Marrying Raven (Brides of Clearwater Book 2)

by Melanie D. Snitker

  Heath took stock of the equipment as they entered. Maybe it was nothing like the training gym he used in Cleveland with his teammates, but this was still a great setup. There were three other people using the equipment.

  Raven waved to a man in scrubs who returned the gesture. “There are always people here who can help if you need it.” She pointed to the piece of equipment that resembled an upright bicycle. “Start out with the upper body ergometer. That’ll help you maintain your fitness level while we wait for that tendon to heal. You can do upper extremity circuit training afterward, but make sure you don’t overdo it, especially this first week.”

  Her caution irked him. He knew his own limitations, thank you very much. “I think I’m set.”

  He took in the room as he avoided her dark brown eyes. She hadn’t changed much. Her face was fuller, her hair shorter, but it all suited her nicely. He finally allowed his gaze to connect with hers. It was the hardness in her eyes that bothered him. She’d always been fun-loving. Outgoing. She thrived on making others laugh. He saw none of that now. Was it because of him and their unusual situation, or had her personality shifted like everything else?

  The one change that snagged his attention the most, though, was the little scar near the right corner of her mouth. He used to have every contour of those lips memorized, and that hadn’t been there before. What had caused the scar?

  He glanced at her left hand. No wedding ring, not that it meant anything.

  He pulled his thoughts back on track. She was probably being cool toward him because of their history. Honestly? He deserved that and a whole lot more.

  Raven blinked several times, took a step back, and slipped her hands into her pockets. “I’ll see you on Thursday then.” With that, she turned and left the gym.

  Heath watched her walk away, frustrated how, even after twelve years, that sway of hers still captured his attention.

  Maybe Raven’s suggestion of seeing a different assistant wasn’t such a bad one after all. The rehabilitation center was busy, there had to be more PTs he could work with. It’d be a whole lot easier on him and Raven that way. Yes, as soon as he finished here, he’d make different arrangements. His decision bolstered his mood a little as he went to work.

  He got through the ergometer and did some circuit training as well, but it took Heath longer than he thought it should have. He made a mental note to bring a duffle bag with a change of clothes next time. Changing into a fresh shirt after exercising was a must. Once his foot was out of the boot, he’d take a shower before heading to his parents’ house, too. He couldn’t wait until something as normal as taking a shower was no longer the production it was now.

  He headed to the front of the building and the check-in counter. Raven was nowhere to be seen. He smiled at the receptionist. “Hi, I’m starting physical therapy this week. I was wondering if it would be possible to be assigned to a different assistant.”

  The woman at the desk stared at him, her brows disappearing into the bangs that lay piled on her forehead. “I…I don’t know if we do that.” She glanced at the other receptionist who was busy with a phone call. “Give me a moment.” She disappeared into the back. When she returned, she brought Dr. Bright with her.

  The doctor seemed concerned. “Is there something I can help you with, Mr. Shaw?”

  “I was asking about being assigned to a different assistant for my future appointments.”

  “Did Raven fail to give you proper help or instructions?”

  Heath may not want to work with Raven for a variety of reasons, but she seemed more than capable of doing her job. “No, of course not. There’s some history with our families, and I thought it might be easier if we changed things up.” That sounded lame even to his own ears.

  Dr. Bright shook her head. “I’m sorry, but setting everything up for you on short notice took some work with the schedule. I may be able to swap things around, but it could delay the start of your therapy.”

  The other receptionist had finished her phone call and was watching them. Nothing like having an audience. Heath wished he’d never asked in the first place. He should’ve gone home and called in with his question. “No, I don’t want a delay.” The waiting room suddenly seemed stuffy, and he glanced toward the exit. “I thought I’d ask. Thank you both. Have a great day.”

  He turned and, crutches under his arms, got out of there as fast as his booted foot would carry him.

