Dead Rapunzel (25 page)

Jumping to his feet, Osborne said, “If that's settled, I'm doing the dishes.”

“I'm helping,” said Lew, reaching to clear plates.

And all were happy with that, too.

Later that night, right after Osborne and Lew had climbed into Lew's double bed ready to snuggle under the quilts, Lew jumped out. “Need to make sure I locked both doors, Doc. Be right back.” She ran from the room. On her way back, she checked the bathroom.

“Is the window closed, Lewellyn?” asked Osborne.

“Yes,” she said, climbing back into bed beside him.

“Sweetie, do you know how many times you've checked the doors and the window tonight? At least four times. And not a door nor a window has moved since we got home.”

“I know. I'll get over it.”

Osborne knew that Lew liked to think she was tough. Problem was she forgot she was human. Gathering her into his arms, he said, “Lewellyn, I have a plan.”

“You always have a plan, Doc,” she kidded. “What is it this time?”

“We—you and I—will spend every night for the next month here at your place. Hope you don't mind if I bring Mike along? He's feeling neglected. Chewed a leg off one of the end tables by my bed this week.”

“Of course not, but why? You love your house.”

“Yes, I do. But I also know how it feels when someone has violated your home.”

Boy, did he ever, remembering as he spoke how the week after a woman had broken into his house and assaulted Mallory that he spent more that month on deadbolts, patio-door locks, and sliding-door security bars than he had all year on fishing lures!

“And you said you've been having bad dreams this week . . . ”

He felt her nod against his shoulder.

“Lew.” With gentle fingers he pushed the dark curls back from her forehead. “The plan is we sleep here until you feel safe again . . . agreed?”

She answered with a kiss.

Copyright © 2015 by Victoria Houston.

All rights reserved.

This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher; exceptions are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews.

Published by

TYRUS BOOKS

an imprint of F+W Media, Inc.

10151 Carver Road, Suite 200

Blue Ash, OH 45242. U.S.A.

www.tyrusbooks.com

Hardcover ISBN 10: 1-4405-6849-9

Hardcover ISBN 13: 978-1-4405-6849-7

Paperback ISBN 10: 1-4405-6848-0

Paperback ISBN 13: 978-1-4405-6848-0

eISBN 10: 1-4405-6850-2

eISBN 13: 978-1-4405-6850-3

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Houston, Victoria,

Dead Rapunzel / Victoria Houston.

pages cm

ISBN 978-1-4405-6848-0 (pb) -- ISBN 1-4405-6848-0 (pb) -- ISBN 978-1-4405-6849-7 (hc) -- ISBN 1-4405-6849-9 (hc) -- ISBN 978-1-4405-6850-3 (ebook) -- ISBN 1-4405-6850-2 (ebook)

I. Title.

PS3608.O88D4365 2015

813'.6--dc23

2014046176

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, corporations, institutions, organizations, events, or locales in this novel are either the product of the author's imagination or, if real, used fictitiously. The resemblance of any character to actual persons (living or dead) is entirely coincidental.

Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and F+W Media, Inc. was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed with initial capital letters.

Cover design by Frank Rivera.

Cover image © David Fossler/123RF.