Except for Jo.
The realization was enough to leave her breathless and she glanced at the cottage next door. Her neighbor, she thought, had betrayed her. Her friend had betrayed her-
As fast as her mind was working, Alex's was working as well. He could see the fear in her expression, but he'd seen it before. Too many times. And, he knew, it was time to stop playing games if they wanted to be able to move forward.
"No one told me," he assured her. "But your reaction makes it clear that I'm right. That's not the important question. I don't know that person, Katie. If you want to tell me about your past, I'm willing to listen and help in any way I can, but I'm not going to ask you about it. And if you don't want to tell me, that's okay, too, because, again-I never knew that person. You must have a good reason for keeping it secret, and that means I'm not going to tell anyone, either. No matter what happens, or doesn't happen, between us. Go ahead and make up a brand-new history if you want and I'll back you up word for word. You can trust me on that."
Katie stared at him as he spoke, confused and scared and angry, but absorbing every word.
"But … how?"
"I've learned to notice things that other people don't," he went on. "There was a time in my life when that was all I did. And you're not the first woman I've met in your position."
She continued to stare at him, wheels turning. "When you were in the army," she concluded.
He nodded, holding her gaze. Finally, he stood from the chair and took a cautious step toward her. "Can I pour you another glass of wine?"
Still in turmoil, she couldn't answer, but when he reached for her glass, she let him take it. The porch door opened with a squeak and closed behind him, leaving her alone.
She paced to the railing, her thoughts chaotic. She fought the instinct to pack a bag and grab her coffee can full of money and leave town as soon as she could.
But what then? If Alex could figure out the truth simply by watching her, then it was possible for someone else to figure it out, too. And maybe, just maybe, they wouldn't be like Alex.
Behind her, she heard the door squeak open again. Alex stepped onto the porch, joining her at the railing. He set the glass in front of her.
"Did you figure it out yet?"
"Figure what out?"
"Whether you're going to take off to parts unknown as soon as you can?"
She turned to him, her face registering shock.
He held open his hands. "What else would you be thinking? But just so you know, I'm curious only because I'm kind of hungry. I'd hate for you to leave before we eat."
It took her a moment to realize he was teasing, and though she wouldn't have believed it possible considering the last few minutes, she found herself smiling in relief.
"We'll have dinner," she said.
"And tomorrow?"
Instead of answering, she reached for her wine. "I want to know how you knew."
"It wasn't one thing," he said. He mentioned a few of the things he'd noticed before finally shaking his head. "Most people wouldn't have put it all together."
She studied the depths of her glass. "But you did."
"I couldn't help it. It's kind of ingrained."
She thought about it. "That means you've known for a while, then. Or at least had suspicions."
"Yes," he admitted.
"Which is why you never asked about my past."
"Yes," he said again.
"And you still wanted to go out with me?"
His expression was serious. "I've wanted to go out with you from the first moment I saw you. I just had to wait until you were ready."
With the last of the sunlight fading from the horizon, twilight descended, turning the flat, cloudless sky a pale violet. They stood at the railing and Alex watched as the southern breeze gently lifted wayward strands of her hair. Her skin took on a peachy glow; he saw the subtle rise and fall of her chest as she breathed. She gazed into the distance, her expression unreadable, and Alex felt something catch in his throat as he wondered what she was thinking.
"You never answered my question," he finally said.
She stayed quiet for a moment before a shy smile finally appeared.
"I think I'm going to stay in Southport for a while, if that's what you're asking," she answered.
He breathed in her scent. "You can trust me, you know."
She leaned into him, feeling his strength as he slipped his arm around her. "I guess I'm going to have to, aren't I?"
* * *
They returned to the kitchen a few minutes later. Katie set her glass of wine aside as she slid the appetizer and stuffed peppers into the oven. Still reeling from Alex's disturbingly accurate assessment of her past, she was glad for tasks to keep her busy. It was hard to fathom that he still wanted to spend an evening with her. And more important, that she wanted to spend an evening with him. Deep in her heart, she wasn't sure she deserved to be happy, nor did she believe that she was worthy of someone who seemed … normal.
