Collide (The Barker Triplets 2)

But today was a good day and in spite of the heaviness in her heart, it gave her a lot of pleasure to see the dining room full, with the faces of those who meant something to her. There was only one face missing and she was starting to worry.

“He probably lost track of time painting,” Eden said.

Everyone glanced her way.

“What? I was with him yesterday and he did a lot of painting. Like a lot. And sketching. And he went like, hours without saying anything which I kind of thought was weird but, whatever…”

“I didn’t know you went to see Shane.”

The words came from James, and Eden shrugged. “You didn’t ask.”

“Okay, well, I’m sure Shane will be here any minute but in the meantime I don’t want the food to get cold.”

Bobbi took her seat at the end of the table and tried to relax as everyone dug in and filled their plates with ham, sweet potato, mashed potatoes, green beans, fresh baked rolls, garden salad or coleslaw.

She had just taken a small sip of wine when they all heard the front door open. The relief—the absolute relief—that flooded Bobbi had her cheeks flushing hard and she glanced down at her plate, needing a moment to collect herself.

When Shane strolled into the room she didn’t glance up right away, because she didn’t trust herself. In that moment she wanted nothing more than to run to him, to rest her head against his chest and let his big arms pull her in close.

Everyone shouted greetings and only after he had shaken hands with James, and then Herschel and Travis, did she glance up at him. He stood beside her, his long legs clad in dark denim, his wide shoulders clothed with her favorite Henley. His hair was damp, as if he was just out of the shower and he hadn’t bothered to shave, so the stubble on his jaw was pronounced.

Immediately her heart took off and her mouth went dry.

His hand was on the back of her chair, his expression as fathomless as the dark chocolate eyes that stared down at her.

Bobbi cleared her throat and attempted a smile, but she was sure it fell flat. Her facial muscles ached from all the fake smiles she’d bestowed on everyone today. She wasn’t happy. Hell, she wasn’t close to happy. She was about as far away from happy as the earth was from the moon.

“Hey,” she said softly.

He leaned down, his mouth sweeping across her lips in nothing more than a whisper. “Table looks great,” he said, before sliding into the chair beside her.

“Nice to see you in clothes, Gallagher.” Logan grinned and passed the sweet potatoes. He’d told everyone about Shane showing up on his porch this morning wearing nothing but leather, boxers, and work boots.

“Hey, I can shed the jeans if you want.”

“Oh my god, that’s so gross,” Eden said as everyone laughed.

The meal progressed the way all family meals at the Barker residence did. Several bottles of wine were consumed, and subsequently, the conversation grew louder as time went on. It was boisterous and full bodied, just like the Merlot. Eden and Herschel were having an animated conversation about bees. It seemed as if the teenager was fascinated by the fact that Herschel kept hives out back and collected honey.

Bobbi was content to sit and listen, her mind elsewhere and that elsewhere wasn’t anyplace good. She caught the dark looks from Shane, the automatic responses he gave to questions. The smiles. The nods. It was like he was on auto-pilot.

That crap feeling in her gut was back and it was all she could do, to push her food around and make like it was the most amazing meal ever, when in fact it tasted like sawdust. She caught snatches of conversations, all the while aware that the man who sat inches away from her, was in fact across a great divide. It felt as if he was sitting on the other side of the world. Other than his initial greeting, Shane hadn’t said anything to

her.

As the minutes flew by her anxiety grew. She wanted to get away. She wanted to get away with Shane and finally get everything out in the open.

She didn’t care about the conversations.

Her father asking Billie about the New York Rangers and their chances at Lord Stanley.

James and Herschel chatting about the waterfront and all the construction that seemed to be popping up along it. A damn shame, according to Herschel, while James just shrugged and said the influx of money into the community was a good thing.

Again, Eden with the bees.

Billie and hockey.

Betty and Matt Hawkins.