Page 18

C lara groaned as she rolled from her belly to her back. She felt hungover. Her head was groggy, she was tired even though she was pretty sure she’d slept all night, and God , her mouth was dry.

Water. She needed a big, gigantic glass of water.

She opened one eye. Light streamed into her room from the crack between the curtains. Definitely morning.

She was about to climb out of bed when water on her bedside table caught her attention. Interesting. She didn’t usually sleep with water beside her bed.

She pushed up and lifted the glass, then drank half of it before noticing the note. A tingly sensation ran over her skin.

Slowly, she reached for it.

Morning, Clara. I hope you’re feeling okay. Drink lots of water and eat something, then text me to let me know you’re okay so I don’t worry all day. H.

And there went those butterflies in her belly.

This was not the distance she needed. Not even close.

She scrubbed her eyes, the previous night trickling back to her.

Laced brownies. Her roommate had made laced brownies. And she’d taken them to a gathering with people from the running club. People who Clara was pretty sure her roommate was investigating.

Why? To get information? Even if she was an undercover agent, that would get her fired. Even if it did get her the information she needed. The brownies had sure as hell made Clara loose-lipped last night.

She groaned as she swung her feet to the floor. She tested herself. Good. Her knees held her. She moved out of her bedroom and into the hall, stopping at the sight of folded sheets on the couch.

Had Holden stayed here for part of last night?

She was screwed. A whole Holden worth of screwed. There was no getting over the guy.

Why did he have to be so sweet and protective and cute while also being so adamant that they weren’t going to be together? She was being set up to fail.

With a sigh, she moved down the hall and knocked on her roommate’s door. When no noise sounded, she turned the handle and stepped inside. The room was dark, but she still spotted Scarlett hunched over her laptop at her desk, her back rising and falling in slow succession.

Jesus, that didn’t look comfortable. How long had she been asleep like that?

Clara reached a hand out to wake her, then stopped. If she woke Scarlett, her roommate would probably be tired and angry. And Clara needed to be the angry one for this conversation. She needed answers. A whole bucket worth of them.

She was about to turn when Scarlett sighed and shifted. Only slightly, but it was enough for her to nudge the laptop and the screen to light up.

Clara frowned at the headline.

One Dead, More Sick, and Authorities Quiet: Unraveling the Mysteries of a Hospital in Crisis.

There it was—the confirmation Clara didn’t really need that Scarlett was looking into the hospital staff.

Still, it felt crappy knowing she’d basically been an accomplice in deceiving Malcolm, Deb, Helen, and all their colleagues.

And who the heck was Scarlett’s boss? Because they needed to know how she was getting her information.

This afternoon, she’d talk to Scarlett. Tell her that she was going to tell Malcolm what she was doing and ask her to move out.

It was time. Past time.

She headed back into her room, had a quick shower, and threw on a comfy, loose blouse and some high-waisted jeans. On her way out to the car, she saw Mildred across the road, gardening.

The older woman waved to her. “Morning.”

“Good morning, Mildred. Not working today?”

“No. I have Sally on. And it’s good to have a morning off to get some gardening done.”

Clara chuckled. Even when the woman wasn’t working in her store, she was still working with flowers. “I’m glad you have someone else in and your shop isn’t closed, because I need some irises.”

Mildred chuckled. “Well, I’ll let you in on a little secret—if I’m ever not there and you’re desperate for flowers, feel free to break in and take some using the spare key. It’s in a fake rock in a hanging potted plant out front.”

“You really think I’m desperate enough for fresh flowers that I’d break into a store? I am. And I’m so glad you know me well enough to realize that.”

Mildred laughed. “Anytime, dear.”

The drive to The Tea House was quick. Thank God, because she needed a sweet tea and she needed it now.

She’d just parked when someone by the entrance caught her attention. Malcolm. He had a phone pressed to his ear, and his hair was unkempt and disheveled.

Well, if this wasn’t the universe screaming at her to tell him about Scarlett, she didn’t know what was.

