My Deadly Valentine - By Valerie Hansen & Lynette Eason Page 0,62

a sheepish grin through the open window. “Hi. You caught me.”

“Caught you? What are you doing?”

Duster and Sassy danced at her heels. Then Duster nosed her way up to the car. Through the open window, Alex reached down to scratch the canine’s ears. “Working up the nerve to ask you to be my Valentine’s date.”

Dread curled around her. “Alex, we talked about this….”

He held up the hand that had been on Duster’s ears. “I know, I know. But—” He turned to the passenger seat, gathered what was there, then opened his door.

She walked toward him, staring at the bundle of roses that lay in the crook of his arm. “I really care a lot about you, Holly.” He shifted and sighed. “Here.” Before she could blink, he shoved the roses to her arms, and climbed back in the car.

“Alex, no! I don’t want these!”

She tried giving them back, but he refused to take them, saying, “I’ve got to go, just think about it, will you? At least give me equal time.”

“Equal time?” Holly tried one more time to push the flowers through the open window. One of the buds fell off and landed at her feet.

“I know you and Eli used to be a couple and his coming back here has probably played with your emotions.”

“Alex, you’ve got to stop this!”

His radio cut off her protests. “Gotta go. Just think about it.”

Before she had a chance to respond, tires spun on her gravel and his taillights blinked as he headed down her drive.

Helpless, she just stood there a moment then spun on her heel. Walking back up to the front porch, she set the flowers on the rocker then went back down the steps.

With Duster and Sassy at her heels, she made her way to the mailbox at the end of her long drive.

While she walked, she thought. About Alex. What was she going to do with him? Why wouldn’t he back off? Pushing thoughts of Alex aside, she kicked a stone in frustration and moved on to more pleasant musings.

While keeping a watchful eye on the area around her.

Her mother had gotten in early last night still looking thin and sickly, yet refreshed, with a new sparkle in her eyes. Thankfully, the remainder of the evening had been quiet.

No one lurked outside her home, no middle of the night disturbances and no hang-up phone calls. After cleaning up her store as much as she could, she and Eli had worked at the church until dark, although she had to admit her heart hadn’t been in it. Alex had been there, too, but at least he had behaved himself.

Tomorrow night, the auction would get underway. From what Holly could tell, everything was close to being ready. The workers had given a hundred percent and the church gym nearly bulged with all of the items. Advertisements had gone out into neighboring towns and even into some of the larger cities.

People from all around would make their way to the tiny town of Rose Mountain and from seven p.m. to eleven would bid on the various items. They all knew it was for a wonderful cause and were glad to help.

Opening the mailbox, she spotted an envelope with a yellow rose place carefully on top.

Who? Alex again? No…Eli.

Opening the envelope, she whistled for the dogs and started her trek back to the house. “Come on, guys.”

The note said, “Will you meet me at The Steak House for a Valentine’s evening? Romance and candlelight to be included. But most importantly, friendship. Then I’ll escort you to the auction where we can watch the money roll in for the orphanage.”

Her heart caught in her throat.

The Steak House, one of the nicer, pricier restaurants in town, only opened for dinner. Valentine’s Day. Tomorrow.

She picked up the single rose and sniffed. Eli. She was falling for him again and realized that at some point she’d finally allowed herself to believe him when he said he was home for good this time.

Still a little part nagged at her. A small kernel of doubt kept her slightly on edge. As though she was waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Back at the house, she gathered the flowers from the rocking chair and stepped inside to find her mother sitting in the den. “Hey,” she said as she turned to enter the kitchen to search for two vases.

“I got a phone call,” her mother called.

Holly froze as the flowers tumbled from her arms to the sink. She darted back