“Took her to the inn? So it wasn’t anyone local?”
“No, never saw her before. Her name is Hastings. Kelly Hastings. She sure did act skittish, kept looking over her shoulder like she was expecting someone to drive up. But she said she didn’t know anyone around here and didn’t have anyone to call.” He yawned. “I’m going to bed. Thanks again for watching the kids.”
“No problem,” Stewart said as he walked out of the house.
Derik locked the door behind Stewart and went to take a shower. He let the warm water run down his body, feeling himself relax. His mind drifted toward a certain derriere covered in a gray leotard. Muscles began to tighten, but not in his shoulders or back.
Chapter 2
The alarm on Kelly’s cell phone woke her from a sound sleep. She dressed, brushed her teeth, and went downstairs for the continental breakfast. She was on her way back to the room when her phone rang. She glanced at the screen, expecting it to be her roommate, Mikki. Instead, it was a number she didn’t recognize. “Hello.”
“Ms. Hastings, this is Derik Stone. Mark brought the car back a few minutes ago. You’re welcome to use it if you want something to drive for the next day or two. We haven’t had a chance to look at yours yet. It may be sometime after lunch.”
“Yes, that would be great. Thank you.”
“If you’re dressed and ready, I’ll swing by and pick you up.” He hung up before she could respond.
Ten minutes later, Derik arrived at the hotel door. Kelly ran to meet him, dressed in jeans and a lime green blouse. Her hair was brushed to a dark sheen and bounced around her face as she hurried toward the truck. The whiskers and black nose were gone, replaced with a flawless complexion. He reached across the seat and opened the door. “Hi. How are you this morning? Did you sleep okay?”
“Hello, Mr. Stone. I slept like a log, thank you. I hope you got some rest before your alarm went off.”
He gave a short laugh. “Please, call me Derik. I managed to get some sleep. It wasn’t too late when I got to bed.” As he pulled onto the road, he asked, “Have you eaten?”
“Yes, the inn serves a continental breakfast. I had an English muffin and coffee.”
“An English muffin? That isn’t breakfast. That’s a snack. That’s a morning hors d’oeuvre. I have breakfast at the diner now and then. Care to join me?”
“I usually don’t eat a big breakfast, but I wouldn’t mind another cup of coffee, if you don’t mind me tagging along.”
He looked at her and smiled. “I would enjoy the company.”
They sat in a booth at the rear of the diner. Kelly gazed at the shelves full of collectable plates, bottles, glasses, and other items, all bearing some connection to a movie or actor. Each tabletop was covered with movie posters or playbills under glass.
A blond waitress, with a dimpled smile and blue eyes, approached their table. She was wearing a red uniform with a nametag in the shape of a theater ticket. “Hey, Derik, how are you this morning?” She placed their water on the table. “The usual?”
“Morning, Penny. Yeah, and make it two, please. Who’s cooking this morning?” He attempted to look through the pass-through behind the counter.
The waitress lowered her voice. “Walt. Stay away from the gravy.” She looked at Kelly and said, “Trust me.”
Kelly laughed. “Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind. Just coffee for me, please.”
Penny looked back at Derik and raised a brow.
“The usual, for two. And keep the coffee hot.” He looked at Kelly and smiled. “We had a late night.”
Penny looked from Derik to the woman then back. She tossed her head and left to turn in their order.
Derik rubbed his hand down his face to hide his smile. “Ms. Hastings, I need to warn you that once we find out what’s wrong with the car, we may not be able to fix it right away. It depends on if we need to order any parts.”
“It’s Miss. I’m not married. But, please, call me Kelly. I’m not under a time constraint. An extra day or two won’t matter, as long as I can use the loaner car while you have mine.”
The waitress returned and dropped two plates of bacon, eggs, and toast in front of them, followed by two bowls of mixed fruit. When she came back with the pot of coffee, Kelly saw the scowl on her face and scooted back in the seat. It appears I’ve intruded into someone’s territory. I know jealousy when I see it.
Derik watched the waitress stomp away from the table and shook his head.
Kelly began to play with her eggs. “Are you two an item? She seems a little upset, and I get the impression it’s because of me.” She raised an eyebrow. “Is this going to be a problem?”
“No, don’t worry about it.” He glanced at the waitress across the room. “Penny and I date now and then. Nothing serious. At least it hasn’t been. But she does seem to be mad about something, doesn’t she?”
“Yes, she does. I thought for a minute she was going to pour that coffee in my lap.”
They chatted as they ate, and Kelly was surprised when she noticed she’d almost finished the entire meal. Derik pointed toward her plate. “They make a good breakfast, don’t they? I eat here a few days a week. Their burgers are good, too. Can’t say that I recommend the meat loaf, though.”
They enjoyed another cup of coffee before the ticket was thrown on the table as Penny walked past. Derik lowered his head and smiled. When he looked up, he saw that Kelly was doing the same thing.
Kelly reached for the bill. “Please let me take care of this. It will be my way of saying thank you for the ride to the hotel last night.”
Derik snatched it back and stood. “No, breakfast was my idea . . . and my pleasure, I might add.”
