the attachments that I’d have to leave behind. A job would be great and working in the bookstore would be a dream.
“Well, if you’re sure,” I said uncertainly, then added, “Black coffee, please.”
He handed me a cup and met my eye. “I’m positive.”
We chatted for a while. He told me about his failed marriage, and I told him about my husband’s death. It still hurt to talk about it, but I was able to get through it without crying. That was a good sign because it said that I was ready to move on. But not forget. I would never forget my Clay.
Before I knew it, it was nearly dinnertime. “I’ve got to run!” I exclaimed. “I’ll see you in a couple of days.”
Things were really looking up here in Shipton Harbor. Maybe the house repairs would go well, I’d write and work and go back to Philly with a book for the publisher and a renewed spirit. This was just what I’d needed.
I made it through the hardware store fairly painlessly. Even paying wasn’t as bad since I knew I’d have a little bit of extra money coming in from helping Clint.
The grocery store was another story. I had to stock up. With the list of repairs I’d made, I knew I’d end up staying in town for at least a couple of months. Longer than I’d hoped. I couldn’t really list the house until the repairs were done. Then I’d have to be here until it sold.
If I had the money, I could’ve hired someone to do the selling for me and come back to sign, but of course, I was broke. So, I’d have to see this through to the end. I just hoped I wouldn’t have to keep the old Victorian because I couldn’t pay the mortgage on my house in Philly. No, I wouldn’t think of that right now.
“Excuse me.” A deep voice made the hairs on the back of my neck prickle as I looked for the particular brand of canned chili they used to sell here when I was a kid. It was probably too much to hope they’d still have that brand, but I was looking. I stepped backward and looked around, trying to get out of the man’s way, even if his voice did send a shot of warmth to my soul. Or was that the hot flashes?
But of course, I moved the wrong way and instead of giving him more room, I slammed right into him. His foot hit the back of mine and my knee went wonky. I lost my balance.
And down I went.
He hooked an arm around my waist to keep me from falling. They were large, strong arms that held onto me like a lifeline. Heat from those arms and the body they held me against challenged the best of my hot flashes. And he smelled divine. Like clean mountains and spiced sage.
I closed my eyes, mortified, as he chuckled behind me, his lips much too close to my ears. I almost groaned at the sensations flooding my body. Peering upward, I discovered I was being held up by a policeman. He loosened his hold and I jerked away. Reality of what was happening, came back to me as I smoothed my rumpled clothes and met his amused, beautifully handsome face. “I am so sorry.”
I found it hard to stare into his unusual teal and blue eyes. At the same time, it was impossible to look away. He didn’t have two different colored eyes. They were a mix of teal and dark blue. Teal being the dominant color. I’d never seen eyes like those before.
The corner of his sensual mouth lifted, and his silky voice flowed around me, caressing every inch of ignited flesh. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“Oh, you didn’t. I was preoccupied and not paying attention.” And I needed to not pay any more attention to the hottie in uniform standing way too close for my comfort.
Damn.
I hadn’t noticed the way a man looked this intently since way before my husband died. This policeman had a chiseled jaw and high cheekbones. His short black hair made those incredible eyes stand out all the more.
“You must be Ava,” he said.
My jaw dropped and I drew my brows together while shaking out of his spell. Even though I knew he wasn’t a witch, he had a power that surrounded him. I couldn’t place what he was. “Am I really that infamous?”
He chuckled again, and the warm