Second Time's the Charm

“I’m sorry, Lil. So sorry. About everything.”

Her throat tight, Lillie tried to swallow. And to look away. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say that.”

“I was a damned fool,” he said now. “So full of myself.”

It was a line. Had to be. He’d matured, she’d give him that. He’d learned humility—or at least how to feign it. But...

Kirk was looking her straight in the eye. His blue gaze was open in a way she’d never seen before.

She didn’t want to care.

About him. Or Jon. Or the fact that Papa and Gayle thought that something was wrong with her because she was too closed off.

“I agreed to have dinner with you,” she said. Because she hadn’t wanted to take a chance that he’d follow her home, or show up five minutes after she got there, and see Jon or Abe.

More to the point, she didn’t want Jon to see him.

There was no way she was going to let the past taint her life in Shelter Valley. She’d healed. Moved on.

Even if Kirk’s parents didn’t think so.

“I didn’t agree to revisit the past.”

“Fair enough.”

“Tell me why you’re really here.”

“You just said you didn’t want to revisit the past.”

“If that’s why you’re here then...” She gathered her purse.

Holding up his hand, Kirk said, “No, please, stay, Lil. That can wait. I really was concerned about you. I’ve been trying to work up the courage to make the drive out here to see you, and when I read about the break-ins I knew that I couldn’t put it off any longer.”

Because he couldn’t call.

If he’d been anyone else, if she hadn’t seen him in action so many times, manipulating people, saying just the right things so they’d think he was giving them what they needed rather than getting them to buy what he wanted them to have, she might have softened.

But she doubted it.

“I’m sorry, but I find it hard to believe that you’re suddenly so concerned about my safety.”

“My concern isn’t sudden.” He didn’t back down. Or look away.

“What can I get you two to drink?” The server’s arrival startled her. Lil hadn’t seen the girl approaching. Still, she welcomed her. And, when Kirk deferred to her first, she ordered a sod

a and the same type of salad she’d had the week before with Jon.

“Make that two.” Kirk smiled at the girl. When Lillie and Kirk had been in college, dating, inseparable, they’d eaten off the same plate.

“I’m serious, Lil,” Kirk said as soon as the girl turned away. “I’ve always thanked God that you moved back to Shelter Valley. I lived here, too, remember? If there’s a town in this country that’s safe for a young woman to live in alone, it’s this place. Not only because everyone here knows everyone, but the people in this town are rabid about their public safety.”

It was true. And a big part of the reason she’d chosen to settle in the town where she’d met the man who’d crushed her heart. That, and the fact that the job offer had been perfect—and that Shelter Valley was close enough for her to still see Papa and Gayle on a regular basis.

And visit Bray’s grave when she needed to.

“But these break-ins...” Leaning forward, he lowered his voice as he moved his face closer to hers. “From what I heard, they’ve been going on for a couple of weeks and the sheriff is no closer to finding out who’s behind them.”

Lillie didn’t say a word. Didn’t acknowledge the fact that he was right.