“Good morning, Richard.” She greeted him with a smile.
“What’s good about it?” He scowled at her.
“The sun is shining and good food is cooking, so I’d say that’s a great start to the day. Now, what can I get for you?”
“I’ll take the breakfast special, but I want some cheese in the scrambled eggs and extra onions in the hash browns. I want the bacon extra crispy and the toast light. I’ll also have a cup of coffee and a glass of orange juice. Think you can get all that right?”
“I’ll do my very best,” Ainsley replied. She placed the order and then hurried to get his coffee and juice. “Here we go,” she said as she served his drinks.
“I hope the coffee is fresh. Last time you served me, the coffee tasted burned and nasty.”
Ainsley suppressed a sigh and kept her smile in place. “This coffee was brewed fifteen minutes ago, so it should be nice and fresh for you.”
She had no idea why Richard always chose to sit in her section when he obviously didn’t like her. She smiled as she approached the table next to Richard, where Jimmy Miller sat.
Jimmy was a young, friendly man who worked as a ranch hand for Eva and Jake Albright. “Hey, Jimmy. We don’t usually see you here in the mornings,” she said.
“Jake gave me the morning off, so I decided to come in here and see you.” His blue eyes twinkled. “I can’t think of a better way to start my morning than to see your pretty face.”
Ainsley laughed. “Have you ever considered bottling that charm?”
“It’s just too good to be bottled.” Jimmy’s smile faltered. “But I guess it’s not enough to win you away from Hunter Churchill. He’s got a badge and a gun...kind of hard to compete with a man like that.”
“Let’s talk about food, Jimmy. What can I get you this morning?” she asked, hoping to get off the personal turn of the conversation.
An hour later the dining room was almost empty as the breakfast crowd left and the lunch group had yet to show up.
“I hope you didn’t let that turd Richard get under your skin,” Lana said as the two stood next to the soda machine.
“I have to admit, it’s hard not to take his complaints personally,” Ainsley admitted. “He acts like I never do anything right.”
“At least you had that young buck Jimmy making goo-goo eyes at you.”
Ainsley laughed. “Jimmy seems like a nice guy, but...”
“But it’s that fine Deputy Churchill who floats your boat.”
“Hey, ladies, why don’t you come back here and we can have a tea party together and socialize all you want,” Ed said sarcastically.
“Don’t get your underwear twisted,” Lana yelled back. “You know we’re the best darned waitresses in town.”
The two women parted ways at the coffee machine and readied the tables for the lunch rush. Immediately anticipation started working inside Ainsley. She knew once the lunch rush was over, Hunter would be in.
A thrill swept through her as she thought of the kisses they had shared the night before. There had been a part of her that had wanted to throw caution to the wind and make love with him. But when they did make love, she didn’t want to have to rush because she had to leave to get Melinda by a certain time.
She was excited about taking the next step with him, and that was introducing him to Melinda. She couldn’t imagine her daughter not liking Hunter. And she certainly hoped that Hunter would love her daughter.
For the first time in what felt like years, there was real hope in Ainsley’s heart. Sure, eventually she’d have to tell him about the lies she’d told him. But she hadn’t lied to him about anything except a couple of factual things.
She’d been truthful with him about everything that formed the very core of her. She’d shared deep feelings with him about a number of things that shared her code of ethics, her sense of morality and the kind of woman she really was. Besides, hopefully by the time she decided to tell him the truth, he’d be so madly in love with her it wouldn’t matter.
Is it safe?
For the first time since she’d run from the home she’d shared with her abusive husband, she believed the answer was yes. It was finally safe for her to pursue life to its fullest.
And she desperately wanted to do that with Hunter.
TONIGHT MARKED A month of Hunter and Ainsley officially dating. As he dressed for the date, adrenaline rushed through him as he anticipated spending more quality time with her.
He’d bought a stuffed pink unicorn for Melinda and a bouquet of a variety of flowers for Ainsley. The bouquet was bright and colorful and reminded him of Ainsley’s playful, beautiful spirit.
He knew that tonight was the most important date he’d have with Ainsley. It was so vital that Melinda liked him. He knew that if the little girl didn’t like him then the odds of the relationship further deepening were probably nil.
Nerves jangled through him as he drove to her place. He was interested to see the apartment she called home. He’d never been inside the living quarters at the back of the café, and his interest was piqued.
There was no question in his mind that he was falling in love with Ainsley. All the barriers he’d had up after his ex-wife’s betrayals had been tumbling down since the first date he’d had with Ainsley.
He was ready to trust again. He was ready to love again, and the place he found himself in both mentally and emotionally excited him.
By the time he pulled up behind the café, his nerves had calmed and he just felt the sweet anticipation of seeing her once again.
He got out with the flowers and stuffed unicorn in hand. He was about to knock on the door when it opened and Ainsley greeted him with a smile. “Punctual as always.”
“I always try to be on time.” He thrust the flowers toward her. “These are for you, and the unicorn is for Melinda.”
“Ah, do you always bribe the women in your life with gifts?” She took the flowers from him with a teasing glint in her eyes.
