Nicholai has asked the perfect questions. I want him to get the hell out of here, but I also want to hear this conversation.
Ashley smiles sheepishly. “That’s a long story. Best told with wine instead of coffee. And no, a job didn’t bring me here. It’s just me. I’m currently without a job. I’m still trying to figure things out. Mostly focusing my attention on getting the house finished. I’m nervous about winter. I could always go back to South Carolina and stay with my sister for the season, but I would rather not. Jack promises me I’ll be ready.”
She vaguely answered his questions and changed the subject while giving what appeared to be a lot of information. She’s good. I can understand why Ruth Ann and Evelyn didn’t get any information out of her.
Nicholai stands. “Jack has always been a man of his word. Thank you so much for the banana bread and coffee. It was delicious. I really must be going. It was a pleasure meeting you, and I look forward to seeing you again.” He nods his head toward Ashley. “Please don’t get up. I’ll let myself out. Jack, enjoy the rest of your day.”
Nicholai turns to leave and is gone just as quickly as he arrived. That man is full of surprises.
Dragon instincts and senses are a great deal sharper than ours, so I’ll have to question him later. I’ve never really concerned myself with what others think, but I’m so confused about her being a human that I really need all the help I can get. Whatever he sensed about her could really be useful.
◆◆◆
Max and I have a strategy for what can and cannot be done while we wait on the permits to come through. There should be very little downtime, if any. The guys have a good head start on a woodpile. AJ’s news about the roof, windows, and fireplace crosses a lot of the big-ticket items off the list before we even begin. Work doesn’t officially begin until Monday, and I already feel good about it.
I stand on the porch steps. “Ashley, we’re just about to head out for today. Are you positive it’s OK for a few of us to come back tomorrow? It is Saturday. I don’t want to intrude on your weekend.”
I need to tread lightly. My overwhelming need to protect her and to just be around her all the time is growing by the minute. I need to ease her into this slowly and not fuck it up.
“Yes, tomorrow is fine. It eases some of my worries. The more firewood they accumulate, the better I feel about winter. Do you mind if I fix lunch? I really am thankful for all that you’re doing. Firewood was not part of the deal.” She waits with a smile.
“Sure, that sounds great. As long as it’s not too much trouble. And I promised you’d be ready for winter.” I can’t help but smile back at her. Her eyes sparkle when she smiles. It’s addicting.
“Perfect. How many are coming? I want to make sure I have plenty.” Ashley is overjoyed.
“Four of us. I think AJ wants to get the materials inventoried, so you should plan on him as well. Do you need anything before I go?” Leaving her here alone is difficult and is only going to get harder with each passing day. My wolf is insisting I stay near her. I need to figure this out and soon.
“No. Have a good night, and I’ll see you in the morning.” She grabs the door handle to go back into the house.
After dark I’ll send some guys over to patrol the perimeter. Maybe I’ll join them. I need to know that she’s safe.
◆◆◆
When we arrive on Saturday morning, I’m instantly aware that something is off. She didn’t come out onto the porch like before. The front door is locked, so I ring the bell. Ashley comes to the door and I feel her fear from outside. I can tell that she looked through the peephole before opening it. Something has spooked her, and I don’t like it.
“Morning, Ashley. Everything OK?”
She’s upset about something but is trying to hide it. I can tell she’s been crying. My wolf is on guard, and I struggle to remain calm.
“Good morning, Jack. Come on in. I overslept. Do you need me to help with anything today? I have some time before I start lunch.” She walks back into the kitchen.
I can tell she’s lying even without looking at her face. I’ll let her do this her way for now. I’m still earning her trust and don’t want to come on too strong.
“No. The guys are already splitting wood. Tanner went down to the basement, and AJ should be here soon. The makeshift desk Grant set up yesterday turned out pretty good, so I was going to work on your estimate. Do you mind if I have some coffee?”
Watching her as we talk, I can tell that something has upset her. She’s trembling with fear and her eyes are tearing up.
