Seeing Red Read online

  “That’s okay.” She smiled as her heart tightened just a little. “Maybe it’ll come to you.”

  He stroked a finger over her jaw. “Maybe.”

  She felt like turning her cheek into his touch. Or stepping closer to his body. She forced herself to remain still. “See ya,” she whispered.

  His mouth quirked. His dimple made another appearance. “See ya.”

  The official news came at the end of the week. In compliance with the fire department, the warehouse fire had been ruled an accident by the insurance company.

  To celebrate, Summer took Camille to lunch at an old favorite, the Blues Café, where the music was excellent, the food more excellent, and it was impossible not to relax.

  When they were done, Camille hugged Summer tight. There on the warm sidewalk with the scent of the ocean all around them and the welcoming feel of her mom’s arms around her, Summer thought this wasn’t a bad place to be at all.

  “That was a lovely good-bye lunch,” Camille said when she pulled back. “Thank you.”

  Summer blinked. “Good-bye?”

  “Well, we have a ruling now, right? The report is just a formality, and due any day.”

  Ah, she got it. With the report, she was free to go. And she couldn’t wait. Really, she couldn’t. But her thoughts raced as they walked along the noisy, crowded sidewalk. Before they got in the car, she grabbed her mom’s hand. “Mom? I need to say something.”

  Camille smiled softly. “I already know.”

  “You do?”

  “Yes. You love me.”

  “Yes, I do, very much, but that’s not what I was going to say.” She sucked in a big breath. “I’m sorry I left the way I did all those years ago, that I wasn’t there for you…I’m sorry I disappointed you.”

  Camille put a hand to her heart and shook her head. “I don’t want you to be sorry—”

  “But I am. I’m so damned sorry, Mom.”

  “Oh, Summer. Do you think I don’t see how hard you’re trying to love it here?” She hugged Summer again. “And I love it that it matters so much to you to be with me. But you’ve already given me nearly three weeks. I’m sure you’re dying to get out of here.”

  “I have a few more days.”

  “Honey.”

  “No really. I’m taking a customer and a group of her friends on a day hike tomorrow.” And she was looking forward to it, she really was.

  Camille smiled, though suddenly it seemed strained. “That’s lovely.” She cupped Summer’s face. “You know we’re going to be fine, you and me, when you go.”

  But were they? Or would they revert back to not really knowing each other at all? “I just want you to understand why I’m leaving this time. That I’m not running anymore. That I’ll be back, really back.”

  “I do.”

  But was the knowing enough? Summer didn’t know that either.

  Two nights later Summer was at the new Creative Interiors II, helping the last customer of the day before closing. It was her last time at the register.

  She was leaving tomorrow morning.

  She’d led a few hikes, she’d gone out kayaking with Chloe, and she actually almost wished she had more time to keep exploring her old haunts.

  But tomorrow she’d drive to her small studio apartment in San Francisco. She had a plane ticket for two days from now, to Colorado, where she’d immerse herself in the river rafting season, and not think too much about what she’d left: her mom, her family.

  Joe.

  He’d come by earlier, with a copy of the fire report. He hadn’t said good-bye, and neither had she. And now she faced her last evening. Alone. She knew that everyone often hung out at Tooley’s Bar and Grill after work. Normally the bar scene was not her thing but tonight she thought she could use it. “What are you doing after work?” she asked Chloe.

  Chloe’s grin said it all. “Guess.”

  Summer’s gaze cut to the very gorgeous but very silent Braden on the other side of the shop, behind the counter, fingers clicking at the speed of light over his laptop keyboard. “He asked you out?”

  “Does it matter who asked who?”

  She thought of how she’d kissed Joe on the beach and had to admit that no, it didn’t matter who started the asking. “He’s so quiet. Do you two ever talk?”

  “Maybe I’m not looking for talk.”

  “Yeah.” There was something greatly unfair about Chloe getting lucky while she was not, despite her best efforts. “Maybe you could jump him another time.”

  “Why?”

  Because it’s my last night. But Chloe already knew that, and Summer was getting tired of pushing herself on absolutely everyone. “No real reason.”

  “Well, then, not a chance.”

  “Right.” Out of sheer desperation, Summer approached Diana and Madeline. They were planning to go to some college party, and though they were actually pleasant—and Diana gave Summer a glowing horoscope for once—they didn’t invite her to come along as they vanished out the door smelling like forbidden cigarettes and trouble waiting to happen.

  With no customers left, Chloe was chomping at the bit to go home and get ready for her hot date with Braden, so Summer gave up and shooed her off as well. As she did, Stella came through from the back with her purse. “I don’t see why you won’t let Gregg and me close up for you on your last night in town,” she said to Summer.

  “That’s okay.” If she left now, her big evening alone would start even earlier. “I’ve got it covered.”

  “All right. Gregg!” she yelled down the stairs to the employee break room. “He’s so particular about the routine,” she said to Summer. “He likes to make sure everything is closed up just right. You should have seen him when we had our own store.”

  “You had a store?”

  “Oh, yes. And it was beautiful,” Stella said with soft pride. “But then we—”

  “You’re not boring Summer with our life story, are you, Stel?” Gregg asked as he came into the room. He hooked an arm around his wife and hugged her, then smiled at Summer. “See ya on the next trip home, Cookie. A couple of years maybe?”

  “Not so long this time.”

  “Okay.”

  “Really, it won’t be.” She managed to keep her smile in place until they left. Alone now, she sighed, then flipped the CLOSED sign on the door, moving through the store, turning off lights, straightening up things here and there. She had the radio on and was humming to Coldplay, thinking she should probably put on something more upbeat than the beautiful, lyrical songs that made her ache, when from behind her, a door creaked. Whipping around with a surprised gasp, Summer watched as the small bathroom door just behind the counter slowly opened. With a hand on her racing heart, she stared at Braden. “I thought you were already gone.”

  “I am.” Dressed in his usual black from sleek stud in his ear to his ass-kicking boots, he walked toward the front door.

  “What were you doing in there?”

  He shot her a bland look over his shoulder.

  “Right.” But her heart still hadn’t slowed. “You going out with Chloe tonight?”

  He sent her another baleful glance.

  “Let me guess. None of my business.”

  “You’re quick.” He reached for the door.

  “It’s just that I’m sort of fond of the spoiled brat,” she said. “So be kind, okay?”

  When he looked at her again, surprised, she smiled at him. He offered her a half smile in return, more than she’d ever seen out of him, and shook his head. “Don’t stay long,” he said.

  “Why not?”

  “It’s your last night.”

  Right. And she had so many other options open to her.

  When he was gone, Summer continued closing up. Tina had a thing for candles, and there were some burning throughout the shop for ambiance. She blew out each of the votives as she went, then hesitated because the dark seemed so complete.

  Odd, because when she was out on a camping trip, in