Page 67 of Secret Sins

Unsure what to say, I stood in the warm kitchen as a chill seeped into my body. It was soul-deep, threatening, and I couldn't pinpoint its origin. "Alex."

"Bailey?" With a frown, Alex crossed the room and held his arms out.

The simple embrace calmed a small piece of the storm inside me. "I have no idea what's up with me today, but I'm spooked."

"It's early as hell. What are you gonna do this morning?" He looked concerned, but I wasn't sure what he could do for me.

"Coffee. Food. Then maybe visit Ro." I hadn't really seen her in a while, so maybe I'd get some grocery shopping knocked out before Bookish opened. She'd be at Of the Ocean by now, setting out the day's fresh produce and fish.

"Good plan. Need me to keep an eye on Furry Fucker?"

Chuckling, I felt better already. "I can send him back upstairs to keep Heidi entertained."

Which I did before accepting the large coffee and handful of banana nut muffins to share with Ro and Liam. I wished I could stop in and see Van since I would be so close, but I knew better than that. Most days, he didn't even stop for lunch.

The lights along the marina beckoned, and I meandered to my friends' store as I sipped coffee. We'd figure something out, that was all there was to it.

Stepping inside, I listened to the sound of the ocean disappearing at my back with the closing of the door. Ro came up the main aisle, a smile splitting her face when she spotted me.

"Bay!" Nearly rushing me, she wrapped me up in a hug and rested her chin on my head. "Haven't seen you in ages."

"Sorry."

"That's okay." She stepped back. "I hear it's because you have a new man."

My cheeks heated. "You've heard correctly."

"Who's here so early, Ro?" Liam came up front, grinning when he saw me.

"You two have a way of making me feel special," I commented as he picked me up in a bear hug.

"What's up, buttercup?" he asked.

"I needed to get out of my head, so I brought muffins."

"Alex is a baking god," Ro said, snagging a muffin out of the bag I held up and passing it to Liam.

He moaned as he took a bite, winking at her. Her cheeks flushing, she pushed against his shoulder while I bit back a smile.

"Why are you in your head?" Ro asked finally.

"Weird guy creeping around. He was in my shop the other day, and then in the bakery yesterday."

"That is weird, but why would it bother you?"

Oh, how best to answer her question? "You both know Van by now."

Nodding, Liam said, "You don't have to explain anything else."

"Really? Why?" I was unaware they knew about his background.

"Anyone who pays in cash, avoids humans, and skulks around town is self-explanatory."

"The same could be said for this new guy, though," I pointed out. "And Van is a good guy who did the right thing in the wrong manner."

Liam snorted. "That certainly clears things up."

Impatient with the thought he was judging Van, I snapped, "Surely, you know his character by now. You see him every day."