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About to enter my shop from the back room, a figure leering through the window stops me in my tracks. My stomach churns and begs me to recognize that something about this situation is not right.
Consciously, my mind reminds me that people look into closed shops all the time to see what the shop has to offer, but still, my gut persists sending warning signals throughout my entire body. The now-darkening night sky makes it impossible to work out any details other than the person is tall and cartoonishly thin, I can’t help but think about the Flat Stanley books I’d read as a kid. If he turned sideways, you wouldn’t be able to see him at all.
Hidden from sight, I watch the figure for several minutes as he moves back and forth peering into the windows. Without the shop lights turned on and with the tint of the windows, I’m not sure he could see me even if I was standing in the middle of the floor, but it is not a theory I am willing to test at the moment.
Cautiously I make my way back up the stairs and into the safety of my apartment, locking the door tightly behind me and taking in deep gulps of air.
“What’s wrong?” Isaiah is beside me in an instant still completely nude. “What happened?”
His eyebrows are pulled together and the corners of his mouth tug tightly downward as he searches my face scooping me into his arms.
“Your heart is beating so fast, did something happen?” he asks urgently.
I struggle to find any words to say. I want to tell him what I saw but I can’t seem to convince my brain and my mouth towork together in a coordinated effort. Finally, I manage a hard swallow.
“I was inspired,” I say in a hoarse approximation of my voice still somehow managing to blush at the memories of Isaiah and I making love, “I went downstairs to get some supplies to work on a potion, but someone was peering into the window. I stood there for at least 5 minutes watching him as he moved along the outer glass. I don’t know what he wanted, and I didn’t go and ask either.”
“What did he look like?”
“Too dark to see properly,” I tell him.
“Was he tall? Short? Fat? Skinny? Did he have long hair or short hair?”
My mouth is dry, and my throat is scratchy like I’ve been eating sand. “He was tall and skinny; I don’t know about his hair. I know it’s not much, but I got this feeling in my gut that he was up to something. Like he was... dangerous.”
His arms wrap tighter around me, and he kisses my forehead stroking my hair for a moment, “I don’t think I can hear anyone still downstairs and around the store. Would you feel safe if you locked the door up here and let me have a look around outside?”
Nodding my head yes, I dread the moment his arms pull away from me. He slides his clothes on with lightning speed and accuracy, I suppose shifters have plenty of practice in that arena.
“I’ll be back, when I do, I’ll give two knocks followed by three rapid knocks, so you know it’s me, okay?”
Again, nodding I clutch the door handle until my knuckles turn white and lock the door as soon as it’s shut. Splatters of deep burgundy hit the counter as I pour myself a glass of wine with shaky hands.
Two slow knocks make my heart race and the final three quick knocks come after, “Isaiah?” I ask still hesitantly.
“It’s me, Lorelei.” He says sounding reassuring and not the least bit annoyed at the delayed entry. After I unlock the door, he slips inside quickly and locks it again behind him. I settle onto one of the barstools at the kitchen island.
“I didn’t see anyone or anything out of place outside in either the front or back. I picked up on the scent from the front window though. It’s a man and if he comes back around, I’ll know it right away.”
“You won’t be here all the time,” I take a big swig of my wine, the dry sweetness making me slightly more at ease. “Thank you, Isaiah, for looking around.”
“I’ll make a point to come around more often. Especially around when you open and close the shop.” His hand rests on my knee as he hovers over me.
“Will you stay with me tonight?” I ask with pleading eyes.
“Of course, I’ll need to quickly make a phone call and then I am yours for the evening.”
“Lorelei,I’ve got to head to work now but I’ll be back around noon to walk you over to ‘Catch of the Day’ for lunch. Then I’ll walk you back to the shop after we eat. Sound good?”
“You don’t have to babysit me over lunch,” I say rolling my eyes.
“Come on, I want you to try some of my food. Don’t you think it’s a little unfair that I’ve spent all this time at your shop, and you haven’t come to my pub once?” He asks kindly.
“I suppose you could call that unfair,” a cheeky smile crosses my lips, and he pulls me in for a kiss.
“I’ll see you at lunchtime,” he says and then stoops down and gives me one last kiss before rushing out of the door and down the block.
Once he’s gone, the unsettling feeling creeps back over me. I do my best to tend to the shop and greet the customers as they arrive. For some reason, today is busier than usual, with several groups coming in during the earlier hours.
