Moon Shadows by Nora Roberts

heightened senses, Simone figured she’d have heard the woman coming from a block away.
    She was the open, chatty, cheerful sort Simone thought she’d have enjoyed being friends with, if she allowed herself friends. Someone she’d be able to sit down with, over drinksand a lot of laughs. As it was, they got along well enough, and Shelley, with her vivacious personality and organized soul, was an ideal choice to manage the shop.
    â€œDidn’t expect you to come by until next week,” Shelley said.
    â€œI finished some stock, and since I had a couple of errands in town, I thought I’d bring it by now.”
    â€œGreat. Hope you made more of that new potpourri. Autumn Forest? It’s already flying out the door, and we’re running low on the eye pillows. Simone, I love the new hand cream—the seaweed stuff. It’s like magic, and I’ve been—har har—hand-selling it like mad. I was going to send you an inventory list today.”
    â€œI’ll take care of it.”
    â€œYou look fabulous.” Cocking her head, Shelley studied Simone’s face. “Charged up, I’d say. Got some other new magic cream you’re not sharing with the rest of us yet?”
    Did love show, like it did in storybooks and novels? Put stars in your eyes, roses in your cheeks? “No, but I’m working on a few things.”
    â€œWhen you’ve got it bottled, I’ll be happy to try it out, whatever it is. Want some tea? I’m making some of our Lemon Twist.”
    â€œNo, thanks. I have a couple of errands, like I said, then I need to get back.” She hooked on Amico’s leash. She started out, then hesitated. “Shelley, let me ask you a hypothetical.”
    â€œFire away.”
    â€œIf you were interested in someone, a man—”
    â€œI’m always interested in a man.”
    â€œSo when you are, very interested, and there’s something about you that you’ve made a strict policy to keep private, do you feel you have to open that door, to be completely honest?”
    â€œPretty heavy hypothetical.”
    â€œI guess it is.”
    â€œI’d say it would depend on the private thing. If it’s like I did ten years in the federal pen, then I’d probably spill it. If it’s more like I had liposuction, well, I’m entitled to my little secrets.”
    â€œSo the more important it is, the more necessary it is to be honest.”
    â€œWell, if I’d had lipo, I’d consider that pretty damn important, but yeah. But I’d say it hinges on just how deep the interest is, on both sides.”
    â€œThat’s what I thought. Thanks.”
    She’d have to judge it, Simone ruminated as she walked Amico toward the vet’s office. She’d have to be sure her own feelings, needs, hopes, weren’t coloring her perception of his.
    If he loved her, she had to tell him before things went any further. Not only because it was right, but for his own protection.
    If it was just infatuation on both their parts, she could live with that. She’d lived with less. Then she would keep her secret and enjoy him within her own safety zone.
    Outside the door, she crouched to reassure the dog. “Just a visit, that’s all. Quick in and out, and no exam for you.”
    She walked in just as Gabe walked out of the exam room beside an enormous, bearded man holding a tiny yellow kitten in his massive hands.
    Their eyes met, and she knew infatuation, on her part at least, didn’t come close.
    â€œTrudy’s all set,” Gabe said, giving the kitten a scratch behind the ears. “No more table scraps, even if she begs.”
    â€œThanks, Doc.”
    As he moved toward the desk, the kitten arched her back, hissed at Simone.
    â€œJeez, lady, sorry. She’s a little upset, is all.” He gathered the kitten close to the barrel of his chest as she spat and arched. “Your dog probably made her