Second Chances. Valerie Hansen

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СКАЧАТЬ I’ll go,” Paul had yelled, cursing to accentuate his mood. “But I’ll show you. You’ll be sorry. You’ll both be sorry. You just watch.”

      Even now, Belinda imagined she could still hear the echo of Paul’s vehement threats. When he’d lost his temper and threatened her father she’d glimpsed a side of him she’d never seen before. A part of his character that had truly frightened her. And now the church was on fire. Thank goodness Paul was long gone! If he were still in town, he’d be the first one she suspected, too.

      Belinda was so distraught she could hardly breathe, hardly think. Blinking back tears, she worked her way through the twisted maze of hoses lying in the street. Behind her, the upper windows of the old church began to shatter from the intense heat and the pressure of the water being hurled against them.

      As she drew closer to her father she saw two men restraining him to keep him from trying to enter the burning building. “Thank you, God. He’s safe,” she whispered, grateful beyond belief.

      All she could think about was getting to her father so she could tell him how sorry she was about the church and how much she loved him, in spite of their recent argument.

      Suddenly, strong, masculine hands grasped her from behind. Held her fast. Told her, “It’s not safe to be out here barefoot.”

      Panicking, Belinda twisted to stare at him. Her eyes widened. It couldn’t be Paul…but it was. She immediately tried to jerk free. “Let go of me!”

      Scowling, Paul released her, held his hands in the air and took a step back. When he said, “Sorry,” it sounded a lot more like sarcasm than penitence.

      “What are you doing here?”

      “I heard the sirens so I came by to make sure you were all right.”

      Fire reflected in the depths of his almost-black eyes, making him appear sinister, dangerous. Belinda’s already broken heart hardened at the sight of him, at the realization that all her wonderful excuses for his innocence were useless now that she knew he was still hanging around the area. “Stop lying, Paul,” she countered. “You came here to gloat and you know it.”

      He combed his fingers through his long, thick, dark hair, pushing it back as he shook his head. “You have a really low opinion of me, don’t you?”

      “I only know what I see. You said you were leaving town hours ago. Why didn’t you go?”

      Paul’s jaw clenched, but he kept his outward cool. “I was packing. I knew your father banished me from this town but I didn’t know he was timing me or I’d have hurried.”

      “Leave my daddy out of this. Haven’t you done enough to hurt him already?”

      “Me? Hurt him? All I did was fall in love with his daughter!”

      Paul saw Belinda’s tear-filled glance dart briefly in the direction of the burning church before returning to him. Suddenly understanding, he nodded. “I should have known. I thought you were different but you’re just like the rest of them, aren’t you?” His arm swept in an arc that took in the whole chaotic scene. “You blame me for this. All of you do.” He shoved his hands into the pockets of his worn leather jacket. “It figures. My father made a mistake and went to prison for arson, so I’m guilty by association. Right?”

      The unfair accusation stung, made her even more defensive. “You said it. I didn’t.” Standing firm, she refused to let him off the hook. “You were supposed to be long gone by now. Admit it. You only hung around so you could watch my father suffer.” Pent-up emotion made her tremble. “Get away from me! I never want to see you again. Ever.”

      “Fine with me. I’m glad your old man decided that I’m not good enough for you. He did us both a favor. Goodbye, Belinda. Have a nice life.”

      With tears running down her cheeks, Belinda pressed her fingertips to her lips to stifle her sobs as she watched Paul elbow his way through the throng of hostile onlookers, mount his motorcycle and roar away. She realized she was saying goodbye to more than Paul Randall. She was also giving up the naive belief that her love was enough to change him, to save him from the negative effects of his dysfunctional upbringing.

      Admitting she’d been wrong about him was breaking her heart.

      Chapter One

      Belinda Carnes was busy sorting local business files in the tall cabinet at the rear of her office when she heard the familiar ding of the electric eye that monitored the front door. She smoothed her skirt and breezed around the corner into the reception area with an expectant smile, recognizing her visitor immediately. “Sheila! Hi.”

      “Aren’t you going to say, ‘Welcome to Serenity. How can the Chamber of Commerce help you’?”

      “Nope. I save that speech for the tourists.” Belinda’s smile widened. “And I leave out the part about the ticks and chiggers eating us alive all summer. What’s up?”

      “You mean you haven’t heard?”

      “Heard what? What are you talking about?”

      “He’s back.”

      “Who’s back?” The fine, auburn hair at the nape of Belinda’s neck began to prickle.

      “Don’t play dumb with me,” Sheila said. “You know very well who I mean. Verleen saw that lawyer, Paul Randall, coming out of the market downtown. He’d been buying groceries. Bags of them. I’d say that means he plans to stay with those ancient aunts of his for quite a while.”

      Belinda blinked rapidly and paused to digest her friend’s comments. The whole idea of Paul being anywhere nearby tied her stomach in knots, made her pulse speed. “I’d heard he was going to help the Whitaker sisters with the legalities of their real estate deal but I didn’t think he’d actually come here to do it. What gall.”

      “What do you mean?”

      “It’s a long, complicated story.” She sighed. “Let’s just say Paul didn’t turn out to be the wonderful guy I thought he was.”

      “Oh? What makes you say that?”

      “You mean you haven’t heard the gossip yet? Amazing. The way rumors fly in this town, I’d have thought you’d already know the whole story.”

      “I’d rather hear it straight from you,” Sheila said with undisguised interest.

      Belinda filled her in concisely, trying to leave out any supposition. She concluded with, “No one has ever proved who was—or wasn’t—responsible for setting fire to the church…but nobody had any real motive except Paul.”

      “Wow. No wonder you don’t want to come face-to-face with him.”

      “I’m glad you understand.”

      “Yeah, well…” A sly smile lifted Sheila’s lips. “That’s really too bad. I hear Randall is the best-looking guy around. And rich. I was kind of hoping you might want to introduce me to him. There aren’t that many eligible men in this area, you know.”

      Belinda was flabbergasted. “You’d be interested СКАЧАТЬ