Stranded With Ella

by Shelley Munro

“Something wrong, Dillon?” Summer stared at him.

  “No.” Dillon hid his shock with his coffee mug. Did none of them see her?

  Hana stalked toward him, confident in a way she’d never been during their time together in Afghanistan. She met his gaze and smiled as if she could read his mind.

  “We will talk.” It was Hana’s firm no-nonsense voice, the one she used when she dealt with those she considered idiots.

  “Go ahead,” Dillon said.

  “Go ahead with what,” his mother said.

  Dillon glanced away from Hana’s cheeky grin to his family. Their reactions varied from curious to thoughtful.

  None of them acknowledged Hana’s presence. Although he was sure Nikolai had sensed her the night the intruders had come to his house. Not this time though.

  “They’re not aware of me,” Hana said. “Just you and Ella see me. The others sense my presence. Don’t know why so don’t bother asking.”

  Dillon narrowed his eyes.

  “Dillon?” his mother prompted. “What is wrong?”

  “Nothing,” he said.

  Nikolai’s snort told Dillon his brother-in-law believed otherwise. Too bad.

  Dillon stood to refill his coffee mug. “Anyone else want coffee?” On receiving assents, he did the rounds with the coffeepot and the milk jug.

  “Ella is perfect for you,” Hana said. “She isn’t a mouse, but she likes it when you spank her.”

  Dillon froze, only snapping out of it when his mother shrieked because he’d overfilled her mug with milk. “Sorry.” He grabbed a cloth to mop the spill while Hana giggled.

  The musical joy had him freezing again. Had she ever acted this carefree?

  “Dillon!” The stern tone told Dillon it wasn’t the first time his mother had said his name. “What is wrong with you today? I hope you don’t behave like this in Afghanistan. That is not a safe place for daydreamers.”

  Hana let out another peal of laughter, and frustration filled him because if he started a conversation with her, his family would accuse him of losing the plot.

  “You’ve hurt Ella,” Hana said. “Idiot. You were honest from the start, telling me you didn’t love me. Stupidly, I told myself I could change your mind. I get it now. We were better as friends. But I don’t understand why you’re walking away from Ella and the happiness you could have together.”

  “She almost died,” Dillon said, his tone harsh because the idea of a world without Ella in it hurt.

  “Dillon?” Distinct worry etched into his mother’s features.

  Dillon huffed out a breath. “Do you want help with the dishes?”

  “No,” Summer said.

  “Dad, can you look after Rufus and the alpacas? Mum said it was okay, but you’re the one doing the work.”

  “Happy to do it, son. You need not worry about anything. If I have any problems, I’ll email you.”

  “Dillon, why are you pushing Ella away when she is the best thing that has ever happened to you?” Hana asked.

  This time, Dillon held his tongue.

  “If you don’t require our help to clean, Dillon and I will head to the police station,” Nikolai said.

  Dillon gave a curt nod. Hana continued her determined chatter. What was wrong with Ella? She was nice. She was beautiful. She enjoyed sex with him. Dillon tasted blood by the time he slid into the passenger seat. His breath eased out as he clicked the seatbelt into place.

  “You don’t get away from me that easily,” Hana said. “I’ll follow you to Afghanistan if I have to convince you to give Ella a chance.”

  “Did she put you up to this?” Dillon snapped.

  “Of course not,” Hana replied. “I like her. She’ll find another man, and you’ll be sorry.”

  “She is better off with another man.”

  Nikolai backed out of the driveway and headed to the police station. “You’re not the type to talk to yourself.”

  “Hana is sitting in the back seat.”

  “You haven’t drunk anything stronger than coffee.”

  “You sensed something the other night even though you said nothing.”

  Nikolai frowned and slowed as they entered the town zone. “I told myself I was imagining things. Hana is in the rear?”

  “Yep.”

  “How long has she been hanging around you?”

  “This is the first time I’ve observed her. Before this, she yammered nonstop.”

  “Can she tell you what happened to her?”

  “We hadn’t got that far. She’s been busy trying to poke her nose into my personal affairs,” Dillon said. “Hana?”

