Page 11 of Tactical Revival

I’ve been expecting a talk like this ever since I accepted her invitation to move into the maintenance apartment at the B&B, though to be honest, I expected it to come from Michael rather than the hardware store owner. “I’m not moving in on Margot,” I tell him. “I’m not looking for a relationship. Fleeting or otherwise.”

Felix runs a hand over the back of his head this time. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to assume, I just—I don’t want to see her hurt again.”

“I get it.” I smile so he knows I take no offense, then lift the paint, stick, and brushes. “Thanks again. See you around.”

As I set the paint and supplies down in my truck, I stop and stare out at the ocean again. I wish I could have told him that I had no feelings for her. That my not moving in on her is because I only see her as a friend, rather than my own fear of commitment after the divorce that nearly stole everything from me.

The truth is, I feel a lot more for Margot than I should.

And it’s getting a lot harder to bury those feelings.

Maybe it’s time to find a new place to live.

CHAPTER 4

Margot

Stomach churning with nerves, I step into the diner. It’s relatively lean tonight, but I offer a wave at Mrs. McGinley, the town’s librarian, who sits in the corner with a group of her friends. All of the women glance over at me and offer smiles, but I can see the curiosity on their faces, and know it’s because word got out that Chad is in town.

I received more than a few phone calls about the sightings, with people asking me if I was okay or if I needed anything.

Honestly, that’s one of the things that angered me most. I became a victim in the eyes of every single person in this town. I was the poor, unsuspecting wife who waited at home for her cheating husband.

And I hate that they see me that way, even if it is the truth.

My gaze travels around the diner as I look for Chad, but instead, my attention focuses on the handsome, dark-haired man with salt-and-pepper strands at his temples, sitting in a back booth, his nose buried in a book.

Just the mere sight of Jaxson eases some of my nerves, so instead of taking a seat at an empty booth to wait for Chad, I walk over to Jaxson and slide in across from him.

He sets the book down and offers me a smile. “Fancy seeing you here.” His expression turns a bit more serious. “You okay?”

“Yeah, why?” I set my purse down.

“You look upset.”

“Stop reading me, Detective,” I reply with a half smile.

He chuckles. “Can’t turn it off, it’s my superpower.”

“Fair enough. I’m just nervous. Chad is on his way here, and I have a feeling he’s going to try to fight me for custody. I thought I was done with him, but apparently I’m not.” I flash a smile. “And now I’m rambling.”

“I like when you ramble,” he replies, his deep voice making the butterflies in my stomach go feral.

How can one man have that much power with just the mere sound of his voice? “Tell me something good. Anything good that happened today.”

“Mrs. O’Connell, can I get you anything?” Lanetti steps up to the table, her notepad out. I don’t understand why she seems to have taken such a dislike to me recently, especially since she used to babysit Matty whenever Chad and I would go out on date nights. But lately, ever since she started working here, she treats me like a complete stranger.

And no matter how many times I try to correct her, she insists on continuing to refer to me as Mrs. O’Connell.

“Hey, Nettie, no I’m good right now. Just sitting for a minute. Thanks.”

She smiles and turns her full attention to Jaxson. “Hey, Jax, refill on coffee?” Her bright smile answers the question I’d quite literally just asked myself and solves the mystery as to why she doesn’t care for me. I bite back my knowing smile.

She’s jealous. Of me. Which, of course, is absolutely crazy.

“No, thanks. I’m good,” he replies.

“Let me know if you need anything.” She turns and saunters away from the table.

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