The Tessa Randolph Collection, Books 1-3 by Paula Lester (good short books .TXT) 📕

that almost happened. I was getting Davey out of his stroller. Dani, you can’t go near the edge! Look! There’s no rail!” Her voice was gentle but held the barely restrained panic of someone who understood what had almost happened. She looked at Tessa. “Thank you so much. How did you . . .”

“I was in the right place at the right time, that’s all. I happened to see your little girl get close to the edge.” Tessa smiled at the woman.

“Thank you. I’ve been . . . having a hard time lately. Since my husband left. I just wanted us to come out and see the ocean. You know, relax for a minute.” She shook her head. “I should have known better. My kiddos are still so young.” She blinked back tears.

Tessa shook her head. “It was just one of those things. Kids are so fast.” Tessa walked with them, grabbing the stroller and pushing while the woman carried Davey and held tightly to Dani’s hand. “I’m sorry to hear about your husband.”

The woman nodded. “It’s probably for the best.” She glanced at Dani. It was clear she didn’t want to say too much in front of the girl about her father.

“I’ve had my share of rotten relationships.” Tessa thought about Frank, her most recent ex-boyfriend. He had been a real jerk. “But I still think there are good guys out there.” An image of Silas danced in her mind’s eye, making her smile.

The young mother smiled too. “I know. I just have to focus on my kiddos for right now.” She didn’t let go of Dani’s hand but leaned forward. “Thanks again. I . . . I think you saved her life.”

Tessa nodded, gave Dani one last smile, and headed down the boardwalk toward the Thai restaurant. But after only a couple of steps, Silas stepped out of the shadows in front of her.

His face was covered with confusion. “Where’s Gloria?” He glanced at Dani and her mother. “And what just happened? How did you know that girl was going to fall in the water? Did your phone tell you that?”

Tessa arranged her face into an innocent expression. “What?” She glanced over her shoulder at the trio she’d just left. “Oh. Um. No. It didn’t. I just happened to be walking by and saw her wobbling on the edge.”

He shook his head. “That was . . . awesome how you saved her. But I swear it wasn’t random. You came directly here. Walked right out there and grabbed that girl. As though you knew it was about to happen.” His brow furrowed. “How is that possible?”

“It’s not. Gloria told me to meet her here. But she found her key. Why did you follow me?”

He shrugged. “It’s just this feeling I have. Since back home in Mist River. Remember the casino thing?” He stepped closer. “Tessa, I really like you. Like, enough that I want to be in a relationship with you.”

Her heart beat faster.

“But something isn’t quite right. There’s something going on with you.” He crossed his arms. “Can’t you just tell me what it is so we can move on? So I can feel like you aren’t lying to me?”

She pressed her lips together, considering. Gloria had suggested that it may be okay for Silas to know the truth at some point. But now certainly wasn’t the time. He’d only just mentioned the word relationship. It had to be much further down the road.

But she couldn’t be upset with him for following her. If he was the one acting weird all the time, she’d probably try to investigate too. No, she definitely would.

Except she couldn’t tell Silas the truth about her job. Not yet.

She smiled. “Silas, there’s nothing going on. I swear. Like I said, Gloria texted me that she found her pass key. I happened to look out and see that lady with the girl and a stroller. I had one of those feeling—you know, a hunch. Something made me start walking toward them and then I saw Dani wobbling and ran to grab her. That’s the girl’s name—Dani.” Tessa shrugged it off as no big deal. “My stomach is growling. Do we still have our table at the Thai place?”

Silas still looked a little suspicious, but his expression softened slightly. “Yes. I left my credit card as collateral. We should have a big tray of hot spring rolls waiting for us.” He held out an elbow. “Let’s go.”

She breathed a sigh of relief as the energy between them seemed to settle back to normal.

But, at the same time, her stomach dropped. That had been a close one. Silas was too smart for Tessa to keep her secret from him for long.

She’d been stupid to think they may be able to have a romantic relationship.

Chapter 16

THEY HAD A PLEASANT dinner, even though the heavy feeling never really left Tessa’s stomach. She and Silas went on a short walk on the beach after the Thai food, and then he dropped her off at the hotel.

The weight of the untruth between them still held something back for him too. There was no almost kiss. No grazing of hands. Tessa had put so much thought behind the word date from his text, only to ruin it by being a reaper.

She went straight up the room, not expecting Gloria to be there, since it wasn’t even nine o’clock yet. The crowd at the bar partied until at least midnight.

But as she pushed the door open, the toes on a pair of socked feet wiggled at the end of Gloria’s bed.

“Oh . . .  I didn’t expect you to be here.” She’d actually wanted some alone time. Tessa pushed open the door the rest of the way.

“That’s because you never answer your phone, dear.” Cheryl sat on Gloria’s bed, back against the headboard, flipping through a home decorating magazine.

The door swung shut behind her. Frantic, Tessa’s eyes swept the room. This felt like a surreal dream. Gloria’s