Page 15 of Twisted Hearts

“It’s so great to meet you,” she said, hugging me tight one more time before letting go and stepping back.

I almost wanted to pull her right back to me. It wasn’t often I felt the warmth from a genuine hug. Outside of Jillian and my mom right before I fled, I couldn’t remember the last time I’d received one. I blinked back tears at the pathetic train of thought and grinned.

“You too. But I have to admit, Jillian didn’t give me a lot of specifics, so forgive me if I’m feeling a bit lost.”

“No worries. Here, have a seat.” She gestured toward the table, which was already set for three, glasses of orange juice and water freshly filled at each place setting.

Once seated, I reached for my water glass then pulled my hand back, settling my hands in my lap instead.

Noticing my fidgeting, Jillian placed her hand on my shoulder and squeezed before she sat down next to me. “Chill. This is a good thing. I promise.”

“I hope so.”

“I’m not sure how much Jillian has told you about me, but what feels like a lifetime ago now, I caught my fiancé cheating on me at our engagement party.”

Women where I came from didn’t admit to being cheated on. They swept it under the rug, strapped on their Louboutins, and went about their day with a smile and expression that turned more vacant with each passing year. That she’d so bluntly admit to this as her opener made my back straighten with shock.

Who was this woman?

“To make a long story short, I shredded the dress, ditched the guy, and moved here to Raleigh where my brother Beaux had just been traded. He started me up with my own business, I met Oliver who is now my husband—”

“And one of my clients here in Raleigh,” Jillian cut in.

“And the rest”—Shannon shrugged, palms facing up in the air—“is history.”

My gaze ping-ponged back and forth between the two of them. “I don’t get what any of this has to do with me.”

“My brother was there for me when I needed to start over. He and I, we’ve always had each other’s back, and because I’m married to Oliver, I know how privileged I am. I built a successful company with my own building Beaux bought for me in the arts district, and I always swore, when I was able, I’d give back to someone who needed the help I was blessed to have.” She leaned forward and slid her menu to the side. Lowering her voice, she said, “I don’t know your specifics, but I know you wouldn’t have fled your wedding moments before you were supposed to walk down the aisle and come here if you didn’t need that, too. So, I’d like to help.”

A rush of uncertainty flooded my body, making me warm and cold, flushed and chilled all at the same time. Clearing my throat, I reached for my glass of water and hoped I could wash away the emotion sticking in my throat.

After a sip and the ice doing nothing, I asked, “Help how?”

“Jillian said last night you need a job and a place to live.”

“That’s true…”

“I have an apartment. It’s above my store, a small one-bedroom that’s barely been used in years, since Oliver and I got married. If you want it, it’s yours.”

It sounded so easy. Too easy. Who justhandedan apartment over to a stranger? “Are you serious?”

“Daniel won’t be able to find you here, honey. At least, not easily.” Jillian’s words rushed through me like they came from a wind tunnel.Find you.

God, it sounded so completely overdramatic. He was one guy, one stupid guy I didn’t want to marry.

Was I blowing this so much more out of proportion than I needed to?

In the blink of an eye, I was with Daniel in his home. He hadn’t wanted me to move in with him until we were married, but that hadn’t stopped him from pressing me against the wall, my cheek cooled by the sheetrock against it and the rest of my body cold as ice from the way he shoved his hand up my legs even while I tried to shove him off me. Later, when he’d finished, he had turned me around, told me to clean the tears off my face, and kissed my nose in a tender gesture that almost made me puke all over his Ferragamos.

He hadn’t given a damn what I felt through any of it.

My eyes burned and I shook my head.

No. I wasn’t being overdramatic. If anything, I wasn’t being dramatic enough.

“What’s the cost?” I had money, enough for a while, but for the first time in my life, at least for a short time, I needed to be cautious.

Everything costs something.

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