Treasure on Lilac Lane (Jewell Cove 2)

“Mine, too,” he replied, giving her a jostle with his elbow and making her laugh. “So let’s get this ice cream. The sooner dessert’s over, the sooner we get to go home.” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

Up ahead the convenience store was deserted in the late afternoon. Jess took in the empty street and parking lot, before nudging Rick. “Looks like everyone else in Jewell Cove is still sleeping off their food comas.”

Rick smiled and, in a heart-fluttering move, brought her hand up to his mouth for a quick kiss. “Good for us. I like being alone with you.”

Jess didn’t say anything as they closed the distance between them and the parking lot, but she couldn’t remember a Thanksgiving afternoon she’d enjoyed as much as this rambling walk with Rick.

A car pulling into the station broke the comfortable silence, stirring up a cloud of dust from the gravel. She gave a little cough, but her breath froze in her lungs as the car door opened and a man got out, slamming the door behind him.

She’d forgotten. Somehow it had slipped from her mind that this was Thanksgiving weekend, the perfect time for Mike to come home from wherever to se

e his family. Even in a community as small as Jewell Cove, Jess could go days without seeing acquaintances. What were the chances of running into each other at exactly this moment? Damn Sarah and her stupid ice cream.

She halted, catching Rick up short and pulling him back. She could tell the moment he noticed Mike because his hand tightened on hers reassuringly.

Maybe Mike would go into the store without seeing her and it would be fine.

Her heart beat wildly. She told herself that she had no reason to be afraid right now but her adrenaline had already kicked in, igniting her fight-or-flight response. “We can go,” she whispered to Rick. “Sarah can go without her ice cream.”

Mike was walking across the parking lot with long strides, and she was nearly in the clear when he put his hand on the door, pulled it open, and looked over his shoulder at the same time. When he saw her the curl of panic tightened in her stomach. It felt like it was centered directly behind her scar, the spot where he’d cut her all those years ago.

He let go of the door.

“Don’t run,” Rick said quietly. “I’m here. You’ve got nothing to worry about.”

She watched Mike start toward her and fought the urge to cower. She hadn’t seen him since that night. Since Josh had threatened him, stitched up her wound, and driven her to the shelter. Perhaps she should have faced him before now, because the sight of his face did frighten her. Her body was tensed, ready to flee. It was only Rick’s hand clutching hers that kept her rooted to the spot.

Mike’s face was impassive, unreadable, and he stopped a few feet away, his gaze locked on hers. In that moment, looking into the face that had haunted her for years, Jess realized she was done cowering. She’d had years of healing, friends, and laughter, and she wasn’t going to let him take anything away from her ever again. At that realization, something eased inside of her, and she took a breath and straightened her spine, her eyes holding his. She was determined to do this with her chin up.

“Jess,” he greeted, his voice as smooth and charming as ever. He smiled, his teeth perfectly white. Come into my parlor, said the spider to the fly …

“Michael,” she answered coolly.

“You must be surprised to see me,” he continued.

She knew exactly what he was saying. He’d broken his promise to Josh to never return to Jewell Cove. With his mocking smile, he was telling her he knew and didn’t care.

“Not really. I know your parents wanted you and Pam around for the holiday. I’m really sorry about your mom.”

Something flickered in his eyes at the mention of his mother, but he cleared it away quickly. “Yes, well, I really should have come to see her sooner. No real reason for me to stay away, is there?”

Jess wanted to shudder at the thought of him moving back to Jewell Cove. She’d come a long way but having him live in the same small community would be torture.

“Except a promise you made,” Rick pointed out, his voice hard. “It’s extenuating circumstances right now.”

Mike’s gaze flickered to Rick. “Jesus, Rick Sullivan. I didn’t even notice you there.”

Pompous ass, Jess thought, keeping her hand firmly in Rick’s.

“You always did have tunnel vision,” Rick replied calmly. “Now why don’t you get what you came for and go back home? I’m sure your family is waiting.”

Mike’s eyes hardened. “Oh, Jess and I have some catching up to do.”

“Not in this lifetime,” Jess answered. “Stay away from me, Mike.”

He turned his smile on her again. “Now, Jess, is that any way to treat an old friend?”

“You are not an old friend,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.