“Daniel? What are you doing here?”
Shep realized that Charlie had gotten off the bed and was now right beside him.
* * *
CHARLIE WAS HAVING trouble believing this. Was this Amanda’s doing? She stepped past Shep to face Daniel. “We broke up, so I ask again what are you doing here?”
“I was invited. Remember? You invited me.” Daniel’s tone was peevish.
With a groan, she remembered that she had. It seemed like eons ago.
“But we broke up. Why would you come after—”
“I tried to reach you first,” he said. At her raised brow, he added, “Well, I thought about calling you but then decided maybe it would be better just to see you here.” He looked past her back into the room. “Wow, didn’t take you long.”
“You and I broke up.”
“I thought once you calmed down... Still...” He looked again into the room at Shep.
She stepped out into the hall, forcing Daniel to move back from the door. She wanted to close the door for this discussion but didn’t want Shep to think she had anything to hide. She didn’t.
“It isn’t what you think,” she said quietly.
Daniel smirked.
“Shep is an old boyfriend who came back to...” She realized that maybe that’s what it had been at first. But it was now exactly what he thought. “It isn’t any of your business.”
“Still,” Daniel repeated and glanced down the empty hallway for a moment. “You heard about Jason.”
She nodded. “I’m sorry.”
He shrugged and looked at her again. “So I guess you don’t want me here.”
“It’s a bit awkward since we broke up and I’ve moved on.”
“I can see that but you’re cool me with staying, right? I thought I’d ski since I’m here.”
She rolled her eyes.
“Hey, I didn’t even know we were broken up, so cut me some slack.”
“Look, Daniel, I don’t care what you do, but you and I are done.”
He looked down at his ski boots for a moment. “So I suppose you don’t want your Christmas present.”
“No, I don’t.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Out of curiosity, what did you get me?” Please don’t let it be an engagement ring. She didn’t need more guilt.
He brightened. “Three of my favorite video games. I thought we could play them at your place and it would give us something more in common.”
Her friends thought he was going to ask him to marry her. She tried to keep her face straight as she said, “That was a thoughtful gift.”
“I was trying, Charlie.”
He probably thought he had been. “You aren’t coming to the wedding though, right?” she asked.
“It’s in the morning?”
She nodded.
“No, I think I’ll ski instead. There’s supposed to be fresh powder.”
“Good choice.” She turned to go back into the room.
“No hard feelings,” Daniel said. “Maybe I can return the video games and get my money back.”
She watched him walk away for a moment, then turned back to her open door—and caught movement at the other end of the hallway. It was only a glimpse of a figure—with long blond hair.
This time she didn’t hesitate. She took off running down the hallway, shoving open the door to the stairs before bounding down them. This time Lacey wasn’t going to get away.
* * *
SHEP HAD TRIED not to listen to Charlie’s conversation with her former boyfriend. He knew she’d left the door open on purpose. He smiled to himself, thinking of what she would say when she came back into the room after allowing him to overhear everything.
Daniel had gotten her three of his favorite video games? What a romantic. Shep knew he shouldn’t make fun of the guy, but it just proved how wrong he’d been for her.
And you’re so right for her?
Yeah, he was, he told himself. Even though he’d just heard her refer to him as “an old boyfriend.” And then she’d added that it wasn’t any of Daniel’s business. All Shep knew was that he’d move heaven and earth to make her happy. Isn’t that why the judge had asked him to come see what was going on with her?
As the conversation died down outside the room, he suddenly saw Charlie take off at a run down the hall.
What the hell? He jumped up and rushed out of the room in time to see her take the stairs. Where was she going in such a hurry?
He didn’t know, but his pounding heart told him that given the way she’d taken off, it couldn’t be good. He ran down the hallway and shoved open the exit door. He could hear the clamor of footfalls echoing up through the stairwell.
Taking the stairs as fast as he could, he went after her. What would make her do something like this?
A thought struck him so hard he almost missed a step.
Lacey. Had Charlie seen Lacey and was now chasing her? Had Charlie lost her mind? What would she do if she caught her? The idea sent him barreling downward until, two floors below theirs, a stairwell door swung open, catching him by surprise.
* * *
CHARLIE HEARD A door open and close one floor below her. She was so close now she knew she would catch Lacey. She raced down the last set of steps, grabbing the ground floor door and bursting out of it into the lobby.
Her heart was hammering, pulse a thunder in her ears, her breath coming out in hard gasps. She slid to a stop and hurriedly scanned the lobby, knowing the woman couldn’t have gotten away. Not this time. Charlie had been right behind her.
The lobby was full of people moving about through furniture and plants and plastered columns. Charlie couldn’t have lost her. She couldn’t have.
The blonde came into view as she passed a group of people gathered talking in the middle of the lobby. She wasn’t moving fast, just walking, as if not the least bit worried about Charlie.
A stab of anger sent Charlie’s blood pressure skyrocketing. Lacey thought there was nothing Charlie could do about her. No way she could stop her.
Charlie darted between the tall pots of plants and the large furniture and cut her off before she could reach the door. She came shooting out from the side, grabbed Lacey’s arm and spun her around to face her. In all honesty, she didn’t know what she was going to do with her other than demand answers.
The woman let out a startled cry and tried to pull free.