“Oh, yes. Forgive me. I’m scatterbrained this morning. The coffee is ready. Please make yourself at home. You’re going to be here a lot over the next few months. I should probably give you a key. I’m going to go jump in the shower. Sleeping in has thrown off my routine.” She quickly retreats down the hallway toward the bedroom.
More lying. Was she too afraid to shower and waited for us to get here? At least that implies she’s not frightened of us.
I make a cup of coffee. After I hear the shower running, I walk out to the yard where Preston and Runt are splitting logs. “Hey, hold up a minute.”
I get their attention. “Something has spooked Ashley, and she’s trying to hide it. She was almost in tears. I don’t want to push her or make it worse. Go check the perimeter. I want to know if anyone has been on this property since we left last night. Let me know as soon as you’re done.”
They run off into the woods, shifting along the way. I go back inside while they check the area. This estimate is going to take longer than I thought. It’ll be hard to focus with her upset in the next room. Holy shit. What if she found out about shifters and that’s what has her scared? I don’t think that’s it, but I guess for now all I can do is wait.
Preston comes into the office. “Nothing, Jack. We got as close to the house as we could and still nothing. Our scents from last night are all we get.”
“Thanks, Preston. If you notice anything unusual, let me know. Get back to the wood, and I’ll let you know when lunch is ready.”
I’ve been working on the estimate for a while now. It’s taking longer than it should since I’m worried about Ashley. I can hear her moving around in the kitchen. Whatever she’s making smells good. I take my coffee cup to the kitchen, hoping to get a sense of her mood.
“Smells good. I thought you said you weren’t going to go to a lot of trouble?” I put my cup in the sink and then lean over the pot on the stove to take a sniff.
“No trouble, I promise. Just chili and grilled cheese sandwiches. The chili is pretty basic, so I have a toppings bar set up. You can top your bowl any way you want. I have fresh corn, black olives, scallions, crunchy fried onions, sour cream, grated cheese, jalapenos, salsa, hot sauce, and avocado. There are also some tortilla chips. I just have to finish a few more sandwiches on the griddle and then we’ll be ready. Do you want to call everyone?” She’s smiling and does not seem as upset. I think us being here has put her at ease. That’s good, but there’s still something on her mind.
“Sounds great. I’ll get the guys.” I go back out to the woodpile.
“Still nothing suspicious?” I approach the guys as they continue splitting logs.
“Nothing. Every scent is the same as yesterday.” Preston turns off the splitter. Runt’s still stacking the logs on the ground.
“OK. Ashley says lunch is ready. Runt, will you go down to the basement and tell Tanner and AJ?” We walk back toward the house together.
Lunch is good. Better than good actually. Her cooking is a vast improvement over what we’re used to. I’ve never put toppings on my chili before. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to eat it any other way now.
Preston, Runt, Tanner, and AJ all agree and extend their compliments as they finish their second and third bowls. When lunch is over, there’s nothing left, and I help her clean the kitchen. She’s not very talkative. Whatever has her upset is still heavy on her mind.
The res
t of the afternoon goes much the same way as the morning. I had already told her that we wouldn’t be around on Sunday, and I can’t think of a good reason to change that. All my instincts are telling me not to leave her alone.
I talked with Gabe on the phone earlier. He hasn’t heard of anything happening, and the rumor mill is quiet. If she saw someone shift, the news would spread through town like a wildfire. Gabe mentioned that he spoke to Nicholai, who agrees that she’s my fated mate. I’ll have to get more details later but knowing that is good. It doesn’t help me right now though. Figuring out what has her scared is the priority. Once I know she’s safe, I can determine how to tell her about shifters.
AJ and Tanner have already left. Preston and Runt are just about finished stacking the wood. I’m running out of time and can’t come up with any ideas to keep me here. Technically, I have only known her a few days and she’s just a client. There is no acceptable reason to stay.
