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Nate tried to put Sara O’Neill out of his mind as he lifted a large, cardboard delivery box onto his electrical supplies counter at the store. He’d stuffed up royally. There was no doubting that. The question was, could he fix it?
The store was empty but for Abigail, drawing on some scrap paper in the corner and Moana at the main counter. The rows of groceries between them seemed colder than the frozen section. She would come around though. For all her faults, Moana was a woman who believed in family.
Sara, on the other hand, he was less sure of.
She was wounded from her last relationship. He’d known that. Hell, if he were to give advice to anyone else in this situation, it would be to stay clear. So why couldn’t he take his own advice? There was something about her that drew him in. Something that made him feel things he hadn’t felt about any other woman since Emma.
She was different to the women he knew in town. Interesting, talented, and so incredibly strong and capable in ways she wouldn’t even acknowledge to herself. He felt happier in her presence than he had felt in a long time. Working together to save her house made it feel like they were partners. He’d been surprised at how much she knew and how capable she really was. Somehow, even wielding a sledgehammer and covered in dust, she exuded femininity and strength in a mix that was as distracting as it was sexy.
It’d been a shock to find her on the floor this morning. Whether she’d collapsed or merely fallen asleep there, he wasn’t sure, but seeing her like that had made his heart feel as though it were being electrocuted. When she’d woken up and been nothing but angry he wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry.
His intentions of making amends for anything she’d heard of his and Moana’s fight, however, were quickly dashed and when she’d actually flinched away from him...the memory of it made his chest ache still.
He stabbed a pen into the packing tape on the box and ran it along the crease, breaking the seal. He pulled back the flaps but barely saw the collection of batteries, fuses and other items inside.
He’d only meant to offer a hug. To soothe her somehow and apologise for his mistake. Instead he’d made it worse.
“Daddy.” Abigail tugged on his sleeve. “When am I going back to Sara’s house? It’s boring here.”
Nate sighed. “I don’t know, honey. Soon, I hope.” Better to give her some space today.
“I drew her a picture.” The little girl held up a drawing of a house surrounded by cats.
He chuckled. “I’m sure she’ll love it.”
The chime on the door sounded, announcing the presence of a customer. Nate caught himself looking up eagerly, hoping it would be Sara. Instead a dark haired man in his mid-thirties, wearing jeans and a buttoned up dress shirt paused to look over the store, then made his way to Moana at the main counter. He had a photograph of a car in his hand.
Nate sighed and turned back to his delivery. He pulled out a carton of double A batteries and a couple of watch batteries he’d ordered in especially for Sara, given how much trouble she was having with her watch.
“Excuse me,” he overhead the man saying. “I don’t suppose you’ve seen this car anywhere in town have you? It was stolen about a month ago and got snapped by a speed camera not far from here.”
“Sorry,” said Moana. “I’m not really into cars.”
“Fair enough.” The man’s voice was warm and charming. “What about this woman?”
Nate’s head snapped up. Why would a stranger in town be asking about cars or a woman? There was only one new woman in town within the last month.
“Oh yes, I know her,” Moana was saying, her finger tapping the second photograph. “That’s Sara O’Neill. Right piece of work. She’s who took your car, is she?”
“I’m afraid so.”
Nate waved frantically, trying to catch Moana’s attention. She glanced at him and he shook his head. “No,” he mouthed silently.
Moana smiled sweetly. “Head North. First road on your left, then third right. Hers is the last house on the road.”
The man picked up the photographs. “Thank you. You’ve been most helpful.”
“Want me to call the police?” Moana asked.
“No, that won’t be necessary. I’ll just get what’s mine.” He slid a fifty dollar bill across the counter. “For your trouble.”
“Moana, you idiot!” As soon as the man was gone, Nate threw his stock items back in the box and shoved it under the counter. “What did you do that for?”
“Do what?” She raised her chin defiantly. “Tell a man where his stolen car is?”
“Did you think for a second about what I told you yesterday about Sara’s past? The car isn’t stolen. It’s just registered with her ex’s name and address. That’s the man who put Sara in the hospital and killed their unborn baby!”
Moana’s face went grey. “Oh God. Are you serious?”
Nate’s lip curled. “If you weren’t so caught up in your petty rivalry you’d have realized how suspicious that was. You’ve just handed her over to a madman. Now close the shop. We’re going to go fix this.”