  “They caught me taking photos. I’d noticed the traps and had worked out what was going on. I’d intended going to the police, but I waited to take photos for proof.”

  Dillon repeated this back to Nikolai.

  “They came to the house and demanded I hand over my camera. I don’t think they expected me to fight. One of them pushed me and I fell. I remember the pain as I hit my head, and that’s the last thing I recall.”

  “It sounds as if her death was an accident,” Dillon told Nikolai. “She fell and hit her head.”

  “And they panicked,” Nikolai guessed. “Why didn’t they take her camera?”

  “I had two cameras,” Hana said. “One was in the craft room and the other in the kitchen. It had pictures of birds on it. They assumed they were in the clear.”

  Dillon explained this.

  “Does Hana think you’re making a mistake with Ella?”

  “Yes. Yes!” Hana said and patted Nikolai on the shoulder in approval.

  “Fuck!” The car drifted over the median line before Nikolai corrected his steering. “She really is here.”

  “I’m not making this up,” Dillon said his tone cold. “My imagination isn’t that good.”

  “He is walking away from something good with Ella,” Nikolai announced.

  “Thank you very much.” Sarcasm trembled in Dillon’s words. The instant the car pulled into a park outside the police station and came to a halt, he exited.

  “You are making a mistake,” Hana said.

  Dillon rolled his eyes. “You weren’t such a pain in the arse before.”

  “Things are different in New Zealand. I gained confidence. I liked it here, Dillon. So much. I was happy. You gave me that, and I never got the chance to thank you.”

  “I’m glad you were happy.” Dillon noticed Nikolai was looking from him to the right. He resembled a person watching a tennis match. He could have told him that Hana stood in front of him, her hands placed on her jeans-clad hips.

  “I’d be happier if you were settled. You’re restless. Lonely. Or at least you were before I sent Ella to you. Since you met her, you’ve been happier. You’ve taken care of your appearance.”

  Hana’s words brought a wash of regret and that damn guilt again.

  “What do you suggest?” he asked, his voice gruff with emotions he hated to name.

  “Go to her. Apologize. Ask her if she’s willing to wait for you. You can communicate by email and phone while you’re away. Get to understand each other.” Hana bounced up and down on her toes in her enthusiasm.

  “You’ve thought about this.”

  “Apart from helping to stop your neighbor, I didn’t have much else to do.”

  “Better get this done,” Nikolai said.

  “Ella’s coming,” Hana said, and she blinked out of sight.

  A bicycle appeared, and Dillon took a moment to watch Ella before she noticed him and Nikolai. Her pink hair fluttered in the breeze as she cycled.

  “Have you just arrived?” She swung her leg over to dismount and leaned the bike against the brick wall of the police station.

  “Yes,” Nikolai said when it became obvious Dillon was too busy gawking to reply.

  Before Dillon could second guess himself, he said, “Ella, could I talk to you in private once we’re finished here? We could grab a coffee or something.”

  She sent him
a searching glance. “Okay.”

  “Yes. Yes. Yes!”

  The jubilant voice came from above them and both he and Ella lifted their heads.

  “This is not our imagination,” Ella said.

  “Unfortunately. Hana has turned pushy since she arrived in New Zealand,” Dillon said.

  “It’s called character growth,” Hana shouted.

  The door to the police station opened to reveal Connor. “Are you coming inside or not? I don’t have all day.”

  The statements didn’t take long. They kept to the facts—apart from announcing Hana’s presence—and told the truth.

  “What will happen next?” Ella asked.

  “We’ve already formally charged them. Despite their lawyer’s assertions, the judge decided they’re a flight risk and we’re holding them. The two lackeys have confessed to being at your place when Hana died. They say Hana fell hard and smacked her head on the hearth.”

  Dillon nodded. “Plausible scenario. Hana owned two cameras and they thought they’d grabbed all the photos. They missed the camera sitting in Hana’s craft room, which is the one we found.”

  “What about the birds they sold?” Nikolai asked.

  “Most of them have gone overseas. The helicopter dropped them on a boat. Unfortunately, it’s unlikely we’ll recover them, but we’ll contact the overseas authorities. We might catch the rest of our thieves yet. If it wasn’t for you, no one would’ve noticed the poaching. The Mt. Bruce sanctuary conducts counts but they wait until the spring.”