“Not always, but sometimes.”
“Come on in.” She opened the door wider to allow him inside. “Melinda is in her room. I’ll call her out in a few minutes.”
“Hmm, something smells really good,” he said as he stepped into a small living room.
“Homemade enchiladas with cheesy refried beans and rice on the side. Come on into the kitchen.”
The living room held a navy sofa, where he placed the unicorn, a coffee table and an entertainment center that held a small television. The kitchen was small as well, a square wooden table shoved against one wall taking up most of the room. She motioned him into one of the three chairs. The table was already set with navy blue plates and silverware.
“This is called intimate living. I can almost sit at the table and stir something on my stove at the same time,” she said with a laugh.
“I find it quite nice,” he replied. He watched as she placed the flowers on the counter and then reached into a bottom cabinet and retrieved a vase.
“You’re very nice,” she replied with a sweet smile. “This place is just a resting place. I’m hoping eventually to rent a house or at least get into a bigger apartment. While I really appreciate Big Ed for letting us stay here, I don’t want Melinda to grow up in this tiny apartment.”
While she was talking she arranged the flowers and then set them on the table. “There, a nice bright note to the room,” she said and then moved to the oven, opened the door and then closed it again. “This should all be ready in the next fifteen minutes or so.”
“Is there anything I can do?” he asked.
“Just sit. How about a beer?” She opened the fridge and brought out the brand of beer that he drank.
“I wouldn’t turn my nose up at that,” he replied.
For the next few minutes, they caught up on their days as she stirred the contents in two
saucepans on the stovetop. Despite the odors of Mexican spices that filled the air, he could still smell the floral fragrance of her perfume. It was a scent he found incredibly sexy.
She was clad in a pair of black jeans and a fitted royal blue blouse that did amazing things to her eyes. Yes, he was definitely on the verge of falling helplessly and hopelessly in love with her.
She took another peek into the oven and then pronounced the meal ready to serve. “Why don’t you come with me to get Melinda? That way you can give her the unicorn.”
“That sounds good to me.” He was eager to meet her daughter, who would surely become an important part of his life and heart in the future.
As he followed her back through the living room, he picked up the unicorn from the sofa. There were three doorways, one that led to the bathroom, one that apparently was Ainsley’s bedroom and the third room where her daughter slept and played.
He would have liked to get a glimpse of the bedroom where Ainsley slept. He wanted to know the color of her bedspread so he could imagine himself beneath it with her.
“Melinda, our guest is here, and he has a surprise for you,” Ainsley said.
“A surprise for me?” Melinda stepped into her doorway. She was a petite girl with blond hair and her mother’s beautiful blue eyes.
“Hi, Melinda. My name is Hunter.” He held out the unicorn. “This is for you. It doesn’t have a name yet. I thought you might want to give it a name.”
Melinda took the unicorn from him, but her eyes held more than a bit of distrust. She looked at her mother and then back at him. “Thank you.”
“Why don’t you put the unicorn on the sofa and you can think about a name while we eat dinner,” Ainsley said.
They left the small hallway and headed back to the kitchen. Melinda sat in the chair opposite him, and Ainsley opened the oven and pulled out a large baking dish and set it in the center of the table.
“There’s both meat and cheese enchiladas,” she said as she spooned beans into a serving bowl and then did the same with the rice.
“Do you like Mexican food, Melinda?” The girl hadn’t made eye contact with him since they’d sat down.
“I like pizza better,” she said, not taking her gaze off the plate in front of her.
“Pizza is also a favorite of mine,” he replied. “What kind do you like? I like pepperoni.”
“Just cheese. I like cheese pizza,” she replied.
The rest of the meal made it to the table, and then Ainsley sat. “Dig in,” she said.
“How about I serve you two,” he said and picked up Melinda’s plate. “What would you like? Meat or cheese?”
“Cheese,” she replied.
Hunter ladled out a cheese enchilada on the plate. “Would you like some beans and rice?”
“Some beans.”
Hunter fixed the plate and then slid it in front of her. “What about you, Ainsley?”
“I can serve myself. You go ahead and fill your plate,” she replied.
He took one meat, one cheese and a helping of the side dishes. Once Ainsley had served herself, they all began to eat. “This is delicious,” he said after a few bites. “Does your mother always cook this good?” he asked Melinda.
She shrugged. “Mostly we eat in the café.”
“And mostly that’s true,” Ainsley said. “Most nights I’m so tired from working all day, and the café makes it easy for us to have dinner there.”
He hated that she had to work so hard, that when she worked she had very long hours. If they married, he’d make sure she would waitress only if she wanted to.
As they ate he tried to engage with Melinda, but she was having nothing to do with him. Each time the girl answered him in monosyllables and with no eye contact, the frown on Ainsley’s forehead increased.
They finished the meal and Melinda jumped up from the table. “Can I go back to my room now?” she asked.
“Before you go, did you come up with a name for the unicorn?” Hunter asked.
“I’m going to name her Ella.” For the first time Melinda made eye contact with him. “Just because you bought her for me doesn’t mean I have to like you.”
