Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83331 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83331 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
“This takes me back to working on my college paper,” I said.
Bess sighed softly. “This place didn’t even have computers when I started working here.”
“When was that?”
“Thirty-seven years ago.”
“Wow. You must love it.”
She shrugged. “It’s home, you know?”
I hummed my agreement, though I had no idea what she meant. How could a job feel like home? I worked for money, nothing else. Pharmaceutical sales was a means to an end, and the end I had in sight was to travel. I wanted to set foot on every continent, explore hidden beaches, and taste exotic foods.
Grady came in the front door and gave me a nod. “Did you get a faucet?”
“I did, but you don’t need to install it.”
“It’s no problem.” He nodded at me, almost smiling, and then walked toward the bathroom, and I stepped away from Bess’s desk to catch up with him.
“What are you doing here?” Grady asked, looking from Austin back to me.
“That’s what I meant when I said you don’t need to do it,” I said, finally reaching him.
“This one’s covered, Chief,” Austin said, sounding amused. “Get back to fighting crime.”
A storm swam in Grady’s eyes as he glared at me accusingly. I drew back, having no idea what I’d done other than save him the trouble of installing a faucet.
He shook his head, turned around, and left without another word.
CHAPTER FIVE
Avon
I groaned and wrapped my hand around my nose, still only half-awake. Even though I’d slept in two layers of clothes and socks, wrapped in the afghan, my nose was ice cold. Apparently I needed a ski mask to sleep comfortably in this apartment.
My phone was plugged into a charger, sitting on a small end table by the couch, and I reached for it to check the time. 8:07. I was officially missing Saturday morning hot yoga.
I still hadn’t taken any photos for next week’s issue. I was determined to get one today, after breakfast at The Corner Café again, and then I planned to walk around downtown and visit the shops.
The shower water was hot enough to thaw my nose out, but it was so cold once the water was off that I toweled off, dressed in jeans and a light sweater, and dried my hair in record time.
My walk to the café was damn near blissful in my new faux-fur-lined boots, which had set me back nearly two hundred dollars but were worth every penny. I’d also picked up a hand-crocheted purple stocking cap with a fuzzy ball on top from a boutique next to the shoe store, so I no longer looked like an out-of-place tourist.
I was close to the restaurant when the sight of a massive animal ahead brought me to a stop. My heart raced and I clapped a hand over my mouth.
Be cool, Avon. Don’t upset it.
It had to weigh at least six hundred pounds, and from its snorting sound, I knew it was vicious. I remembered the woman walking behind me who had two children with her. This was like when bears ended up in residential areas and destroyed things. I couldn’t let this wild creature hurt anyone.
“Run!” I yelled, turning around and waving my arms in the opposite direction from the…moose? Reindeer? All I knew was it had antlers and was big enough to trample someone to death or spear them bloody with its antlers.
“Hurry!” I cried, peeking over my shoulder. “Get out of here! There’s a wild animal!”
People weren’t listening. I could taste the panic rising in my throat. After a deep breath, I rushed toward the café and hurried inside, slamming the door behind me and panting as I pressed my back against the glass.
“Don’t go out there!” I cautioned the people who were about to leave. “There’s a wild animal! It’s huge and I think it’s got rabies or something because it’s snorting. We need to call animal control.”
A few people got up from their seats and peeked out the windows of the restaurant. Finally, someone was taking me seriously.
A man wearing a thick stocking hat grinned at me.
“You’re not from around here, are you?”
I lowered my brows. “No, why?”
“That’s just Floki. He’s an elk who comes to town most every day. He’s probably looking for his girlfriend, Helga.”
There was a light ripple of laughter in the crowded restaurant and murmurs that included the word tourist. My cheeks burned as I moved away from the door and said, “Oh.”
If only a hole would open in the floor and swallow me up. I’d never seen an elk, so of course being twenty feet away from one had scared me. These people wouldn’t last an hour in San Diego.
“Morning, Avon,” Tipper called from behind the bar. “Got a spot for you on the end here.”
“Good morning,” I said, sliding out of my coat.
“Avon?” a female voice said from nearby. “Avon Douglas?”