When they arrived at the garage, Kelly was told that one of the men had taken the loaner to be washed and vacuumed. While she waited, she thumbed through an outdated magazine. At one point, she glanced up and saw Derik through the glass wall. He had donned a pair of blue overalls and was leaning over the engine of a car. He was tall. She presumed he was probably around six feet two or three. His hair and lashes were dark. The hair was short, the lashes long. He stood and spoke to a man sitting in the driver’s seat. As they talked, he took an orange cloth from his hip pocket and casually wiped grease from his hands.
A short, wiry man walked through the front door. “Are you Ms. Hastings?”
Kelly nodded and stood.
“The car is out front, and the keys are in it. It’s that silver Toyota.”
“Thank you.” She started to leave then turned to address the man. “I’m new in town. Where can a woman go to buy a few things?”
“My wife goes to a place on Main Street. You might try there.” He blushed and smiled. “They aren’t fancy, but she always looks pretty.”
Kelly glanced at the name on the man’s overalls. “Thank you, Andy, for cleaning the car and for the suggestion.”
Derik was getting a drink from the water cooler when a movement in the waiting area caught his eye. Kelly Hastings was talking to Andy. She smiled at the young man and shook his hand.
The bald man standing beside him turned his attention in the same direction. “Is that the woman you towed in last night?”
“Yeah.”
“Pretty.” Stewart cocked his head and watched Kelly leave the building. “She’s got that sexy kind of walk some women have, you know what I mean? Sort of like, heck, I don’t know, like a cat.”
Derik choked on his water. You should see her in her costume.
Chapter 3
Kelly sat in the booth with a newspaper spread on the table in front of her. She munched on a tuna melt and fries while she scanned the want ads.
“They make a good sandwich, don’t they?” Derik said, sliding into the seat across from her.
She lift
ed her head and smiled. “Yes, it’s delicious. I didn’t know of any other eating places in town, so I thought I’d play it safe and return to familiar ground.” She glanced around the half-empty cafe. “Are all the other seats taken?”
His eyes did a quick sweep of the room as he reached behind the napkin dispenser for a menu. “Not yet, but they can get busy during the lunch hour. It will fill up pretty soon. I’m lucky to find this seat available.” He glanced at her over the top of the menu and grinned. “And the bonus is, I get to share my meal with a charming companion.”
A redheaded waitress approached the table and refilled Kelly’s glass.
“Hello, Derik. What can I get for you today?”
“Hi, April. Burger and fries . . . and tea, please.”
The waitress left, and Derik turned his attention back to Kelly. He nodded toward the paper. “Are you catching up on our local gossip? Not much goes on in this town that’s newsworthy these days.”
“Actually, I was scanning the job ads. I’ve been thinking about moving, and after spending the morning driving around town, Oak Springs looks like a pretty nice place to settle down.” She took another bite and returned to the paper.
“Really?” His food was placed in front of him, and he reached for the saltshaker. “What are you looking for? What’s your experience?”
“I’m open. I’ve been a sales clerk, and I was a teacher’s aide for the past few years, but I’m willing to consider anything, within reason of course.”
“Of course,” he said. “I’ll keep my ears open, but right now I can’t think of anyone hiring.”
When Derik finished his meal, he sat back in the seat and wiped his mouth with a napkin. “How’s your cooking?”
Kelly’s brow wrinkled. “Okay, I guess. I haven’t won any awards, but I haven’t killed anyone with food poisoning either.” She looked around the diner. “No, I’m not a short order cook. I don’t think I’m qualified to work in a place like this.”
“I wasn’t thinking about here. I was talking about cooking for a family. You know, everyday food like fried chicken, spaghetti, and pot roast.”
“Sure, I can cook. Why?”
“I’ve got an idea. Hear me out, okay? Right now, I’ve got two teenage girls who take turns riding the bus home with the boys after school and watching them until I get off work. They make sure they get their homework done and give them a snack, but that’s it. I’ve been thinking about hiring someone to help around the house—watch the boys after school, cook our dinner meals a few times a week, and lend a hand with the housework, except for the boys’ chores. Do you think it’s something you might consider?”
“I’m willing to hear more about it. But I have a few questions first.” She leaned back in the seat. “You mentioned you’re dating the waitress. I think her name is Penny. I assume that means you’re divorced. Would this job offer cause more problems between the two of you? And what about your ex? Does she live in town?”
“Penny and I have dated. We’re not dating. I mean we’re not seeing each other exclusively. We might get a bite or go to a movie once in a while, but we’re not a couple. I’ve never given her any reason to think otherwise.”
“Okay, that’s one woman, but what about the ex? I don’t want to step into a hornet’s nest of jealous women, especially if I’m going to be caring for the children of one of those women.”
Derik toyed with the condensation sliding down his glass. “Mary Ann died a little over two years ago . . . colon cancer.” He continued to stare at his hands for several minutes before clearing his throat and raising his head. “There were no symptoms, or warning. We had no idea, until she was convinced to have a colonoscopy after her mother was diagnosed earlier that same year. By then, it was too late. Once it was discovered, everything happened really fast.”
