“Lily Draper?” His smile could stop traffic, even in a town the size of Rainbow Falls where none existed. When she nodded, he held out his hand. “Nick Logan. Hope I didn’t keep you waiting.” His deep voice slid over her like silk.
“No. I just got here myself.”
His hand, warm and firm, dwarfed hers. The handshake of someone dependable.
“Good. I see you met Maxi. She lives on the main level.” He crossed the porch to pull open the front door. “The house is divided into two apartments. The unit for rent is upstairs. Come on in.”
As she entered the house, Lily tried to ignore his larger-than-life presence and concentrate on the building. The main entryway was wide and welcoming with gleaming hardwood floors. A framed mirror hung above a narrow table holding a vase of fresh flowers. She inhaled the appealing floral scent. So far she liked what she saw.
In more ways than one.
“Maxi’s place is down the hall.” Nick pointed toward the rear of the building. “The only thing you’ll have to share are the laundry facilities in the basement.”
Lily frowned as she followed him up a set of narrow stairs. He sounded as if she’d already agreed to take the place. Maybe the rent would be outrageous. Maybe the roof leaked. Maybe Mr. Logan would see right through her façade of respectability and send her packing. But instinct told her that wouldn’t be the case—if only she could keep her nerves at bay.
When they reached the narrow landing, Nick unlocked the door and stepped aside to let her in. “It’s nothing fancy, but it’s clean and neat with lots of windows, so the lighting’s good.”
Lily held her breath as she entered the apartment. She wanted to like it so bad, she was almost afraid to look. His voice faded into the background while she took in the high ceilings, the sculpted crown moldings and the wide arched entrance into the living room. Good solid bones, Mama would’ve said.
Nick continued his commentary as she moved around the room. “You can walk into town from here. The grocery store, post office, and the church are all close by.”
She gave a polite nod, though church was the last place she’d be going. Hadn’t darkened the door of one since she’d left her father’s tyrannical rule and didn’t plan to start anytime soon.
She eyed the overstuffed green sofa and matching chair. “Does it come furnished?”
“Yes. Unless you’ve got your own things.”
“No. The furniture will be fine.”
He raised an inquisitive eyebrow. “From out of town I take it?”
“Yes.” She turned to avoid his curiosity—something she didn’t need. Especially when trying to keep a low profile.
Down a small hallway, she found two bedrooms. The larger one had an airy quality, painted light blue with white lacey curtains. She gave an inward sigh, imagining herself sleeping in this beautiful setting. Quite a step up from the back room at Hank’s.
The spare room was just as inviting. Nick hadn’t exaggerated about the windows either. The lighting would be perfect for painting, with lots of room for her easel.
“What do you think?” Nick’s voice startled her from her daydreams.
She turned to find him—and his broad shoulders—filling the doorway.
“I like it.” She folded her arms in front of her, pushing back the anxiety that clawed its way up her spine. If only he’d move away from the door…
The sudden piercing shriek of a police siren split the silence. Lily jerked backward, smothering a scream. Her bag slipped off her shoulder, landing with a clatter on the hardwood floor.
Had Tobias found her already?
Nick strode into the room and bent to help her. “Are you all right?” A frown creased the space between his eyebrows.
“I…I’m fine.” Her hair shielded her face as she grabbed for the lip gloss and nail clippers that had spilled onto the floor. “The noise startled me.”
He gave a low chuckle. “That’s the chief testing his siren. Doesn’t get to use it much around here, so about once a week, he turns it on to make sure it still works.”
“Oh.” The elastic band around her lungs loosened a notch.
They rose together, Lily clutching the bag to her body like a lifeline. She struggled to keep her expression calm, one ear attuned to any noise on the staircase. At last, when certain the police weren’t about to break in, Lily forced her muscles to relax and stepped out into the hall.
“How much is the rent?” she asked once they’d returned to the living room.
He studied her as though trying to learn the secrets of her soul. She ignored his gaze and ran her fingers over the smooth wood of the fireplace mantel, allowing the calming effects of the green-hued room to soothe her jangled nerves.
