Page 11 of Safe With Me
My brows jerked together so hard my skin pulled, and I stared at her. I mean, damn, she worked here too, right?
The front door creaked open, bright sunlight spilling in.
“What have you got in ivory?”
Not that voice. Not him. Fucking hell.
“Let me check . . .” Hannah’s voice trailed away to a tight silence. I jerked my head sideways, away from Elizabeth to find her staring at the mess, Elizabeth’s hands, Jase’s ring sparkling on her ring finger, and me. Fucking Tick Calvert stood behind her, hands tucked in his pockets, suit jacket falling open over his elbows, his face impassive.
It’s not what it looks likehovered on my tongue, and I swallowed the desperate claim. Why did I need Hannah to know that anyway?
Hannah ignored us and stepped into the alcove, her lip curling as she studied a messy pile of sweaters all jumbled together. “What size?”
Tick eased closer to her, almost between her and me. “If they run true, medium.”
Hannah shook one free and held it up, wrinkled to hell and back. “I can steam it for you.”
With a scoff, Tick reached for the garment. “I can do that. You have . . . better stuff to do.”
Asshole. Irritation pricked up my neck and over my scalp. And why was I still standing there, Elizabeth’s hands on my chest while Hannah helped Tick Calvert pick out a sweater?
“Hannah, Tate needs a pair of gloves.” Elizabeth’s imperious voice rang loud in the quiet of the store.
Hannah ignored her and grinned up at Tick. “Can I help you with anything else?”
“Maybe.” One corner of his mouth quirked up. “Sell great shoes?”
“Maybe.” Hannah lifted a finger. “I just found these gorgeous hand-stitched boots from Oklahoma. Let me show you.”
“Hannah.” Elizabeth raised her voice, and it was ugly now. I finally got myself together enough to step back.
“Hey, what size and we’ll just pull a box off the shelf in the back.”
“Seven, narrow.”
“Got it.” They disappeared into the back room. How damn close was he following her?
Elizabeth huffed. “Oh, my God, what iswrongwith her? Do you believe this?”
I didn’t need the fucking gloves that bad. I darted a glance at the door he’d closed behind him and Hannah. I didn’t want to stay with Elizabeth, but I didn’t want to leave Hannah alone with Tick, either. I mean, come on. Wedding rings don’t mean much to some guys. Married men cheat all the time.
Not that Hannah would get with a married man. I mean, I don’t know that she gets with anyone – we don’t really talk about that stuff, even if we are friends. She might be a virgin for all I know.
Still, she went out with him that one time, so she had to see something in him. What, I don’t know, but women like him.
And I really just didn’t want to walk out the door while she was back there alone with TickFuckingCalvert.
“Tate.” Elizabeth hit a shrill note that finally invaded my awareness.
“What?” I jerked a look at her. When her face fell, I realized I was glaring and softened my expression. I’d already snapped at her, so it was too late to soften my voice.
“Are you going to talk to Jase or not?”
Was she still on that? Jase was a grown-ass man who could make his own decisions. I threw out my hands. “Yeah, sure.”
Joy flared in her eyes, and she threw her arms around me, cuddling close. She pressed a kiss to my cheek, awful near my mouth, so close I tasted mint lip gloss and cringed. “Thank you.”
The backroom door swung open. “ . . . what did you do anyway?”
