she didn’t have expectations of others, she wouldn’t be disappointed.
Of course, she couldn’t voice that thought, she didn’t want to hurt their feelings. So instead she smiled politely and changed the subject. “How are Allie and Garrett? Will they be coming to visit soon?” Allie and Garrett were the Wellington’s fraternal twins. They’d gone off to college last fall.
Sandy patted her arm with a knowing sigh. “Yes, they will be here this summer. I have an idea. Why don’t you come home with us? You could stay in Allie’s old room.”
Claire dropped her chin. “Oh, no. I couldn’t impose.”
“It wouldn’t be an imposition at all,” Dave said as he stepped to his wife’s side.
“Or you could come to our house,” offered Peggy, as she and Steve joined the circle around Claire.
“That’s sweet, but really…” she trailed off as panic flared. Things were spinning out of her control. Everyone meant well but she didn’t want to need them. Didn’t want to have to rely on anyone for anything.
Bob came around the group and stood beside Nick. The two men were so different.
Bob was good-looking, with his light brown hair and wiry build, in a very boy-next-door kind of way that appealed to some women. Not her, though. He was nice enough and they got along okay. He’d asked her out on several occasions over the years, but friendship was as far as their relationship could go. He just didn’t do it for her.
She preferred Nick’s near-black hair, dark eyes and towering muscular frame. His cool and dangerous demeanor appealed to her, making her pulse race and her brain sound alarms. He was the kind of man she didn’t need in her life.
“You can’t stay here alone.” Bob pinned her with his hazel eyes.
Claire ground her back teeth at his high-handed tone. “I’m not alone. Gwen lives here, too.”
Sandy piped up. “She can come to my house, too.”
“Or she can stay with me,” Lori offered.
Everyone started talking at once. Only Nick remained silent, his black eyes watchful. Her gaze slid away from him as she tried to reason with the people who were intent on arranging her life. She hated when people tried to arrange her life.
“Excuse me, everyone,” Nick’s voice, though low, rose above the chatter, effectively cutting off the noise. “Claire’s been through a rough ordeal today. I’m sure she could use some time and space.”
Surprised by his understanding, Claire’s eyes widened.
“Of course.” Peggy took her hand. “You let us know what we can do to help.”
“I will. I promise.” Claire’s heart squeezed slightly at the woman’s offer of help and friendship.
“Okay, kids, let’s head out,” Steve said as he took the puppy from Matthew and set him on the living room floor. He led his family out of The Zone.
Before they headed to the door, Sandy and Dave elicited a promise from Claire to call if she needed anything. Nick walked out with them.
Claire watched his retreating back with a frown and fought the ridiculous urge to cry. She’d asked him to leave, but she’d thought he’d at least say goodbye. There she went again—expecting something, only to feel hurt and rejected.
Would she ever learn?
Lori leaned in close, her gaze on Nick as well, and whispered, “He’s certainly a prize worth holding on to.”
Claire shook her head, feeling suddenly very tired. “You’re too much the romantic,” she whispered back.
Lori’s eyes twinkled with mirth. “Bob, will you walk me to the shop?”
He looked surprised. “Why?”
“Because I asked you to, you big lug.” Lori rolled her eyes. “Men.” Then to Claire she said, “I’ll check on you tomorrow.”
She held up a hand as Claire opened her mouth to protest. “I know, but I’m coming, anyway.” She wrinkled her straight nose. “It smells ghastly in here.”
“I’ll light some scented candles,” Claire said.
“You shouldn’t stay here,” Bob said, his expression hard, concerned.
She tried for patience. “You sound like a broken record. This is my home. I’m not leaving. Besides, the damage is mainly outside. The water’s only on the first floor and contained in the kitchen. I’ll be fine.”
“You are so stubborn.” Exasperation echoed in his voice.
“Okay, time for us to go,” Lori declared, linking her arm through Bob’s. She gave Claire a meaningful look. “I’ll talk with you later.”
Too weary to argue, Claire nodded. “Fine.”
Lori led a reluctant Bob out, leaving Claire alone.
Her lungs hurt and her throat felt like sandpaper. The place did smell and it looked horrible—all black and charred on the back wall around the door. But it was her place. The only thing she possessed worth anything. And someone had tried to wreck it. She blew out an angry breath. She wasn’t about to let anyone destroy her dream.
A wet tickle at her ankle reminded her she now had one other possession. She bent and scratched behind Little Nick’s ears. “Hope you don’t mind that it’s just you and me, little guy.”
She straightened and moved toward the stairs when the front door opened and Nick walked back in.
A surge of happiness tore through her, catching her off guard. She trampled down the giddy pleasure. “I thought you left.”
“Sorry to disappoint you.” His expression was unreadable but there was a tension in his body she hadn’t noticed before.
“No. No disappointment. I’m glad to see you. I mean…I wanted to say goodbye.”
“I came to get my jacket.” He strode past her to where his leather jacket lay on the stool by the counter.
“Oh.” A bubble of disappointment popped in her chest. He hadn’t come to see her or to say goodbye.
He slipped the jacket on and crossed the room to stand a few feet from her. “I hear you might have a room to rent.”
“You know of a teen in trouble?”
He gave her a sharp look. “I’d intended to stay awhile wherever I stopped this evening. My bike needs a tune-up. And now that it’s getting late, I might as well stay in Pineridge. Steve recommended a mechanic a few blocks away.”
Her heart pounded in her ears. He wanted to stay here? “That’s not a good idea.”
One side of his mouth curled up into a lopsided grin. “You’d be doing me a favor. And I could pay you by doing the work to repair the