She climbed from her Volkswagen and reached Malcolm as he hung up. He looked angry and frustrated and a dozen other things, none of them good.

She gently touched his shoulder. “Malcolm.”

He jumped and turned toward her. “Clara.”

“Are you okay?”

“Uh…not really.” He ran his fingers through his hair, his gaze lowering to the phone in his hand before lifting to her again.

“I need to talk to you,” she said quietly. “Do you have a minute?”

“I—” His phone rang, and he cursed. “Sorry, I have to take this. Maybe later. I’ll see you around.”

He was across the lot before she could stop him.

Okay, maybe this wasn’t the universe telling her to be honest with him. Not now, anyway.

With a sigh, she stepped into the café and spotted Jesse and Aspen in a booth. Jesse had his arm around his girlfriend, and they looked happy.

Well, at least someone did. She stopped at the counter and ordered her sweet tea before dropping into the booth opposite them.

Her brother frowned. “Hey, Clara. Are you okay?”

Did she look as exhausted as she felt? “Yeah, just tired.”

Aspen reached over and squeezed her hand. “You know what you need? A big slice of Mrs. Gerald’s pie. She made blueberry, and it might just be better than the rhubarb.”

“You know, that actually sounds incredible.” She nibbled her bottom lip before looking at her brother. “Can I ask you a sheriff question?”

“Shoot.”

“Hypothetically speaking, if someone took brownies that were laced with marijuana to a social event, and everyone unknowingly consumed them, what consequences would that person face?”

Jesse frowned. “Well, marijuana’s legal in Montana for medical and recreational use, but distributing or serving it to someone without their consent is not.

So if it was proven to be true, they could face charges related to criminal deception and endangerment.

Or worse if someone experienced a reaction to the drug. ”

She nodded quickly. She’d suspected that but had still wanted to ask. She really needed to talk to both Scarlett and Malcolm.

Aspen tilted her head. “Is everything okay?”

No. She was confused why her roommate would go so far for a story.

Clara opened her mouth, but before she could get another word out, Holden suddenly stopped beside the table. And he looked just as good as usual.

Holden had barely slept. Maybe a couple hours of broken sleep, that was it. He needed coffee and he needed it now.

He’d spent most of the night on Clara’s couch and only left when the sun began to rise. He’d needed to stay and make sure she was okay. No way was he leaving her alone in a house in her state.

Her roommate had gotten home around two a.m. And that’s when Holden had spoken to her. Or at least tried to. Scarlett had gone from zero to a hundred pretty damn quickly, shouting that he had no proof she’d done anything wrong before storming off to her bedroom.

It had done nothing to improve his mood. And if Clara didn’t speak to Jesse today, then he would.

When he reached The Tea House, he saw Clara’s Beetle in the parking lot.

Good. He’d be able to talk to Clara and see what she planned to do about her roommate. The woman was moving out of Clara’s house, and if Clara didn’t agree, then he’d sure as hell push the issue.

Inside, he found Jesse, Clara, and Aspen all sitting in a booth by the window. When he reached the table and Clara looked up, her eyes immediately flared.

So. Damn. Beautiful. Even when she was clearly tired.

He slipped in beside her. “Hey.”

Her cheeks tinged a pretty shade of pink. “Hey.”

“You feeling okay?”

She nodded quickly.

He looked up to see Jesse frowning at them.

“Why would she not be feeling okay?” he immediately asked.

“I’ve just been tired,” Clara answered quickly, before Holden could.

So she hadn’t told her brother about the brownies. Why the hell not? Because he was the sheriff and she was worried her roommate would get into trouble?

Screw that. Scarlett should get into trouble for what she’d done.

“Clara—”

“Have you ordered?”

She didn’t want him to bring it up.

Mrs. Gerald stopped by their table. “Two sweet teas and two coffees.”

“I didn’t order,” Holden said.

The lady gave a distracted smile. “I know. I saw you come in, so I made your usual. But I gave you a double shot because you look like you could use it.”