  As he waited outside for his ride back to the house, Raven’s lovely face came to mind. Brown eyes the color of dark chocolate looked back at him. The combination of those beautiful orbs and the dark hair that framed her face… His chest ached with the memories he struggled to keep at bay.

  Before he’d come back to Clearwater, it’d taken everything in him to not research and confirm she still lived in town. Heath wasn’t surprised she did though. She’d always loved this place. Sworn she’d raise her family here. There was no reason for him to think she’d have done otherwise. In fact, even without the wedding ring on her finger, she was likely happily married with a baby waiting for her at home. He imagined her carefree spirit pulling those full lips of hers into a smile.

  He shoved thoughts of how often he’d kissed those very lips into the dusty closet of his brain where they belonged. The past was the past, and it would be a lot easier on Heath if he’d accept that, work through physical therapy, and get out of Clearwater again as soon as possible.

  Chapter Two

  Heath pulled open the front door to Shaw Camping and Outdoor. Familiar scents immediately greeted him as an old friend might have. He inhaled deeply, relishing the smell of leather, canvas, and gun oil.

  He’d come home two weeks ago to recover from surgery. Without a home of his own in town, and temporarily unable to drive, he grudgingly moved into his parents’ house. The couch he was sleeping on in the office made his back ache. Staying at the house he grew up in was strangely awkward. But this right here? Entering the store he’d spent much of his childhood in was the very definition of coming home.

  Memories of hours spent as a young child helping his father, Gabe Shaw, hang tackle on the displays or greeting customers came to mind. It was those memories he’d clung to while he was away, back when his father was content to let Heath be a kid. They’d been close then as they’d planned the adventures they wanted to go on someday. It seemed like a lifetime ago. Yet little had changed in the store. It was as if Heath had stepped into a photograph. He shook his head in amazement.

  His trip down memory lane ended abruptly when his father’s voice brought Heath’s attention to the customer service counter. “You going to let in all that hot air, son?”

  Heath put his weight on the crutches and managed to hobble through the door. It’d been almost four weeks since his surgery, and Heath still felt awkward walking with the blasted things. Of course, the boot encasing his left foot certainly didn’t help matters any. He was used to spending hours in the gym, running across the field, and going through drills with his teammates. The inability to walk through a door with any amount of grace was infuriating.

  His father shook Mr. Crosby’s hand and wished him well. A longtime customer, old Mr. Crosby stopped to greet Heath. “It’s good to see you. Been too long since we’ve had our star running back in Clearwater.” He chuckled and gave Heath a hearty pat on the back. “I’d say I hoped you’d stick around, but I guess you’ve got more important things to do. You get to feeling better, you hear?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Mr. Crosby waved again to Pop and called over his shoulder, “Have a good Thursday, Gabe.”

  Heath smiled and watched as the man left the air-conditioned store for the warm September air. He might have wondered what Mr. Crosby meant by better things to do, except the older gentleman had teased Heath for as long as he could remember.

  Heath had been popular enough when he played football in their little town back in high school. After that, he’d gotten a full ride to Portland State University.
There he worked toward a business degree while playing college football. The day he got drafted into the NFL, Heath thought his dreams had come true. But playing as a backup and bouncing from team to team wasn’t what he’d expected.

  The latest team to pick him up in Cleveland meant real play time on the field. Finally, he was doing what he’d been working toward all his life. That’s when he ruptured his Achilles tendon.

  Sometimes life punched you right in the gut.

  He’d had no idea how much this town had made him out to be a hero. The attention he’d received since his return was way more than he cared for. Pop said there was a restaurant or two around town with Heath’s photo and name up on the wall. Heath wished he knew which restaurants they were, so he could avoid them.

  When Heath turned back to his father, the frown greeting him morphed his own smile into one that matched.

  “You shouldn’t be here.” There was no missing the disapproval on his father’s face. “You should go home and rest up after your appointment. The sooner you get into shape, the sooner you’ll be back on the field.” He fixed Heath with a look that demanded respect. “I expect you to put all your efforts into recovery.”

