Almost Innocent Read Free

came surging forward, and dread washed over my body.
    Forgetting everything else, I stepped into him, clutching his arm. “Why did you come back home, Declan? Are you even safe here?”
    “You’re worried about me.” His face softened as he cupped my cheek.
    The gesture was too intimate. I should have pulled away, but I couldn’t bring myself to.
    When his eyes met mine, they were filled with concern. “This is my home, Little G. Where else would I go?”
    He’d once been a boy filled with dreams and plans to get out of this shitty little town and see the world. Apparently that kid, and his ideologies was gone.
    A throat cleared behind him made Declan stiffen slightly, but he didn’t remove his hand from my face. His wide shoulders blocked me from seeing whoever had joined us, but they also kept that person from seeing me. When Dec didn’t move, I realized it was because he didn’t want me seen. Kind of silly, considering we were in the middle of a walkway in a very crowded store.
    “Boss?” A deep voice spoke quietly, “We got it.”
    Declan didn’t spare the man a glance. He only nodded, keeping his eyes on me. “I’ll be right there.” His thumb moved up and down slowly and gently, as if he were touching the most beautiful silk that had ever existed. He leaned down again, getting on eye level with me. “You’re supposed to be afraid of me, Gabs, not afraid for me.”
    I rolled my eyes, not caring what I was supposed to feel. “This is a dangerous place.”
    “I know.” His eyes glistened and a look I couldn’t decipher drifted over his face. “You shouldn’t be here.” Before I could point out that he shouldn’t be here either, he dropped his hand and stepped away. “I’ll walk you to your car.”
    His tone gave no room for argument, and a glance at the phone I’d forgotten was in my hand told me I was out of time anyway. I’d completely blown almost all of my wiggle room, and unless I left right then, I would be late for my meeting. I hurried to my car, the cold November wind whipping my hair about and sneaking through my North Face fleece, Declan one step behind me.
    I turned back to him after I opened my door, unsure what to say. There was so much to tell him and no time to do it.
    When I hesitated a moment too long, he shook his head as if reading my mind. “Good-bye, Gabby.”
    His tone was so final that all I could do was mutter a farewell back. He waited until I was in and buckled before he shut my door, then he stood there watching until I drove out of the lot. I cranked the music, trying to ignore the thoughts that insisted on sneaking into my mind and focus on the meeting I had coming up.
    I’d made it through three Adele songs when it hit me. He had said he’d stalked me on social media, talked about my degrees and my job, but he hadn’t said one word about the rest of my life. The most important part of my life.
    I pulled up my frequent call list and tapped on the contact at the top.
    Fiona answered on the second ring, and her voice came through my car’s speakers. “How is my favorite sister doing today? The boy is off to school fine, said he’d call you when he got home tonight. What time is your meeting?”
    I couldn’t think about anything other than Declan. “Why didn’t you tell me about Dec?”
    There was a long pause. I was beginning to think I’d lost her when she finally cleared her throat. “Because he asked me not to.”
    “Why? Why would he do that?”
    “He didn’t want to cause you more pain. I know you probably don’t believe this, but he’s been through hell. He has to live with what happened for the rest of his life.”
    I had to live with it for the rest of my life too. Shit. The feelings of dread I got whenever I thought about Dustin, and what happened, hit me, and I felt as if I was going to throw up.
    “And I’m sure he didn’t think you’d want to see him.”
    My hands tightened on the steering wheel. “Not want to see him? I went to the