  “Is that all you need from us, Connor?” Dillon asked. “I’m heading back to join my team, and I have things to arrange before I leave on Wednesday.”

  Connor frowned. “We’ll need you to testify during the court case. I’ll speak to my boss. Given the circumstances, they might approve you testifying via video conference.”

  Dillon offered a curt nod and turned to Ella. “Should we have that coffee now?”

  She lifted her chin and met his steady gaze with a glare. “If you insist.”

  Nikolai sniggered, much in the way his brother Josh would’ve if he’d been present. Dillon ignored the interruption. He opened the door for Ella, waited for her to exit before scooting through himself and letting the door shut in Nikolai’s face. Nikolai’s guffaw made it through the barrier.

  Hana walked right through the door. “That was childish, Dillon.”

  “What are you? My mother?”

  “I was your wife.” Sorrow filled her dark eyes for an instant. “I liked being married to you, but it’s time for you to move on. Leave your guilt behind.”

  “I don’t—”

  Hana flapped her hand in dismissal. “Don’t try fibbing to me. I miss nothing.”

  Beside him, Ella gasped. “You saw everything?”

  Dillon narrowed his eyes at Hana, and after a long pause, she chortled.

  “I stayed out of the bedroom,” Hana said when she could speak again. “But I saw the kissing. It made me envious.” Then, she shrugged. “I have no regrets. Our marriage gave me freedom and happiness. I made friends here and felt useful. Living in our house and tending our animals, the ability to do what I wanted when I wanted was pure joy for me. Never say you’ve failed me, Dillon, because you offered me a life where people liked and respected me. You gave me a family who I adored, and best of all, I had your friendship. Yes, I wanted more. I wouldn’t be human if I didn’t, but I was content and few people from my country can say that.”

  A lump formed in Dillon’s throat and he had to cough to clear the blockage. His first impulse was to deny Hana’s words, but the delay let his beleaguered brain catch up. “Thanks. I valued your friendship and everything you did for me and my friends in Afghanistan.”

  “It was my pleasure.” An expression of pure joy shone on Hana’s face. “Remember me now and then, Dillon Williams. Ella, please look after him for me. He acts big and tough, but he’s sometimes a little slow.” She tapped her temple and winked. “I love you, Dillon. Make me proud.”

  Slowly, Hana’s form faded. A joyful laugh drifted on the air for an instant before silence fell.

  Dillon cleared his throat. “Would you like to go for coffee now? Please.”

  Ella stared at him for a long moment before her shoulders relaxed. “Now is fine.”

  Nerves struck Dillon as he walked at her side. They danced in the pit of his gut and sent darts of doubt to assail his mind.

  What if Hana was wrong? What if all Ella had wanted was a soldier lover to brag about to her friends? There were women like that. He’d met a few in his time. As he always did in times of stress, he centered his breathing and took deep, measured inhalations. No. If anything, Ella was angry at him. If she’d wanted to bag a soldier, nothing he did would upset her. She’d move on without a glance over her shoulder.

  “This is my favorite cafe,” Ella said, coming to a halt in front of the Jumpy Rabbit.

  Dillon opened the door. “What do you want to drink?”

  “I’ll have a trim latte, please. I’ll grab a table.”

  Dillon acknowledged her suggestion and strode to the short line at the register. He placed their order—a latte with skim milk for Ella and a long black for him. On spying the cheese scones, still hot from the oven, he ordered two.

  “Here are your scones and your number,” the cashier chirped, her blonde ponytail bopping with every nod of her head. “We’ll deliver the coffee to your table.”

  “Thank you.” Dillon strode between the tables to reach the one Ella had chosen against the wall. At least half of the dozen tables were empty, but the line at the counter had increased. They directed most of the gazes at him and each bore nosy curiosity. He pulled out a seat and sat. “Why is everyone staring?”

  Amusement scooted across Ella’s expressive face, her nose wrinkling for an instant. “Your mother talks about you and your brother, and locals regard you as heroes.”