  Heath fought against the waves of annoyance and sadness as they crashed into each other. He’d hoped his father might have mellowed after twelve years. Apparently that’d been nothing but a pipe dream. His father may not have changed, but Heath wasn’t that little boy whose happiness was built around his father’s approval. He’d learned long ago that goal would always hover out of reach.

  Heath had every intention of doing what he could to recover as fast as possible. “I’m fine, Pop.” He’d been lying around his parents’ house since the surgery and didn’t look forward to going back. As much as he enjoyed catching up with Mom, he couldn’t handle being around Pop every evening.

  He’d started looking for a place of his own—he could certainly afford it. Besides, it’d be worth the peace even if he only lived there for the next month or two and then held onto it in case he came back for a visit. “I know these physical therapists will want me up and moving. I figured I’d stop by the store and see how it looks.” Heath’s gaze roamed the large space, taking in the bright overhead lights and the aisles of camping, hunting, and fishing equipment. While everything was clean and orderly, Heath noticed that the shelving could use a new coat of paint. In fact, the flooring was looking worn as well.

  His father had always taken great pride in the store. Heath was surprised to see it look this worn down. Was Pop having financial trouble? The thought bothered him, but there was no way he could ask without seriously wounding his father’s pride.

  After playing for the NFL, Heath was not hurting for money. He’d taken financial advice and invested in several properties around Clearwater. Next to no one knew about the businesses that Heath owned, and he planned to keep it that way. He had enough money in the bank to help his father out. Not that Pop would ever accept it.

  “It’s been a while since you were here.” His father gave instructions to an employee and came around to face Heath. “You got your mother to drop you off, I assume?”

  It took effort to not give a sarcastic response. No, Pop, I hobbled two miles on foot. Literally. One foot. “Yes, I insisted she bring me here while she finishes her errands. I didn’t see any reason for her to come back twice. Mom said she’d be back to pick me up and take me home in a half hour.”

  Unlike his father, Mom had welcomed him home with tears in her eyes and the same comforting arms he remembered surrounding him as a child. He’d missed Mom over the years. Sadly, being away from his father had been more of a relief. It was a contrast that never balanced each other out. He’d called often, they’d spoken using video chat once a month, and Heath stayed far away from Clearwater. Mom always said she understood.

  Now he was back. Pop’s response to his visit at the store only served as a reminder that the ghosts of his past still hovered, waiting for the perfect moment to come floating out of the woodwork. It did no good to dwell on what happened between him and Raven, or the part his father had played in the whole thing.

  ~*~

  Raven jabbed a spoon into her dish of ice cream. It was Saturday, and no matter what she did, she couldn’t keep Heath out of her mind. Whenever she stepped outside of her house, she half expected to run into him. It was driving her crazy. Even now, sitting in one of Clearwater’s favorite ice cream parlors, her eyes darted to the door every time it opened. This was ridiculous.

  “What’d that ice cream ever do to you?”

  The voice of Raven’s best friend, Mandy Yarrow, drew Raven’s gaze. Mandy was teasing, but there was a hint of concern on her face. She easily maneuvered eight-month-old Barry from one arm to the other. The little guy grunted as he tried to grab his mother’s spoon.

  Raven shrugged, scooped a large spoonful of chocolate fudge and shoved it into her mouth. She didn’t have to answer questions if she was chewing, right?

  Mandy dipped her spoon into the orange sherbet. It only made it halfway to Barry’s mouth before the baby grabbed it and brought it the rest of the way. The moment that sherbet hit his tongue, he was ready for more.

  “You’ll have to watch him. He’s got quite the sweet tooth.” Barry always made Raven chuckle.

  “Oh, don’t I know it. He’s all over eating pears and apples. But green beans? Not going to happen. He likes his meats, though, so that’s something.” Mandy gave her son a little more and then ate a large spoonful herself. “I’m serious. What’s going on?”

