Page 3 of Clara's Secure Hideaway

As if sensing her unease, Heath slid her plate a little way from him so she wouldn’t have to sit so close. Not like she’d hate his nearness. If anything, she was confused about why her body reacted so strong to a man she barely knew.

Yes, he was handsome. But so was Mitch. And he’d been nice too, in the beginning. Her instincts had been so wrong where Mitch was concerned, and he’d manipulated her more than once to let him back into her home—into her heart.

She couldn’t afford to be wrong about another man again. She had too much at stake.

Oblivious to the constant stream of chatter in her brain, Heath bit into the frosting-covered roll and closed his eyes. “Dear Lord. I’m sure Lulu puts something in here to keep me coming back. These are so damn good.”

“She might teach me how to make them,” she said, rounding the counter and grabbing the coffee pot. She flipped over the cream-colored mug in front of Heath and filled it to the top.

His brown eyes popped open. “You’d be a fool not to take her up on that offer. Any woman who knows how to make these holds the keys to the kingdom.”

“What kingdom is that?” she asked, amused.

Grinning, he shrugged. “Whichever one you want, I guess.” He took another bite and bits of crumbs stuck in his dark beard.

She chuckled and wiped her index finger along her chin, indicating where he’d left part of his breakfast. “You might need a napkin.”

Turning to grab him one from the dispenser behind her, the bell chimed again. She spun around to greet the newcomer, and her world crashed at her feet, stealing her ability to move.

Mitch stood in the doorway. His dark hair was as short as always, and a long-sleeve t-shirt accentuated his biceps. He pressed his mouth in a hard line and quiet fury sparked from his blue eyes.

Heath stilled, his eyebrows tented in confusion, then turned in his stool. His body tensed before facing Clara again. “You okay?”

Words escaped her. No, she was not okay. She was far from it. The last time Mitch had beat her, she’d ended up at the hospital which led to charges finally being pressed against him. He’d been sentenced to years in jail, not months. She’d finally gotten her life on track, and if she knew Mitch as well as she thought she did, he’d do whatever he could to shove it back off the rails.

“What’s wrong, Clara? Not happy to see me?” Mitch took two steps forward.

Six or more feet might separate them, but his presence still suffocated her. She scampered backward until the wall pinned her in place. “How are you here?”

“Good behavior got me out early. I’m surprised you didn’t know. Can’t wait to pick up right where we left off.” He took another step.

She cowered against the wall, memories of every slap, every bruise, every angry word slamming against her. “No. You need to leave.”

Heath stood and shifted to stand between her and Mitch. “You heard her. Time to go, Mitch.”

Mitch worked his strong jaw back and forth then leaned to the side to stare her down. “This what you do now? Wait on men who want to get you in bed? Real classy.”

The insults struck their mark, and she hated the way her hands trembled. Fear paralyzed her brain, her mouth, her body. Shock locked her in place.

“That’s enough,” Heath said, his voice eerily calm and quiet. But something in his tone, or maybe it was the deputy’s uniform announcing his position, forced Mitch to take a step back.

“Fine. I’ll leave. But things are far from over, Clara. They’ve only just begun.”

He strolled back outside and the tears she held back fell freely down her face.

2

Heath drew in a deep breath of cold mountain air and made his way to the cruiser parked in a spot along Main Street. Searching for his keys in his jacket pocket, he took a moment to enjoy the sights of the town he loved so much. Bistro lights hung over the street, bobbing in the gentle breeze. Multi-colored bulbs and holly-covered wreaths decorated lampposts while mom-and-pop shops lining the road boasted holiday-themed scenes drawn on front windows.

Darkness shielded the sloping riverbank that tumbled down beyond the railing separating the brick sidewalk from the river, but the sound of gushing water was clear as day. The moon was just bright enough to see the outline of the Smoky Mountains in the distance.

All he needed was for a gentle snowfall as the woman of his dreams appeared, and it’d be a moment ripped from a cheesy Christmas movie.

An image of Clara Parson with her long dark hair and gentle smile clouded his mind. He’d spent a few minutes with her every day over the past few months, sharing a kind word or amusing anecdote. She’d transformed from a meek and timid shell to a witty and confident woman. The bruises had faded, and with time her deep dimples and pretty face took center stage.

Then Mitch had waltzed inside the diner, bringing back the scared woman he’d hoped had vanished.

Heath climbed into his car and turned over the engine. He’d spent a large chunk of his day figuring out how Mitch had been released so early. Overcrowding and flimsy laws to protect abused women put him back on the street. Now it was his job to make sure he stayed the hell away from Clara and their kids.

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