the door when a pair of strong arms wrapped around her from behind.
She screamed again, praying a neighbor would hear, but the sound was cut short when a large hand was pressed painfully against her lips.Oh, God!
Bucking as hard as she could, Lexi kicked and fought with all she had. Unfortunately, she was much smaller and not nearly as strong as her attacker. That meant, she had to be smarter.
Think, Lexi! Think!She needed a target, and her short stature against his tall frame gave her just the one she needed.