I thought about asking her out on a date, but then we would be alone. Being alone with her is just as bad as leaving her unprotected. My cock is hard just being in her presence. All I want to do is kiss her and touch every inch of her. And I don’t trust myself to not go too far. The desire to claim her and make her mine is too strong.
Against my better judgment, we pack up to leave. Saying goodbye to Ashley, I can feel her anxiety going back up. Like she doesn’t want to be left alone. After the sun goes down, I’ll have two of the guys come over and patrol the woods again, making it clear that they are not to be seen. That’s the best I can do for now. I don’t want her to find out about shifters that way.
Driving away from her is difficult. My wolf is ordering me to turn around and go back. My mate is upset. Something has her frightened and I can’t shield her from it. I hate the helplessness of the situation. I always have an answer and know exactly what to do. For the first time in my life, I’m at a complete loss.
CHAPTER 10
Ashley
It’s Sunday evening and I’m lying in bed. I know I won’t be getting very much sleep tonight, but I have to try. Since Friday night, I’ve not liked being here alone. Something that has never bothered me before. I lived by myself in South Carolina my whole adult life and never felt afraid.
I don’t know why I can’t let go of what happened. Friday after Jack left, I went to the grocery store to get the things I needed to fix lunch for them on Saturday. When I came out of the store, I discovered that someone had spray-painted big red letters on both sides of my car: Go Home Bitch.
I panicked, got in the car, and drove straight home. I parked in the garage to hide it. I spent all Saturday hoping none of the guys would go in the garage and see it. My car is a light-silver color, and the red letters are big and obvious. The graffiti even covers the windows. I know I should have called the police. And I need to call my insurance company so that I can get it fixed. It really upset me, and I’m humiliated.
My reaction to the whole thing makes me angry. I’m now afraid in my own home and I don’t like it. I don’t know anyone here. I know the people working on my house, but I just met them. It’s not like we’re friends or anything. That guy Nicholai came over to introduce himself, but I don’t want to begin a friendship by asking for help. I don’t even know how to get ahold of him.
This town is small, and so far, everyone has been nice to me. I’ve been to the motor lodge, the diner, the realty office, the gas station, the grocery store and Dakota’s. Someone clearly does not want me here at all.
I’ve been trying to distract myself and stay busy throughout the day, but it’s difficult in an empty house. The work Jack and his crew have already accomplished in a short amount of time is incredible. I’m glad they were able to start as soon as they did. I really like the growing pile of firewood. I can’t wait to have a big fire in the fireplace.
The house isn’t in as bad a shape as I originally thought. I just don’t see where the “major” repairs are that the realtor mentioned. Yes, I agree, that some of the damage upstairs in the one bedroom looks bad. But even I can see that it’s all cosmetic and structurally sound. And the basement work isn’t time-sensitive or urgent, which means it can be done at any time.
Jack says winter will be no problem. He even assured me that I will not have to move out at any time during construction. That news is a welcome relief. I haven’t heard from my wolf since my first night here and I don’t think that leaving would be a good idea. I feel like I need to be here to receive his messages for some reason.
My bedroom window is cracked just a little. I love the cool evenings with low humidity. The slope of the backyard away from the house puts the ground too far down for anyone to climb in. I keep hearing sounds like people are moving around out there. I’m sure my mind is playing tricks on me. I hate being paranoid. I grab my phone off the nightstand, just in case.
Wait, there are people out there. I hear voices. Two of them for sure. A high-pitched, squeaky female voice and a man. I strain to hear what is being said.
“That bitch can’t have him. He’s mine. Now go scare the shit out of her and be convincing. I want her running out of town, screaming.” The female voice is loud enough to be completely understood.
What the hell is going on? I was right. Someone does want me out of town, and spray-painting my car wasn’t enough.
The sound of glass breaking causes me to leap from the bed and run. I go through the butler’s pantry and down the stairs to the basement. Looking for a place to hide, I open the bifold doors and climb onto the washer and dryer. My shoulder hits the shelf above, and a box of dryer sheets falls on me. I close the closet doors from the inside.
