Chapter 6
When Genna agreed to have dinner with him, Parker felt like he’d won the lottery. He couldn’t help but be glad she’d looked away, because he didn’t want her to realize how stoked he was.
Actually, he hadn’t really thought she’d say yes.
But since she had, he didn’t want to take a chance he’d inadvertently give her any reason to change her mind.
The front door guy was nearly finished. He’d removed the splintered door frame and installed a new one. “It’ll need to be painted,” he told Parker. “She can also paint the new door. It’s white. Most people like some color.”
Since Parker had no idea what Genna would like, he simply nodded.
“It’s a shame another body was found,” the guy said, continuing to work. “I hate the way this serial killer has everyone in town on edge.”
“Me, too.” Parker replied. “And they haven’t been able to identify that fourth body yet. Now there’s been a fifth.”
“Yeah, it’s awful.” Finishing with the bottom hinge, the worker started on the middle one. “I should be done in just a few minutes. Then I just have to write up the invoice.”
Parker wondered how Genna would react if he simply paid for the door. Not well, he suspected. “I’ll go get her when you’re done,” he said.
Then he went to see how the alarm installation was going.
“I’m just about done with the window sensors,” the installer said as soon as he saw Parker. “Obviously, I can’t do the front door until it’s in place. But I can work on getting the control box set up.”
“How long will that take?” Though Parker didn’t want to seem impatient, he couldn’t wait to take Genna out to dinner. Even though neither had called it a date, just spending time with her in a nonwork setting sounded amazing. They could get to know each other, without pressure.
“Maybe thirty minutes.”
Satisfied with the answer, Parker left to check on Genna outside. He found her kicked back in a wicker chair, feet up on an ottoman, sipping on a glass of wine.
The sky had barely started to darken, the setting sun coloring the western horizon in vivid shades of pink and orange.
He walked to the porch railing and looked out over Genna’s large, fenced backyard.
A raised bed for vegetable took up one corner and strategically planted evergreens gave the space a balanced ambience.
“I’ve been thinking about getting a dog,” Genna said. “Partly for companionship, but also as an added layer of protection. A dog would alert me if someone was skulking around outside.”
Surprised, he turned to look at her. “Have you ever owned a dog before?”
“Growing up, we had Binx. My dad got him from the city animal shelter in Fairbanks. No one knew for sure what combination of breeds he was, but he was big and lovable. He lived to be nearly fifteen.” She sighed.
“We all missed him so much. My mom said she never wanted to feel that kind of pain again, so they didn’t get another dog. ”
“What about you?” he asked, genuinely curious. “Once you moved out on your own, you never thought about it?”
“I did. But you know how it is. I never had the time, didn’t want the responsibility. I wasn’t ready.”
“And now you think you are?”
She nodded. “Yes. Now, I think I am.” Taking another sip of wine, she eyed him. “What about you? Do you have any pets?”
“Not currently. I lost my boy Trooper to cancer this past winter. He was my buddy. He and I went everywhere together. Hiking, fishing, four-wheeling—he loved it all. He was the unofficial RTA dog.” He didn’t even try to keep the sorrow from his voice.
“That’s his photo in the lobby. I miss him more than I can say. ”
“I’m sorry,” she said, her gentle tone matching the compassion in her gaze. “I have an idea. I’m off tomorrow and have been thinking about driving over to Valdez to check out the dogs in the shelter. Would you like to go with me?”
Though he knew he had two tours booked the next day, he nodded. He would move the tours. “I would,” he said, taking care to sound as casual as possible. “When were you thinking of going?”
Her smile lit up not only her face but sent a bolt of raw desire through him. “We can work around your schedule. It’s only about a half-hour drive there, so just let me know when you’re available.”
Mouth dry, he managed to nod. Right then the front door installer came looking for Genna.
“All done,” he said, handing her an invoice. “We take credit cards, Venmo or Zelle, however you want to pay.”
She sat up, looking over the paper before nodding. “Let me get my wallet.” Pushing to her feet, she headed inside, the installer right behind her.
Parker went, too. While Genna paid with one of her credit cards, he went to check on the alarm guy’s progress.
“Almost done,” the man said cheerfully as soon as Parker appeared. “I just need to run a quick test.” He looked around. “But I’ll need the homeowner here. We’ve got to set up her password.”
