I believed Dean when he said he cared about me. But if I let myself believe, even for a second, that Dean truly loved me? My damaged heart wouldn’t be able to survive that. Once, I’d been full of hopes about him, and I’d learned better. I would never let myself be so foolish again.
Sighing, I wandered over to a display near the shop’s front window. Then goosebumps rose all over my skin.
I lifted my eyes and found Donny Phelan just outside. Watching me through the glass.
Cocking my hip and raising an eyebrow, I glared back. To my surprise, he averted his gaze, dipped his blue cowboy hat, and slinked away down the sidewalk.
Nowthatwas strange. Especially if the man had been asking people about me. What on earth could that be about?
When I’d first met Phelan, that night months ago that I was shot, he’d been brash and arrogant. Same when Dean and I had visited his house. But the man I’d just seen on the sidewalk had seemed…small.
Not like I’d ever feel sorry for him. But Dean and I were less sure all the time that Phelan was involved in my shooting. Nox Woodson and the other people at Crosshairs Security seemed to have the guy on some kind of leash.
We hadn’t figured it out yet, but we would.
When I returned to the register, Dean was there in the charcoal shirt. The neutral color made the blue of his eyes even more brilliant, and the fit hugged his chest and the trim lines of his torso.
“Looking good, Reynolds. Is that the slim fit?”
“I figured you’d like it.” He hooked my waist and kissed my cheek, then pulled back, scrutinizing me. “You okay?”
I thought about reporting the Donny Phelan sighting. But I didn’t want to mention it if Lorraine might overhear. “Yeah. I’m good. Happy.”
He kissed my forehead. “Then I’m happy too.”
Lorraine was tapping on a tablet screen. “He looks handsome, doesn’t he?”
“He does,” I agreed.
“While I’m paying, why don’t you grab us some drinks at the coffee shop next door?” Dean asked. “They have the really good chai there, right?”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Yeah. But why does it seem like you’re up to something? I already agreed you could buy the dress for me.”
“Oh, go on, grab a drink, Keira,” Lorraine said with a knowing smile.
“Now I think you’rebothup to something.”
But I agreed to play along. Lorraine had already picked up my shorts and top from the dressing room, folded them up, and tucked them in a bag for me. She handed my clothes over, and I headed next door to the coffee shop while Dean did…whatever he was really doing.
This coffee shop wasn’t as nice as Silver Linings Coffee over in Silver Ridge, but they did make an excellent chai.
While I ordered, I said hello to a couple of people I knew. Answered the inevitable questions about how I was healing, how my mom and sister were doing. When I would return to duty.
But my mind was still on the man I’d left next door.
The date tonight, the dress, the way Dean had of sweeping me away and making me forget everything else… It was too much. Every day, I fell deeper in love with him. But Dean would never truly be mine, no matter how many sweet things he did or said. No matter how intense our connection.
I’d never known love could hurt like this. A tear welled at the corner of my eye, and I brushed it away.
“Keira?” the barista said, setting my chai on the counter. “Anything wrong?”
“Nope.” I laughed. “Sorry. Allergies. Um, I need to run to the restroom. I’ll be right back for the drinks.”
Turning quickly to hide my face, I hurried down a short hallway toward the restroom.
Then someone grabbed my arm from behind. I dropped my bag and spun, instinct taking over, my hand already moving to where my weapon should be. But of course, it wasn’t there. Just the thin fabric of my sundress.
“You?” I spit out.
