Page 33 of Heart of a Hero

I had a wonderful time, too. The girls saw the smile on my face and knew the evening had gone well. Talk to you soon. Looking forward to a second date.

With that, he slipped his phone back into his pocket, checked all the locks, and turned out the lights before going upstairs. Later, as he lay in bed, finding sleep was hard when the memory of how perfectly they fit together filled his thoughts.

15

The two thieves looked down at what they’d stolen—one with a wide smile and the other’s lowered-brow expression filled with doubt.

“I don’t understand what we can do with all this shit we’re getting?”

The head thief shrugged, casual but confident, the smirk never leaving their face. “I have someone lined up who’ll pay good money for it. I don’t ask questions, and they don’t tell me what they do with it. I take the cash, pay you a percentage, and I keep getting whatever I can. It’s clean, easy.”

Their partner stopped pacing and shot a skeptical look their way. “No local pawn shops? Seems like it’d be quicker with less hassle.”

The one in charge chuckled softly, shaking their head. “Pawn shops start asking questions. Too much heat. And they won’t take cards. Cash, sure, but no one wants to get tied up with stolen plastic.”

The partner, leaning against the wall, dropped his voice. “Why are we even bothering with credit cards? As soon as the owners notice, they’ll cancel them. We’re not making anything off that.”

Eyes gleamed in the low light, and the grin widened as if the very idea was laughable. “I asked the same thing when I first started. My fence told me he’s got people who can work magic with those numbers. They open new accounts with fake identities. It’s all fraud. I don’t need to know the details. I just get him what he needs, and he pays me. No questions, no strings.”

There was a flash of something more dangerous in their expression as they reached into the bag and pulled out the sleek black handgun, running their fingers over the cold metal. “And this… this is the fucking cherry on top.”

Their partner swallowed hard, eyes flicking nervously to the weapon before shifting away again. “I think we should mix our schedule up. Take a break. We don’t want the cops to start putting pieces together.”

Narrowed eyes glared, and the easygoing grin was replaced by something colder and sharper. “Don’t screw this up. We’ve got a good thing going, a damn good payout. Stay smart, stay careful. You start making rookie mistakes, and we’re both screwed.”

The nervous partner gave a curt nod, but the tension didn’t ease. The weight of their choices hung between them, unspoken but palpable. The thrill of the risk, the high of the reward—it was a delicate balance, one they both danced around with practiced caution.

The thief holding the gun ran their fingers over the metal, almost admiring it before tucking it back into the bag. “We’re in this for the long haul. Don’t get sloppy, and we’ll be rolling in cash before anyone knows what hit ’em.”

16

Karen had gone to bed the night of her date with Mark, feeling his kisses still on her tingling lips, the roughness of his trimmed beard against her cheeks, and the remembrance of how their bodies fit together. When she closed her eyes, his face filled her mind. Her fingertips could still feel the breadth of his shoulders and the hard planes of his chest.

She had spent Sunday cleaning the house, preparing meals she could freeze to make weekday dinners a little easier, and helping the girls with homework before baking cookies.

“Why are we making so many?” Olivia asked. “Not that I’m complaining!”

“A couple of children live near one of my patients. I’ve never met their mother, and her boyfriend is rather scary. They don’t have much and always love it when I bring them a treat. I’m not sure they get much at home. I’m worried about the kids, but the older gentleman patient, Roscoe, helps to keep an eye on them. I want to bring them some goodies when I see him at the end of the week.”

The girls became quiet, their faces pensive. “What are you thinking?”

Laura looked at her sister and then at Karen. “How lucky we are.”

Olivia nodded, her usual smile no longer present. “You know, even though we lost Daddy, we know that he loved us.”

Karen’s heart ached. “He absolutely loved both of you more than you can possibly imagine.”

“But we’re also really lucky with you,” Laura said, smiling at Karen. “You let us know every day how much you love us.”

The tears gathering in her eyes caused her to blink rapidly. Opening her arms, she welcomed both girls in for a hug. “How could I not love you? You’re my heart.”

After their shared moment, Olivia stepped back, dashed her hand over her cheeks, and said, “Let’s make brownies as well as cookies. Those kids deserve an extra treat.”

She smiled. “I think that sounds fabulous.”

As she stirred the batter, Laura asked, “What are their names?”

“The boy is Marty, and he’s nine. The little girl's name is Suzanne, but it seems that she goes by Zannie. She’s seven years old.”

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