Page 117 of Delicate Escape

Brendan turned then, the weight of his stare coming directly to me. My breaths came quicker and quicker as he started toward the counter, that easy smile stretched across his face. Even now, it was hard for me to see the falseness there. To read beneath the plaster to the evil that lay below.

“The lighting gaffer on my newest movie has a thing for bakeries. Can’t get enough. Wherever we film, she just has to try all the best ones around. Came here after she saw a writeup on some blog and swore the woman behind the counter looked just like you, only with darker hair.”

A bead of sweat slid down my spine, like ice melting against my burning flesh.

Brendan’s smile just widened. “You’re not even going to sayhello? It’s been so long.” He shifted then, turning that charming smile to Sutton. “Hi, I’m Brendan. An old friend of Selena’s.”

A fresh bolt of panic jolted through me. How many times had he charmed friends of mine? Colleagues? So charming that they all started looking at me differently after we broke up. Started believing his lies.

The idea that he might succeed with Sutton was too much to bear. Losing her, one of the first friends I’d had in years? I wouldn’t be able to take it.

“I know who you are.” There was a frigidity to Sutton’s tone that had my head snapping in her direction. Cold fury blasted across her expression. And if it was possible to murder someone with your eyes, then Brendan would be dead. “And you’re not welcome in my bakery.”

A look of hurt flashed across Brendan’s face, so real I would’ve believed it if I hadn’t fallen for his tricks before. “Selena’s always taking things to the extreme. I see that hasn’t changed.”

“I’ve never known her to do that,” Sutton ground out.

Brendan flashed her another of those smiles. “Maybe you haven’t known her long enough. But that sort of thing happens with heartbreak. I know I was a mess after she left.” His gaze moved to me, the contact of it feeling like claws digging into my skin. “I’d like to talk. Make things right.”

“No.” My voice was stronger than I thought it would be. Because my insides were shaking, and I hadn’t moved an inch.

“Selly—”

“I saidno. Go back to your set and sycophants and whatever makes you happy these days. Leave me the hell alone.”

There was the briefest flash of something in those blue eyes. The kind that used to make me feel crazy because I wasn’t sure if it had been real or imagined. “Selena, that’s not very kind?—”

“I think it’s incredibly kind. I’m leaving you to live the rest of your miserable life in peace even though youruinedmine.”

He chuckled, but tension radiated through it. “I think that’s a little extreme, don’t you? We broke up. It was messy. That happens to people every day. I don’t think that makes me a monster.”

My fingernails dug into my palms so hard, I felt the flesh give way. “You know what you did. If this world was just, you’d feel every ounce of pain you inflicted.”

“Careful,” Brendan snapped. “You wouldn’t want to say something you can’t take back. Something you’d be liable for.”

“Leave now, or I call the cops,” Sutton barked.

Walter moved out from the kitchen. “I got a phone right here.”

“Funny,” Brendan began, “every other establishment I’ve been into around here has bent over backward to be hospitable to me.” His expression morphed in a flash, going dangerously cold. “It would be a shame if word got around about how bad the service is here.”

Bile surged in my throat as nausea swept through me, the urge to empty the contents of my stomach so strong.

Brendan turned back to me. “Selly, I’ll be seeing you.”

His words were a threat, pure and simple—to me and anyone who stood beside me. My eyes burned, tears just trying to break free. Free the way I never would be. Because Brendan would always find me. Would destroy any glimmer of happiness.

My vision blurred as I watched him walk out of the bakery and disappear across the street. It didn’t matter that he was retreating now, he’d never truly be gone.

“Thea.” Sutton’s hand curled around my arm. “Want me to call Trace?”

I jerked at the touch, at her words. I shook my head vehemently. “I need to go.”

I was already moving, grabbing my purse and heading for the door.

“Wait! Thea!” she shouted as I stepped outside, searching for my bike.

Suddenly, all the things that had happened over the past six weeks made more sense. The slashed bike tires. The person watching me outside the diner. The note. It had nothing to do with Russ. It had been Brendan all along.

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