He rose as she came in the door. One glance at her and he could tell that she’d been crying.
He opened his mouth to ask what had happened, but quickly closed it when she said, “Not one word. I do not want to hear it. First someone sent me a dead mouse and then I find you of all people on my front step and I see...” Her voice broke.
Shep would bet that Daniel had been a bigger jerk after they’d left. “Have you had anything to eat?”
She shook her head.
“I’m ordering Chinese because I’m starved and you really don’t have anything to eat in your refrigerator.”
She nodded and went into the bedroom, closing the door behind her as he pulled out his cell and made the call.
* * *
CHARLIE TOOK HER time changing into jeans and a T-shirt. As she hung up the red dress she’d bought with Daniel in mind, she felt both sad and angry. All he’d wanted to do was get it off of her. She tried not to cry. She didn’t want to even think about her so-called date.
Daniel hadn’t wanted to go to dinner and a movie. He’d suggested fast food and going back to her place because a couple of friends were still staying at his. With Shep at her apartment, that wasn’t happening. She’d made excuses when in truth she’d just wanted a quiet dinner in a real restaurant and a sappy movie—just as she’d told Daniel.
“What? A rom-com?” he’d demanded. “I hate to pay good money for a movie that we could watch at your place and be more comfortable, you know what I mean?”
She knew what he meant. They’d argued and he’d brought her home. Before that, she’d even considered telling him about Lindy at dinner—and about Shep. But it was clear that he had only one thing on his mind and it wasn’t food. Nor was it hearing anything about her day. Or taking into consideration what she wanted and needed.
She knew she wouldn’t have argued with him if her day hadn’t been such a disaster—and his apparently as well. She’d been glad when he’d taken her back to her apartment, then sped away after she made it clear that he wouldn’t be coming up.
Still she didn’t like leaving things the way she had. She would call and talk to him tomorrow—once she got rid of Shep.
Seeing Shep again on top of everything had thrown her for a loop. All those old feelings had come rushing back at the mere sight of him. He’d saved her all those years ago at Judge Landusky’s boot camp in more ways than one.
But the big one had been on the obstacle course one day. Exhausted, covered with mud, sick and tired of everything, she’d fallen from a rope fence and lay facedown in what smelled like a pigsty when she’d felt someone grab her by the waist of her jeans and haul her to her feet.
She’d thought it was one of the judge’s wardens and had been ready to tell him what he could do with his boot camp. To her surprise, it was Shep. Their first meeting hadn’t gone well so this was very unexpected. He’d insisted she go first through the rest of the course and when she’d faltered, ready to give up and go to jail, he hadn’t let her. He’d met her gaze and said, “I’ll be right behind you. You can do this.”
Charlie had found some inner strength and finished the obstacle course. True to his word, Shep had stayed behind her, watching her back. He’d picked her up at a time when she’d needed it desperately and here he was again.
With a curse, she knew she was going to have to tell him about Lindy—all of it. He was the last person she wanted to confess to about the horrible thing she’d done. Just the thought of telling him made her stomach twist. Why had the judge sent him of all people?
Unfortunately, he wouldn’t leave until she told him, and he proved Lindy was dead and she was seeing things, she realized with a groan. He was bound and determined to pay his debt. That she got. But apparently, he also hadn’t gotten any less stubborn over the years either.
Leaving her feet bare, she padded back into the living room to find him in the kitchen. He’d gotten out plates and napkins, saying the food was on its way. She really was hungry and knew eating would help her not feel so desperate. Also it would delay telling him about Lindy.
At the knock at the door, he told her to have a seat and he’d get dinner. The scent alone made her stomach rumble as he came back with it.
“I wasn’t sure what you liked so I bought a variety,” he said as he put down the sack and began taking out the small white boxes.
“It smells so good,” she said, watching excitedly. Her stomach was growling loudly and she knew he heard it. She was thankful that he hadn’t asked about her so-called date.
“Kung pao shrimp, sweet and sour pork, orange peel beef, fried rice and lo mein, how does that sound?”
“Wonderful.” She could actually work up a smile. “Thank you.”
They ate in a companionable silence, making her remember how easy it had been to be around Shep all those years ago. She wasn’t sure she would have made it through that whole ordeal of the judge’s boot camp if it hadn’t been for him—and not just that day on the obstacle course. She’d been self-destructive back then, wanting to punish herself for what she’d done but still unable to admit it to anyone but herself.
When they finished dinner, she put the leftovers in the refrigerator and dumped the empty containers in the trash. She felt full and content and better than she had all day—until Shep asked, “You’re going to have to tell me about Lindy, you know.”
“Do we have to do it tonight?”
“I can’t help if I don’t know what’s going on, Charlie.”
She doubted there was any help for her—let alone from Shep. He said he was a middle school math teacher. How he could help, she couldn’t even imagine.
“Charlie, do you trust me?”
Looking into those familiar eyes, she realized she did. This handsome man had been the sweet boy who’d stolen her heart at the tender age of sixteen.
Now just when she thought she’d finally put the past behind her...
She padded into the living room to plop down on the far end of the couch. He took the other end. Tucking her feet under her, she turned toward him.
“Lindy was my stepsister and I killed her.”
CHAPTER FIVE
“YOU KILLED HER?” Shep said, thinking he’d either heard wrong or Charlie was exaggerating. “You killed her?”
Charlie jumped off the couch and headed for the kitchen. “If I’m going to do this, I’m going to need wine.”
He was still trying to understand as he watched her go into the small kitchen and come back with another bottle of wine and two glasses. Charlie was no killer. He’d stake his life on that.