Page 13 of Secret Sins

“True.” She shrugged. “I don't know why I said that. You know who I saw yesterday?”

“Van?” I guessed.

Frowning, she asked, “How did you know?”

I leaned against the counter. “Who else would you tell me about running into as though it’s a big deal?”

“True.” She started setting out the pastries she’d put away the night before. “Anyway, I waved and called his name, but he barely acknowledged me before he disappeared.”

“Sounds exactly like Van.”

Ellie sighed, and I saw the romantic side of her as she tried to pair us all up so we’d be happy. “I hate that he’s isolated himself.”

“He likes it that way.”

Just like me. Maybe we were more alike than I thought.

“I was walking on the beach with Anna and thought maybe I’d introduce them, but he was gone before I’d made it a few more steps.”

“He acts like he’s spooked all the time.” I sipped my coffee, looking at the breakfast choices and trying to pick what I wanted. I hadn't seen Alex yet; often, I’d choose the pastry of the day so I didn't struggle to decide.

“What do you think he’s done?” she whispered.

Thinking back to Van, I replied, “What makes you think he’s done anything?”

Ellie looked over at me and rolled her eyes. “Come on, Bailey. A man doesn't act that shady if he’s innocent.”

That was what he’d tried to tell me, but I’d only half believed him. “I’ve gone down the list of things I can think of. Assassin, secret agent, kidnapper, serial killer. But none of them fit.”

“Why, because you want to climb him like a tree?” Laughing, she dodged me when I tried to punch her shoulder. “I can’t blame a girl for trying, but he screams danger.”

“It’s more intrigue than actual danger.”

“Or maybe you've read too many dirty books where the villain falls in love with the plain Jane and they live happily ever after.”

I didn't let her words bother me, because she was kind of right. “You’ve got me there.”

But he wasn't the bad guy, I was positive of that. He was obviously running from something or someone bad, though.

Alex came into the kitchen, and I wandered up front to stare into the cases. He knew as much about me as his wife did, but I didn't always feel as open when talking with him. I didn't want them to realize I was obsessed with Van and what he’d done in his past.

“Hey, I was just playing around,” Ellie said as she joined me up front.

“I know.” Sighing, I added, “But maybe you hit too close to home, and I didn't like it.”

“Nothing wrong with having a thing for the hot, brooding stranger.”

A ‘thing’ was an understatement. “Anyway, I have to get next door.”

“Here,” Alex said as he came out of the kitchen. “Fresh scones with orange marmalade.”

“Don’t tell your wife how much I love you,” I teased, winking at her as I walked out with my cat on my heels.

Thankfully, the morning was busy, because otherwise I would have spent the time overthinking about what Ellie had said about Van. She thought he was a villain, and the more I thought about it, the more I believed she was right.

Chapter 7

Van