"Feel like eating?" Clint asked as Lauren made her way into the kitchen.
"I do," she answered. "It's funny, but you were right. Getting my tooth fixed made me aware of the pain in my nose! The good news is I can eat without pain again. The bad news is my head is throbbing and I'm
starved
!"
"I heard you stirring so I started making pancakes. Yours are ready."
Clint handed her two medium-sized golden cakes which Lauren took to the table where butter, syrup, and fresh, cold milk was waiting.
"Thank you, Mr. Pierce," Lauren said quietly.
"You're welcome. And please call me Clint," he said cheerfully.
Lauren didn't respond. As Clint was mixing the batter for his own pancakes he noticed a tear fall from the side of Lauren's face. He sat down the mixing bowl and took the seat next to hers. "Are you okay?" he asked tenderly.
The tears were flowing now as Lauren sobbed. The loss of his wife and daughter had turned Clint into someone he no longer recognized. His emotions were always just under the surface and he was now able to empathize with people. Before the death of "his girls" he could sympathize to some degree but empathy was always beyond his range of emotions. He'd understood the concept but never actually experienced before. As he watched Lauren sob, he was so moved he couldn't help but reach out a gentle hand and brush away her tears and the hair that had fallen down over her eyes. "It's all right, sweetheart. You're safe here."
Without looking up, let alone at Clint, Lauren managed to find the self-control to say, "No one has ever been this kind to me. No one. Ever. Why are you being so good to me, Mr. Pierce?"
He didn't bother reminding her she could call him by his first name. His heart
hurt
with hers. "Why wouldn't I be nice to you, Lauren? You're a beautiful young woman who's been through more in 20 years than most people go through in 60. If we don't look out for another, what kind of world would we live in? I
want
to help. I enjoy helping you. Helping you does as much for me as it does for you, so..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Lauren reached out sending her fork flying and threw her arms around Clint. He pulled her close to himself and she came up and out of her own chair and right onto his lap. She held him as though she was afraid to let go for fear he'd leave her the way everyone else she'd ever loved had left her. Lauren buried her face in between his wide neck and the huge trap muscles that sat atop his shoulder. "Thank you...Clint," she whispered through the last of her sobs.
Lauren sat there for another minute just clinging to this man who had befriended her in her time of greatest need. She was in too much emotional pain to understand how deep her feelings for him already were. All she really knew was she felt safe and secure and that this man was the source of her new-found sense of comfort.
Clint held her back just as tightly. He hadn't held another woman in his arms since he hugged his daughter after graduation over two years ago. It felt so good to have human contact and warmth again. And not just any contact but with someone whom he...he couldn't bring himself to use the word 'love' yet but 'cared about' came to mind and those words fit perfectly—or at least they would do for now.
As she clung to him, he could feel the warmth of her breath on his neck and he became aware of the stirring down below. As his member grew, he felt conflicted. He didn't care for Lauren in
that
way. He couldn't. He'd just met her and she was younger than his late daughter, Kara. He was mildly embarrassed about the partial erection and yet in some odd way, it seemed...right. As he tried to sort out all of these new, pleasant, and confusing emotions, he thought he felt Lauren press her bottom against him and although he wasn't sure, he also thought he heard the softest of moans.
Not sure of himself, he released his hold on her and she in turn, let go of him. "Hey, those pancakes are getting cold, young lady. Better get to 'em," he said. Clint smiled warmly at her and he was taken by the warmth in her eyes and then in her smile. He hardly noticed how badly she was in need of more dental work because the genuineness in her emotions overwhelmed him.
Lauren sat there for another two or three seconds as they stared into one another's eyes. Both of them were smiling broadly until Lauren managed a laugh. "I can't believe I found you, Mr...I mean, Clint. Thank you for everything—including the pancakes."
"I believe I found
you
, Lauren. And that makes
me
the lucky one."
Lauren hugged him again briefly before standing up and going back to her own seat. She ate slowly savoring every bite. Still, she was nearly done by the time Clint sat down next to her. "Were they okay?" he asked.
"They were
delicious
!" she said with enthusiasm. "I can't remember the last time I had something that good. Or the last time eating didn't hurt." Again that smile. This time, Lauren brought up her hand to cover her mouth. Clint realized she was aware of her smile and felt self-conscious about it.
"Don't cover your smile, Lauren. It's beautiful."
Lauren kept her hand over her mouth even after the smile faded. She was so taken aback by his comment that she was briefly in shock. Lauren knew how bad her front teeth were and she'd been embarrassed for as long as she could remember. No one had
