“You think somebody put different shoes on her? After she—” Simone stopped herself, unable to finish the sentence.
“I think it’s weird.” He shrugged, jamming the phone back into his jeans pocket. “I don’t know if I’ve come to the same conclusion Gwen did. I don’t think that I agree with Detective Mitchell though. But I don’t know yet. I just wanted to hear from someone who knew her well. If she had a sneaker obsession or anything.”
“Not to my knowledge, no.” The nausea from the photo began to dissipate. “I do know that we keep an inventory of everything in the community closet. Delilah showed up at the ranch with the clothes on her back. If she got those at the ranch, there will be a record of it.”
“Right. Sure, that’s great. I’ll give Rhiannon a call and ask her to look over her ledgers.” He managed a smile. “Thanks for all your help.”
“No worries. And Merry Christmas.”
“Yeah, you too.”
But he didn’t turn around. Didn’t head for the door. Just stood there for a minute, eyes locked with Simone’s.
She forced a laugh. “Do you need anything else?”
“No. Not really. I guess I just—how have you been?” He scratched the back of his neck. “With everything. Has that guy come back around?”
Her stomach twisted again. “I’ve been okay. Good, even. Excited for the holiday. And no. Haven’t seen him since that day, thank God. Hopefully never see him again.”
“Good. That’s really good.” Another smile, this one just as forced as the last, but a bit sweeter. “If he does, you can call me. Anytime. Day or night. You have my number, don’t you?”
“Yeah, you gave it to me when you took my statement.” He seemed to flinch at those last couple of words. Simone did her best not to respond with the same anxiety when she continued. “And I definitely will. But hopefully I won’t have to. Like you said, he probably ran far and fast from here.”
“Right. Of course.” Edwards trailed his tongue along his lips, eyes flittering between hers. “You know, with everything considered, this is probably a really bad time. Which is totally understandable. So no pressure at all. But a couple of friends of mine are having a little get-together for New Year’s. I’m pretty sure Sebastian’s going to be there, he’ll probably bring Gwen. So it wouldn’t be awkward or anything if you came. If they’ll both be there, I mean.”
Eyes crinkling, the corners of Simone’s lips twitched. “Was that an invitation?”
“A really bad one, yeah.” Edwards laughed, and Simone joined in. “Whatever kind of invitation you want it to be.”
Propping her elbows on the counter, Simone leaned in, confident her low-cut shirt held his attention as much as his V-neck held hers. “A date? Is that what you’re inviting me to?”
“Well, I’d devote a hell of a lot more time and attention to a date.” Another one of those little shrugs, accompanied by a smirk. “I’m a bit of a romantic myself. But if you wanted to call it a pre-date, I’d be okay with that.”
Laughing, she looked up at him through thick eyelashes. “A pre-date?”
“A pre-date,” he confirmed. “We can look at our schedules and get a real one lined up for after the new year, if that works for you?”
“I think I can find a way.” Heart fluttering, she straightened. “My schedule is tight right now though. I have a client on the way, and I’ve still gotta finish wiping down my chair.”
“Alright. I’ll quit holding you up.” He lifted his hands at his sides and backpedaled for the door. “But you have to text me to get the address for the party.”
Broom in hand again, she popped out her hip. This time, with intention. “I’ll text you.”
The sweetest, yet sexiest crooked smile. “I’ll be waiting.”
She laughed as the bell rang over his head. He waved on his venture down the road.
Simone turned back to the pile of hair on the ground, lightheaded. Yet, she couldn’t pull down her smiling lips. They scrunched up so big, reaching her eyes, nearly blinding her.
Had that really just happened?
One of the most beautiful, jaw-dropping men she had ever seen. So kind, so respectable. Most of Simone’s adult life had been spent battling the cops to believe her experiences. To throw David behind bars.
Now the best one she had ever met not only gave a damn about what she’d lived through but desired her despite it. Something she’d thought made her unappealing, too damaged, entirely unlovable, ignited a fire with the sort of man she thought only existed in her dreams.
Her instinct was to pick up her phone and call Gwen, but the bell rang above the door again. She cleared her throat and called over her shoulder, “I’ll be right with you, Kathy. Just gotta finish cleaning up from my last client.”
“Take your time, Jess.”
Simone’s heart dropped to her torso. All her limbs went numb. Memories flashed.
And when she turned over her shoulder, she had to pinch herself. This had to have been a nightmare, because life didn’t go from so good to so bad this quickly.
Angela stood at the door.
