Page 4 of Christmas in the Shadows

She knew by the look in Tex’s eyes that he didn’t buy her story.

She started to explain more when she heard someone else step into the house. “Hello? Is that your truck in the driveway, Tex?”

Chelsea sucked in a breath. It was Gilbert. He was home.

Her gaze flew to Tex. Would he sell her out? Tell Gilbert that she’d been snooping in here?

Then what would happen? If Gilbert wanted to, he could call the police, and she could be arrested.

How would she explain that to her students? She’d be the talk of Holly Ridge High.

Not to mention she’d be fired.

Tex gave her one last look before stepping out of the office and into the living room. She quickly followed behind, clearing the office just in time.

They met Gilbert in the hallway.

Gilbert Stevenson. Mid-sixties. He had gray hair, a neatly trimmed but longish gray beard, and a broad barrel chest. His teeth were crooked and his eyebrows bushy. But Gilbert had never let those things bother him.

He was too confident for that.

But none of those things really caught her attention. Not as much as his beady eyes, at least. She’d never trusted the man.

Gilbert’s eyes lit when he saw Tex. “You’re here. How’d you get inside?”

“The front door wasn’t latched, so I just assumed you were home.”

“That wasn’t very smart of me. It’s so good to see you. I wasn’t sure if you were going to come or not.”

“Itisthe holidays,” Tex said. “And your invitation had me curious.”

Chelsea found his words strange considering the fact Tex had never come back to Holly Ridge for the holidays before—or at all, for that matter.

Gilbert’s gaze flicked around Tex to her, and heat rose on her cheeks.

“After I got here, I saw Chelsea, and we’ve been catching up.” Tex squeezed her arm, almost in an affectionate manner. Or was it an attempt to reassure her?

She didn’t know. But some of the air left her lungs.

Tex hadn’t sold her out. Yet.

She’d thank him later. But she still couldn’t let down her guard.

It had been years since she’d seen Tex, and though she wanted to believe he was still the good guy she’d once known, she couldn’t be certain.

She’d only had a brief glance at him—but it had been enough for her to see his weary gaze. To see a scar at his neck. To see how much more defined his muscles had become.

“It’s so good to see both of you.” Gilbert’s gaze jumped back and forth between the two. “We have a lot of catching up to do.”

“I’m sure you two do.” Chelsea swung her thumb behind her to the back door. “I should go and let you guys talk.”

“Did you need anything?” Gilbert studied her.

She wanted to cringe, but she didn’t dare do that and give anything away.

“I thought I saw Tex over here, and I just had to come to say hi.” She leaned toward Tex and squeezed his arm, trying to make her story believable.

But her throat went dry when she felt the hard muscles beneath her fingers.

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