When he named the price, disappointment slid through her. The amount was more than she’d hoped. But she couldn’t pass up this apartment. Not after the other horrible ones she’d seen. If it meant working two jobs, then that’s what she’d do.
It’d be worth it to find her sister.
“I’ll take it,” she said. “If it’s all right with you.”
His blue eyes held hers like a magnet, and a string of tension hummed through her veins. Why did she get the feeling Nick Logan could throw a big monkey wrench into her plans if she weren’t careful?
At last, he nodded. “The place is yours.”
The tension across her shoulders eased. “That’s great. Thank you.” She rifled through her bag and pulled out a wad of bills. “I can give you a deposit right now.”
Nick shifted his weight away from the living room doorframe, hands up. “Whoa. That’s a lot of cash to be carrying around.” He scratched his head. “Why don’t you give me, say, one hundred dollars for today, and we can settle the details later.”
Her hand with the money froze in mid-air. “What details?”
“The lease, for one thing. I’m sure you’ll want to read it over before you sign it.”
“Is a lease really necessary?”
His gaze narrowed. “Why? Is it a problem?”
She shifted under his direct stare. Stay cool, Lily. Don’t blow this. “I’m not sure how long I’ll be staying. A couple of months, maybe more.”
“I see.” Nick pursed his lips. “How about an open-ended lease then? Or a month-by-month contract?”
She took a moment to consider. “Either of those options would be fine.” She handed him the deposit, which he took without counting the bills.
“When would you like to move in?”
Lily bit her lip, not wanting to appear desperate, yet not willing to waste her dwindling cash supply on another night at the Rainbow Falls Motel—a luxury she’d allowed herself after two uncomfortable nights in her car. She ran her hand over the plush back of the sofa. “I was hoping today. If that’s not a problem.”
His mouth fell open before he clamped it shut and scrubbed a hand over his jaw. “I suppose that’ll be fine.” He paused as though trying to digest the swiftness of the transaction. “Do you need help with your bags?”
“No, thanks. I can handle it.”
“All right then.” He fumbled in his pant pocket until he pulled out a small key ring and a slightly battered business card. “Here’s the key to the front door downstairs and one to your apartment. And my contact info. If you need anything, don’t be shy.”
His fingers brushed hers as she took the items from him. She jerked her hand back from the heat of his touch and stuffed the keys, along with the card, into her bag.
“Thank you.” She tried to manage a smile, but couldn’t quite force her lips to comply.
“Welcome to Rainbow Falls, Lily.” His baritone whisper resonated inside her.
He studied her for another moment, then tugged on his cap and left.
Lily stared at the door after he’d shut it behind him, allowing her emotions to settle. A few seconds later, his footsteps echoed down the stairs.
One thing for sure, Nick Logan was like no other man she’d ever met. Half an hou
r in his company and he hadn’t even hit on her.
****
Lily had just finished hauling the last of her bags from the car when a loud knock shattered the silence of the apartment. Her suitcase slipped from her hand, landing on the bedroom floor with a thud that matched her heart rate. When a louder knock followed, she slipped down the hall to the entrance, wishing for a peephole in her door.
“Who is it?”
“It’s Maxi. From downstairs.”
The air whooshed out of Lily’s lungs in one great gust. Not the police. Thank goodness.
“Just a minute.”
Before she opened the door, she schooled her face into what she hoped was a normal expression.
“Hi,” Maxi said before Lily could speak. “I noticed you bringing your things in. Does this mean we’re neighbors?” Her face wore an expectant smile, her eyes friendly.
“It does.”
“Terrific.” Maxi whipped a container out from behind her back. “I brought some homemade cookies as a welcome.”
Lily blinked, trying to reconcile the spiky-haired girl in the flowered halter-top to a person who baked cookies. “Thank you.” She took the tin, as Maxi breezed past her. “I’d offer you coffee, if I had any.” Lily kept close to the door, hoping her new neighbor would take the hint and leave. All she wanted right now was a hot shower, some Chinese take-out, and a good night’s sleep. She’d barely closed her eyes for more than a couple of hours the past few nights.