“Melinda,” Ainsley said in obvious surprise.
“Well, it’s true. Daddy said I shouldn’t like him because Daddy is coming to get me and Mr. Hunter just wants to get into your pants.”
Hunter wasn’t sure who gasped louder, him or Ainsley. “Melinda Marie, march yourself into your bedroom right now.”
“I’m just saying what Daddy told me to say,” Melinda protested as her eyes began to glaze with tears.
“Go.” Ainsley pointed to the bedroom.
Melinda released a little sob and then raced to her room and slammed the door behind her. Ainsley turned to look at him, her cheeks pink. “I’m so sorry...I don’t know what’s going on with her.”
“If you need to speak to her, I can cool my heels right here.”
She looked at him with relief. “I’ll be right back.”
He watched as she hurried to her daughter’s bedroom. Wow, there was no question he’d been shocked by what the little girl had said. It made him wonder where she had heard the adult, rather nasty words.
He hadn’t expected it to be love at first sight with Melinda, but he certainly hadn’t expected this. Ainsley was gone about fifteen minutes, and then she came back into the kitchen.
She sank down in her chair and shook her head. “I’m worried about her. She insists that my ex-husband talks to her at night, but of course that’s impossible. For the last couple of years, after the divorce, she didn’t really mention my ex-husband, even though she’d thought of herself as a daddy’s girl at one time. I don’t know if she’s just imagining or dreaming about him or if she’s having some sort of strange psychological issues that include auditory hallucinations.”
“I’m not sure if this helps, but there is a psychologist in town who works with adults and children. Her name is June Atkins. She used to practice in Kansas City and moved out here to retire, but she is still taking patients here in town.”
Hunter knew June because for a couple of months after his child had died and his wife had left him, he’d had sessions with the psychologist to help him climb out of his depression.
“Can you give me her information?” she asked.
“I’ll text it to you, and now I’ll help you clear the dishes.”
“Oh no, you don’t. You’re my guest, and that means you get to just sit while I do the cleanup. Besides, it won’t take me long at all.” She got up and began to clear the table.
“The meal was really delicious,” he said.
“Thanks. Mexican food is one of my very favorites. Too bad we don’t have a Mexican restaurant in town.”
He laughed. “As small as this town is, I’d say we’re lucky to have the café, the Chinese restaurant and a pizza place, plus a couple of drive-through hamburger joints.”
“I suppose you’re right. The town isn’t big enough to have cuisine from all around the world.” She grew quiet as she continued to work to put the dinner leftovers away.
He knew she was probably still worried about her daughter, and as much as he would like to spend the rest of the evening with her, he believed at this point she’d rather be alone.
“Why don’t we go back into the living room?” she suggested once the kitchen was completely cleaned up.
“Why don’t I get out of here?” He stood and walked over to her. He gently stroked down the side of her face with two fingers. “I really don’t think you’re in the mood to entertain tonight.”
She sighed, but she didn’t object. Instead she captured his hand with hers and squeezed tight. “Thank you, Hunter.”
They walked to the front door. “I’ll text you Dr. Atkins’s information as soon as I get home.”
She nodded, and he bent down and kissed her on the cheek. She leaned against him for a long moment and then straightened. “Let me know if I can help in any way,” he said.
“You’re helping right now.” She smiled up at him, but the smile wasn’t as bright as usual. “I’ll see you tomorrow for lunch.”
“I wouldn’t miss it,” he replied. He stepped out of the apartment and into the night air.
Worry rode with him back to his house, the worry that his relationship with Ainsley was now threatened by a pint-size little girl who apparently had no intention of allowing him into her life.
Chapter Five
Ainsley pulled up in front of a two-story house just off Main Street. Her heart beat with anxiety as she parked and then turned off the car engine.
“I don’t know why you just don’t believe me,” Melinda said from the back seat. “I don’t want to talk to anyone who is going to try to make me believe I’m just dreaming when Daddy talks to me at night.”
“I’m sure that’s not what Dr. Atkins is going to try to do,” Ainsley replied, although she really had no idea how Dr. Atkins was going to try to help Melinda. All she knew was something needed to be done.
It was late Wednesday afternoon, and Ainsley had taken off work to bring Melinda here. Since the disrupted date with Hunter the Thursday before, Melinda had continued to talk about her daddy coming to get her soon and how he spoke to her at night. She was also becoming more and more disrespectful to Ainsley, per Daddy’s instructions.
“It’s time for us to go in and meet Dr. Atkins,” she now said and opened her car door.
“I still think this is dumb,” Melinda grumbled as she got out of the car.
Maybe it was dumb, but Ainsley was desperate to get somebody else’s opinion about what was going on with Melinda. June Atkins had been very nice on the phone when Ainsley had called her and explained what had been happening with her daughter. When Ainsley had made the appointment, she was instructed to walk around to the back of the house, where apparently the garage had been converted into an office.
Ainsley knocked on the door, and June Atkins answered. She appeared to be in her late sixties or early seventies. Her hair was a beautiful silver and she had kind blue eyes.
Stalker In the Shadows Page 5