ALMOST HEAVEN

Chapter 1

Clyde noticed her the moment he opened the door of the Save Mart. She was staring into the first cooler to his right, her hand on the cooler door. First thing he noticed was the uniform, the green pants and grey shirt that marked her as a park ranger, probably working out at New River Gorge. The next thing he saw was her curly hair escaping from the messy bun she had pulled her hair into on top of her head. She didn't seem to notice as she frowned at the cooler. Then she turned her head his way as though she felt him looking at her. He quickly averted his eyes and moved off in the opposite direction. Damn, she was pretty.

He pretended to study the chip selection. He heard the cooler door open and close. He glanced up to find her watching him. That was interesting. He could see her blush as she turned around and headed to the back of the store. He picked up a chocolate bar and then made his way to the cooler to grab a bottle of Dr. Pepper. A quick sidelong peek saw her picking up some sort of granola bar from the shelf in front of her. She began to walk to the front of the store to get in the line at the register. He followed her.

What the hell was he going to say to her? He had to say something because there was no way he was going to let this woman walk out of the store and out of his life. It's not like he was a dunce around women, he had a way about him. But this woman seemed special and for the life of him he couldn't think of what to say. He got into line behind her and was still wracking his brain for something to say when she turned around and smiled up at him.

"Park ranger, huh?" He said the first thing that came into his head. It was a stupid thing to say.

"Nope," she answered with smile.

He liked that smile. It was sweet. "Nope?"

"Nope, Vegas showgirl." She batted her eyes at him. "You couldn't tell?"

He laughed softly and she joined in.

"I could not tell. Here I was thinking you were a new park ranger out at the Gorge."

She put her water and granola bar on the counter and turned back to him. "You might be right." She turned back to the clerk. "Card," she said as she answered the clerk's question and swiped her debit card. "No, I don't need a bag, thank you."

She grabbed her things off the counter and turned back towards him. "Well, you have a good day." She stepped away from the counter.

He threw five dollars on the counter and headed after her. "Clyde, you got change coming," the clerk said.

"Keep it. I probably still owe it to you for that window." He hurried to the door right behind the woman. He leaned around her and opened the door.

"Thank you." She gave him another one of those smiles.

"You're welcome. I guess you're headed to work."

"I am. And you were right, I am new to the area. I've only been here about a month." She stopped next to a red Mazda sedan. She put the water and snack on the roof of the car. "I'm Laurel, by the way." She stuck her hand out to shake hands.

"Clyde," he said as he shook her hand. Her hand felt soft and small in his hand but her handshake was firm. He might have held her hand a little bit longer than necessary but he couldn't help himself.

"Are you headed to work, Clyde?"

"No, I've got to run some errands then go see my brother this morning. I work nights."

"What do you do?"

"I own a bar, it's called Duck Tape."

"I've seen that place. I've never been there. I was wondering what it was like."