Page 90 of Shine: Sins of the Father
“Oh, my God. How was it?”
I just make a dreamy smile.
“Well, where is he now?”
“I snuck out this morning.”
“What?” Her shoulders sink. “Why?”
“I panicked. I didn’t know what he’d do, and I’m not ready for my father to find out yet. Besides, there’s a guy after him. I can’t put Dylan in danger. I’m not sure how Shine will react when I tell him he’s a father.”
“Fiona, you have to tell him. You can’t keep this from him anymore. It’s just another lie.”
“I know, but I’m terrified. What if he can’t get beyond the fact that, once again, I lied to him?”
She searches my eyes but only shakes her head with no answer for me.
I glance at the clock. “The party. I’ve got to go.”
Janey reaches for Dylan and walks me to the door.
“Don’t worry. We’ll work this out somehow, Fiona.”
I nod and go down the stairs to the shop.
***
Several hours later, I’m ushering the last party guest out the front door and preparing to lock it when Shine rides up and backs his bike to the curb.
My heart leaps to my throat. Dylan is right upstairs, and sometimes Janey comes down with him after she knows these parties are over. Maybe she heard the bike and peered out the window. God, Janey, please don’t come down here.
Shine dismounts, takes off his helmet and approaches me where I stand in the open doorway.
“What are you doing here?”
He lifts his chin to my business. “Reckless told me you owned the place. I came to see it.” He scans the building and my pink and cream striped awning. “It’s girly.”
“Well, women make up most of my demographic.”
“Gonna invite me in for a sample?” For a moment, the double entendre sinks in, and the smile crinkles around his eyes. “I hear your cupcakes are the best.”
“They are.”
“So, prove it.”
I lift a brow. “Follow me.”
I move behind the counter and slide open the glass case, grabbing him a white chocolate raspberry cupcake.
“So, you like kids?” he asks out of the blue, and I fumble with the napkin dispenser, knocking it over.
“Kids?” I grab it before it falls to the floor.
“You okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“Yeah, kids.” He lifts his chin to the party room.
