After showering, I'd hitched my foldable trailer to the back of my bike and peddled into town, feeling kind of ridiculous, but stupidly excited to see Griff's reaction.
The shop didn't open for at least fifteen minutes, so I hunkered down in the back room with my gaze trained on the rear door. And because I was standing right here, watching, I'd left the door not only unlocked, but open just a crack as I waited for Griff.
I didn't have to wait long. Five minutes into my vigil, the door flew open, making me jump out of my skin – as if Ihadn'tbeen expecting Griff's arrival all along. But of course, I hadn't realized his entrance would be so dramatic – or strange, considering that he still wasn't moving forward.
Instead, he was standing in the open doorway, looking on edge, as if he'd been warned about the raisins – or something a lot more sinister. When his gaze landed on me, he asked, "Was that door open when you got here?"
What the heck?"No. I just opened it. Why?"
"And youleftit open?"
I glanced toward the door in question. "Obviously."
This made him frown. "On purpose." He didn't phrase it as a question.
"Of course."
"But why?"
Seriously?"So you could get in."
"What's wrong with knocking?" he asked. "It's what Inormallydo." He made it sound like he'd been knocking for weeks, when in reality, this was only his third day on the job.
"I'm not against knocking," I said with an awkward laugh. "I just figured it would be easier…for you, I mean."And then, there was the matter of the cookies. But I didn't want to say it because suddenly, I was feeling a little silly.
His gaze swept over the back room like he expected to find a burglar making off with a bike. "Just because it's easy, it doesn't mean it's smart."
Did he just call me stupid?I was staring now. "Wait…what exactly are you trying to say?"
"Nothing. But I'd still keep it locked."
Again with the locks?I mean, yeah, we were talking about doors, not bikes, but the similarities remained.Didn't he get it?The island was one of the safest places in the whole country. I almost sighed out loud. "It's not like that here."
"Bull," he said. "It's like that everywhere – maybe not as much, but it's still there."
I felt like I was being scolded in my own business, and I didn't appreciate it. "You do realize, this shop has been in my family for years."
"Yeah, so?"
"Sotheydidn't always lock it – I mean, not while someone was here, anyway."
"Yeah, well times change," he said. "And it wasn't just unlocked. It was open."
I saw what he meant. During the day, we left the rear door unlocked all the time, which made it easier for Griff to go in and out. But it's not like we left it wide open for anyone to simply waltz in.
Of course, the door today had been open barely an inch. "Trust me," I said. "It's fine."
His expression said otherwise. "Maybe. Maybe not."
I felt my eyes narrow. "What doesthatmean?"
He let out a long breath. "Look, I've seen a couple of guys eyeing the shop. Maybe it was nothing. But maybe it wasn't."
"Eyeing it how?"
"The usual," he said. "Walking by too slow, looking too long, passing by more than they should."
I couldn't help it. I laughed. "Youdorealize this is a tourist town, right?"
