Read Online Running Back to You (The Running Series, #1) by Suzanne Sweeney - Free Book Online Page B

turns away, goes inside and
closes the door.  My heart sinks into the pit of my stomach.  What the hell
just happened?

    W hen life hands you lemons, hand them back and demand chocolate!  The
only thing to do right now is to drive directly to the Green Planet Coffee Company and treat
myself to a large chai and a double chocolate chip muffin.  It’s still early
and parking is not a problem.  It hasn’t started raining yet, so I decide to
let Maddy out of the car.  She can wait outside for me while I run in quickly. 
After a quick scratch behind her ears, I attach her leash to one of the
Adirondack chairs in front of the coffee shop and head in.
    They are training a new barista, and everything takes much longer than
usual.  The person in front of me orders a macchiato and the manager is
explaining the difference between a latte and macchiato in excruciatingly
complex details.  When it’s my turn, I place my order and wait patiently.  I
refuse to allow myself to take out my bad disposition on this poor young girl
who’s doing the best she can.  Not that long ago, I was in training myself, and
I always appreciated when my customers gave me a little slack.  Offering the
same in return is the least I can do.
    As I’m waiting, I get an unexpected tingle down my spine.  My mind
immediately returns to images of Evan ... of our morning spent together giggling,
laughing, and flirting, the way I felt when his skin brushed against mine.  I
push those thoughts to the side.  It’s time to move on.  When my order is up, I
take a deep breath and head outside to face another day.
    The moment I step outside, I am completely unprepared for what awaits
me.  Sitting on the exact chair where I tied Maddy is Evan!  He is
affectionately petting her back and she is clearly under his spell.  Crap!
    I stand stock still while the image before me sinks in.  That familiar tingle
makes a reappearance and I’m rendered speechless. 
    “Hello, Juliette.  What a nice surprise.”  Evan seems genuinely pleased
to see me.  A grin spreads across his face and is reflected with a glimmer in
his eyes.
    “Oh, hey, Evan.”  I try to reveal as little as possible.  “Let’s go
Maddy.”  I remove the leash from Maddy’s collar so I can separate it from the
chair.  As quickly as I can, I detached the leash from the chair and reattach
it to Maddy’s collar.  Evan is studying me with a confused look on his face. 
“Thank you for watching Maddy for me.  Take care.”  I turn on my heels and
start to walk toward my car with my dog in tow.
    “Juliette, wait, why don’t you sit and join me?”  Evan is now standing
and facing me with his hands in his pockets.
    “That’s okay, Evan.  I’m sure you’ve got a million things to do.”  I give
him a half-hearted smile, and turn with Maddy to leave.
    “Juliette, stop, please.  Something’s obviously wrong.  Have I done
something to upset you?”  He stares quizzically at me like he’s trying to solve
a puzzle.
    “No, of course not.  Thank you for the flowers, by the way.  They were
really a lovely gesture.”  I should have thanked him right away.  He has a way
of getting me flustered.
    “Good, then sit.”  Evan plops himself down and pats the chair beside
him. 
    Unable to come up with a reason not to stay, I give the slightest nod and
join him.  In order to avoid trying to make small talk, I begin to drink my tea
and wait for him to continue.
    “When I didn’t see you on the beach yesterday or today, I was worried
that you were more seriously injured than I thought.” 
    “I’m sorry.  What did you just say?”  Does he think I’m blind?  Is he
going to pretend he didn’t see me this morning?  It’s one thing to avoid me,
but it’s an entirely different thing to lie to my face, and that I won’t abide.
    “I said I was worried about you.  I don’t understand your reaction.  Talk
to me, Juliette.”  His brow is furrowed and there is a genuine