Joy to the Wolves (Red Wolf #1) - Terry Spear Page 0,66

with you as I go.”

“I’ll be fine.”

He sure as hell hoped so. He walked to the Christmas shop a few doors down from hers and asked the owner if he could see the shop’s security video.

The owner thanked him again for returning her cat. “I guess you’re Brooke’s police protection. I’ve noticed you’ve been here a lot during the day and at night. I’m glad for that. Lucky girl. You sure can look at the security video. I’m so sorry about what happened to her. It’s made all of us nervous, believe you me. And for her to have so much trouble this week…” The woman shuddered.

One of her customers waved a Christmas elf in the air and said, “This doesn’t have a price tag on it. How much is it?”

“I’ve got to assist my customers,” the owner said to Josh. “I’ll see you before you leave.”

“Thanks.” Josh watched the grainy video. It was dark when Brooke turned off the lights in the store. He could see her windows on the side of the store, but the attic didn’t have windows on that end. Then he saw the two men approach the door. They’d come from the same direction in which they’d fled, talking to each other, hunched over, like darkly clothed thieves in the night. He was certain they went straight to where their vehicle was parked after they escaped out of Brooke’s attic window. He needed to check the security videos along that street to where they had parked their vehicle. If he was lucky, the license plate number was captured on one of them and would be perfectly identifiable.

He’d spend the rest of the day doing that, if Brooke felt safe enough.

Josh thanked the Christmas shop owner and left with a copy of her security video. He planned to go next to the shops down the street near where the men must have driven off, but he wanted to see Brooke before he went that far away. Besides, everything that involved her interested him. He wanted to see her doing well with sales, wanted her to be successful, not just so she could support herself but so she would be happy here.

He pushed open the door and saw her talking away to her customers, showing them the teacups and saucers they’d tagged last night. He was glad he’d helped her with those. She seemed to be in good spirits.

“I need the blue ones. It doesn’t matter about the brand name. I just collect blue and white,” one woman said.

“Me? I love lavender, any shade of purple. If you get any more in, let me know and I’ll buy them.” The other woman gave Brooke her name and number.

“I sure will. I’ll keep on the lookout for them.” Brooke glanced in Josh’s direction, and her whole expression brightened, as if she’d seen her best friend arrive.

Or maybe a lover? That was what he felt like, without the consummated sex. A lover who was sitting on the sidelines, enjoying the way she visited with her customers, cheerful like she should always be. Not apprehensive and fearful because of the bastards who had shot her.

After she wrapped up the teacups and saucers for the two customers, she took their payments, and they left the shop.

“Slow day?” he asked, coming around the counter and running his hands up her arms.

“No, business has been brisk. Some have wanted to see the reindeer calf as if he lives here now.” She put her hand on Josh’s shirt and pulled him closer.

Josh smiled.

“Any more news?” she asked.

He told her what he’d found out, then leaned over and kissed her.

“Hmm, good thing I don’t have any customers at the moment.” She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him back.

“I’ll canvass the other shops near where I think they picked up a ride, but I wanted to see how you’re doing.”

“Oh, really good. Thanks for dropping by, giving me a heads-up, and making sure I’m okay. A lot of people have been dropping in to get last-minute Christmas gifts. Some are just buying things for themselves.”

“Sounds like it was a good idea to put more stuff out on the shelves this morning.” He ran his hands over her shoulders.

“I’ll say. You know what this means?” She raised a brow.

“We’ll be working on more of the boxes tonight.”

“Yes, and every night that you stay with me.”

He chuckled. “I’m only too glad to help. I’ll be back around noon, if not before then, to spell you for