It can’t be. I shot him. I killed him.
Fear swamped her body and every rational thought in her mind. That slideshow in her head played back: she shot her father, the blood spread across his chest, she crashed through the window. The motorcycle engine revved again. Instead of hitting the car, she jolted back to reality. The man took off down the road.
Blake cupped her face in his warm hands. She knocked them away and stepped back.
“Hey, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not.”
“Leave it alone.” She left him at her back and stepped into the store, hoping no one else noticed she was losing her mind.
“Let’s split up,” her grandfather suggested. “We’ve got just over an hour before Gillian’s doctor’s appointment. Blake and I will take Justin. Dee, you help Gillian find what she needs. We’ll meet at the register.”
All for escaping Blake’s intense stare, she followed her grandmother to the women’s section. “Well, let’s see, you’ll need some jeans. Let’s start there.” Her grandmother stood before the wall of shelves stacked with jeans. “What size?”
“Four. Maybe?”
Grandma Dee grabbed several different pairs. “Try these on. Whichever fits the best and you like, we’ll grab a couple extra pairs. Now, shirts.” She followed Gillian through the racks and displays. Her grandmother picked out a couple of things, and Gillian added more to the growing pile in her arms.
“There now, let’s hit the fitting room and try these on. We’ll go from there.”
“Grandma, I don’t need this much.” Gillian pointed her chin at the stack of clothes about to hide her face.
“Please let me do this for you. I don’t have any children of my own to spoil. I’m so happy to help you with this.”
What could Gillian say? She gave Grandma Dee a smile, accepting defeat gracefully. Grandma grabbed part of the stack and headed for the dressing room. Gillian tried everything on. That torture took half an hour in her condition, but she found several things she loved, including a couple of pairs of soft cotton leggings.
“I know you’re getting tired, but let’s stop by the lingerie section and get you some essentials.” Grandma actually winked at her.
Gillian had gotten by on cotton panties and bras, though most were in sad shape. Grandma Dee headed straight for the pretty lace without even a smirk. She added a couple of pretty nightgowns in an ice blue and dark teal to the pile of clothes in Gillian’s arms. “They’ll make your hair glow and your skin look like it’s been kissed by the sun. Every girl should have pretty things, Gillian. You deserve them.”
Gillian’s eyes glassed over. No one had ever given her pretty things or thought she deserved them.
Her grandfather, Blake, and Justin joined them at that moment, their arms filled with Justin’s new wardrobe. Everything from new shoes, boots, socks, underwear, and a couple of sweatshirts, in addition to pants and shirts. Ready for school, by the looks of it.
Grandma Dee turned to her grandfather. “Take Justin to the register and start on his stuff, plus this.” She handed over her pile, then took the things from Gillian’s hands. “I’ll leave you to pick out what you want,” she said to Gillian. They all headed off to start paying for the new items.
Happy to be alone, Gillian walked through the racks and grabbed what she needed, including a short chenille robe. No way she spent another breakfast half naked next to a man who studied her every move and noticed every little detail about her. Like the way her nipples hardened when he gave her one of those cocky smiles. Or the way goose bumps ran up her arms when he touched her.
“Hey there, can I help you find something?” the salesgirl—Mandy, according to her tag—asked.
“I just need to pick out some essentials.”
“What size?”
Blake walked up behind the salesgirl and cast a glance at the frilly panties and bras hanging on the rack next to Gillian.
“Do you mind?”
“Not at all,” he shot back.
Mandy turned and sucked in a surprised breath. “Blake, what brings you by?”
“Shopping with Gillian.”
“Is that right? Well now, you were never one to be alone long.”
Blake’s eyes fell away. Could the man actually be embarrassed? Gillian did notice he didn’t correct Mandy that they weren’t together.
“So, Gillian, what size?” Mandy asked again.
Since he refused to leave her alone, she had no choice but to answer. Heat rose in her cheeks, so she swallowed another dose of pride and spit out, “Small panties and 34C.”