“Okay. That works.”
He gave a nod before stepping toward the door. “In the meantime, try not to worry too much.”
“I’ll try.” But that would be easier said than done.
Hadley made a quick stop at The Grind House to grab a box of cookies to bring to dinner at Refuge Cove.
But now, as she walked back toward the clinic, she wondered if it was a mistake.
She tightened her grip on the small white box, the faint warmth from the cookies inside seeping through the cardboard.
She glanced over her shoulder, unable to shake the uneasy feeling that had consumed her since she left for the errand. The feeling of being watched. Maybe even followed.
The street behind her was mostly empty, other than a few cars and some patrons running in and out of other local businesses.
Hadley turned forward again, quickening her pace .
You’re fine. Everything’s fine.
It was a small town. People walked these streets all the time. There was no reason to think?—
The sound of footsteps behind her made her lungs freeze.
Hadley’s pulse jumped.
She slowed.
The footsteps behind her slowed also.
Her fingers tightened around the box as she forced herself to turn.
She scanned the street, excepting to see someone approaching her.
No one was there—only a surprisingly empty stretch of road.
But if that was true, then why did she feel as if she was being stalked by an animal of prey?
CHAPTER 19
Hadley’s heartpounded harder now.Okay. Now you’re imagining things.
She turned back and kept walking, faster this time.
The clinic wasn’t far. Just a few more minutes.
The sound came again. It was closer now.
The steps weren’t loud—just enough to make her skin prickle.
She stopped abruptly.
Silence.
Hadley didn’t turn right away this time. Instead, she listened—really listened—her breath held as her eyes scanned the edges of the road, the tree line, the dark spaces between buildings.
Nothing moved.
Nothing shifted.
