Page 24 of Safe With Me

She held up a hand. “And I know I must’ve looked crazy the other day outside the office. I know a flat tire isn’t a big deal, but it brought up a…bad memory.” She sucked in a long breath. “But please don’t think I’m weird or here with any bad intentions?—”

“I don’t think that.” I stepped closer, shaking my head. “If you ever need to blurt anything out like I just did, I’m only around the corner.”

A slow smile spread across her mouth, and I needed to look away before I did something reckless, like grab the back of her neck and cover her mouth with mine, obliterating my stupid hang-ups and whatever asshole gave her a memory bad enough to fear a flat tire.

Her eyes roamed my face, lingering on my mouth before dropping to the carpet.

“I’ll do that. Thank you,” she said on a whisper so soft I wanted to pull her into my arms, regardless of if it made any kind of sense.

“How’s this? Think you could unpack now?” I stepped aside, my chest swelling as her eyes lit up.

“Yes. Yes, I can. It’s as nice as the picture online.” She coasted her hands over the white wood, her face lit up like the most beautiful Christmas tree.

My chest swelled. I loved making her happy but hated that whoever slashed her tire was still scaring her today.

“You’re very welcome. I am here for all your construction needs.”

“I think I’m good for a bit.” She chewed on her bottom lip as she peered up at me.

“If you need a friend or someone to show you the sights, I’d be up for that too.”

I’d been right. Something bad had brought her into town, but I wouldn’t push unless she wanted to tell me. I wanted her to feel safer with me close by, but I could already tell that being friends with her wasn’t going to be easy.

“I would like that. I’ll let you know if and when I want a tour.”

I returned her wide smile as I tried to suck back the air she’d stolen from my lungs again.

Never mind not easy. Trying to only be friends with Lila was already draining as hell.

But I couldn’t resist taking whatever I could get.

5

LILA

“Hello, dear,”Mary, the owner of the coffee shop a few stores away from Russo’s office, greeted me as I strolled in for lunch.

Ironically enough, or not since I’d known that I’d run into her again, she was the same woman who’d eyed me with immediate suspicion after I’d almost passed out against Mike that first day I’d arrived in Kelly Lakes. Each time I’d stepped into her shop, she’d given me the same once-over.

Whenever I came in, she studied me as if she were taking in every detail, but I’d noticed her giving the rest of her customers the same kind of examination, so I’d stopped taking offense.

Plus, I didn’t know what they did to make their turkey sandwiches so exceptional, but it was worth the scrutiny when I’d stop by, which was mostly every day lately.

It was as if she was waiting for you to divulge your deepest, darkest secret or catch you doing something, but I wasn’t doing anything juicy enough for her to take interest, so I was able to get a kick out of her suspicion.

Anything that happened back in Philly didn’t apply here, and I prayed that would continue.

“I’ll take the turkey sandwich and a raspberry iced tea.”

“Sure. Glad to see you’re a repeat customer. How are you liking working for Jake?” she asked, her eyes on me as she scribbled on a pad.

“It’s been great. I’m lucky a good lunch is within walking distance.” I smiled, hoping the compliment would lead to a change of subject.

“Glad you enjoy it,” Mary said, ripping off the paper and handing it to someone in the kitchen. “I’ve known Jake since he was a boy. His son looks so much like him at his age, it’s almost spooky.” She lifted a red eyebrow. “Lookers, aren’t they?”

I bit back a laugh. I’d known, even at that moment, that the way she’d found me would haunt me somehow.

In the weeks I’d been here, I hadn’t learned many names, but as I walked through town, I recognized the same faces strolling by.

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