Lorraine had lived in Hartley since forever, but theboutique was a new venture after getting divorced. She’d gotten a makeover too, complete with pink-dyed hair and a little butterfly tattoo on her shoulder.
Lorraine came around the counter, her flowing caftan trailing behind her. “How are you feeling these days, hon? Back on duty soon? We’ll have to get used to calling you Deputy Marsh again.”
I shrugged. “I’m feeling all right. But I’m not back at work just yet.”
“Well, I’msureyou’re enjoying your time off.” With a knowing smirk, Lorraine pointed a pink fingernail at Dean. “Your man might like to know about our new jewelry collection. Is that why you came in today? Shopping for a gift?”
Tensing my jaw, I grabbed Dean’s arm and tugged him toward the dress racks. “Actually, mymanwas going to help me pick a new dress. He has some strong opinions on fashion.”
“Do I?” he muttered.
“This was your idea.”
While I sorted through a rack of sundresses, Dean kept glancing back. “Lorraine’s staring at us,” he whispered.
“She’s just curious.” She’d probably heardallabout Dean and me and helped spread those rumors around too. But she meant well.
After all, Dean and I were the ones lying to everybody. We’d wanted people to talk.
“Did you hear those people gossiping behind us in the grocery line last week?” Dean asked under his breath. He was standing right behind me, murmuring into my ear. “They said Lorraine bagged herself a younger boyfriend. The new mail carrier. He’s not a day over fifty-two, so they say.”
“Stop it.” I elbowed Dean’s stomach, snickering.
“Ow! I’m impressed, that’s all. Go, Lorraine.”
I turned my head and kissed him, both of us grinning. Itwas such a simple moment, sonormal, and I could almost believe it was real. That we could really have this. Braving the small-town gossip together, shopping, just living.
“Aren’t you two precious!” Lorraine gushed. “Now that’s what true love looks like.”
I broke away from Dean, blinking. His blue eyes were wide, radiating discomfort. Which told me everything I needed to know about Dean’s opinion of the L word.
I’d been in love with Dean for years, but he was never going to love me back. He was never going to stay. A few weeks of hot sex had not changed that basic truth.
Why did it hurt so much when I’d always known it?
Averting my gaze, I turned back to the rack of dresses, grabbing a few in my size without paying much attention to the styles. I just wanted to get this over with.
In the dressing room, the hangers rattled as I shoved them onto a hook. “Let me know if you need any other sizes!” Lorraine called out. “Or Dean can come find me! I’m sure you’ll be doing some modeling for him.”
“Thanks,” I said, trying to sound cheerful. I slumped onto the little stool next to the mirror.
Outside the dressing room, Lorraine was saying something else to Dean, and he was laughing politely. Acting like my patient, perfect boyfriend.
Whyhad I ever agreed to this stupid outing?
When Dean and I were alone at his house, it was like nothing else existed but the two of us and the mission. Out in public, reality came rushing back. After Dean left, I would have to tell everyone we broke up. I’d have to deal with the gossip and their pity and their questions about what went wrong.Poor Keira. She couldn’t get her man to stay.
So much for true love.
After a few minutes, there was a soft knock. “Find anything you like?” Dean asked.
Shit. I hadn’t even taken a single dress off a hanger. Sifting through them, I found one in a coral color with a subtle abstract pattern. “Just a sec!”
I wriggled out of my clothes and pulled the sundress over my head. Then opened the door. Dean stood with his hands in his pockets, grinning when he saw me. “That one’s pretty. You look great.”
The dressing area was at the back of the store, next to a storage room, and a wall blocked me from the view of the register. Which was good. Lorraine wasn’t watching our every move.
Self-consciously, my fingers traced the contours of the scars on my left shoulder and upper chest. “I don’t know why I picked all sundresses. I should find something with sleeves. Nobody wants to look at this while they’re trying to eat.”