Kelly could see the pain in his eyes. She laid her hand on his wrist. “I’m sorry. I lost my mother to breast cancer five years ago. How are the boys? How are you?”
“Oh, we’re good. We’re going to be fine. We all miss her, but the boys are still pretty young. Sometimes kids seem to deal with things a lot better than adults do.” He sighed. “Yeah, we’re doing fine.”
“Losing a spouse is different than losing a parent. My father died eighteen months after Mother. The doctor said it was a heart attack, but I believe it was a broken heart. He was a mountain of strength while she was sick, but when she died, he just gave up.”
After a moment of silence, Derik sat forward and said, “Now it’s my turn to ask you a question.”
Kelly smiled and leaned closer. “Sure, what would you like to know?”
“Who put the bruise on your face?”
Kelly’s hand went to her cheek, and she blushed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“When I told you in the truck that you had a smudge, you knew exactly where I was talking about before I had a chance to point it out. Even though you tried to cover it with makeup, I can still see the perfect imprint of a hand on your left cheek. Who was it?”
Kelly twisted her napkin into a knot. She took a deep breath and said, “An ex-friend who wasn’t quite ready to admit our relationship was never going to be what he wanted. It’s no big deal.”
“Any time a man lays a hand on a woman in anger, it’s a big deal. But that explains a lot. Being on a deserted road at such a late hour and constantly watching over your shoulder. I could tell in the truck you were afraid of something. Well, you don’t need to worry, you’re safe here.”
“Thank you, Derik.”
For the next hour, they sat and discussed their losses, their families, and the job offer. Derik returned to work with her promise to consider the proposal.
Kelly left the diner and drove to a park she’d passed earlier that morning. She sat at a picnic table near a large pond and continued to read the paper, concentrating on apartments and small houses for rent. After circling several possibilities, she scheduled appointments to see the rental prospects. Two were available to be seen that afternoon, and one she would see the next day. Once she found a place to live, she would make arrangements to pack her belongings and move everything to her new home. She sat and gazed across the water, absentmindedly rubbing her left cheek.
Chapter 4
Several hours later Derik called Kelly and asked her to come by the shop. He was sitting at his desk and waved her back when she walked in. “I have good news and bad news. The car’s fixable, but it’s going to take a day or two. You have a short in the wiring, but we haven’t found where just yet. You can keep the loaner until we’re done.” He slid a paper toward her. “This is the damage, unless we run into some hidden problem.”
Kelly’s eyes grew wide when she saw the dollar amount on the estimate. It was an expense definitely not in her budget.
“You can stretch that out in three payments, if you need to. Or you can put it on your card,” he said as he sat back in his chair and watched her face.
“It looks like I need to find that job sooner than I’d planned,” she said, still looking at the paper. “Well, I’m over a barrel. I’ve got to have the car fixed, so I guess all I can do is say go ahead.”
She chewed on her bottom lip for a second before asking, “Do you know if the diner’s hiring? I could be a waitress. Maybe if the tips are good I could make one payment with those, while I’m waiting for the first paycheck.”
Derik shrugged and pushed away from the desk. “I don’t know. We could go by and ask, if you’d like.”
She glanced at her watch. “I can’t. I have to look at an apartment. But after seeing that”—she nodded toward the paper on the desk—“I may have to reconsider.”
“An apartment?” he said as he led her toward the door. “Where’s it located?”
They walked out of his office, and Kelly notice
d they were the only ones in the building. Derik set the alarm and locked the front door as they stepped outside.
“Alcorn Street. Where is that? Is it a safe part of town?”
“It’s safe enough, I guess. I’ll show you where it is. You can follow me.”
Kelly gave him the address then followed him until he stopped in front of a large, red brick building. She parked behind him and was surprised when he climbed out of his truck and joined her as she headed toward the house.
A short, round woman with gray hair was sitting on the porch. She stood and smiled. “Are you Ms. Hastings?” Kelly nodded. The woman, who introduced herself as Mrs. Billingsley, led them into the building.
As Derik and Kelly climbed the stairs to the second floor, he leaned toward her and whispered, “I don’t see an elevator.”
Mrs. Billingsley unlocked the door to a small, one-bedroom apartment at the end of the hall. The front room was long, and to the right was a small kitchen consisting of a two-burner stove, a short counter with a sink, and an apartment-size refrigerator. Everything needed to be cleaned. Instead of cabinets, three open shelves were mounted above the sink. The flooring was peel-and-stick tile, and several of the corners had been broken off throughout the room. To the left was a short hallway. Kelly peeked through a doorway on the right and saw a tiny bathroom, with just enough space for a pedestal sink, toilet, and shower. She’d miss having a tub at the end of a long day. The last door opened into a small bedroom. There wasn’t a closet, but a three-legged armoire stood in one corner. The missing leg had been replaced by a gray cinder block, which caused it to lean slightly to one side. The ceiling, that had once been white, was stained by years of cigarette smoke. They returned to the living area, where Mrs. Billingsley explained the security deposit and terms of the lease, then they left as soon as they could.
An Unexpected Rescue (Oak Springs Series Book 1) Page 2
