Free Once Burned by Suzie O'Connell

open from the get-go had set the stage for their friendship, and that in turn was well-needed therapy for her weary heart. She felt alive and sexy and clever, all thanks to Henry’s unwavering attentiveness. He made a fantastic pseudo-boyfriend, all the more because he seemed to be enjoying their charade as much as she was.
    With a coy smile threatening, she examined an exquisite lantern with a base carved from a weathered fence post. Her mother would love it, but a glance at the price tag drove the idea of purchasing it from her mind.
    “Not much of a shopper?” Henry inquired. “I would have thought you’d want some souvenirs of your trip.”
    “I can’t really afford to splurge right now,” she replied. “Noah needs school clothes and supplies. This trip has already stretched my budget pretty thin as it is.”
    “I may have to remedy that.”
    “Henry, that’s not part of the deal. I’m already imposing on you.”
    “No, you aren’t. Come on. I have an idea.”
    Henry briefly let go of her to step into the mercantile to let Vince and Evie know he and Lindsay were taking a detour. Lindsay waited outside in the bright sunshine and let her gaze wander. Cars rolled slowly over the pavement while people milled along the boardwalks, ducking in and out of the many shops that lined both sides of the bustling street. She pulled her little point-and-shoot camera out of her purse and took a few pictures for keepsakes, wondering what amazingly beautiful shots Skye would have found had she decided to come along. A light smile played across her lips as she waited, and she was too absorbed watching people to notice the two men approaching her.
    “Hello, sweet thing.”
    The voice jerked her attention back to her immediate surroundings, and she took a step back toward the mercantile. There was nothing overly threatening about either of the men, but she didn’t like how close they were—neither stood more than five feet away—nor did she like the way they blatantly looked her over. Irritated and a bit uneasy, she folded her arms across her chest and was suddenly glad she had decided to wear jeans and a modest lace-trimmed tank top instead of her lavender dress.
    The taller, dark-haired man extended his hand, and she ignored it as she studied them both. If she had to guess, she’d say they were tourists rather than locals. Both wore cargo shorts, muscle shirts, and the kind of rugged sandals one might find at Cabela’s.
    “My name’s Braden Hennessy,” the dark-haired man said. “My friend here is Todd Gilman.”
    “Lindsay.”
    “Well, Lindsay, what’s a pretty thing like you doing here all alone?” Braden asked.
    “I’m not alone,” she responded. “My friends are inside shopping.”
    “Sure they are.”
    “I’m not kidding. I just stepped outside to take some pictures.”
    “Easy there, sweetheart. I’m not trying to scare you. I just want to know if you’d care to join us for lunch.”
    “Thanks for the invitation, but I’m not interested. Like I said—”
    “Yeah, we heard you the first time,” Todd retorted. “Your friends are inside.”
    “I’m not interested, gentlemen,” she said more slowly to make sure they heard her. “But really, thank you for the offer. I’m flattered.”
    “Are you sure I can’t change your mind?” Braden asked.
    “I’m sure.”
    “What if I say please?”
    “My answer is still no. I’m sorry.” What did she have to do to get her point across? The men who hit on her at work were rarely so persistent, and her patience evaporated. Did he honestly believe that making her nervous with his relentlessness was going to win her over?
    “Come on, pretty girl. It’s just lunch.”
    “No. You can keep asking me until the sun goes down, and my answer won’t change, so why don’t you save yourself the breath and walk away right now.” She started to turn away and head back into the store, but Braden grabbed her hand. She whirled on him and jerked her hand