He fucking loved this woman. “Thank you.”

Mrs. Gerald was about to walk away when Aspen touched her arm. “Hey. Everything all right?”

The shop owner nodded. “I’m just worried about one of our new employees. She went into the hospital for a minor surgery yesterday and had a seizure while she was in recovery.”

Clara visibly tensed beside him. “Do you know what caused it?”

Mrs. Gerald shook her head. “I checked on her this morning. She’s never had a seizure before in her life. They’re not sure what happened. I’m hoping she makes a full recovery.”

“I’m so sorry,” Aspen said gently. “If you need extra help, I could always jump behind the counter.”

The older woman patted her arm. “That’s very kind of you to offer. I’ll let you know if it gets to that point.”

Mrs. Gerald walked away while Clara suddenly straightened, her attention going to the counter. Holden followed her gaze—and tension swept through him.

Scarlett.

He shot to his feet and was halfway across the café when Clara grabbed his arm. “Holden! What are you doing?” Her voice was low, clearly not wanting Jesse to hear.

“I’m going to drag her to Jesse and demand she tell him what she did.”

“ No .” She stepped closer, her voice more of a shout-whisper. “ I’ll talk to her.”

“I’ll join you.”

“Absolutely not. You look like you’re about to kill someone.”

Fuck yeah, he did. Clara had unknowingly consumed drugs, and the outcome could have been far worse than it was.

She squeezed his arm. “Sit back down… please ?”

His hands fisted. That was the last thing he wanted to do.

Without a word, Scarlett finished her purchase and stepped outside. Clara hurried to follow, and Holden watched as she touched the other woman’s arm outside the café. He couldn’t hear what they were saying, but he saw the anger cut across Scarlett’s face.

Scarlett was angry? Fuck that!

Not caring that Clara had told him to stay out of it, he stepped outside.

“I didn’t do anything to those brownies. It sounds like you just had one too many drinks. And you shouldn’t be eating my food anyway. I need to go.” She started to stomp away.

“Hey!” Holden shouted when he reached Clara.

Scarlett turned. “ What? ”

“You need to explain yourself.”

Scarlett’s lips thinned and she stepped closer. “Actually, I don’t. I didn’t do anything, but even if I did, it’s legal for me to have marijuana in Montana. So mind your own damn business!”

“It’s not legal for you to serve it to other people without their consent,” Clara pushed.

Scarlett cocked her head. “Has someone said that I served it to them without their consent? No. So leave me alone.”

She started to turn again, but this time Clara called out, “Scarlett, I think it’s time for you to move out.”

Scarlett froze, the muscles in her back twitching before she turned.

“You can have a couple weeks to find somewhere else to live,” Clara added, voice quieter now.

“ Fine .” The single word from Scarlett held barely concealed rage. Then she stormed off.

Holden turned to Clara. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I should have done that weeks ago.”

“Why didn’t you?”

She lifted a shoulder. “I don’t know. I didn’t want to look for someone else in case they were even worse.”

He scoffed. They couldn’t get much worse.

“Do you know why she did it?” he asked.

Clara swallowed. “I’m positive she’s investigating the hospital. Linking that woman who died to patients who’ve been getting sick.”

“ What? ”

They both turned to see Jesse stepping outside, Aspen close behind.

“Your roommate’s looking into the hospital?” Jesse asked.

Clara wrapped her arms around her waist. “Yes. Do you already know what’s going on there?”

“I know that the hospital administration has been looking into some events. But I only step in if there’s suspicion of foul play, like criminal activity or someone deliberately making patients sick.”

“I think that’s what Scarlett thinks,” Clara said quietly.

“I’ll look into it.” Jesse stepped closer. “But I want you to leave it alone. Okay?”

“I never wanted to be a part of it anyway,” she assured him.

Good , Holden thought. Because if there was criminal activity happening at the hospital, anyone responsible would be doing everything they could to protect themselves…and no part of Holden wanted Clara near that.