Page 39 of The Quiet Witness

At least he’d given her a final second to get off the couch of her own accord. Own accord. Ahem.

Looking up, she’d expected to see triumph lining every inch of his face. Instead, disbelief painted his features. He sent her a look that said. I asked politely. And pointed to her book. “I think you forgot to mark your book.”

“Really? Think so?” She shot him a pained look, muttering under her breath. “Gods, you’re insufferable.”

“Thank you. Now please move along, we’re gonna be late.”

Kate moved past him toward the hallway, dragging her steps in slow motion. “Sorry, no can do. My legs kinda fell asleep on the couch.”

“Didn’t seem so when you shot up in the air like a blazing kitten.”

Touché

“Yeah well. Cats have claws.”

“Don’t I know it.”

Oh boy, how she loved to see him rattled.

He pinched his nose. “This will be fun.’’ But two seconds later, a grin broke through his serious mood. “Remember though, sweetheart. Public equals relationship.”

Oh, to hell with it all.

Chapter 17

What Are the Odds

Adark green Mini Cooper sat across from them with the engine still idling. Denise was behind the wheel, fingers outstretched in a cheerful hello. In the passenger seat was Clara, poised like a statue, but her eyes were focused on the man sitting beside Kate.

What a lovesick puppy.

Rows of parking spaces flanked them, and a tiny supermarket with its flashing neon lights sat alone in the middle of the concrete jungle. People moved to and fro with their shopping carts rattling over the uneven ground. A wealth of opportunity.

The silver door handle was cool beneath her sweat-slick hands. But before she could open it, Lucien beat her to it, opening the car door with a gentlemanly flourish of his arm.

“After you, my lady.”

She forced the look of distaste off her face, boots dangling in the air before landing with a thud on the remains of the creaking ice that the snow plow hadn’t quite been able to clear.

Out, run, clamp onto person. Freedom.

Kate pushed past Lucien, ignoring the outstretched hand that he offered her. The same one, scars and all, that had helped her undress seven days ago. She cleared her mind from that thought. One good deed didn’t matter, not when he was the cause for the direction her life had taken.

There. A woman her age, holding onto a kid no older than two, ready to place her smiling child into the shopping cart’s seat. A broad man by her side, husband maybe. It didn’t matter because help was near. Her feet angled to the woman, toes inching to go near. She took a step, left, right. Another one. Maybe there was a reason the sun was shining brightly today.

Or not. Five fingers clasped around her elbow, gently tugging her back to the car. She shrugged off his grip, turning to face Lucien beside her. He shook his head. Don’t.

Back in the shadow of the car, she saw Denise walk past the front of the Volvo, Clara in tow. The older woman hollered at them. “We’re going to grab a chai latte to battle this cold. Want me to bring you guys some?”

Lucien’s ‘no’ shifted into a charming smile. “No thanks! We’ll be there in a minute though.”

“Leave them to it, Clara, they’re having a moment.” Denise’s voice floated to them on the wind, and they watched as the woman tugged Clara alongside her, heading right for the bright green neon letters.

Kate’s head swiveled to the right, to where she’d last seen the couple with the happy girl. But they were gone. Off to a family shopping spree.

Acid burned in her throat, and she hissed. “What am I supposed to do? Sit here and smile while we go on a dazzling walk. Oh, I know, maybe we should hold hands like actual lovers?”

Lucien’s shoulders rose and fell in a deep sigh. He stepped closer, herding her back to the car. She refused to take a step back from him, ending up with him right in front of her. Too close for comfort, and conveniently cutting off her immediate escape with his broad form.