Page 32 of Shadowed Witness

“I gotta go. Love you guys.”

“Back at you,” Bryce said.

Eric followed her outside, pie plates in hand. Once they were safely out of earshot of her family, he said, “Are you sure you don’t want company?”

No. She absolutely wanted company. But she didn’t want to invite more than friendship. She couldn’t. But she was too tired to figure out how to politely decline without lying to him. She kept walking toward her car.

“Allye.”

The way he said her name made her step hitch. She took a deep breath. “It’s okay, Eric. Really. You don’t need to feel pressured to go because of what Corina said.” She popped the trunk of her Jetta and tossed everything but her purse inside. She turned and grabbed the pie dishes he held. He didn’t let go.

“That isn’t what I asked.”

She stifled a sigh. “Fine. I would love to not go alone, but seriously, I’m a big girl. I’m used to going places by myself.”

He frowned. “Is that wise considering everything you have going on?”

“Are you saying you believe me now?”

“I believe something is going on, and you probably shouldn’t be out in the park alone just in case.”

Just in case her attacker showed? Or just in case she had another “episode”? She didn’t have the heart to ask for clarification.He’s right though.She knew he was. Whether she was in physical danger or going crazy, she didn’t need to be out on the trails alone. And she didn’t want to be.

“Are you okay, Allye?” he said quietly when she didn’t respond. “No offense, but you look exhausted. Maybe you should just head home.”

She tugged the empty dishes from his fingers and tossed them in beside her bags. Her shoulders slumped as she faced him again. “It’s not that I just want to take a walk. I lost a memory card with an important photo shoot on it Friday. I have to try to find it. If you have time”—she felt her shoulders drop a bit further—“I’d appreciate not being alone.”

His gaze softened at her admission. “I have time.”

14

Eric followed Allye to Kincaid Lake.She had refused his offer of a ride. Though she didn’t say it, he suspected it had less to do with wanting to drive and more to do with not wanting to leave her car at her brother’s and incite a round of teasing. He’d played dumb to Corina’s not-so-subtle matchmaking attempt, but he hadn’t missed it.

Allye signaled before turning at the park’s entrance. While she’d pushed the speed limit a bit on the way over, nothing about her driving was erratic. No sign she was drowsy or in any way impaired.

That was a relief. He hadn’t been sure allowing her to drive was a good decision, but it hadn’t been his choice. Still, something was obviously going on with her. But what?

He backed into a parking space next to her and exited his vehicle first. When her door opened, he offered his hand.

“I can stand.”

“I know.” He didn’t withdraw his offer. And she took it, resignation on her face. The vehicles on either side left little space between them as he pulled her to her feet for the second time in two days. A hint of jasmine and mango tantalized his senses. He’d noticed the scent on her before, and he liked it. It fit herwell. Or at least, it fit her usual fun-loving and caring personality well. But her current pallor and hesitancy worried him. “It’s okay to accept help, you know.”

“But it isn’t easy.” Her words were barely a whisper.

The tremor that went through her worried him. He gave her hand a light squeeze, then shifted it so she could lean on his arm instead. “Let’s find your card so you can get home and rest. Do you have any idea where you lost it?” He led her from between the cars and scanned the area. Despite the beautiful weather, only a handful of people were around.

She sucked in a breath. “Probably when my purse dumped ... while I was hiding by the trail.”

“We’ll check there first, then.”

They made their way to Spicebush Trail. The temperature dropped a few degrees as they entered the shaded path.

A little way in, Eric helped her over a fallen branch, then broke the silence between them. “I’ve been wanting to ask you. How did you get my number the other night?”

Her face flushed. “I, uh, just knew it.”

“How did you ‘just know it’?”

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