Page 47 of Broken: Taylor

Chapter 20

Things were alwaysquiet in the interlude between lunch and closing. Mindy stayed open until four most days, allowing for people to stop by for coffee after concluding whatever they did in town. Her employee usually left by two, leaving her alone the last couple of hours when she only served pastries, coffee and tea.

The kitchen was pristine, the floors swept and the counters wiped. There was little left to do but wait for customers and ensure the coffee was fresh.

She opened a drawer to get her phone and saw a handwritten note she’d shoved in there one day without much thought. The note was from Bryan. He’d tucked it into her purse and she’d found it one day after they’d argued over him doing something besides sitting at home all day.

It was an apology. A promise he’d move out soon, thanking her for all she did for him.

A huge lump formed as she swallowed and looked toward the door. Tears threatened. If only she’d taken the time to sit down and talk with her brother, done something more than be annoyed with him. Although she’d suspected he was in trouble, she’d not pushed to talk to the police. If nothing else, she should have told someone. But fear had kept her silent. Fear he was wanted and they’d put him in prison.

Being incarcerated would have been a better option than ending up dead in a dark street.

A sob wrenched out of her throat and Mindy squeezed her eyes shut, her fingers rubbing over the tattered piece of paper. When she opened them, Eric came into view just before the bells over the door announced he’d entered.

His dark gaze moved from her to the note. “What happened?” He was immediately around the counter with both hands on her shoulders. “Did someone threaten you?”

The police officer in him made Mindy relax, allowing the sorrow to dissipate for the moment to be replaced with awareness of how good it felt to be held.

“I could have done something. Should’ve called you...said something. I knew he was hiding details from me. Damn it.” Mindy swallowed to keep from crying, but angry tears trailed down her cheeks. “Why didn’t I? He could be alive right now.”

Eric pulled her into an embrace and although his vest was hard and there was the crackling of the radio on his shoulder, she could not wish for a more comfortable harbor. Even if he’d always made her nervous and uncomfortable, there was no one she wanted there at the moment more than Eric.

After being so distant and frankly unfriendly to him, it was hard to move away from him at this moment. For a few minutes, she’d allow the closeness.

Any thought of a relationship made her nervous and Mindy didn’t feel confident in her ability to chose a good man.

Even after her last relationship had turned physically abusive, she’d remained in it. It took a late-night visit to the emergency room before she found the strength to end it.

After starting over in Laurel Creek, she’d not been remotely interested in dating. Then one day Eric Hamilton had walked into the café. Their eyes had met and she’d felt something. Lightness in her spirit that had not been there for a long time, made its appearance.

When the butterflies showed up on his subsequent visits, it was time to panic. He could very well be the one person she could fall in love with and risk being hurt again.

“It’s called survivor’s remorse,” Eric spoke softly into her ear, his hand brushing down her arm. “It’s normal. However, know this.” Finger’s under her chin, he lifted her face. “The guy who was after him wouldn’t have stopped until killing him. There was little you or anyone could have done.”

“I don’t understand. It didn’t get him the drugs or money back.”

Eric nodded. “I know, but it sends a clear message to others.” He hugged her again. “You going to be okay?”

Mindy searched her mind to find what to say, but instead she couldn’t stop looking into Eric’s light colored eyes and as if hypnotized, her entire body went slack. She relaxed into his hold and was not at all reluctant when his mouth covered hers.

There was a sound in the kitchen, some sort of ding, and she pushed away from him. “I better check on the muffins. Help yourself to coffee... Thank you.” She dashed into the kitchen and leaned against the wall just inside the doorway.

When the bell over the door sounded signifying he left or someone else came in, Mindy let out a breath. It was safe to come back out. There were no muffins in the oven. The bell was the end of the dishwashing cycle.

The café was empty. Eric stood outside speaking to a man. Once they finished, the man came inside and Eric met her gaze through the door.

His lips curved as he mouthed, “You’re welcome.”