Page 82 of Then Came You

“Well, Bookstore Brady was here earlier with Ella, and he asked about you.”

“He did?”

“Indirectly.”

“What do you mean?”

Gillian relayed their conversation, including the flicker of interest that Brady hadn’t bothered to hide.

“I wonder what his story is?” Gillian mused.

Savannah shrugged. “Who knows, but he obviously has baggage, so I’m not interested.”

“His daughter isn’t baggage. She’s adorable.”

“I didn’t mean Ella, but what about her mother? Where is she, and why doesn’t she ever bring Ella to story time?”

“Maybe she died, Savannah.”

Savannah looked stricken. “Oh, geez. I didn’t think of that. Sorry, Gilly.”

For once, Gillian hadn’t thought of Owen but of her friend and the issues she had with her own mother. Now was not the time to get it into, though. “Have you noticed that his daughter never speaks?”

“Yes, now that you mention it. Maybe she’s just shy.”

“It strikes me as odd. Most kids her age can’t stop talking.”

Savannah looked past her, and Gillian could tell she was no longer listening. “Sam’s free now. Go give him his coffee before it gets cold.”

Gillian glanced over and locked eyes with him. He smiled broadly, and she smiled back. The other two officers were busy talking to a small group of people, so now was her chance. She took a coffee out of the tray and left the booth. “Thanks,” she called to Savannah over her shoulder.

“I was hoping one of those was for me,” he said when she handed him the cup.

“You can thank Savannah.”

He looked over Gillian’s head and gave Savannah an appreciative wave.

“Good turnout today,” he said before taking a long sip.

“Your booth seems to be especially popular.”

“Yeah. The kids love it.”

“I think their moms do too,” she teased.

He shook his head. “I haven’t noticed. I’ve been too busy sneaking peeks at the hot brunette across the way.”

She warmed at the compliment and gazed up at him with stars in her eyes. In the next instant, she felt someone come up behind her, and Sam stiffened. A feeling of dread washed over her, and she slowly turned around.

“Gillian? Hi. We thought it was you,” Dax said.

Her heart was pounding so hard that she could hardly speak. Dax had been one of Owen’s closest friends on the force, and she and Owen had double dated with Dax and Carly a few times. Dax and Carly had also been engaged, and their wedding had taken place a few months after Owen’s death. She’d turned down their wedding invitation because she couldn’t stomach the thought of going alone. She hadn’t seen or talked to Dax and Carly since.

“How have you been holding up?” Carly asked while Dax stood quietly beside her. Gillian noticed him staring at Sam with a strange expression.

“I’m doing okay. Keeping busy.”

“You own the bookstore downtown, right?”