thanked the doctor and took a deep breath. He felt a fluttering sensation in his stomach, and he realized with a small shock that he was nervous. Stop being ridiculous, he told himself. He’d done well over a hundred interviews with witness and suspects alike since joining the Red Ridge police department. In all that time, he’d never once felt uncertain or worried before starting the process. Why was he acting like a rookie on his first day now?
Because it’s Bea. The answer came immediately to his mind, and much as he wanted to deny it, he knew it was the truth. Bea Colton had always been his weakness, and even though years had passed since he’d seen her, his body still reacted the same way it always had to her presence.
Her father’s words echoed in his mind. Didn’t you figure out she doesn’t want you?
“Oh, yes,” he muttered. “She made that very clear.”
Even now, the memory of her letter was enough to make his heart ache and his eyes sting. He’d looked for her letters at every mail call, but she’d never written. He’d told himself she was busy making their wedding plans and packing her things to join him after he returned. There was a lot to arrange while he was gone, and he felt guilty leaving her to do the lion’s share of the work. But she had probably employed her grandmother’s help, drawing on the older woman’s expertise to plan a sweet, simple ceremony.
He’d been allowed one phone call after arriving at boot camp, but Bea hadn’t been home. Normally, the lack of contact with her would have driven him crazy, but they kept him so busy he fell exhausted into his bed every night, too tired to do more than imagine her face before he drifted off to sleep.
Today was different though. There had been a letter for him at mail call, and once he saw the writing on the envelope, he knew it was from Bea. He’d have recognized her handwriting anywhere. Unable to wait for a little privacy, Micah had ripped open the letter then and there, only to crumple it in his hands a few seconds later.
Dear Micah,
I’m sorry to do this, but I’ve done a lot of thinking since you’ve been gone. I’ve decided that I’m not willing to be a soldier’s wife. I want a husband who will be home every night, not someone who will be gone for months at a time. I know this probably comes as a shock, but being away from you has given me the time and space I needed to think. I rushed into our engagement, and now I realize it was a mistake.
Please don’t try to contact me. I’m not going to change my mind.
Bea
Micah rubbed his chest to soothe the familiar ache. The pang of sadness had grown duller over the years, but any time he thought of Bea and the way she’d rejected him, his heart throbbed like a fresh bruise.
Part of him wondered if Fenwick was right. Perhaps he should recuse himself from the investigation and let someone else interview Bea. It would be easier than subjecting himself to the torture of being around her again, of hearing her voice and smelling her scent. He’d spent countless nights in the desert, dreaming of her and wishing he was holding her in his arms instead of snuggling with his service dog. Duke had been an exceptional military working dog, but he was a poor substitute for the woman Micah loved.
Because even though she’d broken his heart, Micah hadn’t stopped loving Bea. And now that he’d seen her again, he realized he probably never would.
* * *
“A mild concussion,” Bea said softly. She reached up to gently probe the gauze covering the gash on her forehead and exhaled heavily. “Could have been much worse, I guess.”
Maybe she should close the shop for the next few days. After all, it wasn’t like she had an army of brides beating down her door to buy wedding dresses. A little break might do her some good and give her the time and space to come up with a strategy for saving the shop.
A soft knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. “Come in,” she called. Hopefully it was a nurse bringing the medication for her headache. Dimming the lights had helped dull the pain somewhat, but Bea wasn’t going to turn down a little pharmaceutical assistance.
Micah poked his head around the door, and her heart did a little flip at the sight of him. “Mind if I come in?”
He looked shy and a little uncertain, and she felt a pang of worry. Had something happened between Micah and her father? She hadn’t heard a loud commotion, but that didn’t necessarily mean anything.
Micah entered the room and closed the door softly behind him. “The doctor said you’ll be released soon.”
“I hope so.” Right now, she wanted nothing more than to go home and lie down in her own bed. Hopefully she’d feel better after a good night’s sleep.
“Do you feel up to talking while we wait for your discharge orders to go through?”
Now it was her turn to feel hesitant. “Okay,” she said. Did he really want to discuss their past right now? She didn’t think it was the best time, but perhaps he had something to say after all these years...
“I need you to walk me through what happened at the boutique tonight. Do you remember seeing or hearing anything unusual before you were attacked?”
Of course, she thought, feeling ridiculous. Micah wasn’t here to talk about their past. He wanted to know about the events that had landed her in the hospital. He was a police officer, after all, and was only talking to her as part of his duties. Seeing her again had probably not affected him the same way it had her.
And why would it? He’d been the one to break up with her. It only made sense that he’d moved on with his life in the years since she’d received his letter. The thought of Micah with another woman left her feeling mildly nauseous and she swallowed hard. It doesn’t matter, she told herself. It’s none of my business.
It was the truth, but a pang of jealousy speared her heart as the image of him holding another woman flashed through her mind. Micah’s actions had hurt her badly, and yet she couldn’t deny she still felt drawn to him.
“Bea?” The sound of her name drew her out of her thoughts, and she focused on Micah to find he was watching her with a concerned expression. “If you’re not feeling up to it, I can talk to you later.”
“No, now is fine.” Better to get this over with so she could simply go home. “I was closing up the store when I heard a strange thump in the storage room.” She told him about how the lights had gone out as she’d headed to the back of the store and the strange smell in the air. “I heard the sound of movement, and the next thing I remember is you leaning over me, telling me to wake up.”
Micah frowned. “Can you describe the scent?”
“It was definitely perfume,” Bea responded. “Something floral, but with a sharp note to it that burned my nose.”
“Did you recognize it?”
Bea tilted her head to the side. “It seemed familiar, but I don’t remember where I’ve encountered it before.” She searched her memory, but it was no use. Finally, she shrugged. “Maybe I smelled it as I walked by the perfume counter at the mall?”
“It’s possible,” Micah said. “When you’re feeling up to it, we’ll go there and see if you can identify it for me.”
Before
