Later that day, she looked up as a tall, well-dressed woman came to the front counter. Her long blonde hair gleamed like a satin waterfall and her manicured hand gracefully slid her oversized designer sunglasses to the top of her head, revealing thick dark lashes and model-high cheekbones.
‘Hello. Can I help you with something?’ Bel asked, trying not to feel completely inadequate. For the first time in ages, she felt like the old Bel.
‘I’m Lucile.’
‘Hello,’ Bel said, still wondering if she was supposed to know the woman.
‘I wasn’t sure if I should come in here or not.’
Bel tried to keep her face open and friendly but was beginning to suspect this was not going to be a request about finding a book.
‘I saw you the other day … with Tate … and something about the way you looked reminded me of another place and time.’ Lucile stopped, looking almost embarrassed. Then she cleared her throat quickly and continued. ‘You reminded me of myself, not so long ago.’
‘I’m sorry,’ Bel said when the woman paused and continued looking at her. ‘I don’t understand. Do you know Tate?’
‘Yes, I knew him. I was his fiancée.’
Bel felt her mouth open then abruptly closed it. ‘Did you say fiancée?’
‘He didn’t mention me, I take it,’ Lucile said with a wry smile.
What the actual… ‘Uh, no.’
‘I’m not surprised. Look, I didn’t come in here to cause trouble,’ Lucile said. ‘It’s just … I saw you the other day in a restaurant, in a white dress, looking utterly miserable. The same white dress he’d bought for me,’ she said, then loweredher tone and added pointedly, ‘and made me wear. Among others.’
Bel felt her head begin to spin.
‘I left him, Bel. He was a controlling and sometimes violent man. I know it’s none of my business, and you don’t have to listen to me, but I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t try to warn you.’ The woman gripped the edge of the counter before continuing in a rush. ‘He isn’t who you think he is. He finds women he can control. He sweeps them off their feet and charms them with his good looks and his money and then grooms them into a certain image. It doesn’t seem that bad at first, but trust me, if you start to rebel, you’ll soon see a side of him that is dangerous.’
Bel could only stare at the woman. Surely this was a joke?She must be mistaking Tate for someone else. There’s no way …
Lucile smiled wanly. ‘I guess I probably wouldn’t have believed someone telling me this stuff out of the blue either, back then,’ she said, turning away.
‘Wait,’ Bel said. Lucile stopped. ‘Are you sure we’re talking about the same man?’
‘I wish we weren’t, for your sake. You seem like a nice person. I guess that’s why I wanted to try. Sometimes he dates socialite women, but he gets bored with them. He can’t manipulate them in the same way. I knew you weren’t one of those. Neither was I.’
Bel’s heart sank as Lucile walked to the exit. She desperately wanted to believe this woman was some jealous ex-loverout to cause trouble, but there was something sad and real in the depths of her eyes that made Bel wonder.
Lucile reached the door and, pausing before exiting, called back, ‘Be careful, Bel.’
That night, after a late closing, Bel, Terry and Alissa were at the nearby Chinese restaurant having dinner when Tate called.
‘Where are you?’ he demanded. ‘You’re not at home.’
His brusque question caught her off guard.But maybe he’s had a stressful day. ‘I’m having dinner.’
‘With your boss? Alone?’
‘No. Alissa is here too.’
She’d taken the call away from the table, and she noticed the other two were now looking at her quietly. She smiled to reassure them.
‘It’s late,’ Tate said.
Bel glanced at her watch. ‘It’s barely even nine-thirty.’
‘I don’t like you out alone at night.’