Oh crap. Oh crap. What do I do now? In a panic, I make a hasty decision and call the one person in this town I have the phone number for: Jack. I think I have enough time to make the call without being heard by the intruder. I can hear footsteps upstairs. I think they’re in the bedroom.
When Jack answers, I whisper very quietly. “Jack, it’s Ashley. I’m sorry to call you so late, but someone is breaking into my house. I heard glass breaking. Will you call the police, please?”
“Ashley, hide and don’t come out until I find you. I’m on my way and I’ll call the police.” Jack hangs up the phone and I wait.
The urgency in his voice is reassuring. I’m glad he’s coming too. I haven’t known him very long, but I feel safe with him around.
I try to calm my breathing like I learned in yoga. If I do it right, it will also slow my heartbeat. I hear footsteps descend into the basement. I don’t want them to hear me. They stop beside the closet I’m hiding in. A few minutes pass and then I hear them going back upstairs. I slowly let out the breath I was holding.
It’s been quiet for a while now. I’m sweating and start to cry. Just a few tears, but it makes me mad. I hate feeling this way. One good thing about this house being so big is that there are lots of places to hide, but it doesn’t stop me from being scared.
I hear footsteps upstairs that quickly approach the basement. It sounds like more than one person. What if they came back? The footsteps are getting louder as they come down the stairs. I can hear heavy breathing and I can’t stop the tears.
“Ashley, are you down here?” It’s Jack! He’s just on the other side of the doors.
I push open the bifold doors with too much force and fall onto the floor with a thud. The dryer sheets float to the ground around me. “Jack, thank you for coming!”
He pulls me up off the floor and wraps his arms around me. “I’m here. I got here as fast as I could. You’re safe now.” He looks into my eyes with concern, as if he’s searching for something.
My tears are falling full stream now, and there’s no stopping them. I’ve been keeping it inside too long. I love how he holds me in his arms, like I belong here. He feels strong and secure. His fingers are tangled in my hair while he holds my head, and his face is buried in my neck. I want to stay just like this for the rest of the night.
Jack pulls away. �
�Let’s go upstairs. The police are here, and they’ll need to talk to you. They have guys dusting for prints, taking photographs, and checking the surrounding area. There’s a lot going on, but I won’t leave you alone, OK?”
I nod and he leads me up the stairs.
The house is full of people just like he said. Some are in police uniforms and some are not. I quickly figure out that some of these men are here with Jack. I recognize Grant and Max. There’s an unfamiliar guy in my kitchen making coffee. He’s talking to Grant, so he must be with them.
“Ashley Carson, I’m Gabe Barclay, the chief of police. Can you tell me what happened?” The tall man in front of me is all business and it’s reassuring.
I recount what I remember. “I was lying in bed just about to fall asleep when I heard people outside the window. I had it open since it’s cool outside. I heard them talking, then glass breaking. I grabbed my phone and ran down to the basement. While I was hiding, I could hear footsteps up here. They came down the stairs, but after a few minutes, they went back up. It was one person, I think, but I’m not sure. Then after a long time, I heard Jack calling for me.”
Jack has stayed by my side, and it’s comforting.
“OK. We’re going to continue collecting evidence. If you think of anything else, please let me know.” Gabe gives Jack a questioning look.
“There is one more thing. It may not be related. It happened on Friday night, and I should have called the police then, but I didn’t. Can I show you?” I take a step toward the garage. I feel Jack tense up beside me, but he says nothing and stays near me.
“Lead the way.” Gabe follows me to the garage.
When I turn on the light, it is evident why we’re there. My silver sedan with big bright-red spray-painted letters is right there on display. The wording covers the whole side of the car. Jack rubs his face and seems angry. He turns his back to me like he’s trying to hide his reaction.
Delivered: (The Blackpaw Prophecy, Book 1) Page 8
