The Heart Knows What the Heart Wants by Lori L. Clark Read Free Book Online Page A

him.
    "She's pregnant, not helpless," Michael said. The muscles in his jaw tightened, and Star could tell that he was trying not to let his frustration show.
    "What can I do to help?" Star offered.
    Michael and Neona exchanged a quick glance. "Can you run a cash register and make change?" Michael asked her.
    Star resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Of course."
    Neona huffed out strangled laugh. "You were looking for a job...leave it to divine intervention to help pave the way."
    Michael opened the passenger side door. "Come on, get in," he told Star.
    "Um, okay, sure," she said, and climbed into the car.
    Michael got into the driver's seat, and they headed toward the store out on the highway. "Ami is my daughter-in-law. She's due in a few weeks with my first grandchild. She's crabby, but her bark is worse than her bite. I'll have her stick around long enough to get you started." He peered sideways at Star. "Then I'll get Neona to Mercy Urgent Care."
    The roads were glazed with a thin layer of ice, making the short jaunt to the convenience store take longer than it would have under normal circumstances. The salt trucks were out on the highway, and the temperature was hovering right at the freezing mark.
    "Saturn, Pluto, and Mars," Star hissed beneath her breath when they pulled into the packed parking lot. She turned to Michael her face white as chalk. "Is it always this busy?"
    He shook his head. "Not even close. People must have decided to stop and wait out the weather."
    "Ami is going to be madder than a wet cat," Neona mumbled.
    "It can't be helped, Neona." Michael sighed. He parked the car and told Star, "I'll go inside to let Ami know what's happened. Shane's apartment is up those stairs," he nodded toward the narrow, ice glazed steps at the side of the building, "would you mind running up to see if you coax him into coming down early to help out?"
    Star chewed on her upper lip and nodded before climbing from the car. Ice made the steps dangerously slick, and she took them as swiftly as she dared. On the landing at the top, she inhaled a deep breath and tentatively knocked on the door. She waited for him to answer, and after a moment, she pressed her ear against the door to listen for any movement inside. Nothing. She tried again, with a little more force this time.
    Not hearing any noises from the other side of the door after three attempts, she made her way back down to the ground. She leaned into the police car. "Neona? I don't think Shane's home," she said.
    Neona rubbed the palm of her hand against her forehead and blew out a noisy breath. "His motorcycle's here. He's probably sleeping. He sleeps like the dead, and it's damn near impossible to wake him sometimes."
    Star tucked a loose curl behind her ear and asked, "What should I do?"
    "He never locks his door. You're going to have to go on inside and see if you can wake him," Neona muttered. Beads of sweat trickled down her temples. It was clear she was in pain and really needed medical attention immediately.
    Star's eyes widened in an unspoken protest. "What if he thinks I'm an intruder and shoots me or something?"
    Neona dismissed her with a wave of her hand. "As far as I know, he doesn't own a gun."
    Star traipsed back up the stairs. Again, she banged her fist against the door with so much force she knew it would leave the side of her hand bruised. She pulled her lips between her teeth and tried the door handle. With a loud snick, it opened, and Star stepped through.
    She wasn't sure what she'd expected, but the space was small and surprisingly neat. No dirty dishes or empty pizza boxes strewn about, like one might expect from a young bachelor's apartment. She inhaled the overpowering aroma of hot guy: amber incense and Irish Spring soap, not at all unpleasant.
    Just being in Shane's personal space made her feel a little like she was spying on him, and the thoughts made her cheeks burn. What if he comes out and catches me here? I'll die of mortification. You can