Page 9 of Craving Vengeance
She stepped back and flung her hand over her mouth. Tears flooded her eyes.
He inched toward her, and she stepped back.
“Shannon, what’s wrong? Aren’t you happy to see your fiancé?” he asked as he handed her a fist full of roses.
She stammered. She couldn’t seem to place her thoughts in order to speak even one syllable.
“I wanted to surprise you on Valentine’s Day.” His smile widened. “I’m guessing I succeeded.”
Shannon looked around him to find Anna standing just beyond him, her chin nearly on the floor. He’d rendered them both momentarily speechless which was highly unusual, especially for Anna.
Anna closed her mouth and stepped forward. “Shannon, aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?”
Shannon cleared her throat and gestured toward him as anxiety churned in her stomach. “This is Dr. Joshua Meyers. Joshua, this is my boss, Anna Fontaine.”
Joshua extended his hand toward Anna. “Pleased to meet you, ma’am.” He shifted his gaze between them. “I’m Shannon’s fiancé. She seemed to leave out that little detail.”
Anna shook his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, too,” she replied before she shifted her curious gaze to Shannon.
Shannon fought the urge to immediately explain the circumstances to Anna. At this very instant, she just wanted to get Joshua out of sight. “Anna, would you mind if I took a little longer lunch today?”
“Sure. No problem. Do what you need to do.”
Anna spun on her heel and headed back into the office as though what she’d just seen had made her forget all about going out for lunch.
Shannon glanced at Joshua. He was smiling, his bright blue eyes twinkling. He winked. “You missed me that much, babe, that you need a little naughty afternooner right off the bat?”
Shannon perched her hands on her hips. “Somehow I don’t think we’re on the same page here. I think we need to talk. But not here.”
She led Joshua down the back staircase and out the door to the parking lot. He reached toward her and wove his fingers between hers. She shook her hand loose.
He shot her a sideways glance and dropped his hand to his side. “Shannon, baby, what’s the matter?” She refused to look at him. Apprehension squeezed her chest. She hoped nobody would see them together and tell Spinelli, but she was easily noticeable as she clenched a dozen long-stemmed, red roses in her hand.
Her pace increased. She needed to get to her car and get him as far away from here as possible.
She slid into the drivers’ seat and slammed the door as Joshua climbed into the passenger seat. Shannon cranked the engine and pulled into traffic.
Joshua leaned toward her and nudged her shoulder. “Come on baby, what’s the matter?” he asked again.
Shannon made an abrupt right-hand turn into a parking lot and halted on a dime in the far corner parking stall. Anger shot through her. Her lips quivered as she spoke. “What’s wrong with me? You just announced in front of God and everybody that I was your fiancé. I know this may be hard for you to believe, but I didn’t sit around waiting for your return for the past two years, just as I said I wouldn’t when I handed the engagement ring back to you as you boarded your plane to Nicaragua. I’m in a relationship now with someone I love. What if your little show gets back to him before I get a chance to tell him about you?”
Joshua sat for a moment just gazing at her. The corners of his mouth began to lift upward. The smirk she’d grown to hate beamed radiantly. “I hear the words coming out of your mouth, but they’re quite contradictory to the ‘welcome home’ kiss we just shared.”
Shannon ground her teeth together and inhaled deeply before she loosened her jaw enough to speak. “You’re wrong. That kiss meant nothing. I was caught off-guard.”
* * * *
Spinelli reached intohis pocket and pulled out the small black velvet box he’d picked up the day before. He popped it open and stared at the heart-shaped solitaire diamond that sparkled like newly fallen snow crystals. He snapped it shut and stuffed it back into his pocket. How could he have been such a fool? The stench of betrayal surrounded him.
He glanced back out the window from the fourth floor stairwell to find Shannon climbing into the driver’s seat of her blue Chevy Impala. A strange man slid into the passenger seat. It was the same strange man he’d seen kissing her not five minutes ago in the hallway.
Aren’t you happy to see your fiancé?The words echoed in Spinelli’s head. Fiancé? What the hell? He should have confronted Shannon on the spot, but that word,fiancé¸unnerved him. He heard it and ran for the stairwell before he threw up in front of them both. He’d gone to Shannon’s office to see if she wanted to get some lunch with him, but that kiss and that word left him feeling like he might never eat again. How could he have been so stupid? How could he not have known she was engaged? And he called himself a detective!
He leaned against the wall. He couldn’t seem to pull his gaze from them. He watched as they drove out of sight. His jaw clamped down so hard he thought his teeth might break. His ears hurt, and his vision blurred. Sweat slid down his back. What the hell just happened here? He thought Shannon was happy with him. She’d been with him every available moment for the past two months. Who was this guy, and where did he come from all of a sudden?
He blew out a heavy sigh and shook his head. He should have known better. True love, true happiness? Who was he kidding? Those things didn’t exist for people like him. He’d learned that lesson long ago.
