You First Loved Me by Donnie Stevens

Author:Donnie Stevens [Stevens, Donnie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Warwick House Publishers
Published: 2024-02-20T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

Two weeks later, on a Saturday evening, Cassie dressed to go to dinner with Zackery. She had no idea where because he had told her it was a surprise. When she insisted on knowing how to dress, he’d grinned. “Dress bonny, like you always do.” She loved his words from his Scottish heritage.

She chose her blue, V-neck silk dress, accentuated with the emerald birthstone necklace Hope had given her for her sixteenth birthday. Having a few minutes before Zackery arrived, she went downstairs to speak to her sister. She found her dumping leftovers from the fridge.

“You have a date tonight?” Hope eyed the necklace around Cassie’s neck.

Cassie touched the emerald with her index finger. “Zackery and I are going out for dinner.”

“Where?”

“He wouldn’t tell me.”

Hope giggled. “I can’t get over you two surprising each other all the time.”

“It makes life fun.”

“I’m sure it does. Blake’s been working six days a week for the past couple months, so I’ve booked a long weekend at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville for us next weekend.”

“Good for you.”

“I figured a mountain retreat would be a pleasant change, and maybe he’ll get some needed rest.”

“You need a break too.”

“With you here tending shop, I’m comfortable leaving.”

“Good, because you may have a manager and boarder longer than you intended.” Her mind swirled with her growing relationship with Zackery.

Standing up straighter, Hope drew in a sharp breath. “That would be fabulous.”

“For now. But I hope to start my teaching career soon, or I’ll have to work until I’m an old lady to retire.”

A knock on the front door interrupted them.

“That’s Zackery.” Cassie grabbed her purse.

“Have fun, little sister!” Hope yelled as Cassie rushed to the door.

On the porch, Cassie met Zackery with a hug. His spicy aftershave fragrance made her stop to linger. “Hmm...I love your aftershave.”

He nuzzled her neck. “Do you mind if we take your wheels?”

“Sure.” As she tugged her keys from her handbag, they snagged on something and clattered to the step. While Zackery bent over to get them, a black car—its driver looking her way—caught Cassie’s eye as it eased past. A faint memory flashed into her head. At the shop. The black BMW. That’s it! Stepping off the porch quickly, she rushed into the lawn to get a better view, but the vehicle sped off.

“What’s wrong?” Zackery darted up behind her.

“That car.” She pointed. “I saw it sitting behind mine at the shop a few weeks ago when you dropped me off.”

“There are a lot of black cars in Mt. Pleasant.”

“No, it’s the same black BMW.” Cassie shook her head, insistent. “It was moving slow with someone looking in my direction.”

“Did you recognize who it was?”

“I only got a glimpse. I think someone is stalking me.”

“Maybe it’s a coincidence, but if it comes back around, I’ll find out what they’re up to.”

∞∞∞

When Zackery parked near The Post House, Cassie clapped her hands in delight. They walked in holding hands, then followed their hostess across the crowded room to the same table by the large, multi-paned window where Cassie had first seen Zackery sitting months earlier.

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