The Moonlit Heiress
warm air lay heavy with the scents of coffee and bacon grease, just a hint of the sea. Clara James tied her
e anyone who ventured into the diner. He was tall and shouldered, in a tailored suit that spoke volumes about money and power. His face was well-defined and handsome, but it wa
so much as falter, despite the peculiar tensi
erated curving of his li
nough that his voice rumbled down her spine. "You s
arcasm slipped through. "If the coffee do
hest, and for a moment, the weig
ke that
he followed. As she reached across to hand him the menu, she caught a whiff of something-woody an
own?" she asked, hopi
rude. He watched her a beat longer than he nee
one's dodging a question," Cla
thing again; it was as near
uch
behind the counter, pushing aside th
nie leaned in close, cu
Dangerous?" she whispered s
ng a fresh pot of coffee. "B
ing from her voice. "He looks like he stepped
buy up more land
rything with a fat check." Jennie hummed thoughtfully. "
him-something that felt out of place, yet not entirely unwelcome. It was as though he belonged somewhere
t at the diner besides this mysterious stranger. He sat silent, sipping his co
off the weight of his gaze upon her. Not intrusive, yet it was-a knowing ga
late, he spoke again. "Clara James," he said, glanci
he said, her ton
his posture deceptively relaxed
gh something about the way he said
e?" he pressed, pe
ht question, but the respons
ill, I suppose everyone wonders if
nt before nodding-like the answ
ing again. A man in a worn trench coat came in. His face was harried as
oice was brisk and urgent. "
the mysterious quality of his words that made Clara involuntari
lk." He stepped in closer. "It's ab
bricks. "I don't know what you're talki
ddenly towering and commanding. "Is there a problem her
him and fixed his gaze on Clara. "This is private
clutched her tray. "What
re Isabella Hayes. The Hayes family
over her like a vice. "That's. impossible
as he moved closer to Clara. "I think
there are people who will stop at nothin
d at the man as
r? Fro
said, the face unrelenting. "It is not just them, thou
lara echoed he
curling in upon an imminent strike. "I think you need
n to Clara: "You just don't understand-she won't be s