Page 32 of Kidnapped in Dark Waters
And he would get her. She’d gotten away from him yesterday, but the next time he went after her, he would be better prepared. Oh yes…his excitement made him half dizzy. Sweet anticipation roared through him. Soon…very, very soon, she would be his.
Chapter Eight
Waking up in Luke’s arms had been wonderful. As Dominique drove to the café the next morning, she still felt the warmth of his body close to hers and his arm wrapped around her waist. She’d felt so safe…so protected and warm.
The kidnapping attempt that had occurred the day before now seemed oddly distant, as if it had taken place days ago. She knew it was because of so many things that had happened after the attack.
Making love with Luke and having him next to her all night long had taken away the rough edges of fear that the assault had left behind.
However, Luke couldn’t be there all the time. She had to be there for herself, and that meant staying vigilante. She had to watch her surroundings and couldn’t allow any mind lapses to make her an easy target again in the future.
As she parked behind the café, a nervous energy fluttered through her as she thought about waiting on her regulars. Was one of them responsible for the kidnapping attempt? Beneath the flirty words and easy smiles, did one of them have some sort of a dangerous obsession for her?
You will belong to me.
The words now definitely had an ominous meaning. Was it possible that one of the men she served breakfast to had written it? For the first time she could ever remember, she was dreading going in to work.
However, it was time she get her butt inside. She looked all around the parking lot before getting out of her car, and then she hurried in through the back door.
Things were wonderfully normal as she walked into the warm kitchen that smelled of frying onions and eggs, of bacon and ham and other breakfast items. Annie greeted her, as did Ed Slavoie, Annie’s right-hand man, and several other members of the staff.
She walked into the break room where Cindy Lawson and Glenda Wright, two other waitresses, were getting ready to clock in. Sunny wasn’t working this morning, but Dominique was friendly with the other two waitresses. There were three more waitresses scheduled to work and they should be rolling in at any time.
Once again, she dreaded seeing her regulars today. How would they all react when Daniel spoke with them? Would they be angry with her for giving him their names? Appalled that she would believe any one of them could be behind the attack on her?
By seven o’clock, the café was filling up and Dominique and the others were busy taking orders and running food. By eight o’clock, Luke walked in, looking handsome as the devil in a pair of jeans and a blue polo shirt that emphasized his broad shoulders.
His presence immediately made her feel less jittery about seeing her regulars when they came in. Luke offered her a huge grin as he sat in one of the two-tops in her section.
She walked over to the table to take his order. “Oh, you again,” she said teasingly. “Could you please tip me more than your usual five percent today? My babies are hungry and they all need new shoes.”
He laughed. “We’ll see,” he replied. “Of course, it will depend solely on the service I receive.”
“Then I’ll see if I can get it right today,” she replied.
The twinkling in his eyes dimmed a bit. “Anyone interesting in here?”
“Not yet.” She knew he was referring to the three men she’d told Daniel about. “They should show up any minute now.”
“When they do, point them out to me and let me know who is who.”
She nodded. “Okay, now what can I get you to eat?”
“I’ll take a number four special,” he replied.
She raised a brow. The number four was the largest breakfast on the menu. “A bit hungry this morning?”
Once again, the twinkle was back in his eyes. “Yeah, I worked up quite an appetite yesterday afternoon.”
She laughed. “Okay, a number four it is. Coffee?”
“Definitely.”
“I’ll be right back with that.” She left his table, her heart warmed by the brief interaction with him. She served his coffee and then a few minutes later returned with his large platter of food.
By that time Burt had come in and had taken a seat in her section. She walked back by Luke’s table. “Burt Stanfield,” she said softly and then headed toward him. She knew Luke probably knew Burt since he worked for the city.
“Good morning, doll,” Burt said in greeting.
