Page 66 of Delicate Escape

Then she was gone, as fast as her feet could take her.

I looked up at Shep. “I feel like I just stabbed her.”

He shook his head quickly. “She and I haven’t been together for a really long time, and it never got serious.”

“She wanted it to.” It wasn’t a question. I’d seen the longing in Mara’s eyes, both when she and Shep happened to be at the bakery at the same time and now.

“Maybe,” Shep said honestly. “But I didn’t feel that way about her. It wasn’t…more.”

My breath hitched at that. But I understood.

He squeezed my hand. “Don’t let that run-in ruin our night. We need to eat our weight in fried food and milkshakes.”

Shep was right. This was supposed to be a good time. The first step toward normal. Toward alife. “That sounds perfect to me.”

He led us inside and toward an empty booth. I slid across the red leather, taking in the fifties charm as a woman in an era-appropriate pink dress with red accents approached. “Shepard Colson, as I live and breathe. I was starting to worry you’d forgotten all about us.”

“I’d never, Miss Sally.”

The woman with gray threaded through her hair laughed as she turned to me. “This one’s too charming for his own good.”

I couldn’t help but answer her smile with one of my own. “And cocky, too.”

Another laugh burst out of her. “I like you. Thea, right? You usually come in for takeout, though. Partial to the onion rings.”

My body stiffened, but I breathed through it. This was normal. Small-town life. “Thought it was time to really get the full experience.”

“Love that,” Sally said. “You kids know what you want to drink?”

“I’ll take an Arnold Palmer,” Shep said. “What about you?”

“Diet Coke? I need time with the milkshake list.”

Sally grinned. “I’m partial to the birthday cake one. Sounds weird, tastes delicious.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Sally slid two menus onto our table. “Take your time. I’ll be back with your drinks.”

Shep didn’t look at the menu. His eyes stayed right on me. “Good?”

I nodded. “She’s nice.”

“She’s friends with my mom, so I know I’ll be getting a call from her, asking all about this.”

I tugged on the corner of my lip with my teeth. “Is that a bad thing?”

“Only that my mom will have eighty-two million questions, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she stops by the bakery.”

More deep breaths. Small-town life. Family that gave a damn. They were good things. I just had to reframe them in my mind. “If she does that, at least I can win her over with baked goods.”

Shep barked out a laugh. “Not a bad plan, actually.” He inclined his head toward the menu. “What are you thinking?”

I started to look down at the options, but something caught my eye across the way. The person stood down the street a little ways and wore a hoodie pulled up so you couldn’t see their face, but I swore they were staring right at me.

“Thea?”

My gaze jerked back to Shep. “Sorry, what?”

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