Her Shadows, His Secrets

I hesitate for a moment. Crowds? More people? Socializing?

New life, Hanna. A chance to reinvent yourself, I repeat the mantra I declared earlier.

“Okay, but I need to get some new clothes. Is there anything in town?”

“Yes! We can go shopping Friday. I can actually drive us to Charleston. It’s an hour away, but they have the best shopping mall.”

“Perfect, I also need to work on getting a job here. Will you keep your ear to the ground for me?”

“No need, come work at the market. We need some extra help. I know it’s not ideal, but we could use it!” She gets giddy over this idea.

“Your bosses are hiring?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Huh?”

“I own the grocery store. It was my grandpa’s, and he left it to Theo and me, but Theo moved, so I took it over.”

“Really, Brenda, thank you. I’m a fast learner. I appreciate it.”

“No need to thank me. Just be there tomorrow morning at eleven, and we will start your training.”

“Deal.” We shake hands, then spend a couple more hours chatting before we call it a night.

Maybe Cherry Hill will be even better than I anticipated.

CHAPTER SEVEN

THEO

PRESENT

I hate it here. The moment I drove past the city limits sign, I was reminded why I left. I always told my friends and family that Cherry Hill is a place people go to get old and die. I’ve already had ten people stop me while running errands in town to tell me about all the things I’ve missed while being gone, none of it meaning a single thing to me. No thanks.

I’ve been here for almost a week, and it feels like it’s already been a month. This one-month assignment is most likely going to seem never ending at this rate. My week was eventful, to say the least. I could have castrated my sister’s ex-boyfriend, but that would have ended with me in the sheriff’s chair. No thanks. Breaking his nose with the butt of my gun will just have to be enough. But if he comes back around, I won’t hesitate to do worse. My sister is a pain in the ass, but she’s a fucking saint and didn’t deserve to be played by a liar with a family.

When she confided that his wife showed up at her place of work and told her all about his secret life, my blood boiled. I’ve always had a short temper, a thirst to lay hands on anyone who does wrong to good people. But my temper isn’t the only aspect of my personality. I demand control, need to feel like I’m always in charge and ten steps ahead of everyone.

This is also why women are just a quick fix and not a permanent deal. At least they all know it before sliding into bed with me. I feel like this is cliché. Most men today live by this philosophy. I’m part of a living, breathing breed that sees women for one thing and one thing only—fuck toys.

My mother would be proud.

Not.

Finished with my work day, I make my way into the grocery store, needing to pick up a few things and check in on my sister. She owns this store—well, we both did, but I gave her my share when I left Cherry Hill. Hopping out, I lock the truck and head in. A few locals say hi and share pleasantries, while I try to short stop as many conversations as possible. Rounding the corner, I bump into someone, and at the same time I curse, “shit,” under my breath, the person I ran into begins apologizing profusely.

“Oh no, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to run into you. I’m sorry. Gah, I’m just a klutz. I’m sorry.” How many times can a woman apologize in one breath? Our eyes finally lock when I place my hand on her chin and lift it.

“Don’t worry about it, gorgeous,” I tell her, and I swear when her green eyes meet my brown ones, I nearly lose my footing. This woman is fucking breathtaking, and I don’t say that about women. Her eyes are a vibrant green, her long dirty-blonde hair contrasting with them perfectly, and her body, though hidden behind the store’s uniform polo, cannot be disguised. She’s thick, curvy, her body winding and dipping like it was sculpted for a hungry man, and fuck me, I’m starving.

There has never been a woman with a body like hers that I’ve salivated over. But a thousand and one thoughts about seeing her naked run through my head.

Focus.

“Um, sorry?” Her eyes are doe-like. God, she seems like she would submit easily. I guess I’ll need to find out… and soon.

“You heard me. No worries. You can make it up to me another way, beautiful.” I wink at her, and something shifts in her gaze. It’s no longer soft and timid. She looks… pained.