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its lights, the car began a slow movement toward the exit of the parking lot. She strained to watch its progress around the side of the building. Didn’t he realize his lights weren’t on? Once on the street, the driver turned on his lights and sped away. She followed his rapid progress down the road.
    “Is something wrong?”
    Penny turned her attention back to Matt to tell him about the car, but she clamped her mouth shut and shook her head. It was nothing. This was a small town. She was bound to see the same people over and over. Perhaps he was an employee of the restaurant just getting off shift.
    “No, nothing.” She took a deep breath. “Well, thank you very much for the meal. It’s been great catching up with you.” Penny pressed her napkin to her lips.
    Matt’s eyes flew to hers with a startled look. “That sounds awfully final. I’m going to see you again, aren’t I?”
    “Oh sure,” Penny nodded, unable to suppress the color in her cheeks. “Small town as it is.” She grinned pleasantly and studied the edge of the table, willing the waitress to bring their check. She couldn’t think of anything else to say besides begging him to tell her why he’d let her go.
    “It is a small town. Besides, I need to check your apartment anyway. Let’s go get your car, then I’m going to follow you home.”
    The thought of Matt in her apartment filled her with more anxiety than that awful phone call earlier in the day. The waitress heard her silent plea and returned with the check.
    Matt swallowed the last of his coffee and laid out some money on the table after refusing her offer to pay. “Are you ready?”
    Penny nodded. “Yes, I am.”
    He led the way outside, and they climbed into his SUV once again. He pulled out of the parking lot in silence and drove back toward the police station. Penny wracked her brain for pleasant everyday conversation, but she couldn’t think of anything one might reasonably say to an ex-lover one had been dreaming about every night for the last several months.
    “So, where are you staying?” Matt asked in the silent darkness of the car.
    “At the Seashore Condominiums,” Penny offered. What had his wife been like? Beautiful? Blonde? Everything she was not?
    “I know where that is,” Matt said, keeping his gaze on the road.
    Penny remained mute.
    Matt said nothing further as they pulled into the parking lot of the police station. He waited until she got into her own car. Penny buckled her seatbelt with shaking hands. She pulled out of the parking lot and headed toward the beach, and Matt followed. Penny did her best to block the memories that threatened to engulf her, and she focused on the phone call of the morning.
    Who could possibly have made that call? She wracked her brain to match the voice to any of her clients, but she still couldn’t imagine anyone she knew doing such a thing.     She turned onto the Gulf Beach Highway, drove west for a mile and then turned into the front drive of her condominium building. Matt pulled in behind her and parked next to her.
    Penny stepped out of her car reluctantly. She couldn’t even remember if she’d left her apartment tidy. Had she even made the bed? She shook her head. Why did that matter? Silly woman . She gave herself a mental slap and smiled brightly at Matt as she led the way up the stairs to the third floor.
    “How do you like it here in Gulf Shores?” he asked conversationally.
    “Oh, it’s great! What a wonderful place this must be to live.” She turned to look at him as they arrived at her door. Matt scanned the hallway to the left and right.
    “It gets pretty hot in the summer.” He grinned as he waited for her to open the door. He wanted to come in? She swallowed hard. Seriously?
    “I’m pretty sure no one is going to bother me, Matt. I hate to keep you. You’ve probably had a long day.”
    “I just want to see if everything is all right, Penny. My day isn’t over yet. I’ve got to get back to the