That was the dirty secret associated with her past. Not that she'd been abused but that somehow she felt that she deserved it because she'd let it happen. Even now, it shamed her, and there were times when she felt hideously ugly, as though the scars that had been left behind were visible to everyone.
But here and now, it mattered less than it once had, because she somehow suspected that Alex understood her shame. And accepted that, too.
From the refrigerator, she pulled out the raspberry sauce she'd made earlier, and began spooning it into a small saucepan to reheat. It didn't take long, and after setting it aside, she pulled the bacon-wrapped Brie from the oven, topped it with the sauce, and brought the cheese to the table. Suddenly remembering, she retrieved her wine from the counter and joined Alex at the table.
"This is just to start," she said. "The peppers are going to take a little longer."
He leaned toward the platter. "It smells amazing."
He moved a piece of Brie to his plate and took a bite. "Wow," he said.
She grinned. "Good, huh?"
"It's delicious. Where did you learn to do this?"
"I was friends with a chef once. He told me this would wow just about anyone."
He cut another piece with his fork. "I'm glad you're staying in Southport," he said. "I can easily imagine myself eating this regularly, even if I have to barter items at my store to get it."
"The recipe isn't complicated."
"You haven't seen me cook. I'm great with kid food, but after that, it starts going downhill fast."
He reached for his glass and took a sip of wine. "I think the cheese might go better with the red. Do you mind if I open the other bottle?"
"Not at all."
He walked over to the counter and opened the zinfandel while Katie went to the cupboard and removed two more glasses. Alex poured wine into each and handed one to her. They were standing close enough to brush up against each other and Alex had to fight the urge to pull her close and wrap his arms around her. Instead, he cleared his throat.
"I want to tell you something, but I don't want you to take it the wrong way."
She hesitated. "Why don't I like the sound of this?"
"I just wanted to tell you how much I've been looking forward to tonight. I mean … I've been thinking about it all week."
"Why would I take that the wrong way?"
"I don't know. Because you're a woman? Because it makes me sound desperate and women don't like desperate men?"
For the first time that evening, she laughed easily. "I don't think you're desperate. I get the sense you might be a bit overwhelmed at times because of the business and the kids, but it's not like you've been calling me every day."
"That's only because you don't have a phone. But anyway, I wanted you to know that it means a lot to me. I don't have a lot of experience in things like this."
"Dinner?"
"Dating. It's been a while."
Join the club, she thought to herself. But it made her feel good anyway. "Come on," she said, motioning to the appetizer. "It's better when it's warm."
When the appetizer was finished, Katie rose from the table and went to the oven. She peeked at the peppers before rinsing the saucepan she'd used earlier. She gathered the ingredients for the scampi sauce and got that started, then began to sauté the shrimp. By the time the shrimp were done, the sauce was ready as well. She put a pepper on each of their plates and added the main course. Then, after dimming the lights, she lit the candle she'd placed at the center of the table. The aroma of butter and garlic and the flickering light against the wall made the old kitchen feel almost new with promise.
They ate and talked while, outside, the stars emerged from hiding. Alex praised the meal more than once, claiming that he'd never tasted anything better. As the candle burned lower and the wine bottle emptied, Katie revealed bits and pieces about her life growing up in Altoona. While she'd held back about telling Jo the whole truth about her parents, she gave Alex the unvarnished version: the constant moves, her parents' alcoholism, the fact that she'd been on her own since she'd turned eighteen. Alex stayed silent throughout, listening without judgment. Even so, she wasn't sure what he thought about her past. When she finally trailed off, she found herself wondering whether she'd said too much. But it was then that he reached over and placed his hand on hers. Though she couldn't meet his gaze, they held hands across the table, neither of them willing to let go, as if they were the only two people remaining in the world.