Grimm nodded, leaving the table as the knocking persisted. “Hold on,” he called walking toward the front of the house.
Bathsheba ran past him into the kitchen from wherever she’d been hiding, and he had to sidestep to avoid colliding with the cat.
“Dang cat. You’re going to get stepped on if you’re not careful.”
“Me-ow.”
“You heard me,” he said, making his way to the door.
“Be nice to my cat,” Quinn called, then giggled.
He grumbled to himself, as the pounding persisted, and yanked the door open to find a very angry blonde female about five foot two with her hand raised in a knocking motion aimed right at his gut. “Yes?”
“Where’s Quinn?” the woman asked, handing him a medium-sized pink cake box and pushing past him. “Quinn? Quinn?”
“Shelby?” Quinn came running out of the kitchen and met the female halfway.
“Thank heavens!” The blonde grabbed her in a hug and held tight. “From the time I opened the bakery this morning, it was ‘Did you hear what happened to Quinn yesterday?’ and ‘Why didn’t you tell us that Quinn’s college boyfriend was coming to town?’ Frankly, I don’t know whether to be angry with you or be glad that you’re alive.”
Quinn pulled away from her friend. “I’m sorry. I should have called you, but having my windshield busted didn’t seem like that big of a deal to worry you with, and after the car almost hit me last night it was late, and we came back here to be confronted by Sheraton. And once he left, we just went to bed. I know you turn in early to get up to go to the bakery at four a.m. to start your day.”
“So, you’re saying there wasn’t a perfect time to call me?” Shelby crossed her arms over her chest.
“Not really. And as far as explaining to you about Grimm…how should I have done that when we are telling a big fat lie to everyone in town, so they don’t know I have a bodyguard protecting me?” Quinn said, walking over to stand in front of him.
“A bodyguard?”
Quinn nodded.
“I knew you wouldn’t have kept such a secret from me. We talked about everything, and if you had dated anyone in college that you were getting back together with, I was certain you’d have mentioned it.
“But you can’t tell anyone the truth, or it will jeopardize things,” she warned.
“Of course. I promise.” Shelby made a crisscross sign over her chest for emphasis. “Whose idea was it that you should have a bodyguard? Silly question, it had to have been Sheraton’s.”
“You guessed it.”
“That man.” Shelby shook her head. “Listen. I hate to barge in here, make a fuss, and then leave, but I must get back to the bakery. I left my staff during the busiest part of the day to come over here.”
“You could have just called,” Quinn pointed out.
“No. I couldn’t. Not when I learned you had a strange man staying here with you, and you were almost run over last night. I hadn’t even heard about the brick through your windshield. What is this all about, Quinn?”
“The articles I’ve been writing. There was a death threat attached to the brick.”
“Good lord! No wonder Sheraton hired a bodyguard.” Shelby looked past Quinn at him. “You better not let anything happen to her, or you’ll have to answer to me, is that clear?”
“Yes ma’am.”
“Ma’am. What are you? Ex-military or something?”
“That’s right.”
She sighed. “Could be worse. I’ll call you later. I brought you some pastries.”
Grimm opened the lid to the box and looked inside. “Hey, thanks.”
“I couldn’t show up empty-handed,” Shelby said.
