The Stranger: The Heroes of Heyday (Harlequin Superromance No. 1266) by Kathleen O`Brien Page B

me?” She flushed, but she kept her voice low and half turned away from him, pretending to straighten the fashion magazines. “It nearly destroyed me. It did destroy the café. It did destroy my mother.”
    â€œI know,” he said. “I’m sorry.”
    Her hands stilled, and he could tell she was working to keep her emotions in check.
    â€œSorry doesn’t change anything, Tyler,” she said, her head still bent over the magazines. “Sorry is just about the most pointless word in the dictionary.”
    He nodded. “Yes. But even so I am sorry. I would have liked to spare you. I wish you could believe that. I wish we could be friends again.”
    Finally she turned around. Her face was set in lines so stiff it shocked him. He’d seen her aching with pain when her husband had hurt her, and boiling with fury when Tyler had betrayed her. But he’d never seen her like this, frozen hard with contempt.
    â€œAnd do you know what I wish, Tyler? I wish that, whatever scandal you’re trying to dig up this time, you’d do it somewhere else. I wish you wouldn’t insult me by thinking I’m dumb enough to fall for your innocent let me be your friend charade a second time. I wish you would get out of my store.”
    He opened his mouth but then shut it again without speaking. He decided to let her have the moment. He let her pivot on her heel, satisfied that she’d told him off for good this time.
    She needed, at least this once, to have the last word. So he didn’t say what he could have said.
    He didn’t say, Technically, Mallory, this store is mine.
    Â 
    â€œD UDE , HAVE A LITTLE FAITH in me, why don’t you? I won’t run off with the bank deposit.” Wally looked down at the cash drawer and whistled. “Although, for once we’ve got enough in here to actually tempt me.”
    Mallory had to laugh. He was right. It had been an exhausting day, but it certainly had been lucrative. She didn’t ordinarily let anyone else close up for her, even when the register was half-empty. If Wally picked tonight to suddenly turn larcenous, he could really do some damage.
    But she wanted so much to join Mindy and Freddy for dinner. She’d hardly seen them all day. Freddy had never been to Heyday before, and he had expected Mindy to show him the sights. The bookstore hadn’t amused him for more than about ten minutes; apparently he wasn’t much of a reader. Mindy, who seemed tuned into his every mood, had picked up the signals immediately and begun racking her brain for more exciting adventures.
    Heyday was a little short on those, but she’d done her best. The Riverside Park neighborhood, with houses old and splendid enough to impress even a senator’s son. The circus museum, where you could learn everything you ever wanted to know about zebras—and then some.The college, which looked quite attractive in the spring. The newly renovated park, with the hilarious statue of St. Kieran McClintock riding a stubby, cross-eyed zebra.
    The three of them had arranged to meet for a late dinner, after Mallory closed up shop at eight-thirty. But Mindy had called at six, reporting that they’d run out of things to do, and Freddy was hungry. Was there any chance Mallory could get free and join them now?
    â€œOkay,” Mallory said, and she took a deep breath. “You know how to run through the credit cards?” Wally nodded. “You won’t forget to lock the back door?” Wally shook his head. “You will remember to turn off—”
    â€œBoss.” Wally looked pained. “I’m not a moron. I’ve seen you close up a million times. I’ll do everything I should do, and nothing I shouldn’t do. I promise.”
    And he would, she knew that. In spite of his piercings and his red-and-green hair, Wally was smart as a whip, and actually one of the last great innocent teenagers. He kissed his mother