A Hero for Her Heart (Truly Yours Digital Editions Book 885) by Nancy Toback, Candice Miller Speare Read Free Book Online

tin can of. . . Derrick squinted at the label. What was he drinking anyway? “Pu-erh?” He didn’t mean to say it aloud.
    “That’s right,” Shannon said with pride as she made him another cup. “Comes all the way from Yunnan.” When she was done, she dropped into the chair, mugs in hand. “Oh, don’t worry, that’s a province of China, not a different planet.” She laughed. “You’re funny.”
    “Me? Why’s that?”
    Shannon scooted closer to the table. “I study body language. And, well, the way you held your hand against your stomach when you said ‘pu-erh,’ I could tell you worried about what you were drinking.”
    Actually he was surprised his stomach felt settled since he’d drunk the tea, but best not to contradict her.
    “And there’s more to you than what’s on the surface.” She studied him with clear hazel eyes. “Sometimes the Lord shows me things about people, I think. Sort of a discernment thing.”
    Derrick held his breath. He certainly hoped not.
    “I think you’re a good guy, Derrick Owens.”
    He didn’t feel as relieved as he should. He was a man with a secret, which didn’t quite add up to being a good guy.
    “. . .but there’s something.” A frown creased Shannon’s forehead.
    Derrick forced himself to relax and meet her gaze. “Everybody has something, don’t they?”
    Shannon’s gaze scoured his face, and the wary look in her eyes disappeared. Derrick released a pent-up breath. As he started to relax, a hard rap on the back door gave him a start.
    Shannon jumped from her chair and went to the door. “That’s Allie.” She tossed him a sly grin. “She’s come to play Scrabble.”
    And Shannon hadn’t warned him? That meant Allie probably didn’t know he was here either.
    Allie stepped through the door, and her gaze slammed into his.
    “Look who’s here,” Shannon said with a gleeful smile.
    “I have eyes.” Allie’s smile wobbled. “I’m surprised to see you, Derrick.”
    “No more surprised than I am to see you,” Derrick said dryly.
    “One more for Scrabble. It’ll be fun.” Shannon looked like a kid in a toy store.
    Allie drew a deep breath. “Sorry to be rude. It’s good to see you again.”
    “I was wandering the streets after dinner, getting a feel for the town, and I saw Shannon in the store. Decided to come in and see what’s up.”
    Shannon set a third cup of tea on the table. “Derrick is going to help me find a place to rent in the Tri-Cities for my expansion shop.”
    “Oh?” Allie raised an eyebrow in his direction.
    “I’m a Realtor. Property is my business. I handle rentals as well as sales.”
    Shannon pointed. “Allie, sit. He doesn’t bite.” Shannon grabbed a worn Scrabble game from the top of the refrigerator.
    Allie blushed and dragged another chair to the table. Derrick hid his smile with his teacup.
    “Did your mother tell you the good news?” Shannon glanced at Allie as she dropped the box on the table, pulled out the game board, and unfolded it.
    “She sure did,” Allie snapped.
    Shannon pressed her bejeweled hand to her throat. “Does it upset you that she’ll be working here?”
    “Upset me? My best friend is definitely moving and didn’t let me know. And she hired my mother and didn’t tell me? What do you think?”
    “I’m sorry. I thought I told you.” Shannon patted Allie’s arm. “I was just so involved with all the decisions, I wasn’t remembering everything.”
    Derrick could believe that.
    “Well, you didn’t.” Allie tapped the table with more vigor. “Ma is already working, cleaning the church. I worry about her. I don’t want her working so hard.”
    “Come on, Allie. It’s not like she’s senile or something. She’s not that old. I think she can make her own decisions.” Shannon handed out letter holders.
    Irritation lit Allie’s eyes. “I know that, but I’m allowed to be concerned about my own mother, aren’t I? She’s been through too much. I want to protect her and