Page 29 of Unexpected Hero

“Thank you so much,” I tell her with a genuine smile.

“There it is again,” James teases me after giving the woman a congenial head nod of appreciation.

“Mama raised a woman with manners,” I retort, letting my twang have free reign.

Except Mama was actually my grandmama, but I don’t want to think about that right now.

“I like your voice. That accent. It reminds me of back home.”

“Where’s home?”

While I await his answer, I dig into my sandwich, taking a polite, ladylike bite.

Kidding.

I jumped in, my mouth wide as can be.

I’m fucking starving.

“Mmm,” I moan softly around the delicate, buttery bread that’s all warm and toasty.

When I look up, I realize he’s staring at my mouth. I grab a napkin from the dispenser and wipe my face, remembering the manners I’ve been professing to have.

“Sorry. It’s so good it makes my tongue wanna slap my brains out.”

His shoulders shake with silent laughter. “Don’t apologize. I’m glad you’re enjoying it.”

I take another bite while he opens his bag of chips. After one more nibble, I restate my earlier question. “So where are you from that my accent reminds you of?”

“All over. But I was raised in South Carolina.”

“Nice. I’m from Georgia, but I’ve never lived anywhere else until now.”

He tosses a chip in his mouth while eying me carefully. I’m quickly growing accustomed to how he studies me. It should probably feel unnerving like I’m under a microscope. Especially since he’s a stranger.

But oddly enough, it doesn’t bother me.

After he munches on another handful of chips, he asks, “Have you been here long?”

“I came to town a few weeks ago.”

He sets down the chips, leans back in his chair, and steeples his fingers in front of his chest. My eyes catch on his corded forearms. No tattoos or anything to mar his smooth, taut skin.

“What brings you to Clearwater, Lettie?”

Having already polished off half of my sandwich, I wash it down with some coffee while deciding how to respond. But the flavors don’t mesh well.

“Want some water?” he asks out of the blue.

“What?”

“Water? I can get you some.”

My eyes search the table, wondering if he’s reading my mind.

“Yes, please.”

“I’ll be right back.”

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