A Fresh Start by Trisha Grace Read Free Book Online Page B

cash compartment was stuffed with fifty and hundred dollar bills, only one of the card slots was taken up by her driver’s license.
    “I got it,” Justin said, already pulling out his wallet. “I’ll pay for everything first. You can pay me back later.” He paid with his credit card and as they were leaving the store, he asked, “Why don’t you have a single credit card?”
    “Because I don’t believe in using credit cards?”
    “It’s more convenient. Not to mention a lot safer than carrying all that cash around.”
    “I didn’t know how much all this would cost, so I thought I’ll bring more just in case.”
    Even if she didn’t believe in credit cards, there were always debit cards.
    What is she running from? It was so difficult to suppress his curiosity, but he did. He was pretty sure he wasn’t going to get an answer from her anyway.
    He placed the bag of things they’d bought into the back seat and drove them over to the mall for lunch.
    “I swear I’m not a fugitive.”
    “What?”
    “I know how it looks like. Not having any cards, using only cash, having only one luggage.”
    “I seriously doubt you are, but you are running from something, someone.”
    She swallowed, not saying anything, while her hand reached over to her ring. “Yes,” she eventually said.
    “Do you need help?”
    “No. I’m safe now.”
    “As long as you’re not found.” That was the only reason that explained why she only had cash in her wallet.
    She drew in a deep breath and angled her face away from him. After a moment, she turned back to him. “I can’t talk about it. I’m sorry, I promised Drew.”
    “Drew?”
    “Andrew. My brother.”
    “If you need help,” he said.
    “I need you to help me fix up my house. Other than that, I’m good.”
    “Okay.” Again with the unexplainable protectiveness. There was a part of him that wanted to pull the car over and make her explain everything to him. He wanted to make everything right for her.
    He shook his head and continued talking about the house in order to get his mind off from mulling over Paige’s past.
    When they were done with lunch, Paige suggested he wait in the restaurant while she shopped, promising she wouldn’t take long.
    He loved that suggestion, but he’d left his laptop in his car. So they left the restaurant together, and he headed toward his car while she began her shopping.
    He sat in his car and spoke with his realtor for a while before grabbing his laptop and returning to the mall to look for a coffee shop.  
    But he bumped into Paige, seeing her with two large bags of Victoria Secret, a bag of shoes, and another small plastic bag containing a water bottle.
    “You’re fast,” he said.
    Paige adjusted the straps of the paper bags on her arm and he saw the red imprints right beneath her elbow.
    Without thinking, he reached over and took the bags from her. “Leave these with me. I’ll wait for you at the coffee shop.” He pointed out the shop to her.
    “Okay.” She nodded. “I’ll be fast.” She walked away from him and toward the departmental store.
    He began strolling over to the coffee shop, but halted and turned around, widening his strides to catch up with Paige.
    “Where are you going?” she asked when he neared.
    “You need help with the bags.”
    “Do I look so weak to you?”
    He should say ‘no’ and return to the coffee shop.
    “I’m fine,” she assured. “Go have your coffee.”
    He dropped his laptop into the bag with two shoeboxes. “You said you’re a fast shopper, so let’s get what you need and then we can go. You have a house to paint.”
    “Okay, but don’t complain if I’m not fast enough for you.”
    There wasn’t a need to; Paige was true to her words.
    Her style of shopping was fascinating.
    She scanned the clothes as she strolled along and tried a few. If she liked it, she would pick a few from the different colors available.
    “You don’t have to rush. Take your time to look