Where the Heart Is Read Free

frustration. “I called earlier tonight and was told you had a room. I gave you my credit card number.”
    â€œMe? No. We only have two rooms and they’re booked all week. Must’ve been someplace else.”
    Oh, God. What had she done? She’d been so upset. Flustered. But she couldn’t go and stay with Mrs. Boatwright. She’d just as soon sleep in her car.
    â€œYou all right?” he asked, staring at her face.
    Chloe realized tears had started leaking down her cheeks. “Yes.” Why lie? “No. My house just burned down and I don’t have anywhere to go.” The tears threatened to come in earnest and she didn’t want to break down in front of this stranger. “Do you know where I can go?”
    He opened the door a little wider. “Here. I have a couch, at least, in the common room downstairs. You can sleep there.” He gestured for her to come in and moved aside as she did so.
    â€œThank you.” She used the back of her hand to dry her cheeks and sniffed.
    He moved through the entry, which was only lit by the exterior light shining through a window over the door, and into a sunken living area. He turned on a lamp next to a large sofa that looked comfortable and inviting. At last, the tension left her shoulders.
    He gestured toward an end table. “There are some tissues there. I’ll get you a pillow and some blankets.”
    â€œI can’t thank you enough for your hospitality. I have no idea who I called earlier, but I appreciate you coming to the rescue.” Right along with the fireman who had saved the cat.
    â€œWe take care of people here in Ribbon Ridge. I’ll be right back.” He turned and disappeared up the stairs into a lit hallway above.
    Chloe blew her nose and decided things could be much worse. She’d only lost things in the fire. Replaceable, mostly meaningless things. Okay, she couldn’t replace her artwork, her lucky paintbrush, or her favorite blanket she’d had all through college, but she could start over. Wasn’t that why’d she’d come here in the first place?
    Yes, this could be a disaster, or it could be a completely new start. And judging by the kindness of strangers in Ribbon Ridge, she could do far worse.
    The innkeeper came back and provided her with bedding as well as a towel. And a long floral nightgown that looked like something Chloe’s grandmother might wear. “I thought you might need something to sleep in. There’s a bathroom through there.” He pointed toward a short hallway next to the stairs. “No shower, but you can clean up in the sink well enough. There’s some extra toothbrushes and whatnot in the cabinet. My wife keeps the place pretty well stocked. Oh,” he cringed slightly, “speaking of my wife, she’ll start rattling around in the kitchen around 6:30. Sorry about that.”
    Chloe doubted she’d sleep anyway. “That’s no problem at all. I’m just thankful for your hospitality.”
    After he’d gone back upstairs, Chloe peeled off her wet coat and hung it on a hook in the entryway and went straight to the bathroom. Once she’d washed her hair in the sink and erased as much of the smoky smell from her person as she could, she returned to the living room wearing the nightgown, for which she was immensely grateful. Then she made up the couch and climbed into “bed.” She expected to lie awake until the sun rose, but instead fell into a deep sleep almost immediately.
    And she dreamed of a tiny, gray kitten snuggled against a spectacularly gorgeous fireman, whose name she didn’t even know.

Chapter Two

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    I T WAS nearly 6 a.m. before Derek Sumner and the rest of the fire crew were done with Chloe English’s house. Derek went to the fire chief’s rig where Ashley was sleeping in the front seat. She was still snuggled in Chloe’s hoodie, but had also been swaddled with one of