“Well…” he began.

“Come on, Morgan. If I go with you and sit and wait, then you’re simply going to have to come back with me and sit and wait some more. None of that makes any sense, now does it?”

He sighed and grinned. “You’ve got me there.” And then he pointed his finger in her face. “But when you’re ready to come home, call a cab from inside the mall, and then wait at the door until you see it drive up. Don’t stand outside. You’ll simply be an easy target for some thug.”

“Okay, okay,” she agreed. “But don’t worry. This is no different from any big mall anywhere. I’ve survived Quail Springs Mall in Oklahoma City. I’ve survived the Galleria in Dallas. Surely I can survive Laguna Beach’s Village Fair.”

He nodded. “Do you have enough money?” And then before she could refuse, he thrust several twenties in her hand. “Don’t argue with me. It’s either this, or you come with me.”

She leaned over and kissed his cheek. “See you back at the house.”

He waited until she was inside and then drove off, thankful that this little bit of nothing had come into their lives and thankful that he could now maneuver around more or less on his own.

*  *  *

Two hours and several shops later, Debbie looked at her watch in surprise. It was later than she thought. She’d better hurry. If Morgan got home before she did, he’d send out the troops—or Buddy—to look for her. It would be hard to guess which would cause more commotion, an entire battalion or one absentminded computer genius.

She grinned as she hurried out of the store, her small sack of makeup clutched in her hand. She made a mad dash for the escalator. There was one more shop she wanted to visit. The morning paper had mentioned a sale.

Her foot caught the step as it unfolded and began its ascent toward the next level. She looked up, partly out of habit, partly to see where she was going, and then forgot to breathe.

On the next aisle, coming toward her, coming down, was a young man. His face was familiar…too familiar. And the last time she’d seen it…he’d been flipping off the world and stealing an old woman’s purse.

*  *  *

Thomas Holliday was bored. It was why he’d come to the mall. He’d been here most of the day, filching what he could when he could and laughing to himself at not being caught. He was invincible. He was a stud. And tonight, after he picked up Nita Warren, he’d show her what being a stud meant.

And then he saw the woman. At first, he couldn’t place her…and then his belly turned and sweat ran. He reacted before he thought.

The escalator was almost empty. Only one woman with two small children behind her…no one behind him. He could tell she was nervous. That told him she’d recognized him, too. It made him feel strong.