Free Betrayed Hearts by Susan Anne Mason

large hairbrush, she began the nightly ritual of untangling.
    As she did so, she contemplated her image in the slightly warped bathroom mirror. What did Nick see when he looked at her? Did he find her attractive? Her dark eyes and her long, thick hair had always been her best features. Yet many men preferred blue-eyed blondes. Was he one of those?
    Most males found her curvy figure desirable, a fact she’d used to her advantage over the years to survive living on her own. She shuddered to think how Nick would view her less-than-stellar past. All the more reason she should put Nick Logan right out of her mind.
    Still, she couldn’t deny her attraction. Nick’s novelty was a big part of his appeal, yet after the time she’d spent with him tonight, the danger he posed became very real. The safety and comfort she’d experienced in those few, brief moments in his embrace were nothing but a beautiful deception. She’d learned the hard way never to count on a man to bring anything but trouble.
    Nick Logan was an illusion she could not afford to believe in.
     
    ****
     
    “Hey, Mike. It’s Nick. Sorry to bother you so late.”
    “It’s not late. Not for a cop anyway.” His friend laughed at his own joke. “What can I do for you?”
    Nick swiveled at his desk in the living room, tapping a pen to his lips. After his encounter with Lily, he was churned up and restless, haunted by the feel of her in his arms. He needed to know more about this woman who continued to wreak havoc with his emotions.
    “I’ve got a new tenant I’d like you to check out for me. The name’s Lily Draper.” He ignored the unease in his chest. He wasn’t snooping. Merely protecting his interests—in more ways than one.
    “I wondered when you’d get around to that. Folks are talking about what a looker she is.”
    Nick gripped the arm of his chair, thankful Mike couldn’t see his face. “What’s that got to do with anything?”
    “Nothing. Except you usually get me to check out tenants before they move in.”
    Mike’s tone had Nick’s defenses kicking in. “Look, I felt sorry for her. I got the impression she was a bit desperate.”
    “Un-huh.”
    Mike implied something Nick didn’t want to hear. “Are you going to help me or not?”
    Mike chuckled. “Don’t I always?”
    “Yeah.”
    “OK. So where is Lily Draper from?”
    “Up north. Bismarck, I think.”
    “A city gal. Wonder what she’s doing down here?”
    Nick leaned back in his chair, which squeaked in protest. “I wondered the same thing.”
    “I’ll see what I can find out.”
    “Thanks, Mike. Oh, and keep it under your hat, will ya? No need to spread her business around town.”
    “Always do.”
     
     
     
     

6
     
    The next afternoon, Lily juggled two bags of groceries on the front porch while trying to pry her keys from her pocket. To her surprise and relief, the door flew open.
    Maxi poked her head out. “Need a hand?”
    Lily blew wisps of hair off her forehead. “Thanks. You’re a lifesaver.”
    Together they lugged the groceries up the flight of stairs to Lily’s apartment. Maxi set her load on the kitchen counter and strolled into the living room.
    “Hey, I love what you’ve done with the place. Where’d you get the fantastic artwork?”
    Lily peered around the corner where Maxi eyed the paintings Lily had hung on the walls. “They’re mine.”
    “Yours, as in you painted them?” Maxi’s mouth gaped as she pulled a stool up to the pass-through counter.
    Lily gave a casual shrug. “It’s a hobby.” She turned and opened the fridge. “Want a soda?”
    “Sure.”
    Lily handed her a cola and pulled out a can of her own. This was the first chance she’d had to talk to Maxi since meeting Chloe. Lily itched to pump her for information but wasn’t sure how to bring up the topic without arousing Maxi’s curiosity. “You working tonight?”
    “Nope. Tonight’s my youth group meeting.”
    Lily popped the lid and took a sip from her can.