The Only Shark In The Sea (The Date Shark Series Book 3) Read Free

already warned him that it would only frighten her, but he did risk taking a small step closer to her. She tensed at the movement. Vance didn’t try to move any closer.
    “Would you like to step up to the front, out of this crowd? Our table should be ready shortly.”
    Nodding quickly, Natalie took a hesitant step forward. It was enough to tell Vance she was at least willing to follow him. Vance led her through the most open areas so she didn’t have to try so hard not to touch anyone. When Pierce spotted them, he immediately left the host stand and walked in their direction. Natalie must have noticed his approach, because she scurried behind Vance just enough that she wasn’t immediately within reach.
    Pierce was all too familiar with the date shark business, and immediately slowed. He stopped several feet short of the pair and said, “If you’ll both follow me, I’ll show you to your table.”
    Vance heard Natalie sigh behind him and his concern grew. There was definitely a reason she refused to touch anyone, and it had nothing to do with germs. Something, or someone, had scared Natalie badly enough that she wasn’t willing to let anyone get near enough to do it again. Pierce led them to a table at the back of the restaurant, away from the other diners. Guy had requested the table specifically, and Vance was glad to see some of the tension drop away from Natalie when she saw it.
    Sensing she would want the chair farthest from the other diners, Vance pulled the chair out for her and then stepped away from it. The gesture helped her relax a little more and she sat down with a quiet word of thanks. After Vance took his seat, Pierce ran through the specials being offered that night and promised their server would be with them promptly. Natalie kept her eyes down and arms folded tightly against her body the entire time.
    The table was almost solemn for the first several minutes. Vance didn’t want to intrude while she composed herself, so he looked at the wine list, even though he knew it by heart. When Natalie was ready, she said, “Did Dr. Guy’s flight get situated so he could get home?”
    “He texted me a while ago and said his flight would be in later tonight,” Vance said.
    “Oh good.” Natalie smiled hesitantly, but it seemed less forced than he expected. “How did you end up covering for him?”
    Vance stifled a smile. “Guy and I went to school together, and I occasionally help him out when he needs it.”
    “That’s nice of you,” Natalie said. She moved her fork nervously, then put her hands in her lap. “I just want you to know, I’m not like, crazy, or anything. I’ve heard a lot of the women Guy sees have some serious problems, but I’m not like that.”
    Leaning back in his chair, Vance looked at her with a polite interest he had perfected over the years. “I never thought you were crazy.” He smiled when she sighed in relief and he found himself feeling profoundly glad he’d been able to relieve some of her anxiety. “I am curious, though, why you came to Guy for help.”
    Natalie’s eyebrows rose. “It’s pretty obvious, isn’t it?” When Vance didn’t say anything right away, her shoulders dropped. “I’m afraid of…well, people.”
    “What…?”
    Before he could finish asking her about that statement, Megan approached the table and Natalie went very still. Vance refocused on watching Natalie’s reactions to Megan. She was just as leery of her as she had been when Pierce first approached them, but an edge of some kind seemed to have been taken off her nerves. She didn’t scurry away as she had with Pierce, but she held so still, like prey trying to avoid a predator’s eye.
    Megan disappeared after taking their drink order and Natalie visibly relaxed. Vance intended to finish his question, but something unusual happened before he could. An elderly couple, who had just stood up from the table nearest them, stopped when the woman tugged on her companion’s arm. Her eyes