Maxi, however, had already moved into the tiny kitchen. “Not to worry. Logan usually has some teabags kicking around here.”
Dumfounded, Lily could only follow her. Sure enough, Maxi pulled teabags from a bright yellow canister on the counter and plugged in the kettle. Lily hesitated, not sure how to react. She knew small-towners were friendly, but this seemed over the top.
Maxi stopped in the middle of pulling cups out of the cupboard and grinned. “Logan used to live here until a few months ago. Whenever I had a problem, I’d cry on his shoulder, and he’d make me tea.”
No wonder she acted as if she owned the place. Lily deposited the cookie tin on the counter, then leaned against it, a sudden suspicion dawning. “Are you two dating?”
Maxi set the cups on the counter with a burst of laughter. “Logan’s a great guy, not to mention easy on the eyes, but he’s too much of a ‘goody-goody’ for me. I prefer the bad boys.”
An unsettling image of Curtis flashed through Lily’s mind, but she pushed it away. She refused to allow thoughts of her ex-boyfriend to interfere with her new life. The kettle snapped off and Maxi poured the water over the teabags.
“You’re more than welcome to go after Nick. But you’ll have to arm wrestle Sarah Jane for him.”
Lily’s brain swam trying to keep up with Maxi’s ramblings. “All right, I’ll bite. Who’s Sarah Jane?”
Maxi handed her a cup and opened the cookie tin. The kitchen wasn’t big enough to include an eating area, so they stood at the counter.
“She’s the town librarian and Reverend Baker’s niece, not to mention secretary of the church women’s group.”
A librarian and a churchgoer. Not someone Lily would likely socialize with. Although, she had paid a visit to the library two days ago to look up past issues of the local newspaper. She tried to recall the face of the woman she’d met that day.
“Plain as a post, poor thing,” Maxi continued as she dunked her teabag. “Wish she’d come into our salon for a makeover. Maybe then she’d have a better chance with Nick.”
Lily suddenly remembered the unattractive hairstyle and drab attire. The woman’s silver cross necklace had even made Lily wonder if she were a nun.
Maxi studied her as she sipped her brew. “Unless I’m out to lunch, I’d say you’re not from around here. I’m sure I would’ve remembered you.”
Lily’s hand tightened on her cup. The girl switched topics faster than the wind changed directions. This topic, however, had taken an unwelcome turn. “No, I’m not.”
“So what brings you to our humble town?”
Lily swallowed a mouthful, trying not to choke. “Needed a change of scenery.” She kept her gaze averted and took another sip of hot liquid, almost scalding her tongue in the process. The weight of Maxi’s curiosity made the kitchen seem smaller.
Maxi tapped a finger to her lips. “Let me guess. Man trouble? A relationship gone bad?”
Lily’s shoulder muscles relaxed a fraction. “Something like that.”
“Say no more.” Maxi held up a hand. “Been there a few times myself.” She picked up a cloth to wipe the counter. “What’re you doing for work?”
At last, a safe topic. Maybe one Maxi could help her with. “I’ll have to start looking for a job tomorrow. Any suggestions?”
Maxi gave her a pensive look. “I don’t know what you have in mind, but there’s an opening at the hair salon where I work. Nothing fancy,” she hastened to add. “Reception and some tidying up. Pays better than minimum wage though.”
Excitement stirred within Lily. A hair salon might be the ideal place to find her sister. Most women in town would come in there sooner or later. Maybe Chloe would, too. Lily managed her first genuine smile of the day. “Actually, that sounds perfect.”
Maxi dried her hands on a striped dishtowel. “I don’t know if the pay will be enough to cover the rent here.”
Lily shrugged. “I don’t mind working two jobs if necessary.”
