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He was studying the ass in question when Liam stiffened. He stopped messing with his phone and put one hand against the window. He leaned into it, turning his head one way then the other, as if looking for something.
Liam cursed and turned from the window.
“What?”
“Her car’s still here.”
Hunter frowned. “So?”
“Christ, have you been gone that long? She didn’t drive over to Adele’s place. She didn’t take the car at all, which means she’s walking. Alone. In Baltimore. At night.”
Hunter thought about his drive in. Yeah, he’d gone through some sketchy areas not too far from here. Alarm raised the hairs on the back of his neck. “Son of a bitch. We need to find her.”
Chapter Five
Kat walked until the cold numbed her nose and she didn’t recognize the street signs. Turning back to head home was more an act of good sense than desire to return. A big part of her wanted to find a cab and take it...somewhere. Far away from Liam, Hunter and the life they’d wrecked.
She’d enjoyed that life. It had taken her a long time to say a final goodbye to the possibility of anything with Hunter, but once she put him behind her, she’d created the life she’d always wanted. Every day she woke up in love with Liam and every night she went to sleep even more in love. She and Liam had a beautiful home and successful careers that made them happy. They even had plans to start a family. Distant plans, but still plans. When she’d gotten out of bed that morning, she’d had no idea something was missing...something that Liam had taken away.
Anger and hurt fought a battle in her chest that left her heart aching. The ugly suspicion that Liam had manipulated her choices challenged everything she thought she knew about them as a couple. They needed to talk but she couldn’t stand the thought of looking at him. Not right now. Which meant not going home yet.
Back in familiar territory geographically, if not emotionally, she ducked into a coffee shop. The pastry case was down to nothing but scraps and the guy cleaning up behind the counter looked worn out under his red velour Santa hat.
He smiled at her despite the bah humbug embroidered on his hat. “Triple espresso to get you through the late-night wrapping?”
Kat grimaced. “I think Christmas is a bust this year. It’s definitely reached the ‘need to cry into my hot chocolate’ point. If you have any brownies, I’ll take one of those, too.”
“Ouch. Sorry, but no brownies. What you need is a double-hitter of extra marshmallows and whipped cream.” He grabbed the biggest size paper cup and got to work on her drink.
“Yeah.” Kat placed her credit card on the counter and unzipped the fleece she’d thrown on in her hurry to leave the house.
The café door swung open. A stream of cold air ushered cheerful laughter, festive song and a boisterous pair of college students. Even though she didn’t want to see the happy couples and families walking the sidewalks, she couldn’t stop herself from looking. A minute later, she turned away from the scene. She should be out there in the brisk air, Liam and Hunter flanking her, their deep voices drowning out her contribution to a Christmas carol. Not in a nearly empty coffee shop, alone, while her husband and the man who might have been did...whatever they were doing. Probably killing each other.
After paying, Kat pocketed her credit card and took her drink to a small corner table. She closed her eyes and inhaled the rich scent of chocolate wafting from her cup. The aroma should have comforted her. It didn’t.
Her thoughts kept whirling in circles, tangling up in painful knots of hurt and anger and longing. Longing for the marriage she’d had just an hour before. Longing for what she’d thought she couldn’t have. For Hunter. And that added guilt to her cocktail of wrecked emotions.
Too nauseous to sip from her cup, she set it aside. What the hell was she supposed to do now?
“Hey. I’ve gotta close up.” She looked up to see the barista standing at her table.
With a sigh, she moved to pick up her cup.
The barista put a hand on her arm. “Look, I still have to clean up, get everything closed out. If you’re okay with me working around you, you can stay until I’m ready to go.”
Unexpected tears clogged her throat. “Thanks,” she said thickly.
He smiled at her, rag in hand. “It’s Christmas Eve. Take your time.”
Christmas. Right. She watched him wipe down a table. Her holiday spirit was shot all to hell.
Her phone chirped and she pulled it from her pocket. She knew what she’d see, so she ignored the incoming text and speed dialed Adele. She answered on the third ring, but her voice was nearly drowned out by the people chattering in the background.
“Hey,” Kat greeted. “Sorry. I forgot you were with Jay’s family tonight.”
Adele gave a verbal shrug. “Meh. They don’t need me to fight over who screwed up his great-grandmother’s cookie recipe. Besides, Michael and Ryan tagged along, so that’s causing all kinds of fun. What’s up?”
“I wanted to wish you a merry Christmas,” Kat lied.
