She looked up to find Sadie and Reed heading toward her.When they reached the table, Reed asked, “Where’s Brad?”
“He had a phone call.I think he went outside so he could hear.”After Reed nodded in understanding, she said, “And I think I’m going to call it a night.I have an early start tomorrow.”
“Aw...”Sadie sent her a pouty look.“Do you have to go already?”
“I do.Mia said there was a problem at the coffeeshop.I want to swing by and check on it.”Then she realized that they’d all come in the same car.
“What’s wrong?”Sadie asked.
“I just realized that I drove us here.”
“Don’t worry,” Sadie said.“It’s not far to my car.We’ll figure it out.”
“Are you sure?”
Sadie nodded.“Positive.”In a blink, her gaze was filled with concern.“I hope the problem at the coffeeshop isn’t too serious.”
“Me too.The equipment is getting old.”
“Do you want us to tell Brad anything for you?”
Abby once more shook her head.“Goodnight.”
She put on her coat before heading toward the door.She hoped to avoid Brad.She thought about going out the back door, but she didn’t want to make it obvious that she was avoiding him.He might read far too much into such an action—and see things that weren’t there.
The best plan was to head out the front door just like everyone else and hope he was so involved in his conversation he wouldn’t notice her.She turned her thoughts to the problem at the coffeeshop.She really hoped it wasn’t too serious.
She pushed open that door.Lost in her thoughts, she bumped into someone.The other person was solid, unmovable.It was to the point where she was the one who bounced back a step.
Feeling flustered for more than one reason, she said, “I’m sorry.”
It was only then that she craned her neck upward until she met a pair of amazing icy-blue eyes.Her heart beat faster.Brad.So much for slipping away quietly.
He took a couple steps back to allow her to pass by him.“If you were looking for me, I was just on my way back inside.”
Abby shook her head and averted her gaze.“I was just leaving.”
“Leaving?So soon?I thought we’d get another dance in.”He had the nerve to send her a little grin that made him look so cute.
Was he really going to flirt with her after he’d just finished a lengthy conversation with his girlfriend?What did he do?Tell Linda that he missed her so much, but he was doing everything he could to give his best friend a wonderful engagement party?
Wait.No.She’d played a part in a similar situation with her ex.Brad wouldn’t have said anything about that party, because if he had, the girlfriend would expect to be his plus one.And it was obvious that wasn’t part of the plan.
Feeling Brad’s expectant gaze on her, she said, “We danced more than enough.Reed either believes our cover story, or he doesn’t.Either way, I have things to do.”
And without further explanation, she walked right past him as she headed down the sidewalk to where her car was parked.
The coffeeshop was only a few blocks away.In nicer weather, she would have left her car at home and walked.Bayberry was a safe town with lots of streetlights.Abby felt safe walking anywhere in town.
But tonight, she had someone on her tail.She didn’t have to look over her shoulder to know Brad was following her.Feeling frustrated, she stopped.The only problem was that she’d stopped so quickly that Brad literally ran into her back.
The collision sent her body flying forward.Gravity played its part, pulling her downward toward the salted walkway.Before her body could smack into the frozen concrete, two hands reached out to her.
Brad’s hands gripped her shoulders.In an instant, she was drawn backward until her back pressed against a hard, warm body.
Her pulse was racing.She told herself it had nothing to do with his closeness and everything to do with her near-miss with the sidewalk.
Having regained her balance, she shrugged off his hold.When she turned around, she frowned at him.“What are you doing?”
