“I’m a cop. I know what it looks like when people have something to hide. Her hands shook. She avoided eye contact. She wanted us out of her house pretty darned bad.”

Maggie walked in and put food down on the coffee table with a stack of paper plates. “Of course she was shaking, Shane. She’d just had a car accident. She didn’t know any of you and hell, I know what she must have felt like with all these giant handsome men in her living room. Give the woman a break. But she was nervous. Really nervous. Could just be her nature, though.” Maggie looked up at her brother-in-law. “But I don’t think it’s a prosecutable offense to be nervous.”

“She had some considerable scarring on her scalp and the back of her neck. I felt it when I checked her over. It could be that she’d been in another bad accident before. I’ve seen victims at the scene with major trauma from past accidents,” Matt said around his nachos.

“Maybe. But I’m gonna watch this woman. I don’t trust her. I don’t like people coming into my town carrying trouble.”

“Jeez, Shane, cut the woman some slack. Do you need to go from zero to the Terminator in three seconds? Not all women are out to hurt people,” Kyle said.

“It’s my job to watch people and I never said all women were out to hurt people,” Shane growled at his brother.

“Okay, this needs to stop before it gets started. Kyle, lay off. Shane, give her the benefit of the doubt. And anyway, I saw you watching her. Did you think she was hiding something in her bra? Maybe her back pocket?” Matt snorted.

“Okay, so she’s easy on the eyes. But I don’t know what she’s bringing into my town and I’m not going to be comfortable until I figure it out.”

Chapter Two

When Cassie opened her eyes the next morning, it almost felt like she was a new person as well as living in a new place. Sun streamed into her bedroom and she heard the birds singing just outside. Peace. How long had that been?

As she got dressed she contemplated the importance of where she was at right then. She wasn’t on the verge of taking the first step into her future. She’d taken it. And she was still moving ahead. For so long it had been about just surviving. It seemed monumentally scary to have her life be about living again.

Cassie decided to walk to Main Street, have breakfast and then deal with the car situation. Get to know the town a bit better.

While she was out she’d also look for a place with wireless so she could email Brian and check in. Or at the very least call him on a payphone. She hadn’t spoken with him since she left the hotel the morning before and she knew he’d be worried.

After she got some makeup on, she pulled her hair into a ponytail and made sure her shirt collar hid the scars at the back of her neck. It wasn’t until she’d locked the door that the heat hit her. Like a thick, wet blanket. If it was this bad now, she knew she needed to get out and finish her errands before noon.

The trees cast nice, cool shade as she began to walk. People out working in their yards actually waved hellos at her. And taking a deep breath, she waved back. She had to claim her life again.

Once on Main Street she crossed over to a little diner she’d seen the night before, The Sands. It was everything she’d imagined a small town diner to be when she walked inside. Crowded and full of people talking and laughing, waving to folks as they came and went. Steeling her nerves, Cassie slipped into a spot at the counter and grabbed a menu.

“Hiya, sug. You must be the pretty girl that Polly Chase ran into last night.”

Surprised, Cassie looked up into the face of a woman behind the counter. Big brown eyes sparked with good humor. Cassie couldn’t help but smile back.

“That’s me. I suppose this is my introduction to how fast news travels in a small town?”

The woman laughed and patted Cassie’s arm. “Now you’re catching on. I’m Ronnie Sands. I own this place.” She put a coffee cup in front of Cassie and filled it.

“I’m Cassie Gambol. Nice place you have here. I like it. Looks like I’m not the only one.” She ordered the pancake special and complimented Ronnie on the fresh juice.

Ronnie grinned. “Be right back with your pancakes. Welcome to Petal, Cassie.” Ronnie bustled off to help another customer.

Well, you’re looking a mite better today.” Cassie turned to see Maggie Chase hop up into the chair next to her. “Although I don’t like those dark circles under your eyes. How are you feeling after last night?”

“I just need a few good meals and some rest. Thanks.” Cassie felt torn between the idea of actually making new friends and the vulnerability that created in her.

Damn it, she used to be so good at this. She had friends and a vibrant social life. She used to be a lot of things before Terry.

The woman who’d come in with Maggie leaned forward and smiled. “You must be the Cassie everyone is talking about. Hi, I’m Liv Davis. Nice to meet you.”

Ronnie came by, put a heaping plate of food in front of Cassie, took Maggie and Liv’s orders and hurried away.

Cassie waved back at Liv before digging into her breakfast. She’d forgotten what this kind of cooking tasted like. Terry had insisted on a cook to prepare low fat meals based on his menu plans and when she wasn’t eating at home, she ate what she could grab at work. Hospital cafeterias weren’t known for their delicious meals.

“What brings you to Petal, Cassie?” Maggie asked.

Cassie knew the question would be asked again and all the way out from her brother’s she’d worked on the answer.