Page 71 of Hero's Heart

Eva Lindstrom’s smile was radiant as she approached their table, her long coat swishing around her ankles.

“Hi, Annie! I’d love to,” she said warmly, then turned her attention to Sloane. “You must be Sloane. I heard you were in town. I’m Eva, Theo’s wife.”

“It’s nice to meet you.” Annie and Eva slid into the booth across from Sloane.

“Theo told me a little about Moldova. Although, less about the country itself and more about trying to get your sister out of it.”

Sloane grimaced. “Yeah. Marissa can be a handful.”

Eva laughed. “Theo’s a pretty level-headed guy, but he did mention your sister was a little…difficult.”

Sloane snorted, surprising herself. “Difficultis probably the kindest word you could use for her.”

Eva grinned, clearly delighted by Sloane’s candor. “That’s what Theo said too. I’m glad to see you have a sense of humor about it.”

The conversation flowed easily after that, covering everything from Theo’s work at Linear Tactical to Eva’s role as a veterinarian for their therapy animals. Hudson delivered them menus, and Sloane found herself relaxing, drawn in by Eva’s warmth and Annie’s steady presence.

“Hey, ladies!”

Sloane did a double take as someone slid in next to her in the booth, knocking her hip to scoot her over. A young blonde woman about her age.

Eva and Annie both laughed and shook their heads.

“Hi, Joy,” Eva said. “This is Sloane.”

Joy turned to Sloane with a huge smile. “Hey, Sloane. You’re Callum’s friend, right? Bear and Hudson were talking about you. I was sad I didn’t get to meet you on my shift yesterday, but yay that you’re here again today!”

Sloane wasn’t even able to get a word in edgewise as Joy grabbed her hand and gave it a big squeeze, like they were old friends. “I’m just going to sit for a second until Hudson reads me the riot act, okay? Then I’ll take your order.”

Sloane couldn’t help but smile. “Okay.”

“So, what brings you to Oak Creek?” Joy asked. “Tell us your life story. Don’t leave anything out.”

Sloane opened her mouth then shut it again. Was Joy serious? Surely not, right? She looked over at Annie, who shrugged.

“Joy has never met a stranger.”

Joy beamed. “It’s true. I can’t help it. I just love talking to people and getting to know them. So, tell me how you got here.”

“I met Callum a couple of months ago. He had good things to say about the town, so I thought I’d check it out.”

Joy’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “And? Are you staying?”

“I think I’d like to. Oak Creek feels…different from anywhere I’ve been before.” She peeked over at Annie again to see if the woman disapproved of Sloane leaving out hugely important details, but Annie just nodded with a smile.

Joy let out an excited squeal, bouncing slightly in the seat. “Oh, you have to stay! We could totally be besties. I grew up here, so I always love it when someone new comes around. I was just thinking that a couple days ago, and here you are now. It must be fate.”

Despite herself, Sloane laughed, the sound light and unfamiliar. “I would like a friend. Thank you.”

She couldn’t remember the last time she’d really had a friend. In high school, all her time had gone to helping her mother through bouts of depression and anxiety and just trying to make sure they had food on the table. Then after Mom had died, she’d been working for the Getty family—never given time for any sort of social life.

She wasn’t sure that Joy was serious about wanting to be friends—and especially didn’t know how Joy would feel once she found out Sloane was pregnant—but the thought of having a buddy here brought a smile to her face.

“Yay!” Joy clapped again. “It’s settled. You have to stay now.”

“I do think you’d like it here,” Annie said softly. “It’s a good town. Good people.”

“I’m not paying you to sit on your ass, Joy.” Hudson walked by on his way to run food to a different table. “You know we’re short-staffed. Mind doing your job?”

---