Page 8 of No Love Lost

He nodded. Taking care of Addy wouldn’t be a hardship. He’d always wanted to do that, but apparently, he hadn’t been enough for her. The only problem was the mountain of anger and unanswered questions in their way.

How could she have kept their daughter from him? Even if she’d fallen out of love, he’d thought they’d had enough mutual like and history to get past that. He was a good man, and he had a right to know.

Feeling the fury crawling up his throat, he fought the urge to pace the room again. He had to bank the anger if he wanted answers.

His military training helped him again. He shoved the emotions aside and pulled out his mission face. Finally, he figured he would be able to speak calmly. “I’ll get my car.”

Then he strode out of the clinic and to the lot where he’d parked. He hadn’t seen any of his friends yet, but they would have to wait. This was far too important. None of them even knew he was coming, so they wouldn’t be waiting or worrying.

It only took a few seconds for him to drive his new Atlas to the back door of the clinic, but the heater was already doing its job and the car’s interior should be warm enough for Addison. The heated seats would help, too.

He opened the clinic’s back door to find her leaning against the doorjamb of the exam room. Her eyes were closed, and she wore exhaustion like an extra jacket.

Concern wormed its way through the anger for this woman who’d owned his heart when he was a teen. The same woman who’d shattered it into irreparable pieces.

At the moment, she looked as shattered as he’d ever felt. Before he’d realized his intent, he’d crossed the waiting room and was in the hallway.

Her eyes opened, and she straightened and tried to blank her eyes. Too late. He’d seen the fear.

Without giving her a chance to object, Heath lifted her gently into his arms and turned back to the waiting room.

Giving away how worn out she was, Addy didn’t protest. Instead, she tucked her scarf over her mouth and leaned into him.

And that shouldn’t warm his heart. He shouldn’t be able to feel some of the shards clicking back into place.

He shifted her weight and opened the car door, then slid her into the seat and closed it up. He blew out a deep breath as he rounded the car and got into the driver’s seat.

Once they were buckled in, he reversed onto the street. “Point me in the right direction.”

They didn’t speak as Addy directed him through town. Past Troy’s Phail General. They drove north through some hills and farmland. After a few minutes, Addy indicated a left turn onto a country road. Not long after that, she pointed right at a tiny home that looked like a postcard with a snowman in the front yard.

He drove up the plowed drive and pulled up right beside the side door. “Keys?”

She flinched at his demand but then sighed and pulled the keys out of her pocket and handed them over.

The house door jammed, but once he’d shoved it open, he returned and lifted her from the car and strode into the house. Snow covered his shoes, so he kicked them off.

The tiny entry opened up to a kitchen. He moved through the space to a living room. There was a hallway to one side, probably leading to bedrooms and a bathroom.

In the living room, a comfortable-looking couch took up half of the small space. There were two desks and chairs along one wall and another cushioned chair. All worn and well-used, but clean and tidy.

He placed Addy on the couch and then knelt to take off her boots. He took them back to the entry and put them beside his shoes.

The sight hit him in the heart, but he shoved that aside, too. He needed answers, not to be drawn into Addy’s magical orbit.

Deciding he needed a minute, he filled the kettle and set it on the stove, then waited for the water to boil. The open shelving on one wall made it easy to find mugs and several tea options. He wasn’t surprised to see several with cinnamon. That had always been Addy’s favorite.

He took off his coat and hung it on the hooks by the back door. A small hoody hung there. Addy’s or Nina’s?

He fingered the material and then shoved it away. He needed those answers. Needed to know why.

The kettle boiled, and he filled two infusers with the tea and let it steep for a couple of minutes. Then he carried both mugs through to the living room, hoping he was calm enough for the conversation.

Addy had taken off her jacket, hat, and scarf and set them on the other end of the couch. Her raven black hair tumbled over her shoulders, shiny and enticing as ever.

As she often had, Addy leaned to one side, letting the hair become a shield between her and the world. Her head rested on a pillow, and her body was hidden beneath a wooly blanket.

He hadn’t made a sound, but as soon as he crossed into the living room, her eyes flew open. She smiled softly and then shoved herself to a sitting position, face once again carefully blank.

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