Chapter One
Lauren Moore swung theclosedsign of her gift shop into place and glanced through the tinted glass. The street had been blocked, stopping vehicle access to the quaint shops in the seaside village, and now the street was beginning to fill up with rowdy people ready to celebrate the New Year. She smiled and made her way to the back of the shop, thankful she’d be gone before the crowds rolled in.
Post-Christmas trading had been the busiest in years, and Lauren had rung up the sale for the last customer only moments ago. Her legs ached from standing all day, and a headache pounded at her temples. She couldn’t wait to go home, soak in the tub, then crawl into bed. She longed for the oblivion of sleep to block the memories of the worst New Year’s Eve of her life.
She didn’t want to remember that night; the pain always brutally crushed her heart.
Thunderous banging sounded behind her. Startled, she swung around. A tall, silhouetted figure stood on the opposite side of the dark glass. Taking a few steps closer, she pointed at the sign.
The knocking grew louder and more persistent, then the man put his hands under his chin as if in prayer and mouthedplease.
Feeling drained from the day, she sighed, slumped her shoulders, and pulled the keys out of her pocket. Then she made her way to the door and opened it. Would this day ever end?
On a gust of December heat the man barreled into her shop of dainty gifts, and did a quick scan of the area before stopping in front of a display of delicate tea sets. With his broad shoulders and chest, he looked too big to be anywhere near her pretty breakables. She needed to get him out fast.
“Is there something I can help you with?” She asked, her attention focused on the expensive teapot in his large, strong hands.
She breathed a sigh of relief when he set the fragile item back on the shelf before turning to face her. “You’re a lifesaver for opening for me.”
His crooked smile flashed white teeth and the force hit her like a lightning bolt to the chest. She drew in a sharp breath as heat rushed through her veins. The greenest eyes she’d ever seen surrounded by thick, dark eyelashes sparkled at her while faint creases fanned out from the corners. His dark brown hair was cut short at the sides of his head but kept longer on top. It looked tousled, like impatient fingers had ploughed through it. His faded denim jeans, stamped with a designer label, molded firmly around a tight rear end and muscular legs, something she’d gotten a brief glance at before he turned. A black shirt stretched across his broad shoulders, the top buttons open, giving her a peek of a strong chest.
The man was absolutely gorgeous, and the fact she noticed was shocking. Her best friends, Ava and Jade, often teased that if Channing Tatum walked past she wouldn’t give him a second glance because Lauren no longer saw a pretty face...well, up until now. This man, and the pretty packaging he came in, couldn’t be ignored, and she wondered why out of all the men who, according to her friends, were babes, did she notice this one? He looked vaguely familiar. She couldn’t put her finger on where she might have seen him before, but she was positive he’d never been a customer.
Ava and Jade would freak if she told them she’d finally noticed aMr. Pretty. Actually, keeping this unsettling discovery to herself was best. They’d start setting her up on blind dates again with all the pretty boys they knew. No, she couldn’t put herself through that torture again. Those dates had been disastrous. They’d been good-looking men who couldn’t see past their own attractive reflection. Although a part of her felt relieved that after all these years she’d finally noticed a handsome man; she wasn’t broken after all...well, not completely.
“I need something to get myself out of big trouble,” he finally answered. His deep voice sounded as smooth as whiskey.
Heat sizzled and stirred around her, making the room feel like a sauna. Was the air conditioning off already? The need to get him out of the shop fast was crucial; otherwise, she feared she might melt into a steamy puddle at his feet.
“Does ‘getting you out of big trouble’ have a price tag?” she asked.
“After the mess I’m in, the sky’s the limit.” He grinned.
“A desperate man with lots to spend—you’re my favorite customer,” she joked, keeping it light while her insides turned to a quivering mush. “How much trouble are you in?”
One large shoulder shrugged as he dipped his head and dug his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “Enough for me to pound on your door after closing time.”
The devilish smile showed he knew how to get himself out of all sorts of trouble. Why
did men think women could be appeased by a charming smile and expensive gifts? A stab of shame pierced Lauren’s thoughts as she remembered a time when she could be won over by sparkly trinkets and a dazzling smile. She’d learned the hard way that shiny things soon tarnished.
She led him to a black velvet display. “We have beautiful lockets with intricate designs and some with lovely colored gems. What’s your wife’s style?”
“I’m not married.”
“Your girlfriend?”
“It’s for my mother,” he clarified.
“Oh.” She hadn’t seen that coming. A get-out-of-trouble gift was usually for a lover.
Her friends had to constantly remind her that not all handsome men were scheming jerks with secret agendas, but she had yet to meet one. After her horrifying experience with Graham
Stone, she never wanted to look at, or get involved with, another good-looking male ever again.
With stiff fingers, she touched the locket around her neck. It wasn’t one of the pretty gem-encrusted ones she sold, but to her it was much more valuable. Lauren had found the cheap silver locket years ago at a small seaside market she’d been aimlessly walking through. A precious yet painful reminder lay locked inside. A big reminder of why she kept away from men who looked too good to be true.
Needing to focus on work, Lauren inwardly shook herself. Scanning the shop, she decided a vase might be more appropriate for his mother and moved closer to a display cabinet with a colorful array of crystals in all shapes and sizes.
