Page 79 of The Promise

Karine grinned. “It’s not just that, but I guess what I’m really trying to say is that inviting me along made me feel like ... you actually want to be around me. Most people don’t, or they’re afraid of me. Confused by me. It’s not their fault. I’m not an easy person to understand. I know that.”

Claire sucked in a deep breath. “You don’t scare me. You don’t scare any of us, Karine. Is that strange to you?”

“Yes, it is.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. I’m just not used to people who care.”

“A shame, that,” Claire muttered. “I’m sure it’s a big change, but I guess ... at least it’s a change for the better. Even if it does feel strange.”

Yeah.

She told herself that a lot, too.

Karine opened her mouth to say something more, but it was then that someone bumped into her. It was nothing more than a quick brush of the shoulder against her back as they passed by a crowded stall close to another.

A simple mistake.

Even she knew it.

Still, Karine gasped, the swell of panic tumbling her forward, but Claire grabbed her with both hands. Once more, her racing heart was back slamming against her rib cage with every hard beat that made breathing impossible.

“You’re okay, Karine. It was just someone walking past. It’s nothing to worry about.” Claire searched her wild gaze, peering straight into Karine’s soul and trying to keep her attention with every carefully chosen assurance. Her next gulp of air was still caught painfully in her throat, refusing to push through the tight column of muscles choking her silent.

“Should we just go back to the lodge? There’s nothing more to see here anyway.”

Karine nodded frantically. “Yeah, please, if you wouldn’t mind. Let’s go back.”

Truthfully, she had lasted way longer at the farmer’s market than she actually expected to. That was a win in her book, even if it ended like it did. Not every step forward had to be a leap.

Right?

SEVENTEEN

When Roman arrived at the lodge, he couldn’t find Karine anywhere. His gut reaction was to panic—despite the fact that he knew someone would have informed him if anything had happened to her, there was no ignoring the cold trickle of fear starting to seep through his bloodstream.

No matter how irrational, it was there.

Roman had been waiting for this moment, for the second when he could lay his eyes on her again, and she’d take his breath away. Like she did the first time he saw her in the pool at the Yazov mansion. Most nights, he still went to sleep rewatching that scene in his mind.

“Roman!”

His mother’s startled exclamation greeted him instead of Karine. She’d found him standing silently in the middle of the lodge’s kitchen. He didn’t realize he’d been staring blankly out through the kitchen window until he was forced to turn away from it.

Since he left, Roman had come to realize how easy it was to lose himself in thoughts about how far they’d come together already—Karine and him.

It felt like a lifetime.

He knew that meant something.

It had to.

“Hey, Ma.”

Claire rushed his way, throwing her arms out so he could pull her in for a tight hug. “What are you doing here—does your father know you came?”

Roman didn’t want to answer that, but silence was also an answer, and it didn’t feel right, either. “I’m here because I had to see her, Ma. Where is she?”