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going to have to explain that one to me.”
    “I guess that doesn’t make much sense.” Luke said shyly. “What I mean is I won’t call you ma’am. But I will come back.”
    “Okay, that’s better,” she chuckled. “I was getting confused.”
    Grinning sheepishly, Luke said, “Yep, me too... but I’ll come back later.”
    “Good.” She leaned forward, poked him in the chest, and with an old West accent, said, “Now don’t make me come lookin’ for ya.”
    He grinned and said, “Okay,” then turned and walked out the front door. As he started down the sidewalk he looked back through the window at her. She gave him a little wave, and then tilted her head, letting her hair fall away before putting the phone back to her ear.
    Luke was lost in thought as he walked back to the clinic. Ordinarily he was pretty quick and witty, but Lauren had totally destroyed his concentration. She seemed to be flirting with him, which he enjoyed. At least he thought she was flirting. It had been a long time since anything like that had happened.
    Luke was already inside the clinic when he realized he forgot to put the bag with his purchases in the car. He looked around and noticed the waiting room was now almost empty. Since he didn’t see Bonnie, he assumed she was back with the doctor. He sat back in the corner where they had sat earlier and pulled out the paperback he bought at the drug store.
    After reading for less than five minutes, he looked up and saw that he was the only one left in the waiting room. He checked his watch. It was noon. Assuming they closed for lunch, he went to the receptionist to check on Bonnie.
    “Do you have any idea how much longer it will be before my wife is finished?”
    “What is her name?”
    “Bonnie Wakefield.”
    After flipping a page in her book she looked back at Luke. “She’s already checked out.”
    “You’re kidding,” Luke said in disbelief.
    She shook her head and gave him an I’m sorry , kind of shrug.
    He thanked her and headed for the door.
    Bonnie was probably waiting for him at the car, he thought. He felt like an idiot for not even noticing the car when he came back. His mind had been elsewhere, thinking about Lauren and how she was flirting with him.
    As soon as he stepped out the front door he saw their green rental car sitting across the street. All of the cars that filled the parking spaces earlier were now gone. He hustled across the street and though he wasn’t expecting to see Bonnie inside, he felt compelled to look.
    “Of course she’s not in there, you idiot. You’ve got the only key,” he murmured.
    He scanned the sidewalks in both directions, and on both sides of the street. They were deserted as far as he could see. He stood on the curb and made a complete three-sixty degree turn.
    Where in the hell did she go?
     

Chapter 4
    Luke pulled out his cell phone and pressed Bonnie’s speed dial number. It rang once and went directly to her voice mail.
    “Hey, Babe, I’m at the car. Waiting. Call me.”
    For a few minutes he waited, unsure what to do. It wasn’t like Bonnie to wander off, but, knowing her, she probably had a good reason. He scratched his chin trying to remember their last conversation. It was likely he wasn’t thinking clearly since he was suffering from a world class hangover, but he couldn’t remember her mentioning anything she needed to do. Only that she wanted him to keep the shopping list.
    He’d said she needed to get the rest of it from the grocery store. Maybe that’s where she went. But, the one they saw coming into town was at least half a mile from where he stood, maybe more. She wouldn’t go that far without leaving a note, would she?
    He sat in the driver’s seat and looked at his watch. Five past twelve. It would probably be best if I just wait. She should be back in a few minutes.
    He rolled down the window and pulled out the brochures from the Sportsman’s Outfitter and started to leaf through them. After about