had gotten caught... Where would they be now if the judge had kicked them out of the program?
And yet the judge had asked him to help Charlie as if... Shep smiled. As if he’d known about the two of them.
At the sound of a key in the lock, Shep quickly slipped the photo into the photo album and put it back where he’d gotten it. He glanced at his watch as he picked up his beer. What was Charlie doing back so soon?
He rose as she came in the door. One glance at her and he could tell that she’d been crying.
He opened his mouth to ask what had happened, but quickly closed it when she said, “Not one word. I do not want to hear it. First someone sent me a dead mouse and then I find you of all people on my front step and I see...” Her voice broke.
Shep would bet that Daniel had been a bigger jerk after they’d left. “Have you had anything to eat?”
She shook her head.
“I’m ordering Chinese because I’m starved and you really don’t have anything to eat in your refrigerator.”
She nodded and went into the bedroom, closing the door behind her as he pulled out his cell and made the call.
* * *
CHARLIE TOOK HER time changing into jeans and a T-shirt. As she hung up the red dress she’d bought with Daniel in mind, she felt both sad and angry. All he’d wanted to do was get it off of her. She tried not to cry. She didn’t want to even think about her so-called date.
Daniel hadn’t wanted to go to dinner and a movie. He’d suggested fast food and going back to her place because a couple of friends were still staying at his. With Shep at her apartment, that wasn’t happening. She’d made excuses when in truth she’d just wanted a quiet dinner in a real restaurant and a sappy movie—just as she’d told Daniel.
“What? A rom-com?” he’d demanded. “I hate to pay good money for a movie that we could watch at your place and be more comfortable, you know what I mean?”
She knew what he meant. They’d argued and he’d brought her home. Before that, she’d even considered telling him about Lindy at dinner—and about Shep. But it was clear that he had only one thing on his mind and it wasn’t food. Nor was it hearing anything about her day. Or taking into consideration what she wanted and needed.
She knew she wouldn’t have argued with him if her day hadn’t been such a disaster—and his apparently as well. She’d been glad when he’d taken her back to her apartment, then sped away after she made it clear that he wouldn’t be coming up.
Still she didn’t like leaving things the way she had. She would call and talk to him tomorrow—once she got rid of Shep.
Seeing Shep again on top of everything had thrown her for a loop. All those old feelings had come rushing back at the mere sight of him. He’d saved her all those years ago at Judge Landusky’s boot camp in more ways than one.
But the big one had been on the obstacle course one day. Exhausted, covered with mud, sick and tired of everything, she’d fallen from a rope fence and lay facedown in what smelled like a pigsty when she’d felt someone grab her by the waist of her jeans and haul her to her feet.
She’d thought it was one of the judge’s wardens and had been ready to tell him what he could do with his boot camp. To her surprise, it was Shep. Their first meeting hadn’t gone well so this was very unexpected. He’d insisted she go first through the rest of the course and when she’d faltered, ready to give up and go to jail, he hadn’t let her. He’d met her gaze and said, “I’ll be right behind you. You can do this.”
Charlie had found some inner strength and finished the obstacle course. True to his word, Shep had stayed behind her, watching her back. He’d picked her up at a time when she’d needed it desperately and here he was again.
With a curse, she knew she was going to have to tell him about Lindy—all of it. He was the last person she wanted to confess to about the horrible thing she’d done. Just the thought of telling him made her stomach twist. Why had the judge sent him of all people?
Unfortunately, he wouldn’t