No. A voice inside him screamed the word. It was so fucking loud it was deafening. But there was also this other voice, one that told him to run. Get away. To not look back. And that voice was more familiar.
“Yes. I’ll wait until I hear the click of the lock.”
Disappointment darkened her expression, and maybe a bit of hurt. But she nodded. “Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow, Holden.”
She stepped inside, and the click of the lock was loud and so fucking final.
He didn’t move right away. He just stood there, his feet feeling heavy as he wondered what the hell he’d just done.
CHAPTER 10
Clara dropped onto the couch and died…literallydied.
Okay, maybe not literally. But wasn’t that fitness thing supposed to be kicking in by now? She’d joined the running club weeks ago.
If her fitness had improved, she wasnotreaping the benefits. Her lungs were ready to collapse just finishing the five miles. It didn’t help that she was distracted byhim. Every time she turned her head,hewas all she saw. His beautiful hazel eyes. His sharp jaw.
But even though the man was pretty, he was giving her whiplash. Why the heck was he giving her the best kiss of her life last night, then today not saying a word to her?
Yeah, that’s right—he hadn’t said anything. In fact, he’d arrived just late enough that he didn’t talk to anyone before the run. She’d almost thought he wasn’t going to show up.
Whereas she’d arrived early. She’d wanted to see if Helen showed up, to check on her. She hadn’t. Not a surprise. And when Clara had asked Briar if her friend was okay, the other woman had barely looked at her, just mumbled a, “She’s resting,” and walked away.
Clara’s eyes were still closed when the front door opened and shut. She cracked one eye open to see Scarlett walk in and head straight down the hall.
How was she so in shape and Clara wasn’t? The woman sat on her phone and laptop all day but somehow didn’t seem affected by the five miles at all.
Maybe this was a Clara thing. Maybe her chronic fatigue meant that she’d never run five miles and feel okay?
That was a depressing thought.
Her phone rang in her leggings pocket, and she blindly pulled it out. “Hello?”
“Clara, are you okay?”
She scrunched her eyes closed. She hadn’t spoken to her mother about what happened last night, because she hadn’t had a chance yet. And maybe she knew her mother wouldn’t be happy. “Who told you?”
“Jesse.”
Of course it was her sheriff brother. “I’m fine, Mom. Holden and Jesse made sure of it.”
“Why didn’t you call?”
“I didn’t have a chance. It was late last night and this morning I went for a run.”
“You still went for a run?”
She wrinkled her nose. “I’m okay, Mom.”
“I want to stop by with some soup. You can rest while I take care of you.”
God, she loved her mom. She’d really hit the jackpot with her. “Thank you, but I’ve got a client in an hour so will eventually peel myself off the couch and shower.”
“You didn’t take today off either?”
“I couldn’t. I have clients. But I told you, I’m okay.”
“Darling, I hope you’re not overworking yourself?”
