Christmas Blackout. Maggie K. Black

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СКАЧАТЬ hair. “You know, rumor has it that back in World War II, the enemy used the most inventive booby traps against the Allies, including exploding soap, oil paintings and chocolate. It’s all about thinking like a predator, Piper.”

      “How interesting.” She smiled politely. “But I’m sure if we do beef up security we’ll find something a little less dramatic.” A building as old as The Downs tended to attract a lot of quirky folk, but exploding chocolate was definitely a new one. “Speaking of history, have you ever heard the rumor that The Downs used to be used in alcohol smuggling?”

      “Oh, my expertise is in warfare, not local history.” Tobias shook his head. “But, I’d have thought most of the action took place closer to either Michigan or New York. This stretch of Lake Erie was supposed to be fairly uninteresting.”

      Downright boring is the way she’d have been tempted to describe it, if it wasn’t for Charlotte bringing unwanted chaos to her door.

      The next couple of hours passed in a blur. Cops came to take their statements. A tow truck took Benjamin’s vehicle to the garage. She called her other two guests, married lawyers Gavin and Trisha, but only got their voice mail. Tobias typed though it all.

      And Benjamin...

      She leaned back on the couch and looked down at her tea. Benjamin had been everywhere at once, plowing the drive, sanding the steps as the freezing rain continued to fall, taking coats as people came in and giving them back as they left again. He’d even found his own linens and made his own bed when she pointed him in the direction of his suite.

      Before she knew it, the clock struck eleven.

      “Why don’t you have a Christmas tree?” Benjamin’s voice cut through her thoughts.

      She looked up and only then realized that they were now alone in the living room. “I put so much work into decorating the barn, I didn’t really plan to do anything for inside the house. I’m going to cut down a tree for the barn tomorrow.”

      The fire dimmed in the hearth. Benjamin added some kindling, then got down on his stomach and blew on the flame. The dog promptly laid his head on top of him. Don’t let yourself get too comfortable, pup. He’s not staying long.

      “How did everything go when you called your sister?” she asked.

      “Okay.” He sat up and the dog moved with him. “But she sounded really stressed. I should be there making things easier for her, not adding to her problems. It’s bad enough I’m the guy who triggered her anxiety disorder to begin with by some stupid snowmobile accident. I don’t want to be the guy who makes her relapse right before her wedding.”

      There was a bitter edge to his voice that she wasn’t used to hearing, almost as if he was simultaneously talking and smacking himself on the back of the head.

      “I get that.” She leaned forward. “But don’t beat yourself up. You saved my life from a violent creep today. And that snowmobile accident happened way back when you were a kid.”

      “I was fifteen.” He turned back to the fire. “I was old enough to know better.”

      Piper pressed her lips together. Benjamin had been driving underage, on a highway, without a license and without a helmet. Those were a lot of mistakes to go through life hanging over his head. The older friend he’d been snowmobiling with hadn’t even survived the crash and the media coverage had been harsh and relentless. Long before she’d met Benjamin, she’d known exactly who he was—her generation’s poster child for foolishness.

      “Well, I’m going to sleep.” Benjamin stood. “I’ve got a long drive tomorrow.”

      “Good night.” She started up the stairs shortly after she’d taken care of the fire. The Downs had three unique guest suites on the second floor, but her room was up another flight of stairs in a large loft space with slanted ceilings and round windows.

      When she opened the door that led to a flight of stairs to her loft, she felt fur brush past her ankles, then Harry bounded onto her bed under the eaves. She snapped her fingers and pointed to the stairs. “Sorry, dog. I need to sleep. I can’t afford to be woken up in the middle of the night just because you feel like wandering.”

      The husky gave her a pointed look with sky-blue eyes that looked like his owner’s. What had she been thinking inviting a constant reminder of Benjamin to move into her home?

      “Tell you what. I’ll get a doggie door installed soon. Okay?” She let him down and locked the door behind him. Then she changed into a fresh T-shirt and track pants, set her glasses down on the bedside table and slid under the blankets.

      “Thank You, God, for bringing Benjamin here to save me,” she prayed as a sigh slipped through her lips. “Now help me protect my heart until he leaves.”

      Exhausted sleep swept over her before she’d barely finished her prayer.

      A creak jolted her awake.

      Piper opened her eyes and sat up.

      Her alarm clock read four in the morning. The room was cold.

      But it wasn’t the temperature that sent chills down her spine. It was the figure was standing at the foot of her bed.

       FOUR

      Fear gripped Piper’s body, pushing her back against the headboard. The intruder was nothing but an indistinct shape in the darkness. But she could see it. Standing there. Inches away from the bed. Not moving. Just breathing.

      She reached toward her glasses.

      “Don’t move.” A whisper hissed in the darkness.

      Piper’s hand froze on the nightstand.

      “Don’t scream, either. You just stay quiet, okay?” It wasn’t the same voice as the man in the diamond ski mask. No, this one sounded uncertain. Agitated. Even nervous. Definitely higher-pitched, too. Female. “I don’t want to hurt you. But I’ve got a gun, okay? I’ll shoot you if I have to.”

      “Got it.” Piper slid her body even farther back until she could feel her headboard press into her shoulder blades. She didn’t know whether to believe the intruder, but didn’t want to risk it, either. There were heavy wooden doors on the bedrooms below and thick carpets to muffle sound. If she screamed would anyone even hear her?

       Help me, Lord. I’m terrified.

      The intruder was jumpy, too, and even seemed to be pacing. Knowing she was frightened, panicking and apparently armed didn’t make Piper feel any safer. How had anyone even broken in to her room? Piper’s eyes adjusted to the darkness, just enough to make out shapes on her bedside table. A cold breeze swept up her arms. Wind howled in the darkness. The intruder must have climbed the fire escape and come through her window. Piper’s fingers crept across the nightstand. “This house is full of people. Just leave. Now. Nobody needs to get hurt.”

      “I said don’t move.” The shadow moved closer. Her voice shook. “I have a gun, okay? I’m just here looking for something. I’m going to get it and leave.”

      Something or СКАЧАТЬ