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Seeing Mandy in that dress was helping ease his anger. He really wanted to pull her onto his lap and devour her. That flirty little hem had his fingers itching to touch her soft skin.
“It’s not like I’ve done this before.”
“Just show me already, will you. I’m sure you did great.”
“No. I probably—”
“Mandy.” He placed his hand on top of hers. “You have to start somewhere. Stop putting yourself down, it’s annoying.”
“Right… you’re right. It’s a go-to for me, and I know I need to change that.”
Surprised that she was talking like this to him of all people, Ted said, “It’s hard to change what we’ve always been.”
“It is.”
“Mandy, will you tell me why you freaked out when you thought that photographer was taking pictures of you?”
She eased her hand from beneath his and messed about with the papers. This was another go-to for her. She tried to look busy when someone asked a question she didn’t want to answer.
“I really can’t tell you.”
At least she was being honest.
“Because it relates to your past?”
She nodded.
“And you don’t want people seeing your picture anywhere?”
“Yes.”
Ted was fairly good at joining dots, and he came up with two scenarios right off; neither one he liked. Witness protection, or she had someone in her past who she never wanted to find her.
“How old were you when you came to Ryker Falls?”
“Nine, and I’m not telling you what you want to know.”
“Can I ask one more question? You know I’d never tell anyone what we discuss, Mandy, don’t you?”
She exhaled slowly, then sank into the chair across from him.
“I’m not big on trust, Ted. But yes, I know I can trust you.”
Her words made him feel ridiculously happy.
“Just as I trust you with my past.”
“I don’t know anything about your past.”
“Fair point.”
“I know you had a sister, but are there others?”
“There are.” He had an aversion to sharing any details about his past, like her. He enjoyed the anonymity that he had here in Ryker Falls. But he’d tell her some things if it meant she shared details with him.
“How long have you lived away from your family?”
“Fourteen years.” He kept his voice even, but inside his heart had started thudding.
