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