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Pippa adjusted the bags of groceries in her hands as she walked down the sidewalk towards her apartment. Lady followed obediently, her tail wagging. The warm breeze carried a hint of crispness to it as they neared fall.
Yesterday had been so emotionally draining with Aspen and Mason, Pippa had given herself the night to cry and grieve what would never be. He wasn’t willing to fight for her. He wasn’t even willing to hear her out. As much as she loved the man, she wouldn’t settle for that. Right now, her focus was on the tiny bean growing in her belly. She needed to make a decision today, and then she’d let Mason know if she decided to keep it.
Can I really raise a baby by myself? What would that look like, along with running the bookstore? Can I afford to hire more help?
“Excuse me, miss?”
Pippa slowed her walk and turned as the young man who’d been with Pastor Calvin that day jogged over to her side.
She gave him a friendly smile and stopped. “Hey, Peter, right?”
He grinned, his eyes lighting up. “Yeah.” His eyes darted down to her dog before he reached his hand out to her.
“Oh, don’t—”
Lady eagerly lapped up whatever was in his hand. Too late. Pippa couldn’t pull the dog away; her hands were full of groceries. “Lady, left.”
Lady obeyed, going to stand on the other side of Pippa, away from the man. “Please don’t feed her anything or interact with her. It isn’t safe for me. She’s a service pet.” She nodded towards the vest Lady wore with patches clearly stating what she’d just told him.
His eyes widened. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I won’t do it again. I had a piece of steak left over from my lunch and wanted to bring it for her.”
Pippa’s brows drew together. “Were you coming to the bookstore to find me?”
“Yeah. I really wanted to talk to you. Oh, I’m being rude. Let me help you carry these.” He reached for the groceries.
Pippa let him take one of the bags. “Thanks.”
“No problem.”
“So, what did you want to talk about?” She continued down the sidewalk as the bookstore came into view.
“Oh, well, I’ve been studying and learning a lot with Pastor Calvin. And a few weeks ago, he gave his congregation a challenge to reach out to the community and seek out a soul to save. It’s our duty to spread the word.”
Pippa’s smile faded. Oh, God, he wants to convert me. “Well, I’ll be honest. I’m not really interested.”
She started up the steps of her apartment.
He followed. “Can I ask why not?”
“I don’t believe I have anything I need to be saved from.” She slipped the key into the door and unlocked it, then quickly entered the code into the alarm system as a pang of longing ripped through her. Mason had these installed.
She turned to grab the bag from his hands but he stepped inside as Lady walked to her water bowl.
“You can hand it to me. I’ve got it from here. Thanks for the help. I’ll see you around sometime.” She reached for the bag, but he shook his head and walked in to set the groceries in her kitchen.
“I take my job of service very seriously. And I always see that the task is completed.”
The tiny hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as her skin prickled with unease. Her gaze tracked over him once more. He was young, but taller than her and strong. He pulled a phone from his khaki pants and switched the light on so that it flashed.
Pippa backed up a step. “You need to go.”
“Sure thing.” His smile faded as he walked towards the door. Pippa held her breath as he walked by her and slammed it closed.
“What—”
Peter held the flashing light up to her face and she closed her eyes from the brightness. “I saw you at the pharmacy when it happened the first time, and again in the bookstore. You need help, Miss Davis, and it’s my duty to save you.”
“Peter, I will call the police if you don’t leave.” She reached for the door but his hand wrapped around hers.
