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“I . . . I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she muttered. “I just tripped and fell. Excuse me, I’ve got to go back to work.”
Pulling herself up, she slipped past him. She half-expected him to reach for her, to try and touch her. And she wasn’t entirely sure how she’d react.
But he didn’t.
And she wasn’t sure whether that upset her more.
Lord. She was losing her mind. But she just couldn’t deal with anything more.
She rushed past Devon, who didn’t stop her either, and headed out to the bar. And nearly bowled someone over.
The person grabbed her, steadying her, and she looked up to see the woman that Tanner had been sitting with.
God. Of all the people, why did she have to crash into her?
“Hey, are you all right?” the other woman asked.
And nice too.
“I’m fine. I’m sorry. Are you all right? I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
“Hardly. You’re tiny.” The other woman eyed her curiously. “I’m Carlie.”
“Lilac,” she said. “Sorry, I have to get back to work before I’m fired.”
“Sure. I hope you’re all right, Lilac.”
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?” What did she know? Had Tanner told her something about her?
“I meant your hand.”
“Oh yes, it’s fine. Thank you. Nice to meet you. See you soon.” As she walked off, she winced.
Seriously!
Nice to meet you? See you soon? Could she have embarrassed herself anymore?
She decided the only thing she could do was throw herself back into work and try to forget about this entire disaster of a night.
Easier said than done.
* * *
“What did you do to her?”
Tanner turned to look at Devon, who was glowering at him. “Nothing.”
Yeah, nothing except act like a total asshole and scare her to death. He didn’t care what she’d tried to say after. She’d been scared of him . . . she’d thought he would hit her.
Fuck. He shouldn’t have said what he had. He’d been hurt over her leaving like that . . . he could admit that to himself even if he couldn’t say it to her.
“That didn’t look like nothing,” Devon said in a low voice. “That looked like you terrified a woman who is already in a fragile state of mind.”
Fragile? Lilac?
Was she close to breaking? She’d certainly looked that way just now . . . yeah, he thought she might be.
“She’s lost so much weight.” It was worrisome. Why would she have gotten so skinny? Was it on purpose? Had she been ill?
