“How was your weekend?” Dina asked.

Natalie wiped the glass counter, then reached for the Windex and sprayed a bit more into the rag. “It was good,” she said, rubbing the rag onto the smooth surface a tad harshly. Anything to keep from looking at Dina.

“When you asked for Saturday off, I wasn’t sure what to think. You never go anywhere,” Dina said behind her. “Did you meet someone?”

Natalie swallowed. When she’d agreed to leave Suarez with Vincent, she’d asked him for time so she could break the news to Dina. They needed to finish remodeling the house anyway, before putting it on the market. He’d help her, and she’d take the money she made from the sale with her to New York and begin a new life. “Sort of. How about you, did you enjoy those peaches?” she asked. Ever since Bob had dropped by with the box of fruit, she’d teased Dina about it, wishing that Dina would seriously consider going out with him.

“Yes. Bob wants to take me out for dinner.”

Hope filled Natalie’s heart. She turned around, eager to see Dina’s reaction. “That’s great. When are you two going on a date?”

Dina removed her glasses and rubbed her eyes. When she opened them, they didn’t show that glint of joy one would expect. A sigh flew from her creased lips, and apprehension flashed in her eyes. “I told him I’d think about it.”

“Why?”

Dina glanced around, as if to ensure no one heard them. The only customer sat at a small round table next to the exit, and seemed absorbed in the suspense novel she was reading. Then, she leaned closer. “I’ve been thinking about starting over with Vincent, and I don’t know how well dating Bob plays into that.”

Her blood froze. “Start over with Vincent?” Natalie repeated, the words barely leaving her lips. Low. Sad.

“Well, I don’t know… when I called him to come help you, the thought crossed my mind. We’re older and wiser now. I still think he’s a fine ass piece of man. And a part of me—

“No,” she said, lifting her hand to stop her from continuing. “You can’t patch things up with Vincent, and I’m very sorry. I think he’s moved on too.”

“How do you know for sure? I was the only one he ever married. We had a child together. He didn’t have this kind of commitment with anyone else. Doesn’t that say something to you?”

Natalie cleared her throat. This explained why Dina had invited him to that dinner, and during the past week, had used every little reason to drop by. For instance, when she’d returned Natalie’s cell phone. Maybe I’m paranoid. She rubbed her hands together, hoping a magical solution would appear. Shit, shit, shit…

Her pulse skittered. I should just walk away and go home. Not do anything.

The chime announcing a client entering the shop startled her, and for the next hour she served the group of moms who met there every week with their toddlers in tow. Only when they left and she turned the OPEN sign to CLOSED, did she walk to the back. Each step made her heart thump faster.

I can’t walk and go home. She needed to face this problem head-on. Dina would hate her, fire her, but she could no longer lie to her face—Dina deserved to know the truth.

“Dina,” she called before she changed her mind.

Dina finished placing a tray of dough in the freezer. “Yeah?”

“You’ll hate me for what I’m about to say,” she started, catching Dina’s attention. Her boss closed the freezer and glanced at her, obviously intrigued. “And that’s okay. I deserve it. I wasn’t honest with you, but I feel like I have to be right now.”

“What is it?” she asked, wrinkling her forehead.

Natalie closed her trembling fingers into a fist, to keep from fidgeting. Just say it. “You should give Bob a chance, he really seems to like you. Vincent isn’t an option anymore, because he found someone else… Me.”

Dina stared at her for a long beat, her eyes squinting as the wheels in her head turned. Natalie reached for the chair, but didn’t pull it, and she didn’t sit. Her knees weakened, but she willed the fear away. Hurting Dina had never been part of the plan, even if that was what had happened. She needed to let her know the truth.

“I’m sorry for lying to you. We didn’t mean to hurt you. It just… happened.” And if I had known you were still into him, I’d never have pursued him. The words burned at the tip of her tongue, but she silenced them.

Dina took a deep, long breath, her face stern and unmoving. She remained standing a few feet away from Natalie, and Natalie almost wished she’d call her names or throw a bowl on the floor, or even at her. Anything to erase the tension crackling between them.

At last, Dina stepped forward, crossing her arms over her chest. “He’s your father-in-law. You’re telling me you’ve been humping your father-in-law?”

Natalie pushed the lump of frustration in her throat. Suck it up. “Yes, ma’am, that’s what I just said.” Never mind that her crappy husband had been dead for years, and that Vincent had never been the traditional father-in-law. But Natalie knew Dina was aware of all that, and she just needed to vent.

“Why? You could have a future with a young man like Josh. Why waste your time with damaged goods?”

Natalie bit her lower lip. “I’ve fallen for him.”

“That’s too bad, because once he’s done with you, he’ll leave and he won’t look back,” Dina said, waving her off.

“Actually… he’s asked me to move with him to New York.”

Dina’s eyes widened, then she blinked. Then, with a shake of her head, she sighed. “Are you that dumb, Natalie? You’re going to leave your life here behind, go to New York with him, then what? When he doesn’t want you anymore, and you’re in a strange place, all by yourself.”

“I…”

“Did he ask you to marry him?”

“No,” Natalie said in a small voice. Could she lie? He had asked her to go with him, but hadn’t offered that type of commitment.

“Then you’re traveling across the country to be his shack-up honey? Why don’t you think he’s offered anything more concrete for you?” Dina asked, with a touch of concern in her voice.

Crap. She wished Dina’s point didn’t ring in her ears so loud, and so quickly. “Because you can’t touch love. Just feel it.”

Dina sighed. “Well, good luck with that, sweetheart. He didn’t think twice before leaving his wife and child, why would he be any more honorable to you?”

“And isn’t it funny that with all his terrible flaws, you still wanted him?” Natalie said, regretting the words a second too late. She never expected Dina to take the news well, but she didn’t need to snap back either.

She walked toward Dina ready to apologize, when Dina clamped her lips and, rightfully so, scolded her. “Go home, Natalie. We’re done here.”

* * *

Natalie opened the door, then closed it behind her. No sign of Vincent around. He’d told her he’d gone to the hardware store. Funny how she could tell when he was home or not, without seeing him—she felt his presence, his manly scent, the decisive way he strode across the floor.

She headed for the bathroom, took off her clothes and took a long, warm shower. Tears streamed down her face. Hurting Dina had sucked, but she couldn’t blame her mother-in-law for what she’d said either. What guarantee did she have that Vincent wouldn’t leave her when he grew tired of her?

Natalie had thought during the weeks they’d shared together, she’d come to know him—to fall for him. Maybe she hadn’t left Suarez because she needed that push, that fire under her ass. It wasn’t about being rescued, but having a partner to share that big moment of her life. Could she trust him enough to say good-bye to life as she knew it and move across the country?

When she heard him downstairs, she stepped out of the shower, wrapped herself in a robe, tying the knot at her waist. She opened the closet, and motioned to grab the first piece of clothing she found.

“Hey,” he said, walking into the room. She almost jumped.

She closed the closet door and turned to him.

Vincent slowly walked up to her, as a smile formed on his lips and sparks lit his eyes. “Hey.”

She stood a little straighter. “Vincent, we need to talk,” she said, fumbling with her knot. “I talked to Dina today, and I had to tell her about us,” she said, adamant about protecting what Dina had told her about getting back together with Vincent. Even if Dina didn’t want to see her anymore, she owned it to her. She’d take the secret to her grave.

He shrugged. “Figured. Did she go all nutty on you?”

“A little bit. I’ve been thinking though. I don’t think I can go to New York with you.”