With the kitchen tidied, Maxi moved into the hallway. “The shop’s at McIntyre and Main Street, about four blocks from here. Peg’s the owner. Come by tomorrow, and I’ll put in a good word for you.”
Lily was amazed this girl would go out of her way for a complete stranger. Amazed and suspicious. Could she have ulterior motives, or was she just being neighborly? The risk was worth the chance of employment. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome.” Maxi paused in the doorway and grinned, dimples appearing on each cheek. “I have a feeling we’re going to be good friends, you and I. See you tomorrow.”
****
Nick pulled into the parking lot of the Good Shepherd Community Church and cut the engine, his mind still consumed with his new tenant. A definite aura of mystery surrounded Lily Draper.
He rubbed his arms to ease the prickle of unease that sat just under his skin. Why had he rented her the apartment without checking her credentials first? Usually he asked potential tenants for references from previous landlords or employers. Sometimes he even had them sign a consent form and his friend, Police Chief Mike Hillier, would run a background check on them, especially if they were new to the area. But today he’d handed over the keys to Miss Draper five minutes after meeting her.
An uncomfortable thought made him shift in his seat. Could it have anything to do with the fact she was drop-dead gorgeous? He wouldn’t be human if he hadn’t noticed the long mane of dark curls or been affected by those big brown eyes. Looks like that could turn any man’s head. But Nick prided himself on his ability to judge a person by their inner beauty, by their character and integrity.
So what intrigued him about Lily?
Maybe it was the vulnerability that haunted her eyes. Or the protective way she held herself. Or the skittish energy that surrounded her, like when the siren had spooked her. Lily wore the look of someone who’d known pain and who didn’t trust easily. His mother used to wear the same haunted expression, thanks to his father’s abuse.
Whatever the reason, he wanted Lily to trust him. And trust worked both ways. Maybe that’s why he’d given her the keys. As a show of good faith.
He prayed his faith hadn’t been misplaced.
Nick jumped out of the truck and strode up the walkway to the rectory situated beside the church. He looked at his watch and increased his pace. He was ten minutes behind schedule for his meeting with Reverend Baker.
“You’re late, Nicholas.” The gray-haired minister answered the door, peering over his reading glasses with a frown.
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“I know. Sorry, sir. A new tenant.”
“Well, don’t just stand there. Come in. Come in.”
Nick pulled the screen door shut behind him. As per the usual routine, he followed Ted into the airy kitchen where they would share a cup of tea. Sure enough, the china pot with red and yellow roses was already filled with the brewing liquid. The familiar scent of lemon cleanser and cinnamon sticks filled Nick with a sense of home. How many times had he hung out here as a rebellious teen, receiving guidance—many times unwanted—from the patient pastor?
“So what’s on your mind, Reverend?” Nick leaned a hip against the counter.
The elderly man poured the beverages with a slight tremor to his hand and then passed Nick a cup. Even though Mrs. Baker had been dead for years, Ted still used his wife’s fancy china for company, a quirk Nick found oddly endearing.
Ted shuffled to the worn kitchen table. “Just wanted to touch base. We haven’t spoken much since your mother’s funeral. You managing to keep up with those courses?”
Nick stiffened at the unexpected mention of his mom. Two months after her death, thoughts of her still tore at the raw wound. Ted was likely worried that grief had overshadowed Nick’s studies. He’d been sidetracked while he nursed his mom during her last days, but now his studies had become a form of therapy, giving him something to focus on besides an empty house.
“I’ve caught up on the assignments, and exams start in a few weeks.” Nick made a point of adding milk and sugar while he waited for Ted to reveal the real reason for this meeting. He only hoped the clergyman hadn’t changed his mind about retiring.
As pastor of Good Shepherd Community Church for the past fifteen years, Ted had gained the loyalty of an adoring congregation. But due to advancing age, he planned to step down in the fall. The timing seemed divinely inspired for Nick to take over, and Ted had led him to believe he wanted that as well. After four years of studies, nothing would make Nick happier than to use his calling here in his hometown.
Betrayed Hearts Page 2