The mother glared at her and dragged her son away.

William approached in a huff, somehow managing to hold two sodas and two bags of cotton candy in his large hands. She immediately relieved him of one of each item and took a few sips of the Dr Pepper while she searched the crowd for Julian.

His gaze froze on her caramelized shirt. “Mackenzie, what’s going on? Besides being covered in sticky syrup.” He lifted his dark eyes to her face. “You . . . you look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Julian had taken off. She’d seen a ghost, alright. A ghost that was very much living and breathing. And here, of all places. Here in Michigan at this carnival, and that look in his gaze left no doubt he’d deliberately tracked her down.

“Let’s get out of here.” Without waiting for agreement, she headed through the growing crowd toward the exit, wariness creeping into her bones. While she rushed forward, she scanned ahead, searching for the man who’d ruined her life. Correction. She’d ruined her own life. And that past had been sealed, so it was no longer in the public record.

It had essentially ceased to exist.

But Julian’s appearance tonight was a reminder that her mistakes were right behind her.

She felt like she was on the ride again. Couldn’t escape fast enough.

“Wait. Hold up.” William tossed his drink and cotton candy in the garbage and gripped her arm, stopping her. “Please, what’s going on?”

“Not here.” She ground out the words. And with them, she’d said too much.

She shrugged free, pitched her cotton candy and soda as well, then took off running. She had to get away from the carnival and the feeling that Julian was watching her. He was everywhere, watching her.

And he was fully capable of being everywhere.

She weaved through the vehicles and dodged a few too. Finally, gasping for breath, she approached the shiny new Audi. William’s car. Not hers. In the distance, she focused on the Ferris wheel. The lights and screams and laughter. A couple of blocks away, Lake Michigan’s waves rolled against the shore. Comforting and soothing. She longed to be there.

If she’d gone walking on the beach tonight, would Julian have followed her there too? What did he want?

His face grim, William unlocked his car and opened the door for her.

“Thank you.” She slid into the taupe leather seat, and he shut the door.

Once he was in the driver’s seat, he started the vehicle and the quiet hum of the engine proclaimed power in complete contrast to the cranky motors of the traveling carnival rides.

“You wasted your money at the carnival. I’ll make it up to you.”

“You can make it up to me by telling me what happened back there. Something spooked you.”

“Can we please just get out of here?”