The only thing that I found out was that I wasn’t safe at all.
And before I knew it, I was on the run again.
ChapterOne
CAPRI
I shouldn’t have come.
It was the usual mantra with me but I never listened to the voice of reason in my head.
Every time the ladies invited me to a gathering, I went. Even when the best and safest thing for me, along with everyone else, would have been to decline. But after I met the lively bunch, I never could help myself.
Plus it was Gemma’s college graduation party and I’d have missed her baby news. It was wonderful seeing her so happy with Bodie and the twins. Soon they would have three beautiful children.
As I placed my hand on my stomach and closed my eyes for a second, I wondered what it would feel like to be pregnant. I’d always wanted children but it hadn’t happened and wasn’t something that would for me in the future.
Seeing all these amazing people happy, warmed my soul, but it also showed me what I was missing and that hurt.
I should have stuck to my guns from the start and not gotten close to people, then maybe I could have stayed on that path that was planned for me.
One where I was allalone.
It wasn’t fair to put anyone in danger and I couldn’t afford to expose myself in any way.
However, the group was infectious and impossible to say no to. When they kept coming into the shop, the ladies' personalities and their friendship with each other called to the loneliness that had been constantly inside of me since the day I lost my family.
So I caved, time and time again. While that was an issue in itself, there was an even bigger one now with the newcomer to the group.
Paxton.
I didn’t know what it was about him but my belly fluttered with nervous energy every time I saw him.
It had been a long time since I’d had any type of reaction to a man and I wasn’t sure it had ever been so intense.
Not even when I’d first met my late husband.
Laughter rang out and my eyes searched the source across the open landscape. Like a moth to a flame, my face landed on the very man I needed to avoid.
My heart pinched at the thought because avoiding Paxton meant staying away from the friends I had grown to care so much for.
I’d never had close friends. Most of the ladies I used to know were acquaintances tied to my late husband's business. They weren’t anyone I kept in contact with.
In fact, I didn’t keep in contact with anyone.
For good reason too.
This amazing bunch of people were the closest thing I had to friends and family now that my parents were gone.
A tear slipped down my cheek as the day I lost them flashed through my head. With the sorrow also came fear. No matter where I was I never felt safe.
I couldn’t let my guard down.Ever.
As I swiped the few tears that managed to fall from my cheeks, my vision cleared and the most amazing blue eyes locked with mine.
I swear Paxton could see into my soul.
Panic kicked in at the thought and sent my heart racing. I turned, fleeing into the house from the backyard where everyone had gathered, needing to escape all the feelings bearing down on me.
