“Dig in,” he announced as he settled the laden serving plate in the middle of the table. “See.” He snagged himself a cup of coffee and dropped into a chair. “That was more than one word.”
Yeah, all right. Two. “I hate to break this to you, Conner, but I don’t do breakfast.”
He spooned a heaping of eggs onto her plate, then flanked it with toast and bacon. “There’s a first time for everything, Ms. Newton.”
She speared a bite of egg and lifted it to her mouth. Yes, life was filled with firsts. First steps, first kiss, first ... kills. Remembered terror slithered along her skin. She pushed the memories away.
Sarah would be curious to see how Kale Conner responded to the first currently plowing its way into his life faster than the dozens of snowplows she’d seen cruising the streets since her arrival. Learning that you were friends with or perhaps even related to a murderer definitely carried an impact.
She knew all too well.
Banishing the images that wanted to accompany the thought, she shifted her attention to the man and her curiosity about him. “So, what’s the deal, Conner? No wife? What about a girlfriend?”
He stopped mid-chew, surprise flaring in those dark eyes. Cutting to the chase saved time and energy. He would learn that she valued her time above all else.
He swallowed. “Single and thirty seems odd to you?” He scrunched his brow as if trying to recall some fact. “Wasn’t there a show about single women in New York, all of whom were over thirty?”
Yeah. Yeah. “But this isn’t New York?”
“Ah.” He took a slug of coffee. “So you think there’s nothing else to do around here but get married?”
The thought had definitely crossed her mind. “Well?” No need to be shy.
“Well.” He set his palms flat on the table. “I run a fishing company. And I’m on the village council. I stay pretty busy.”
“Let me guess, the older council members talked you into that. New blood and all that jazz.”
Another flare of surprise. “That about sums it up.”
She’d thought so. “What about college?” She picked up a piece of bacon and took a bite.
“What about it?”
Ah, she’d hit a nerve. His entire demeanor changed. “You didn’t finish.” He’d been an honor student, too. Marine engineering or something like that. Halfway through the program when he quit.
He stared at his plate, rearranged the food with his fork. “My father had an accident and my family needed me.”
Now there was something she hadn’t learned in her research. “What sort of accident?”
“One of his fishing boats crashed into the dock. He tried to help.” Conner shrugged. “Got in the way and his spine was fractured in about half a dozen places.”
“Paralyzed?”
He nodded. “Now the only navigating he does is in his wheelchair from the TV to the table.”
She grimaced. “That’s tough.”
Conner nodded again. “Like I said. My family needed me.” He dug into his food, kept his attention on the plate.
And there was the first flaw. Sarah leaned back in her chair and watched the man devour his breakfast. Handsome, nice, always ready to do his part. But. He’d had to sideline his life and live his father’s. She could guess all that went along with the assignment. He’d likely played a large role in rearing his younger siblings. Ran the family business. Did whatever Daddy told him to do.
And absolutely nothing for himself.
Five years. She’d give him five years tops before the resentment and bitterness took its toll.
That was the thing about life. Whatever your reason for avoiding living it—no matter your noble motive for taking a detour—life always got the last laugh.
And the final say.
