Alone (Bone Secrets, #4)(29)

For a man with no children, Dave knew how to parent. Tough love, hard work, and responsibility were daily constants in Seth’s new life. Coming from a childhood with no guidelines, Seth flourished under Dave’s rules. They had their fights, of course, but Seth had always ached for attention from an adult, and Dave filled that need. Seth’s previous life had been spent tiptoeing around his mother, avoiding tripping her triggers for depression or anger.

Seth thrived. And grew to recognize the type of person his father had been. Dave was his father’s opposite. Dave was involved. Dave gave a shit about Seth’s life. Dave taught him to focus his excess energy into swimming, running, and hunting. Now, Seth no longer bounced off the walls at home and school; he could concentrate. And it turned out he was smart. Smart enough to breeze through high school and collect great grades. Smart enough to be accepted to Stanford and smart enough to appreciate what Dave had done in his life.

Yesterday a new path had opened up before him. His chance to make the difference in the life of a child who needed him. Like Dave had done for him. But the decision was going to hurt Victoria.

Seth stopped in front of the shop, staring at the door. She was inside, waiting for him to turn her life upside down. But Victoria was strong, he repeated in his head for the millionth time. Victoria wasn’t his mother. Victoria had the tools to continue and create a success with her life.

He sucked in a shuddering breath and opened the door. Warm coffee-scented air breezed over his face and he scanned the shop, his heart thudding in his chest.

There she was.

Beautiful. Elegant. His gaze rested on her face as she studied the text on her table. Just like she’d been doing the first time he’d built up the courage to approach her. Indecision washed over him. Was he making a mistake?

As if she’d felt him watching, Tori glanced up. A warm smile filled her face and her eyes danced at the sight of him. Seth felt ill.

It’s a mistake. I can’t do it.

He’d called Dave in the middle of the night, wrestling with his decision. Dave had sympathized and slowly walked him through what he already knew. He’d never be able to live with himself or be a complete person for Tori if he followed in his father’s footsteps. He wouldn’t abandon his responsibilities. He gave Tori a weak smile and brushed the rain off his shoulders, moving toward her table.

How was she going to handle this?


Seth took her breath away. Victoria stared at the figure who’d just stepped through the door. He wore the slow half smile that always made her heart flip over. His gaze met hers and his smile grew wider. Then faltered.

She ran a nervous hand over her hair, her own smile weakening.

He brushed the rain off his jacket and moved across the room toward her, working his way between tables in the small shop. She watched him come, admiring the way he pulled the attention of every female in the room. He didn’t do anything on purpose; he was just one of those types of guys. He was athletic and casual. Perhaps the fact that he didn’t care about how he looked to other women was what drew their eyes. Victoria immediately discarded the thought. No, she’d simply hooked a hottie. A smart, caring hottie. His looks really didn’t matter that much to her. What impressed her was inside, his strength of character, his kindness to everyone around him.

She studied him carefully. He’d been sick last night and bailed on their plans to take in a movie. She’d gone with two girlfriends, but had keenly felt his absence. This morning, he looked pale and his eyes were definitely red. Hopefully whatever bug he suffered from wasn’t contagious. She pushed her book out of the way and took a sip of coffee, noticing that her hands quivered.

Something was wrong.

He wasn’t looking at her. Usually Seth was one big smile and flirting blue eyes. Now, his gaze was on the floor and the sides of his mouth were down. Maybe they should have met at his apartment if he was still sick. He stopped at her table, met her gaze, and Victoria’s stomach sank.

Oh Lord. “What happened?” she whispered. Her fingers turned to ice.

He slumped down in a chair and looked at her, defeat showing in his face.

“Are you okay? Do you need to go back home?” The words tumbled out of her mouth. A tornado of disconnect spun through her chest, making it hard to breathe. She’d never seen Seth look so miserable. He leaned forward, grasped her hands and pulled them across the table, gripping tightly.

“We need to talk.”

Were there any worse words from your boyfriend’s mouth? The phrase triggered Victoria’s inner walls to rise, protecting and guarding her heart, and her brain shifted into an eerie calm. Every physical and emotional defense in her body shot into high gear. It’s bad. Her icy hands clenched into fists inside his grip.

A woman knows. She didn’t have to experience a breakup to know one was about to happen. Seth’s eyes pleaded with her to listen, his hands squeezing hers. Victoria was in listening mode, but that didn’t mean she was in understanding mode.

“What happened?” she asked again.

“Remember Jennifer?” Seth asked.

Victoria nodded, her gut clenching, acid burning. Jennifer was Seth’s old girlfriend from home in Arizona. She’d cheated on him, they’d broken up, and she’d had a baby with her new boyfriend. The woman had moved on quickly. Victoria knew he’d been stung over the cheating and the fast move to another man.