Shane

ONE WEEK LATER…

“Hey, Mr. Profiler, you cook a mean omelet.” Shane smiled, eyes still on the frying pan. “I try.” Markayla was recovering swiftly and slowly adapting to her new life. She was a true city girl at heart. That meant that life on a five-acre parcel of land out in the country would take some getting used to. She was used to looking out the window and seeing people and houses and traffic. Here, she just saw nature. Not that it wasn’t a lovely and peaceful scene; it just wasn’t what she was accustomed to. She wouldn’t dare wander far at night. She just never knew what wild and dangerous animals she might encounter. Coyotes were one thing, bears were another. She also wasn’t used to living in a small trailer, but at least it would be less space to have to clean. She wasn’t ready physically or mentally to return to work, but she had plenty of money in savings and from the sale of the house. Shane refused to take a dime of it and she practically had to beg to let her at least pay for some groceries. Worst of all was how much she missed Jack; at the same time she felt comfortable with Shane. They cuddled on the couch while watching movies, but Shane respected the fact that she simply couldn’t just become intimate with another person after losing someone she’d been with for so long. He was quite a gentleman about it and she greatly appreciated him for it. She wasn’t stupid, though. She knew Shane wanted more. The feeling was mutual, but big changes took time. She’d met his mother shortly after moving in with him. Renee was a beautiful woman and very kind. She learned that Shane was adopted when she pointed out how he bore no resemblance to his mother. After they’d finished eating, Shane asked, “It’s the weekend, so what would the newly made country girl like to do today?” Smiling, Markayla said, “Return to civilization to do some shopping.”