Page 24 of Seaside Cowboy's Second Chance

“Do you think it was an accident that someone tried to run you over? Or is there danger in your life?”

Did he worry about her? And why did the thought bring her a pleasant wave? There couldn’t be anything between them any longer.She’dmade sure of it.

“I hope it was an accident,” she said. “Though I don’t know why someone would do that to a stranger.”

Was this connected to...? She winced. No, it couldn’t be. So many years had passed. Or could it?

But one thing she was sure about. “Nothing’s dangerous about my present life. It’s as boring as it could be.”

He studied her. “Boring is one word I’d never think you’d use to describe your life.”

She chuckled without mirth. That girl who’d danced barefoot on the beach and painted everything in sight with bright colors seemed like a different person, not her at all.

The young waitress with pink flowers on her nails and hope in her eyes showed up with their drinks. “Ready to order?”

A new generation to take over hoping and striving—and a bit of waiting. Maybe this girl wouldn’t encounter all the disappointment and disillusionment Skylar had.

Skylar handed over her menu. “Yes. Fisherman’s Catch. It still comes with coleslaw and french fries, right?”

“Sure thing.” The waitress’s heavily penciled-on eyebrows rose a tad. “And for you, Mr. Lawrence?”

The waitress knew him. Of course. People in small towns knew each other, and Skylar must’ve met this girl as a toddler. But she couldn’t place her now, which made sense as she no longer belonged here.

“I’ll take the same thing. Thank you.” He handed his menu back as well without a glance at its contents. He didn’t need to. This was his town, his place, his shore while she was still swept far away in an ocean of regrets.

“Got it. Thanks.” The waitress in the same kind of flamingo-hued uniform Skylar used to wear walked away, her high blonde ponytail with streaks of cherry highlights bouncing at every step.

In high school, Skylar had worn blue highlights. Blue like her beloved ocean. Or Dallas’s eyes.

Don’t think about his eyes.Those eyes haunted her dreams forever. Yet they were much better than what else had haunted her dreams.

She took a long sip of her lemonade, cherishing the cold, tangy liquid. Dallas had helped her with lemonade stands for tourists. Another memory. Another loss.

Enough.

She drank some more. “My life is truly as mundane as it could be. I don’t go to parties. I keep to myself in the office and avoid any conflicts. I often telework, like this month. I don’t know most of my neighbors’ names. Never had an issue with them. I didn’t even have a pet. Well, until now.” She petted Breeze.

“What about...” A muscle twitched in his jaw. His fingers wrapped around his glass, but he didn’t lift it. “About an ex-boyfriend?”

She cringed and listened to seagulls crying out as if they could give her good advice. Dallas and Skylar used to tell each other everything since they were children.

Now she didn’t want him to know just how pathetic her personal life was. She’d wanted something more vibrant once. But life in the shadows required one to be a recluse. “I used to date, but it never moved into boyfriend-girlfriend territory. You’re the only ex-boyfriend I have.”

He’d finally sipped his soda at that moment, and it didn’t go well. He coughed and placed the glass back so fast the bubbly liquid sloshed over. He didn’t expect that answer, did he?

“Are you all right?” She mopped up the soda on the table with a napkin and got up to pat him on the back.

He raised his hand to stop her. “I’m good.”

“Okay.” Probably wasn’t a great idea to touch him, anyway.

The waitress brought their food and left. He said grace. Skylar didn’t. Another loss. Another regret.

Then they ate in silence. They’d never eaten in silence before. She’d always found something to chat about. To ask about. He’d never talked much, but it hadn’t bothered her.

She itched to ask him about someone in his life. But it wasn’t her right to know.

He munched on the fried shrimp. “What about your job? Anything suspicious there?”

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