“Right,” Mia said coldly.“Well, there’s no use wasting time when there’s work to be done.How soon do you think I can call insurance and we can start cleanup?”
“Should be ready for insurance this afternoon.You can probably start cleanup tomorrow.”
She nodded and glanced at Zeke.He was staring at a painting that had fallen off the wall, but she could see the tension in every line of his body.
She thought about the music box.Whatever they were running, that music box was at the center of it.And they were both going to tell her everything.
As if reading her mind, Zeke turned his head and looked at her intently.“I’m staying with you,” he said.“From here on out, I’m sticking close.And don’t even think about arguing.I’ll sleep on the couch if I have to, but it’s too dangerous.You need someone to watch your back.”
“Fine,” she said tightly.“But you’d better be prepared to answer some questions.Both of you.”She looked at Blaze.“Because I’m not letting this go.”
“I know,” Blaze said.“And you deserve answers.Just not here.Not now.”
ChapterFive
A week later,the first frost glittered across the top of the ground like tiny diamonds.And to Mia’s surprise and supreme gratitude, her shop was cleaned up, the door repaired, and she’d managed to restock some of her inventory.
She’d never expected the outpouring of support from the community, and she never would’ve thought to ask for it.But the O’Haras had rallied, and where the O’Haras led, the rest of Laurel Valley followed.
The morning after the break-in, Mia had arrived at Pawn to Queen at seven to find Simone O’Hara already standing on her doorstep with a large thermos and a determined expression.
“Good morning, dear,” Simone said, as if showing up at a destroyed pawnshop at dawn was the most natural thing in the world.She held up the thermos.“I brought coffee.Real coffee, not that diner swill.You’re going to need it.”
Mia unlocked the temporary plywood door that Ryder, Levi and Hank had installed the night before.“Simone, you didn’t have to?—”
“Of course I didn’t have to.”Simone swept past her into the shop, her elegant features taking in the destruction with the assessing eye of someone who’d seen her share of crises.“But you’re part of this community now, whether you’ve fully accepted that or not.And this is what we do.”
She poured coffee into two travel mugs she’d brought and handed one to Mia.The rich aroma filled the space, cutting through the lingering smell of destruction.
“Now,” Simone said, settling onto one of the few chairs that hadn’t been overturned.“I’ve already called Rose at Heavenly Delights—she’ll be bringing fresh cinnamon rolls and breakfast sandwiches at eight for the crew.My sons will be here at eight thirty with cleaning supplies and muscle.Raven is closing the boutique for the afternoon to help sort inventory.And Lily—well, Lily threatened to track down the Vaqueros herself if anyone gave you trouble, so I had to promise her you’d call if you needed anything.”
Mia stood there, coffee in hand, completely overwhelmed.“I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything.”Simone’s dark eyes softened.“Though I wouldn’t mind you telling me about that man who’s been staying with you.Zeke McBride, isn’t it?”
There it was.Mia should have known the coffee came with questions.
“We knew each other before,” Mia said carefully.“A long time ago.”
“Mmm.”Simone took a sip of her coffee, her gaze never leaving Mia’s face.“And you don’t trust him.”
It wasn’t a question.
“I don’t know,” Mia admitted.The words came easier than she expected.Maybe it was the early hour, or the exhaustion, or the fact that Simone had the kind of presence that made you want to tell the truth.“I want to.But he’s keeping things from me.”
“Most men do, in my experience.”Simone’s smile was knowing.“My Tommy kept it from me for three months when he was planning to propose.Drove me absolutely crazy because I knew something was different, but I couldn’t figure out what.Turned out he was terrified I’d say no.”
“This is different.”
“Is it?”Simone set down her cup and leaned forward slightly.“Mia, I’ve been married for over forty years.I’ve raised five children, run a restaurant, and watched this family grow from a tight-knit group into something that spans the entire valley.And I’ve learned something important—the people we love most are often the ones we’re most afraid to be honest with.”
“He’s DEA,” Mia said quietly.“He’s working something.Something dangerous enough that he won’t tell me what it is.”
“Ah.”Understanding flickered across Simone’s face.“And you’re caught in the middle.”
“My shop was destroyed because of whatever he’s running.People could have been hurt.”
“But they weren’t.”Simone reached over and squeezed Mia’s hand.“And from what Blaze tells me, Zeke has been here every night making sure you’re safe.That doesn’t sound like a man who doesn’t care.”
