Montana.”
“Really?” She snuck another peek at him. “Why are you back?”
“I’m back to clear up some unfinished business. Two months ago, my ex-wife died. Because of all the legalities, I had to return to straighten them out.” He looked straight ahead. “Besides, the change in scenery is good. It feels different being back home again.”
“That’s understandable.” She paused for a brief moment, trying to think of what else to say. Keeping the conversation flowing was essential if she didn’t want him becoming suspicious. “During our last conversation, you mentioned you had twins. How old are they?”
He looked at her and she thought she saw anger in his eyes, but just as quickly as the expression came, it was gone. “I told you I had twins?”
“Yes.” Her heart pounded faster as her mind scrambled to remember their conversation at the pancake house. Did he mention that? She prayed he did. “I think you mentioned a boy and a girl.”
His expression relaxed. “They are four years old.”
She smiled. “That’s a fun age.”
His brows rose. “You have children?”
“No, but I have three nephews, ranging in age from two to ten. They are the most fun around four or five. They’re eager to learn, yet stubborn enough to try things on their own.”
Shane’s smile widened and he laughed. “That’s a good way to describe it.”
Gradually, her heart rate returned to normal—for running, anyway—and the worry she experienced earlier had left. Heaven help her, but she enjoyed seeing Shane smile, and she especially liked hearing him laugh. He was almost like the Shane she remembered from college.
Everything seemed to be going good now. She prayed she could keep their conversation light-hearted. As long as he didn’t touch her again, she’d be fine.
She hoped.
* * * *
Shane focused on the track, trying to remember what he’d said to Katelyn at Grandma’s Pancake House. He didn’t recall mentioning he had a boy and a girl, just said something about his children.
Distrust grew inside of him like an ulcer. Now he was certain she did know him. He’d have to lay his charm on thick and befriend the suspicious woman, while at the same time, not give away his main purpose.
“So, Katelyn, how long have you been writing romance books?”
Suddenly, she became stiff and wouldn’t meet his eyes.
“About seven years.”
“How many books do you have published?”
“I had just finished my tenth the morning we met.”
“Wow, unbelievable.”
Her cheeks flamed. “Thank you.”
“I’ve known a few people who’ve tried writing, but even after seven years, they still didn’t get a single word published. How did you get so lucky?”
She shrugged. “I have no idea.”
“Have you lived in the San Diego area your whole life? Perhaps you’ve made some influential friends?”
She laughed. “Yes, I’ve lived here all my life, but I only met influential friends after I’d published my first book.”
“What did you do before you were a writer?”
Her eyes widened and color left her face. Or was it just the way the outside lights hit her as she ran underneath? Suddenly, she stopped, her breaths heavy with exhaustion, as were his.
“Sorry I had to stop. I haven’t run for a week, and I’m out of practice.”
“That’s okay. I’m ready to stop.” He waited for her to meet his eyes, but she didn’t. Guilt etched her face, making him more leery of her. “Do you want to sit for a few minutes? In fact, I have a better idea. Do you want to go with me and get a cup of coffee?”
Her wide eyes finally met his, and this time he knew the color had left her face.
“Thanks for the invitation, but I don’t drink coffee. I really must be going home now, anyway. It was nice running with you. I hope to see you again.” She smiled, turned and hurried away from the track to the beat-up old jeep waiting in a parking stall.
Sighing heavily, Shane ran his fingers through his damp hair
“Really?” She snuck another peek at him. “Why are you back?”
“I’m back to clear up some unfinished business. Two months ago, my ex-wife died. Because of all the legalities, I had to return to straighten them out.” He looked straight ahead. “Besides, the change in scenery is good. It feels different being back home again.”
“That’s understandable.” She paused for a brief moment, trying to think of what else to say. Keeping the conversation flowing was essential if she didn’t want him becoming suspicious. “During our last conversation, you mentioned you had twins. How old are they?”
He looked at her and she thought she saw anger in his eyes, but just as quickly as the expression came, it was gone. “I told you I had twins?”
“Yes.” Her heart pounded faster as her mind scrambled to remember their conversation at the pancake house. Did he mention that? She prayed he did. “I think you mentioned a boy and a girl.”
His expression relaxed. “They are four years old.”
She smiled. “That’s a fun age.”
His brows rose. “You have children?”
“No, but I have three nephews, ranging in age from two to ten. They are the most fun around four or five. They’re eager to learn, yet stubborn enough to try things on their own.”
Shane’s smile widened and he laughed. “That’s a good way to describe it.”
Gradually, her heart rate returned to normal—for running, anyway—and the worry she experienced earlier had left. Heaven help her, but she enjoyed seeing Shane smile, and she especially liked hearing him laugh. He was almost like the Shane she remembered from college.
Everything seemed to be going good now. She prayed she could keep their conversation light-hearted. As long as he didn’t touch her again, she’d be fine.
She hoped.
* * * *
Shane focused on the track, trying to remember what he’d said to Katelyn at Grandma’s Pancake House. He didn’t recall mentioning he had a boy and a girl, just said something about his children.
Distrust grew inside of him like an ulcer. Now he was certain she did know him. He’d have to lay his charm on thick and befriend the suspicious woman, while at the same time, not give away his main purpose.
“So, Katelyn, how long have you been writing romance books?”
Suddenly, she became stiff and wouldn’t meet his eyes.
“About seven years.”
“How many books do you have published?”
“I had just finished my tenth the morning we met.”
“Wow, unbelievable.”
Her cheeks flamed. “Thank you.”
“I’ve known a few people who’ve tried writing, but even after seven years, they still didn’t get a single word published. How did you get so lucky?”
She shrugged. “I have no idea.”
“Have you lived in the San Diego area your whole life? Perhaps you’ve made some influential friends?”
She laughed. “Yes, I’ve lived here all my life, but I only met influential friends after I’d published my first book.”
“What did you do before you were a writer?”
Her eyes widened and color left her face. Or was it just the way the outside lights hit her as she ran underneath? Suddenly, she stopped, her breaths heavy with exhaustion, as were his.
“Sorry I had to stop. I haven’t run for a week, and I’m out of practice.”
“That’s okay. I’m ready to stop.” He waited for her to meet his eyes, but she didn’t. Guilt etched her face, making him more leery of her. “Do you want to sit for a few minutes? In fact, I have a better idea. Do you want to go with me and get a cup of coffee?”
Her wide eyes finally met his, and this time he knew the color had left her face.
“Thanks for the invitation, but I don’t drink coffee. I really must be going home now, anyway. It was nice running with you. I hope to see you again.” She smiled, turned and hurried away from the track to the beat-up old jeep waiting in a parking stall.
Sighing heavily, Shane ran his fingers through his damp hair
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