Page 62 of Allie's Shelter

They talked workouts until they were interrupted by the squeal of brakes in the street.

Eva raised a brow. “Guess that’s my cue. If you need me, call.”

Allie nodded, not bothering to point out her cell phone was in the restaurant safe. She heard Eva and Ross exchange updates in hushed tones, but she didn’t try to catch the details.

Though his footsteps were muffled by the long carpet runner in the hallway, she knew exactly when he reached the kitchen.

She felt his eyes on her, as she had so many times in the past days. It was silly to give him the cold shoulder for doing his job, but she couldn’t quite bring herself to turn around.

“Don’t bolt. I can’t keep up with you like Eva did.”

Allie continued staring out at the lake. “She’s devoted to you.” Her mouth was dry but her voice was steady when she added, “I’m done running.”

“Allie, whatever Cochran said, I can explain.”

“Why don’t you explain the alibi? It obviously wasn’t any conversation with Nicole that convinced the sheriff I wasn’t anywhere near Bradley when he faked his death.”

“No.” She heard him take another step closer. “I had to give him the alibi, but I couldn’t say it in front of you. Not then. You never would have stayed with me.”

Allie spun around at that. “There wouldn’t have been any reason to stay with you if you’d told him the truth when we were there in the office.”

“You’d been shot at, attacked with a Taser, and tailed. You needed me.”

Needed was right. She resented the need she felt even now, just looking at him. She fought off the urge to forget her current predicament in favor of rehashing their past. “I suppose you’re right. I was exhausted and must have been a pitiful sight in your eyes.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“What I mean is that it would have been nice to hear the truth from you.”

“You promised to trust me.”

His words, so gently spoken, fell like an anvil on her heart. She rubbed her fist against her sternum, trying to blunt the pain. She’d made that promise when she was completely lost in the afterglow. Love was the worst. Truth was, she’d loved him forever and she was afraid not even his deceit could convince her heart he wasn’t worth it.

Because no matter the hurdles back then, she’d seen through the bravado to the real Ross. And the real Ross was incomparable.

“Allie?”

“Why did you make me promise that? What were you afraid of?” She saw him flinch as if she’d slapped him. Good. She shouldn’t be the only one uncomfortable here.

There he went with the calming breath. In a way she appreciated the tell, taking it as a sign that his answer mattered to him.

“We were trying to flush out Roberts. I wanted that promise in case he tried to turn you against me.”

“In case he demanded you do what you were hired to do?”

His gaze dropped to the floor. “Or that.”

“Ross.” She suddenly wanted a stiff drink even knowing she shouldn’t have one after the exertion of her long run. It wasn’t smart to get loopy, but the words were racing though her mind and saying them seemed daunting. Beer was a fair compromise. “I’m having a beer,” she declared. “Want one?”

“Sure.”

She ignored the question in his voice, determined to spit out her feelings. “You know the last time I was in town for any length of time?”

He took the beer with a caution she imagined soldiers reserved for disarming bombs. “No.”

“Our ten-year high school reunion.” She could tell by his furrowed brow he had no idea where she was going with this. “I came back for you.”

“I didn’t RSVP.”

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