Genna and the door installer appeared, just in time for her to hear the last comment. “I’ll be right there,” she said. “I need to check out my new front door.”
Parker decided to go with her.
“You can paint this any color you like,” he told her, noting the way she eyed the white door. Her former door had been emerald green.
“Good. I’m thinking red.” She made a show of inspecting it. “Looks good. Thank you so much for coming out quickly.”
“No problem.” The man turned to go, but at the last moment appeared to remember something. “Extra keys,” he said, pulling them from his pocket. “Here you go.”
Accepting them, she watched as he got into his truck and drove away. Then, closing the door behind her, she returned to the hallway where the alarm control panel had been mounted on the wall.
When she chose her password, she made sure no one, including Parker, stood too close. Instead of feeling hurt, he wanted to clap. He liked that she took precautions to protect herself, even as he hoped she knew she had nothing to fear from him.
After a demonstration that involved having the alarm go off and the monitoring company calling, the installer declared he had finished. Genna paid him, too, and showed him to the door.
Finally, they were alone.
“Expensive day,” Genna drawled, placing the invoice on the counter with the other. “But at least I’ll have peace of mind.”
Parker waited in the living room while she went to get ready to go out to eat. When she returned, she had changed out of her RTA shirt into a bright green T-shirt. The color matched her eyes.
She looked stunning.
“Where do you want to eat?” Parker asked, hoping she hadn’t noticed his reaction. More than anything, he wanted to keep things casual. He sensed anything else would only frighten her away.
“I don’t care,” Genna responded. “Surprise me.”
Briefly, he considered asking her what she liked and disliked, but decided not to. He didn’t want to get in to one of those long discussions where one person suggests something, the other one vetoes it, and nothing is ever decided.
“You’re sure you want me to choose,” he asked, just to clarify.
“Yes. I’m too tired to even think about it. I just want to eat and relax. I’m sure you know where the best places to eat are. I’m down for whatever.”
“Then let’s go.” He pulled out his keys. “I’ll drive.”
“Perfect.”
He decided on sushi. A new place had opened up downtown and he hadn’t tried it yet, though he’d heard good things. If for some reason, Genna didn’t like sushi, there were several other items on the menu for her to eat.
As he drove, with the radio on KVAC, playing country music, he enjoyed the way Genna didn’t feel the need to fill the silence with chatter. But as they pulled into the restaurant’s parking lot, he glanced at her and realized she’d fallen soundly asleep.
When she’d said she felt tired, she hadn’t been exaggerating.
Hating to wake her, he wasn’t sure what to do. Should he drive around awhile, hoping she woke on her own? Or park and see if the simple lack of motion might do the trick?
His stomach rumbled, reminding him that he needed to eat. He decided to go ahead and park. Hopefully, she’d wake up.
Once he’d pulled into a slot and turned off the engine, Genna stirred.
Not awake. Not yet anyway. She sighed, still sleeping, and then slowly opened her eyes.
When her drowsy gaze found him, he sucked in his breath.
A different kind of hunger filled him. He knew better than to act on it, so instead he allowed himself sit and watch her while she slowly came awake.
“What happened?” she asked, stretching. Then, clearly realizing they were in his truck, she smiled sheepishly. “I’m guessing I fell asleep.”
Before he could answer, she yawned, covering her mouth. “Sorry.”
He found her so endearing that he ached. “No need to apologize. Do you want to go in and eat or would you rather I take you home so you can sleep?”
For the first time, she appeared to realize where they were.
“Sushi?” she asked, her voice incredulous. “You like sushi?”
“Yes. Do you?”
The brilliant smile spreading across her face made him think that she did. “I love it, actually. And I’ve been dying to try this place. I’ve seen good things about it online.”
Just then, his stomach growled, loudly enough to make her laugh. “I can see you’re hungry. I think I’m finally alert enough to go inside and eat.”
Successfully fighting the urge to lean over and kiss her, he hopped out of the truck instead. Going around to her side, he managed to get the passenger door open before she did. When he offered his hand, she took it, sliding her fingers into his and allowing him to help her down.
When she didn’t immediately pull away, he decided to go with it. They walked into the restaurant, hand in hand.
Inside, the place seemed fairly crowded. Busy, but not packed. They were immediately showed to a booth near one of the floor-to-ceiling windows and given menus.