Page 117 of Silver Secrets

He took in his reflection. The wound on his forehead had closed and was already well on its way to healing. Sloane had started to apologize the first time she was finally feeling up to seeing people, and it took everything in him not to just rush over and pull her into a hug. Guilt had been gnawing at him for not being a better backup for Gage that night. Courtney should have never been able to incapacitate him like she did.

Besides, he had far too many scars for people who would never be grateful for what he had done to save them. The one on his face, while being his most visible, was also a stark reminder that he’d failed his friends once. He wouldn’t let it happen again.

“No. I have it handled,” Gage’s voice came through the cell phone.

“Alright. Don’t let Sloane overdo it. We literally just want to have a low key night and check in with you guys. See how you are settling in now that you have the fur babies.”

“She’s doing so much better, Nash. Between the dogs and her three therapy sessions she’s gone to this week, I feel like I’m starting to see her come back to me.”

“I’m so happy for the both of you, Track. You deserve all the happiness. And so does she. Okay, look, I’m gonna let you go, but text me if you need anything last minute and I’ll bring it with me.”

“Appreciate you, Wings. See you soon.”

Nash tucked his phone into his back pocket and opened the door to the small store. He’d heard about the grand opening earlier that week, but was surprised to see no one else inside shopping, even with the sidewalk packed with foot traffic.

“Hi, welcome to Petals! Can I help you with putting together an arrangement today?”

Nash smiled at the warm welcome. The woman behind the counter hadn’t said her name, but luckily one quick glance at the name embroidered across her apron revealed her identity.

Lacy.

She was beautiful. Long dark chocolate hair fanned out around her face in tight curls. She had big hazel eyes and an adorable pink blush on her cheekbones. He knew Sebastian had awarded a grant to the owner in order for her to be able to open the shop, so when he needed some flowers to bring to dinner with Gage and Sloane, it was obvious where he needed to go.

But he wasn’t expecting such a warm and welcoming space. Or to be welcomed by a gorgeous woman with eyes that sparkled like the stars in the expansive Montana sky he grew up under.

“Hi. I’m just going to look around, if that’s okay.”

“Sure thing. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help or if you have any questions.”

Nash nodded, walking through the bins, grabbing a few stems of flowers he thought would go nice together. It was a small gesture to bring them to dinner with Sloane and Gage, but he wanted his friends to feel supported and to know that he was glad they were coming out on the other side of what happened.

With his arms full, Nash turned back to the counter at the same time the chime over the front door sounded and a man not much shorter than Nash himself walked in. From the way Lacy’s eyes went wide and her face drained of all color, his mind was immediately on alert. He took one step closer, not liking the way the guy stalked forward, like a hunter after his prey.

Fuck. Something was wrong. Lacy was shaking behind the counter, her voice barely above a whisper.

“…Hate to see something happen to you, or that little girl you’ve got with you.”

Nash heard the threat and dropped the flowers he was carrying right on the ground. It took only a few steps before he was pushing the man away from Lacy, positioning his body between hers and the threat.

* * *

God, the launch of her flower shop had been a complete flop. Lacy had hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in perishable inventory that would all be going to waste. A loss like that would put her even more in the red than she already was if she didn’t figure out a way to bring in people from Silver Springs. Her arrangements were more competitively priced with a better selection than the local grocery store, but the people in town clearly had a long memory, and wanted nothing to do with giving her a second chance.

Even though she’d only been a teenager when she moved away, it still hurt to come back to her hometown and have everyone act like she was a monster. She was doing everything in her power to make up for the sins of someone who had broken her too. It was too painful to think about.

Especially with what happened to the psychologist in Silver Springs and Courtney Stockton. She knew the town would find a way to blame her for that too. If they could with Adrian’s death, she knew it was only a matter of time with Courtney’s.

The bell chimed, and Lacy’s heart skipped a beat as she watched a literal silver fox stroll into her store. After an almost too cheerful greeting, Lacy wanted nothing more than to run to her office and hide until it was time to let the babysitter she’d hired go. Instead, she kept her feet firmly planted to the ground behind her counter and tried to concentrate on not lifting her eyes to gaze at the stranger as he moved around her shop. He was picking out the most beautiful stems she had available, not even stopping to look at the price. What would life be like if she were able to do that? Heck, what would life be like if she was the woman he was picking those flowers out for?

Her quick little fantasy involving the poor, unsuspecting stranger quickly evaporated as a large figure stood in her shop’s doorway. Her mouth went dry as the door opened, the telltale chime of a new customer chirping loudly. Only, she knew this person wasn’t there to buy anything.

Lacy’s stomach lurched as she watched a ghost from her past walk into the shop. Her eyes bounced to the handsome customer who was picking out flowers by the stem. She watched as something close to worry etched across his face as he looked at her, and quickly realized it was because of her own stiff reaction.

With her fake, plastered-on smile in place, Lacy smoothed her hands over her apron. If only she could get her heart to understand that she had nothing to be nervous about. There was too much pain there. She had only been a child, and not responsible for the actions of her mother. But the abuse and neglect she’d suffered while everyone in town turned their backs had her constantly on edge. Embrie would never know that pain. She’d never let her be treated that way.

Lacy looked up into the eyes of the man standing before her. Although time looked like it hadn’t been very kind to him, she would recognize her former classmate anywhere. He was heavier set than when he’d been her tormentor in school. But the sneer on his lips let her know he hadn’t come to apologize to her. No, in fact, the way he was looking at her had her stomach threatening to heave up everything she’d just managed to eat for lunch.

“Nate. It’s been a long time. Can I help you with something? I’ve got a grand opening special running right now. Buy a dozen stems, get six free.”

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