Page 4 of Obsession (Temptation 4)

Once she was finished, she pushed her cart to one of the return areas, a rarity Nick had noticed over the past few hours. Most people just left them in the parking lot, too selfish to push their cart a few extra feet.

Not this woman, though.

Which confirmed that she was perfect.

Compassionate.

Agreeable.

Subservient.

Returning to her car, the woman jumped into the driver’s seat and cranked the ignition, reversing out of her spot before making her way out of the parking lot.

Nick sat there a moment, not wanting to be obvious. But she was too perfect to let out of his sight for long. She even looked like Julia. Same eyes. Same smile. Same petite build. She’d have to do until he could get to the real thing.

A practice run, so to speak.

Slowly pulling out of his spot, he followed the SUV onto the busy, commercial street lined with shops, restaurants, and big-box stores.

Nick had only been in prison seven years, but he barely recognized the world around him anymore. Everyone seemed to be in a hurry. At every stop light, people immediately took out their phones to check their texts or social media. If they just looked up, perhaps they’d recognize him, since his face was plastered all over the news.

But they never did.

It truly was remarkable.

And it emboldened him to take more risks than he’d originally planned.

Like right now.

After a mile of doing his best to keep the SUV in sight through all the cars on the road, the area eventually gave way to condominiums. The woman slowed, turning into a subdivision.

Nick followed.

Without the luxury of heavy traffic to act as a buffer, he drove slower, keeping as much distance between his car and hers as he was comfortable with.

He followed her through a series of turns, the houses becoming larger the farther into the development they drove. Finally, she pulled into the driveway of a three-story brick building that screamed upper middle class.

It reminded him of the home he and Julia had shared in Charleston.

He had always worked hard to give her everything she needed. Everything she deserved.

How could she throw it all away?

How could she say it didn’t matter?

How could she move on?

Because Nick hadn’t moved on. Hadn’t forgotten.

And he’d be damned if he’d allow Julia to move on.

They’d made promises to each other. “Till death do us part.” Nick had every intention of ensuring Julia fulfilled her end.

Not wanting to bring attention to himself, Nick drove past the woman’s house, turning around at the dead end and parking down the street and on the opposite side. The woman disappeared into the house, leaving the garage door wide open, allowing him a brief glimpse into her life.

The space was surprisingly neat, built-in cabinets lining the rear and one side. On the other wall, a tool cabinet sat beside a gun safe and a refrigerator that had seen better days.

After several minutes, the woman emerged through the door connecting the garage to the house, a man wearing a UGA hat, shirt, and shorts following. He was a walking billboard for Georgia’s beloved Bulldogs.

Nick was too far away to pick up on their conversation, but judging from the body language, it was obvious the man was upset with the woman. Probably berating her for asking him to help with the groceries when he’d hoped to sit on the couch all day, drink beer, and watch the game.

She deserved better.

Deserved to be free from what was obviously a miserable marriage.

And Nick would do exactly that…

Free her.