this Amanda’s doing? She stepped past Shep to face Daniel. “We broke up, so I ask again what are you doing here?”
“I was invited. Remember? You invited me.” Daniel’s tone was peevish.
With a groan, she remembered that she had. It seemed like eons ago.
“But we broke up. Why would you come after—”
“I tried to reach you first,” he said. At her raised brow, he added, “Well, I thought about calling you but then decided maybe it would be better just to see you here.” He looked past her back into the room. “Wow, didn’t take you long.”
“You and I broke up.”
“I thought once you calmed down... Still...” He looked again into the room at Shep.
She stepped out into the hall, forcing Daniel to move back from the door. She wanted to close the door for this discussion but didn’t want Shep to think she had anything to hide. She didn’t.
“It isn’t what you think,” she said quietly.
Daniel smirked.
“Shep is an old boyfriend who came back to...” She realized that maybe that’s what it had been at first. But it was now exactly what he thought. “It isn’t any of your business.”
“Still,” Daniel repeated and glanced down the empty hallway for a moment. “You heard about Jason.”
She nodded. “I’m sorry.”
He shrugged and looked at her again. “So I guess you don’t want me here.”
“It’s a bit awkward since we broke up and I’ve moved on.”
“I can see that but you’re cool me with staying, right? I thought I’d ski since I’m here.”
She rolled her eyes.
“Hey, I didn’t even know we were broken up, so cut me some slack.”
“Look, Daniel, I don’t care what you do, but you and I are done.”
He looked down at his ski boots for a moment. “So I suppose you don’t want your Christmas present.”
“No, I don’t.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Out of curiosity, what did you get me?” Please don’t let it be an engagement ring. She didn’t need more guilt.
He brightened. “Three of my favorite video games. I thought we could play them at your place and it would give us something more in common.”
Her friends thought he was going to ask him to marry her. She tried to keep her face straight as she said, “That was a thoughtful gift.”
“I was trying, Charlie.”
He probably thought he had been. “You aren’t coming to the wedding though, right?” she asked.
“It’s in the morning?”
She nodded.
“No, I think I’ll ski instead. There’s supposed to be fresh powder.”
“Good choice.” She turned to go back into the room.
“No hard feelings,” Daniel said. “Maybe I can return the video games and get my money back.”
She watched him walk away for a moment, then turned back to her open door—and caught movement at the other end of the hallway. It was only a glimpse of a figure—with long blond hair.
This time she didn’t hesitate. She took off running down the hallway, shoving open the door to the stairs before bounding down them. This time Lacey wasn’t going to get away.
* * *
SHEP HAD TRIED not to listen to Charlie’s conversation with her former boyfriend. He knew she’d left the door open on purpose. He smiled to himself, thinking of what she would say when she came back into the room after allowing him to overhear everything.
Daniel had gotten her three of his favorite video games? What a romantic. Shep knew he shouldn’t make fun of the guy, but it just proved how wrong he’d been for her.
And you’re so right for her?
Yeah, he was, he told himself. Even though he’d just heard her refer to him as “an old boyfriend.” And then she’d added that it wasn’t any of Daniel’s business. All Shep knew was that he’d move heaven and earth to make her happy. Isn’t that why the judge had asked him to come see what was going on with her?
As the conversation died down outside the room, he suddenly saw Charlie take off at a run down the hall.
What the hell? He jumped up and rushed out of the room in time to see her take the stairs. Where was she going in such a hurry?
He didn’t know, but his pounding heart told him that given the way she’d taken off, it couldn’t be good. He ran down the hallway and shoved open the exit door. He could hear the clamor of footfalls echoing up through the stairwell.
Taking the stairs as fast as he could, he went after her. What would make her do something like this?
A