Page 173 of At the Edge of Surrender

Face it.

Acknowledge it.

Put it all out in the open if that’s what it took.

Inhaling a cleansing breath, I hit the main road and drove through the quaint town of Moonlit Ridge.

Its pace slowed. An easiness billowing through people who strolled along the sidewalks in front of the trendy businesses that lined Culberry Street.

I took a right at Broadway then made a left onto 9th.

Affection rippled through me as I passed by Moonflower Floral Shop. Still unable to believe the young woman who’d made such an impact when we’d met her in front of her store would become such a fundamental part of Maci’s life.

Unable to believe the way she and Charleigh had welcomed me into their lives as if they’d known me forever.

I had to admit, it made me feel comfortable and safe.

As if I might be able to trust them with anything.

Harder to believe was how grateful I’d been that they did.

How I’d let go and allowed myself to feel a part of a group in a way I hadn’t done in all of my adult life.

Following the GPS, about a half mile down, I pulled into the parking lot of Moonlit Ridge Grocers. The supermarket was smaller than any that you’d find in a city, set in a building with a pitched roof and exuding a cozy cabin vibe.

Surrounded by the gorgeous woods of this small town.

I found a spot on the right side of the parking lot, and I eased into the space, shut off the engine, and climbed out. I grabbed a cart, went inside, and began to move up and down the aisles.

Trying to force Kane out of my mind but unable to as I shopped, grabbing the things that I’d learned that he liked.

Fresh cherries and organic whole milk and Oreo cookies. The man’s taste in food as contradicting as his personality.

A small smile tugged at my mouth when I moved through the frozen aisle and found the Cherry Garcia ice cream that he’d toldMaci was his absolute number one favorite when she’d been grilling him on the subject over breakfast this morning.

The whole time, I picked all of her favorites, too, mytimeaway from them not even close to being that since the only thing I did was think of them every second.

I’d been away from them for less than thirty minutes, and I was already yearning to get back to them.

Satisfied I’d loaded the cart with everything we needed, I went to a register, paid, then pushed into the warmth of the summer day.

I headed for where I’d parked the SUV on the far side of the lot, clicking the button to open the tailgate as I crossed the space. It glided open, and I angled the cart to the side and began to pile the bags into the back.

A sudden sensation slicked through my being.

A sticky awareness that sent my heart thrumming wild.

And I realized it wasn’t just because I was anxious to get home.

It was that sense again.

The skitter of spider legs that crawled across my flesh.

A shiver rolled through me, and I slowly shifted to peer over my shoulder and into the parking lot.

Across it, I saw a woman with two children loading groceries into a minivan and a man carrying one bag opening the door to his truck.

Irritation rolled through me. There was absolutely nothing to be worried about.

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