Home Is Where the Heat Is by Amelia James Page B

drawing her strength as he struggled with beliefs so deeply embedded in his past that he couldn’t escape them. “I don’t blame her. I wouldn’t have wasted the money on me either.” He shrugged. “She never loved me.”
    Somehow stating the obvious comforted him, but it watered the old nagging question she’d planted like a noxious weed. Would anyone?
    “Do you still talk to your mom?”
    “I try not to.” But he’d failed at that, too. “When I took over Hodge Construction, I called her—I don’t know why—to brag maybe, make her proud. She asked if they couldn’t get anyone better.” Why couldn’t he stop talking about this? He never told anyone how cruel his mother had been, but Claire’s touch and her understanding eyes seemed to draw it out. “Then she said that my sister, Kaylee, had a great job and a husband right out of college. Did I have a wife yet? I couldn’t do that right either.”
    “Some people aren’t happy unless they’re making someone else miserable.”
    “Oh, she was overjoyed.” He squeezed her hand. “You’ve been through that too?”
    “That’s how my parents treat each other. I used to try to make peace, but I gave it up a long time ago.”
    The waitress appeared with a notepad in her hand. “Can I get you some dessert?”
    JT released his death grip on Claire’s hand and thanked God for the interruption. “That apple pie smells wonderful.” He’d told her too much, too soon, so he forced a smile and cleared his plate.
    “None for me, thanks.” Claire waved her off.
    He dove into the pie, then offered her a bite, but she shook her head. She watched him eat, demonstrating exactly what she meant when she called him penetrating. Her gaze burned right through him, waiting for him to tell more of his story, but he focused on catching the melting ice cream with his spoon.
    Finally she changed the subject. “Was last night’s fire alarm for real?”
    He grunted. “Yes, it was. Burned half my building before they put it out.”
    She gasped. “Oh my God. What do you do now?”
    Wait on others to determine his future. “Turn in an insurance claim. Talk to the owner and see if they want to rebuild or scrap it.” And hope he didn’t lose the job.
    She scooted closer to him and slipped her arm across the back of his chair. “Wow. How did it start?”
    He sat back, letting the strength in her limb support him. “It’s being investigated. They still haven’t figure out how the last one burned.”
    “This has happened before?”
    He nodded. “Second one since Thanksgiving.”
    “Do you think it’s arson?”
    He stabbed the last bite of pie but couldn’t eat it. “Yes, I do.”
    “Who would want to hurt you?”
    “I had to let go of a couple of guys after the first fire. That one was accidental, faulty wiring, but two fires so close together? Gotta be deliberate.”
    “So you think one of those guys might have set it?”
    “I can’t think of anyone else who’d have a grudge against me.”
    She shook her head and squeezed his shoulders. “That’s awful.”
    The concern in her eyes touched his heart. “Let’s get out of here.” Escaping the confining restaurant became his primary objective. Being alone with her came in a close second.
    He paid the waitress/cashier. “Have a good night,” she said.
    JT draped his jacket around Claire’s shoulders as they walked outside. He shivered and pulled her close.
    “You’re cold. My coat is in my car. I’ll go get it.” She stepped away from him, but he pulled her back.
    “No, I’m fine. Holding you will keep me warm.”
    She snuggled against him as he guided her down the street. Half-melted snow banks lined the sidewalk, and a mix of salt and sand crunched under their feet. Tourist-trap shops displayed local trinkets in their dimly lit windows. Only the café, a bar, and the motel remained open. No one else braved the cold—probably why Claire relaxed in his arms.
    Pure luck had brought them to that