Her imagination shot into overdrive and she suddenly wondered if he was going to let her out.
“You might want to call the animal shelter. Maybe someone’s found him and turned him in. Is he chipped?”
Now he was all kindness and concern again. How many personalities did this guy have? “Yes,” she said, her hand on the door handle.
“Good.” He pulled to the curb and stopped the truck. “Good luck,” he said as she opened the door.
“Thanks.” She slid out, shut it, and stepped away. Then started walking fast down the street.
She was still feeling jittery as he drove off. And a little concerned for her own mental state. Alec James gave her the creeps and yet she was attracted to him. Only a fool would be attracted to someone who gave her the creeps.
Well, she’d already proved twice that she was a fool so no surprise.
She called the animal shelter as she walked back to the house. Darling had not been a guest there. Zona ended the call with a sigh. If only she had some good news to give her mother.
Louise had been sitting at the dining room table drinking coffee with Martin when Zona walked in. Her mother’s hopeful expression suffered a quick death on seeing Zona by herself with no Darling in tow.
“I’m sorry, Mom,” she said.
“He’s gone for good,” Louise said sadly.
“We don’t know that,” Martin said. “It’s only been a few hours.”
“He should have come back by now,” Louise said.
“Dogs like to wander,” said Martin. “Sometimes it takes them a while to wander back. What about calling the shelter?”
“I just did,” Zona said.
“Maybe we should drive around and look for him,” said Louise.
“I just did,” Zona said.
Louise’s brows pulled together. “I never saw your car leave the driveway.”
“I was with Alec James.”I had a lapse in sanity.
Louise looked at her daughter, bug-eyed. “You were in his truck? What were you thinking?”
Zona shrugged like it was no big deal. “He saw me putting up posters and offered to help.”And then he dared me to get in his truck.She decided not to share further. Her mother would for sure have something to say about her daughter’s sanity.
“I find that hard to believe,” Louise said with a frown.
“I don’t. He seems like a nice guy,” said Martin.
“Martin, he’s mean. And rude. We’ve seen enough and heard enough to know exactly what kind of man he is. And you shouldn’t be riding around in his truck with him,” Louise scolded Zona. “I don’t want that man snaring you in his net.”
“Trust me, he won’t,” said Zona.
“We have enough to worry about with Darling missing without you getting in trucks with horrible men,” Louise continued.
“We’ll find Darling,” Zona said, shifting the spotlight off herself.
“Yes, don’t worry,” said Martin.
“Why do people say that?” Louise grumbled. “It never stops you from worrying.”
Martin cleared his throat, checked his watch. “I need to get going. Got Annie and the girls coming over this afternoon. I’ll keep my eyes open for Darling though.”
