The Heart Knows What the Heart Wants by Lori L. Clark Page A

she disappointed that he hadn't remembered or relieved?
    Star finished getting ready and went downstairs to make a pot of coffee, but was surprised to find Michael standing in the kitchen already brewing a pot. He turned toward her when she walked in and greeted her with a nod. She smiled politely and grabbed a mug from the cupboard.
    Michael leaned against the counter, appraising her through watchful eyes. His scrutiny put her on edge, and she wondered what was going through his head. After he poured a cup, he went back to his position by the counter and stared at her. "It's none of my business what you've done in the past, as long as it wasn't illegal or you're not running from the law," he spoke, finally breaking the tense silence between them. "However, since you're staying here, in Neona's house, and you appeared out of nowhere, I took the liberty of running a background check on you."
    "Of course you did," Star said. She felt her heart pounding the blood through her veins. "I'm not running. Not from the law, anyway."
    "I understand that. I also know that when you lived in West Memphis, the local police department had been dispatched to your residence on several occasions for domestic disturbances. Does that sound about right?"
    Star wrapped her hands around the coffee cup and stared into the dark liquid. "Yes."
    "I also understand this man you lived with, Derek Baldwin, is a pretty unsavory character with a whole list of priors -- attempted rape, aggravated assault, drug possession, you name it -- and at one time or another he's been arrested for, or suspected of, something illegal," Michael rubbed the back of his neck, trying to ease the irritation creeping up his spine. "Frankly, I'm amazed. Of a couple of things, actually. One, is that he's not locked up somewhere, and two, that he let you leave without a fight."
    Star took a deep breath and puffed out her cheeks, exhaling slowly. "He didn't let me do anything."
    Michael's eyebrows shot up to meet his hairline. "How's that?"
    "I slipped him a little something to…um…help him sleep and then I left," she admitted.
    "I see." Michael sighed. "Any chance he'll come looking for you?"
    "Probably. But there'd be no reason for him to look for me in Red Vale. Anyone who knows me believes I'm in Iowa right now."
    Michael opened his mouth to say more, but he stopped himself when Shane walked into the room.
    Star felt the color drain from her face. She hoped he hadn't overheard her and Michael's conversation. She wasn't ready for him to know what a lowlife loser she'd been living with or anything else about her less than pristine past.
    "Morning, Michael," Shane's eyes darted between the two, "is this an official visit?"
    "Nope, just checking in on Neona this morning," Michael told him as he pushed away from the counter, refilled his cup, and made his way out of the room.
    Shane watched him leave before turning back to Star. "Ya know what? I like that guy, but when he goes all official, he annoys the shit out of me," he said. "You okay?"
    Star forced a smile and nodded. "I'm fine. How are you doing this morning?"
    His brow furrowed and he cocked his head. "Me? I'm fine. Some reason I shouldn't be?"
    She decided not to bring up the whole nightmare scene and shrugged. "No, no reason."
    Shane grinned and rubbed his hands together excitedly. "So, are you looking forward to spending the day with me?" he asked, waving his hand down the front of his body. "Because have you seen me? I just hope you can handle all this hotness."
    Star spit the mouthful of coffee back into her cup and laughed. "So modest, too."
    How was it even possible for him to put her at ease while at the same time twisting her insides into pretzel-like knots? She didn't know, but she liked it…she liked him.

Chapter Twenty

    The drive to Hannibal started out with an awkward silence, until Shane broke the ice. "About last night," he started.
    Star's fingers tightened around the steering wheel until her knuckles