Understanding softened Melodie's gaze. "I'm sure it is, but look on the bright side. It's a great excuse to buy yourself something fun and new. Why don't you try on a few dresses and see if you find something you like?"
Natalie liked Melodie's way of thinking, which lightened her mood considerably. "I think I will." She plucked the sleek, sexy dress from the rack, certain the wine color would compliment her blond hair and skin tone.
The next few hours passed quickly, with Natalie enjoying a female camaraderie with Melodie and learning that they had a lot of common interests. While trying on outfits together, they indulged in girl talk, and Melodie had amused her with the story of how she'd snagged Cole for her very own. And when Melodie finally tried on her wedding gown and asked Natalie's opinion, she'd replied honestly that she'd never seen a more beautiful bride.
A melancholy look entered Melodie's eyes as she explained how she'd grown up without a mother, and while her father was very dear to her, it was times like this that made being without a feminine influence in her life difficult. Natalie understood Melodie's feelings, because she still felt the loss of both of her parents, and suspected she always would.
By the time they left the boutique midafternoon, their arms were ladened with shopping bags filled with bridal accessories and new outfits for both of them. The dress Natalie had chosen had fit perfectly, and she'd splurged on matching shoes, tasteful earrings and even new lingerie to replace her practical cotton underwear. She'd paid for all her purchases with the credit card in her purse, because she wasn't sure how much money she had in her bank account to write a check.
"Wow, I'm famished," Melodie said after they dropped all their bags into the trunk of her car. "How about you?"
"I could use a bite to eat." Natalie's stomach chose that moment to growl, and her eyes widened in chagrin. "I guess all that power-shopping made me work up an appetite."
Melodie laughed. "Glad to hear it. There's a cafe on the corner. How does that sound?"
"Perfect."
They walked along the sidewalk to the restaurant and requested a table on the patio since it was such a warm, beautiful day. Melodie ordered a club sandwich and iced tea, and Natalie opted for a chefs salad and soda. The waitress headed back to the kitchen, and Natalie absently glanced beyond Melodie as the hostess seated a nice-looking blond-haired man a few tables away from them, who was by himself. He looked her way, met her gaze, and an arrogant smile curved the corner of his mouth.
A sense of familiarity tugged at her subconscious, startling her. Frowning, she tried to bring the vague thought filtering through her memory into better focus, but her mind refused to cooperate. Her chest grew tight, her skin prickled, and she felt ensnared by the other man's penetrating stare.
Shaken by the overwhelming sense of apprehension taking up residence within her, she broke eye contact and returned her attention back to her friend, keeping her gaze on Melodie's animated features.
While they waited for their lunch to be delivered, Natalie listened as Cole's fiancee filled her in on all the wedding preparations she'd planned in the past six months. Their conversation and the glimpses she caught of the gorgeous diamond solitaire ring on Melodie's left hand reminded Natalie that she knew nothing about her own engagement or wedding plans.
Unable to help herself, she glanced down at her own bare finger, then back up at Melodie, "Have Noah and I set a wedding date yet?"
The other woman's eyes rounded in surprise at her question, but she quickly recovered her startled composure. "Well, uh, no, not that I'm aware of." She shifted in her chair as if the subject made her uncomfortable.
Natalie didn't let Melodie's odd behavior stop her from learning more. "Have we been engaged long?"
Melodie took a long drink of her iced tea before answering. "Actually, it was all very sudden-" She fiddled with her napkin, opening the folded cloth and spreading it on her lap and making a big production of doing so. "And with your recent accident I'm sure making wedding plans isn't a priority for either one of you at the moment, at least not until you're feeling better."
Boy, now there was a statement that was all too familiar. "You sound just like Noah."
"Noah's a smart guy," Melodie replied with a cheeky grin.
The waitress arrived with their meals, giving Natalie a handful of seconds to analyze Melodie's answers. All her explanations had been logical, but like everything else in her life at the moment, something was off. And no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't pinpoint the source of her own discomfort and uncertainty.
Melodie bit into her sandwich and chewed. "My lunch is incredible. How about yours?"
Natalie recognized a change in topic when she heard one, and let it slide. "It's good."
Melodie obviously kept her mouth filled so she didn't have to answer more questions about Natalie's engagement, and the silence prompted her to sneak another peek at the man sitting by himself. He was still watching her steadily, as if he hadn't taken his eyes off her since he'd arrived.
Once again, a shiver rippled down her spine, and despite knowing she ought to ignore his disconcerting stare and cocky, knowing smile, her gaze kept straying back to his table. She told herself she was merely curious, but she couldn't deny that something inexplicable was drawing her attention back to him, again and again.
"Is something wrong?" Melodie asked. "You look distressed all of a sudden."
Natalie drew a deep breath, which did nothing to diminish the tension within her. "It's probably just me, but that guy over at the table behind you has been looking this way since he arrived." Even now, while eating his hamburger, his attention was still on her.
Melodie dragged a French fry though a pool of ketchup and popped it into her mouth. "Is he flirting with you?"
"No, not really." There was no real charm to his demeanor, but rather he possessed an intimidating quality that made her feel uneasy. "He's just watching me in a way that's unnerving."
Melodie cast a quick, surreptitious glance over her shoulder to check out the guy for herself, then looked back at Natalie, her expression suddenly wary and concerned. "He's being rude. Just ignore him."
"I've been trying to." Appetite gone, she pushed her half-eaten salad aside. "He's just so obvious."
Melodie finished off her lunch while doing her best to distract Natalie so she'd keep her gaze off the man, though there was no denying that the guy's presence seemed to bother Melodie, too. Natalie breathed a grateful sigh of relief when he finally paid his bill and left.
"I'm sorry," Natalie said, wondering if she'd turned neurotic since her accident. "I'm probably just tired and making more of the situation than there actually was."
"Maybe," Melodie agreed, but there was something in her tone that made Natalie wonder what her friend had seen when she'd looked at the other man.
They paid their own check and stood, gathering up their purses. "I need to go to the ladies' room," Natalie said, wishing she could shake the restlessness settling within her.
"I'll go with you," Melodie said quickly, her tone insistent.
Natalie slanted her friend a curious look. The woman was suddenly being overprotective, and while she, herself, was overwhelmed by all that had transpired, Melodie appeared just as affected-and determined not to leave her alone.
Together they made their way through the casual restaurant to the rest room located down a long hall in the back. Natalie glanced around at the patrons, in search of the guy who'd been watching her, and felt ridiculous, though immensely relieved, when she didn't see him anywhere.
They slipped into the ladies' room, and since there were only two stalls, one of which was currently taken, Natalie went first, then switched with Melodie. She washed her hands and glanced into the mirror at her reflection. At the same moment, the man's face flashed in her mind, and without warning she was overwhelmed with a feeling of claustrophobia.