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“It’s shitty what society drills into us, isn’t it?” Heatherasked, her expression turning thoughtful. “Personally, I want to thank her forher service because I saw some of the men she met with last night, and she ishelping the world.”
“It’s definitely work.” Work she hadn’t had to find. Yet. Itwas funny how much more she understood Claudine. Before, she likely would haveviewed her as a person to avoid. Claudine was funny and nice. When Nicole hadfirst gotten into Willow Fork, Claudine had been the one to tell her to go toChrista’s if she wanted a job. Of course she’d first asked her if she wanted totag team some of her clientele, but after a gentle if shocked rejection, she’dcome up with a more reasonable plan. “I’m walking to Christa’s if you want tocome along. It’s not far. About four blocks.”
It would be good to have someone to talk to. If she didn’t,she would likely think about them the whole time. She wasn’t cut out for casualsex.
It hadn’t felt casual.
“I could use a good walk,” Heather said with a brilliantsmile. She opened the door to her room and reached in, coming back with a pursein her hand. It was a designer thing that was completely out of place here inthis dilapidated motel.
It was a Chanel. The classic quilted shopper. She’d had oneonce. Her mother-in-law had told her it might help people forget she wasn’t oneof them. Rich and well bred, she’d explained. Wearing the right clothes andcarrying the right bag could help her fit in. And also, she should have someplastic surgery to fix that nose of hers.
There was nothing wrong with her nose. If there had been orshe’d been insecure about it, she wouldn’t have had a problem with surgery.Whatever got a person through a day and all, but she’d never felt bad about hernose until her mother-in-law made the comment.
Nicole stared at that bag as Heather locked up. “You knowthere’s a bed and breakfast across town. And a resort about ten miles outsideof town. I’ve heard it’s real nice there.”
Heather frowned and then seemed to realize what the problemwas. She gave the bag a shake. “This is straight off Canal Street. Well, theDenver equivalent. Don’t tell on me, please. I like to think of it as faking it’til I make it, if you know what I mean. And I looked into the spa. It looksamazing and also super expensive. I’m afraid this is what I can afford.” Hersmile was back. “I’ve got a car if you want a ride.”
She glanced over to where Heather gestured. The car wasobviously a rental, and it was small and compact. It didn’t go with the handbageither. That handbag should be attached to a Benz at the very least. MaybeHeather was telling the truth, but Nic was still wary. “I like the fresh air.Thanks. But you should try Christa’s.”
“I will.” She moved in beside Nicole. “And honestly, I coulduse the fresh air, too. I have to be out at the hospital in a couple of hours,and it always makes me feel like I’m in a tomb.”
She softened at the other woman’s words. It had to be hardto take care of someone you loved. She started down the street, the commutefamiliar and soothing. “Sure. You can join me.”
This place wasn’t scary in the light of day. She was fairlycertain most of the bad elements were sleeping now, but it was nice to havesomeone to walk with.
“So why are you hanging around the motel? Do you have familyhere?” Heather asked.
“No,” Nicole replied as they started down Main Street. “Idon’t have any family. I was married and when my husband died, I decided totake off for a while. See some of the world. My car broke down and I was prettymuch out of cash, so I got a job and here I am.”
“You must have loved him a lot.” Heather said the words witha hint of longing. As though she knew what it meant to miss someone.
“I didn’t. He was an abusive bastard, and I was lucky to getout alive.” Somehow she couldn’t lie today. Last night had stripped her bare.“I’m sorry. That’s a lot for a new friend. I’m a little raw today. My husbandwasn’t a nice man. He was kind of a bait and switch. He love bombed the hellout of me, swept me off my feet, and once there was a ring on my finger, hestarted tearing me down inch by inch.”
It should have been a lesson to her. Men were willing to sayand do a lot to get the sex they wanted. The truth was she was lucky Josh andGrim hadn’t wanted to play nastier games with her. They’d talked about spankingher and tying her up, and in the heat of the moment, it had seemed like a goodidea, but hadn’t she learned?
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Heather said. “I’m married, too.My husband had some anger issues in the beginning, but he worked through them.”
“Well, mine didn’t get the chance.” She couldn’t tell thiswoman she’d just met her life story. She’d been honest enough for the day. “Hehad a heart attack.”
Heather sighed, a sympathetic sound. “I don’t know what Iwould do without my husband. He’s a rock. When Mom got sick he put me on aplane and told me to do whatever I needed to do. He’s back home with our kids.We have two. A son and a daughter. My son is twenty-two so he doesn’t needmuch, but my baby girl is fourteen going on forty-four. She’s going to killme.”
Heather seemed pleasant enough. Nicole fell into an easywalk beside her, trying to focus on what she was saying. She was from Coloradowhere she worked as a nature guide. They turned down the street that would leadthem to Christa’s, and Nicole noticed the church was letting out. She’d sleptway too long.
She hated this particular church crowd. There were severalchurches in Willow Fork. This one tipped the least and complained the most.
Heather was talking about her mom, but Nicole got distractedby the young woman staring at her from the churchyard like she was some bug shewanted to step on.
What was her name? She’d come into the café several timesand was always giving off mean-girl vibes. Usually she ignored Nicole becauseshe didn’t seem to see “staff” as worthy of attention until someone screwed upher order.
She wore her Sunday best—a dress that showed off her blondehair and fit body, and heels that looked like they would be hard to walk in.Alyssa. That was her name.
Alyssa proved she was used to those heels as she strodeacross the lawn, making a beeline for…damn it. Nicole. That woman was comingher way, and it looked like there was a hell of a bee in her bonnet.
“Hey, waitress,” she called out.
“Do you know her?” Heather asked.
“Not really.” What was happening? Everyone seemed to bestaring at her, talking behind their hands, whispering to one another.
