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confidence, I pranced out the front door, smiling inside when I heard more than one hammer stop pounding. It felt like one of those dreams where my legs don’t work right given that my anxiety was off the freaking charts.
    I put on my shades to cover up my eyes and walked a direct path to his truck, knowing that several sets of eyes rested on me. After I lifted his windshield wiper, I slid the note against the glass and lowered the wiper pinning the paper beneath.
    Continuing with the risks, I lowered my sunglasses and cast a glance his way. There he stood in all his glory—bare, sun-kissed, glistening chest. He wore sunglasses too, but I knew his eyes were on me when the smile crept across his face.
    Adam Stroud had lost his parents at the same time I’d lost my everything, and maybe he needed this as much as I did.  This delicious creature held my stare until I returned the smile and flipped around going the opposite way.
     
    When I stepped into the library, a round of hushed whispers circulated around the room. Miranda’s brows shot up and mine arched too in reaction to hers.
    “Hey woman,” she whispered.
    “What’s going on?” I asked.
    She was checking books back into the library.
    “Seriously, Anna. What’s going on is you. You don’t look like a homeless spinster today. You look like a beautiful woman who is ready to live again, as hard as that may be for you.”
    Her words treaded on thin ice with my newly found bravery, and with anxiety rearing its head, I felt myself retreating.
    Her hand covered mine.
    “Anna. You have weathered a treacherous storm over the past year. You know why I got this job here.”
    “Because I was in the loony bin,” I whispered, all life gone from me again.
    “Yes! And if Tom and Ellie were taken from me…I’d try to hurt myself too. Just like you did. There aren’t many people in this town that could have endured what you did.  There is no shame in it AND there is no shame in moving forward.”
    Life clung in her words, and my body drank them in as gospel. How could I be so ready one moment but so scared the next?
    “Thank you, Miranda.”
    “Don’t thank me sweetheart. Just tell me his name.”
    Sunshine broke free within me again masking the guilt and relief.
    “Don’t tell anyone. I DO NOT want to make the town gossip list. But he’s new to town and…”
    “ADAM!”
    My eyes widened. “Yes. You know him?”
    “The question is what woman in this town doesn’t know him. Of him at least. Jesus Anna, he is beautiful. He likes you? ”
    I shook my head in disbelief and back stepped away from her. I used to be…attractive!
    “Wait.” She held up her hands. “I didn’t mean it like that,” she laughed.
    I cocked my jaw to the side and narrowed my eyes as she continued to giggle. 
    “Seriously! I didn’t mean it like that.”
    “Shhhh!” Carole shushed us from the computer screen she hid behind.
    “Whatever. He’s been hurt too and it seems like he was meant to come along at this time. He’ll only be here for another month or so…so why not?” I shrugged.
    Miranda clicked her mouth. “Why not indeed. If you don’t want to do that…I will.”
    Though I knew she was joking, the possibility of him spending time with someone else stirred something deep within…   I didn’t like it.

Chapter 8—Adam
     
    After reading the note over and over, I went ahead and added her name to the number already stored in my phone. At the same time I was typing it in, my other phone rang.
    I pushed the answer button and waited.
    “Verifying secure line.” The robotic voice stated.
    “Call number?”
    “976925” I said.
    “Code name?”
    “Apache.” I answered.
    “Adam. What the hell are you doing?”
    “Sir. If you have something to say, please just say it.”
    Raking my fingers through my hair, I felt myself get pissed.
    “Agent Stroud. You’re a smart man. We assigned you there because of that oh so beautiful face of yours.” His words dripped