The Only Shark In The Sea (The Date Shark Series Book 3) by DelSheree Gladden

invitation was surprisingly tempting…but equally terrifying. This was what she wanted, right? It was the reason she had called Guy in the first place. Could she really do it, though? Could she face going out socially and being around strangers where she might not be able to hide?
    “Natalie,” Vance said softly, “you can do this.”
    “Can I?” How could he be so sure when she wasn’t?
    His response was immediate. “Yes.”
    Closing her eyes, Natalie took in a deep breath. She made it through work every week. It was terrible and she felt like her heart was going to give out each morning, but she did it every single day without falling to pieces. This couldn’t possibly be any worse, right?
    “Okay,” she said, biting her lip hard a second later.
    “Are you sure?” Vance asked.
    He didn’t seem surprised by her response, which caught Natalie off guard. Why did he have so much faith in her? Shaking it off, she said, “No, but I’m going to try all the same.”
    “Good,” Vance said. “I’ll be by to pick you up in thirty minutes.”
    She hung up a few seconds later and sat on the couch, waiting for the reality of what just happened to hit her. It did. Panic choked her and she feared she would start hyperventilating. It wasn’t until Gypsy jumped up and starting licking her face like a maniac that she got hold of herself. She was going out…with friends…like a normal person. She’d never been more scared in her life, but she stood up from the couch and took a deep breath. If she was going out, she should probably wash the dog slobber off her face first.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 7
     
     
    The Last Time
     
    The ride from her apartment to Sansa’s was quiet. That was fine with Natalie. She was too busy freaking out to say anything, anyway. By the time they pulled into a parking space near the restaurant-slash-studio, or whatever it was, Natalie was nearly ready to run back to her apartment, but Vance had become a strangely steadying force.
    “I think you’re going to enjoy this,” Vance reassured her before stepping out of the car and rushing around to Natalie’s side. He opened the door slowly so as not to startle her.
    Trembling with fear and just a little bit of excitement, Natalie forced herself out of the car. As soon as she was on her feet, she wrapped her arms around her middle and scanned the immediate area for potential interactions with strangers. There were two women walking toward the doors, but they were clear across the parking lot and didn’t pose any real threat. The rest of the area was clear. Natalie had almost come to terms with what they were doing when a gorgeous blonde caught Vance’s attention.
    “Sabine,” he said with a warm smile. “Thanks for coming.”
    Once she returned Vance’s welcome, Sabine turned to Natalie with a smile. “I assume you are the Natalie I have heard so much about.”
    Fear that Stephanie hadn’t held up her end of the confidentiality agreement tried to edge into her mind but she remembered what Vance had said and managed to say, “I hope I don’t disappoint.”
    “I doubt that is possible,” Sabine reassured her.
    Her French accent and the easy confidence behind her words were somewhat distracting, but Natalie found herself relaxing. Despite being new at trusting people, she accepted Sabine’s friendliness and tried very hard not to let her ever-present panic escalate any further.
    Seeming used to taking control, Sabine glanced at them. “We are all ready to go in, yes?”
    Vance glanced over at Natalie before nodding. “Let’s go.”
    Neither one made a move to leave until she took the first step. Amazed by their patience, Natalie almost managed a smile by the time they got to the front door. Shock replaced everything else when they stepped into the building.
    Natalie wasn’t really sure what to make of the space. She took in the high wooden tables and stools paired with large easels. Each easel was already equipped