The banging on the door almost made Candy drop her coffee cup. She huffed a couple breaths in and out to slow her heart rate down. She couldn’t stop the nervous sweat prickling her scalp. Over the last few days she couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. Bitsy started barking like a hell hound and she almost jumped out of her skin again when she headed toward the door and saw Mr. Snell coming in. Her blood drained away and she couldn’t make herself move for a second. Then she snapped into action.
“What on earth do you think you are doing?”
His head whipped up and for a second he looked surprised, as if he hadn’t expected her to be there.
“I, uh, I thought I saw someone in here.”
“You did. Me.”
“I thought you were working for the guy in the wheelchair?”
“It was just temporary. So I’ll ask you again, what are you doing walking into my home? Wouldn’t it make more sense to call the police?”
He hesitated far too long for Candy’s liking. “I guess.”
“I want my key back. Now.”
“We’re the only two able-bodied people left in the neighborhood. What if something happens to you? What if you need my help?”
“I’ll be fine. My key please.” She watched him slide the key off the ring as if the longer he took she might change her mind. He slapped it into her hand when he finally had it free. “Now as you can see I’m fine and there was no need for you to come in. I’d like you to leave now.”
“You know you were a heck of a lot nicer before you started hanging out with that damned cripple. You said he wasn’t your boyfriend but you were sleeping together, weren’t you?”
“That is absolutely none of your business!”
“Mother would be very disappointed to see what a slut you’ve turned into. I wouldn’t date you now if you came crawling to me.” Her jaw dipped open before she snapped it shut.
“Get out. Get out now or I will call the police.” She grabbed the phone off the wall and pressed the 9 and a 1.
He didn’t shout or make a fuss but his eyes were filled with anger. Still he backed out the door and she turned the deadbolt and the lock. She hit the end call button. Her next thought was to call Jameson. She could just imagine him rushing over. He’d swoop in, take over, no doubt drag her back to his place whether she agreed or not. Her heart rate dropped to something that didn’t make her choke to breathe. That was the problem. She’d agree all too easily. He was such a big personality she just disappeared. She wasn’t ready to go back but her heart ached thinking about him. She’d call him because the coldness and anger she felt from Snell had been real but maybe Jameson was right and it was time to call the shrink. She pulled the doctor’s card from where it was stuck behind the phone and dialed the number. She’d need fortifications to deal with the impossible man. And a better reason to stay away than she had.