  “But we’re doing our job.”

  Ella shrugged. “And now you have helped to catch and stop a poaching ring. That’s huge. I bet it will make tonight’s news.”

  Dillon scowled. “Hell! I hope not. I’m meant to stay in the background. It’s much better for my health and for those in my team.”

  “You should mention that to Connor.”

  Dillon called Connor and had a short conversation. The cop assured him he’d considered that and their official statement had not revealed their names. Once Dillon completed the call, he placed his phone on the table.

  “Hana cared about you.”

  “Yes.” Her death might have been an accident, but regret filled him anew. Sometimes life wasn’t fair to good people. “I’m sorry I was abrupt with you yesterday. It’s just my future is uncertain, and I didn’t want you to wait for me. To put your life on hold.” He held her gaze for as long as he could before glancing away. He stared at the back of his hand where he rested it on the tabletop.

  Strong fingers gripped his hand. They squeezed until he lifted his head to meet her hard stare.

  “Isn’t that my decision? I’m an adult. I should get an equal say in our future.”

  “We haven’t—”

  “Here is your coffee,” the waitress chirped.

  “Thank you, Anne-Marie,” Ella said in polite dismissal.

  She continued to dally, her avid curiosity a palpable thing. “Let me know if I can bring you anything else.” When they added nothing, she let out a huff and flounced back to her position behind the counter.

  “The locals are also wondering about you and me,” Ella said in an even voice that gave him no clue as to her stand on them as a couple.

  Perhaps he should lay everything out and let her make the final decision. Yeah. That was what Nikolai had suggested, and he’d learned from his mother and his sister that women preferred to have their say.

  “I like you a lot. I’ve enjoyed spending time with you, but I’m heading back to a war zone. I might not return home. You… Me…” He swallowed. “I hate th
at you’d need to wait. Put your life on hold for me.”

  “Pffff!” Ella said, startling him and the group of ladies sitting nearest to their table. She winked as the four ladies leaned closer, craning their necks to better eavesdrop on their private conversation. “I’ve dated since arriving in Eketahuna, but until you, I hadn’t slept with any man. Does that tell you anything?”

  “That you’re careful and you don’t sleep around.”

  “Exactly! I like you too, Dillon Williams, and it won’t be putting my life on hold while I’m waiting for you to come home. I’ll do what I’ve always done. Go out with my friends. Work at Mt. Bruce. Enjoy my hobbies. I might attend Zumba and line dancing for a start. Practice my spinning. Don’t worry. I’ll keep busy.”

  “What about sex?” Dillon asked.

  “If I get desperate, I’ll get out my vibrator or I might engage in phone sex occasionally with you.”

  Tension bled from Dillon. Above all, he trusted Ella. The woman had integrity. This might work if they both tried. “We can email and Skype.”

  Ella squeezed his fingers, her expression fierce. “We can make this work if that’s what we both want.”

  Dillon connected with her gaze and held it. “It’s what I want.”

  Ella gave a crisp nod. “I’m due at work this afternoon, but can I come home with you today? Spend time with you until Wednesday?”

  “Yes.” The gloom surrounding him lifted at her easy acquiescence. He stomped on the tiny part of him declaring this was too good to be true. He’d mess up somehow and lose the one woman he wanted. Instead of admitting any of his doubts, he smiled and kept smiling until the happy sentiment fit his mouth and stayed in place. “There is nothing I’d like better.”

  * * * * *

  Ella twined her legs with Dillon’s and savored the warmth of his big body. Despite the approach of spring, it was chilly this morning. She pressed a kiss against his chest and dragged in his musky scent.

  “You’re awake.”

  “Yes.” She nipped his pectoral muscle hard enough to make him jump.

  “The alarm will go off soon.”

  In reply, Ella sighed. She’d been trying not to imagine Dillon’s departure and the danger he faced. Summer had taken her aside and told her not to be a stranger. She’d told—no, ordered Ella to ring or text or email her if she needed to unload. According to Summer, Dillon and her other brother Josh were skilled at their jobs, but Summer had an inkling of the emotions she’d experience with Dillon facing danger half a world away.