Where the Heart Lies Read Free

in the home of a wealthy bibliophile. I’m impressed.”
    “Thank you.” Jordan felt warmth suffuse her cheeks, and wondered why his praise mattered to her at all. “I couldn’t do it without Adele, of course. She worked for Randall for a couple of years, but we were friends before. When she moved here my uncle was looking for help and I recommended her. Lucky for me, she’s staying on to teach me everything she knows.”
    Instantly Adele was leaning over the counter, hand extended. “I’m Adele. Nice to meet you. You’re an old friend of Jordan’s?”
    “We knew each other some years ago.” As he squeezed Adele’s hand briefly, his penetrating gaze remained on Jordan. “About eleven years ago, would you say?”
    “About that,” Jordan agreed. It seemed like a lifetime since her nineteen-year-old self had felt her knees turn to jelly every time this man favoured her with one of his heartstopping smiles. Yet she remembered it all clearly. She remembered how safe she had felt crushed against the solid warmth of his chest, as though nothing in the world could harm her.
    She cleared her throat, reminding herself that all of that was far in the past, and for good reason.
    “I’ve seen your show,” she felt obligated to add, though she’d watched it only once, several years ago when it debuted. He’d looked tanned and fit, and terribly impressive, repelling down a sheer cliff on the way to visit an isolated ancient monastery in the Middle East. “I was really happy for you. You achieved just what you always wanted. Top of your profession.”
    “Actually the show’s been canceled,” Clay said. “I’ve been offered a position at the university here. I’ve just been divorced, I could use a change. So it looks like I’ll be staying a while.”
    Before Jordan had a chance to respond, the door flew open again and Molly strode into the store.
    “Mom, can I have some more money for a lemonade?”
    Clay spun around when he heard her voice. His gaze followed the girl as she passed him, his guarded expression dissolving into a peculiar blend of surprise and something like awe. Jordan felt alarm rise within her. Fast on the heels of Clay McAdam walking back into her life after a decade, in sauntered the secret she’d kept from him. Suddenly lightheaded, she gripped the edge of the counter to steady herself.
    Relax, he doesn’t know anything about Molly. And he has no way of knowing her exact age.
    “Clay, this is my daughter,” Jordan said, summoning a casual tone. “Molly, I’d like you to meet an old friend of mine, Clay McAdam.”
    “Hi,” Molly greeted him blithely.
    Clay simply stared at the girl, as though dumbstruck. The longer his gaze remained fastened on her daughter, the more uneasy Jordan became. Moving swiftly from behind the counter, she draped her arm over Molly’s shoulders in an instinctive protective gesture, while trying to appear nonchalant.
    “Better get started on your homework,” Jordan instructed, turning Molly’s shoulders toward the back room.
    “Can I get a lemonade first?”
    “What? Oh, sure.” Jordan fumbled in the pocket of her skirt, pulling out a crumpled bill. “Hurry back.”
    After Molly had gone, the three adults stood in silence for a long, awkward moment. Adele glanced between Clay and Jordan, eyeing them quizzically.
    “Do you have kids, Clay?” she inquired, breaking the silence.
    “My wife and I didn’t have any, no.”
    Jordan wasn’t surprised. Many years ago he’d told her he had no desire to be a father. She found herself curious as to whom he had taken as his wife. At one time it was to be her; she wondered vaguely if the woman was anything like her or another sort altogether.
    “So now that you’re divorced, you’re moving to Victoria for a fresh start?” Adele looked fascinated. “Funny the two of you had exactly the same impulse.”
    “Clay grew up here,” Jordan explained. “I suppose he’s come to miss it.”
    Clay nodded. “Lately