Page 54 of Fools in Love

“We’ll… talk to you later. Thanks.” Lilly pulled Riley back to gather their mats.

“Hey,” Tom said, stopping next to her. “I wanted to stop by before your class but…” He frowned.

“Are you okay?” she asked, searching his eyes.

He nodded slowly. “You?”

She smiled. “I’d say my first class was a huge success.” She waved to the women disappearing into the changing rooms.

“When is your next class?”

“In an hour.”

“Have you eaten breakfast?” He held up a bag from Sara’s Nook. “Nick and I thought—”

“It depends,” she broke in, frowning slightly.

“There’s an egg white and spinach quiche in here. Your mother thought that would be better than the donuts I got.”

“She wanted to be here for the first class, but my aunt and cousin beat her to it, so she got stuck working at the bakery. She’ll be in my second class,” Kate said with a smile.

“I know, she complained to anyone who would listen when we were in there.” Tom laughed.

“Can you wait until everyone leaves?” she asked as people started coming out of the dressing rooms.

“Sure.” He stood aside and then moved behind the counter as she answered questions or just chatted. Nick walked over and waited with him.

When everyone had left, she glanced between the two of them.

“What happened to staying away from me?” she asked. She’d meant it as a joke, but seeing him tense, she wished she’d kept her mouth shut.

“That’s why I’m here,” Nick said. “A buffer. If anyone is watching, they’d think we stopped by because of me.”

“I figured…” Tom started, but Nick coughed. “We figured,” he corrected as he looked down at his hands and took a deep breath, “that you were due a congratulations on opening day.” Tom glanced at Nick.

“I’m just…” He motioned towards the front. “Going to go stand watch.” He took a donut and walked to the front windows.

Tom turned back to her and took both her hands in his. “I knew this day would come. I should have stopped myself from falling for you.” His eyes returned to hers and she saw the love there and melted. “Your brother pointed out a lot of things this morning.”

She tensed. “Nick shouldn’t have—”

Tom stopped her by holding up his hands. “No, everything he said was right, but then he went on to reminded me that you’d been hurt by someone else long before I came into your life. And that you’d probably have a better chance of being protected with a cop by your side.”

“Does that mean I can come home?” she asked.

He frowned and shook his head. “Not yet. Larry Jameson, my old lawyer who’s been watching out for me, informs me that the local law believes my dad is shacking up with a woman he met through a prisoner religious reform class he was taking. The woman came to see my father several times over the past year and even had conjugal visits.” He said this last part through clenched teeth.

“Your dad got remarried? In prison?” she asked, feeling slightly shocked.

“Yeah, I guess so. Anyway, the local police believe the two of them have run off together somewhere. They believe I’m the last person he’d want to bother,” Tom said with a sigh.

“What about the phone calls?” Kate asked, finishing up her quiche and then taking a sip of her water. Her next class was due to arrive in less than ten minutes.

“They believe he was calling to see about getting some money from me. That’s what he asked in the few seconds I allowed him to talk.” Tom shook his head. “He said I owed him.” He closed his eyes. “Anyway, until we know for sure, this breakfast”—he motioned to their empty containers—“will have to be it. I… shouldn’t have even come here, but I thought… You deserved better.”

She took his hand in hers. “I deserve you.” She squeezed his hand. She wanted to kiss him, but just then two women in her next class walked through the front door and started talking to Nick. “When can I see you again?” she asked, feeling her heart sink.

Tom frowned and glanced towards the large windows. “I… It’s not a good idea. Until we know something more.” Tom’s hand reached up and touched her arm. “Kate, I would do anything to go back in time and protect my mom and brother. I won’t make that same mistake. Until he’s behind bars again, it’s best I steer clear of any personal relationships.”