  There was no avoiding the question forever. Raven balanced her spoon across the cardboard bowl and frowned. “I saw Heath this week.”

  Mandy’s brows rose. “Seriously?” She’d comforted Raven many times in the aftermath of the breakup. They’d talked a time or two about how he was back in town. “Where did you see him?”

  “He walked into CRC. Fay assigned me to help with his physical therapy.” She told Mandy about walking into the room and how awkward the whole thing was.

  Sherbet forgotten, Mandy’s free hand went to cover her mouth. “Wow. What are the odds?”

  “I don’t know, but I ought to buy a lottery ticket or something.” Raven’s voice betrayed her bitterness. Even the chocolate ice cream she normally loved didn’t have its usual soothing effect on her. “I’ll be seeing him twice a week for a while. I imagine he’s trying to get enough therapy in so he can skip off to Cleveland again where he belongs.” That type of injury could take up to eleven months to make a complete recovery. Raven couldn’t fathom having to be around him that long.

  “Have you talked to Fay? You shouldn’t have to deal with this. If she’d known, I’m sure she wouldn’t have assigned him to you in the first place.”

  Raven immediately shook her head. “I can handle it. It took years after he left before everyone I knew didn’t constantly ask if we were getting back together. It’s a nice change that none of my coworkers know anything about that mess, and I’d just as soon keep it that way.” Raven paused and then smiled. “Besides, how many women get a legitimate reason to cause their ex pain through physical therapy?” She laughed. Although her friend laughed as well, it was clear Mandy could see right through Raven’s tough-girl façade.

  It didn’t matter. Raven would do her job and get Heath back on his feet. Then he could hightail it back out of town. With any luck, it’d be another dozen years before he returned again. A girl could only hope.

  She finished her ice cream and then held her arms out. “Okay, let me see that sweet boy of yours so you can eat in peace.”

  Mandy tossed her a look of thanks and handed Barry to her. Raven sat his padded bottom on the edge of the table facing her.

  “Look at you, Barry. You’ve got orange sherbet all over your face. Much more, and someone might mistake you for an Oompa Loompa.” She took a napkin, dipped it into her water, and wiped the sticky mess away. “There, now I can see your cute smile.” Raven wrinkled her nose and made a f
ace of her own that always got the baby giggling. Before long, those baby belly laughs filled the room and had several other patrons smiling as they listened.

  Mandy reached over and patted her son on the back. “You’re good with kids, Raven.”

  Raven shrugged. “It’s because I refuse to grow up.” She wrinkled her nose again and made another funny face at the baby. “Isn’t that right, kid?” He laughed again. “See? Barry agrees.” She played with him a few moments more. When she looked up again, she found Mandy watching her with that knowing look of hers. “What?”

  “Nothing.” Mandy painstakingly used her spoon to gather up the last remnants of her ice cream. “So how are things between you and Wade?” She made it sound casual.

  That didn’t fool Raven. She dug her keys out of her pocket and handed them to Barry who enthusiastically grabbed them from her. “I watched Longmire on Netflix Friday night while I ate cold pizza. I’m trying to decide between finishing off the pizza tonight or making myself a bowl of cereal.” It was doubtful she’d be seeing her boyfriend of five months this weekend. Sure, she could’ve called him herself, but it’d been a busy week, and she’d hoped he would make the effort. Instead, she was avoiding her family and spending evenings alone.

  Mandy’s brows drew together. “So things aren’t going well?”

  Raven shrugged. “We’re lucky if we see each other once a week. He says work has been busy, and I get that. But I don’t know.” She swallowed hard as one of their more recent conversations replayed itself in her mind. She hadn’t told Mandy about it, partly because she hadn’t wanted to deal with it herself. “Wade’s been talking about marriage.”

  Mandy waited for more. When Raven offered nothing, Mandy sighed. “Was he for or against it?”

  The question brought one corner of Raven’s mouth up in a half smile before it fell again. “Oh, he was a fan.”