Page 29 of Dairy and Deadly

Ashley met him in the living room with the glass outstretched to him. “I’d offer refreshments, but I haven’t gotten around to making a grocery run yet.”

“I’ve already eaten. Thanks.” He hadn’t barged in on her to become yet another freeloader. He had questions that needed answers — the kind of answers only she could give.

As he accepted the water glass, her stomach gave a noisy growl.

Since it was well past the dinner hour, he frowned at her. “When was the last time you ate?”

She shrugged, not quite meeting his eye. “I’ve been doing some intermittent fasting.” She gestured at herself. “Trust me. It’s not easy pulling off the baggy sweatshirt look.” Though her voice was teasing, her stomach growled again.

He gave her an appreciative sideways glance, trying not to stare. It was hard. From her messy bun to the oversized shirt slipping down her creamy shoulder, he found the whole package appealing. “You’d look fine no matter what you’re wearing.” He didn’t see her reaction to his words, because he’d just caught sight of the water bowl she’d put out for Can Opener a week ago. There was still no food bowl sitting beside it.

Something heavy settled in his chest. “I’ll ask you again.” He pierced her with a look that dared her to tell him anything but the truth. “When was the last time you ate, Ash?”

She plopped down on the sofa beside Can Opener. “Yesterday morning.” She plunged a hand into the cat’s thick fur. “Why do you care?”

His brain pounced on that detail. “Isn’t that when Clint brought donuts back from his trip to town?”

She refused to meet his gaze. “Maybe.”

He stalked to the kitchenette and yanked open the refrigerator door. It was empty. “Ashley!” His voice came out strangled with agony. “What’s going on?”

“Long story,” she mumbled.

“Give me the short version,” he barked, letting the door of the fridge slam shut.

“I, um…” Her voice grew shaky. She cleared her throat and began again. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Johnny.”

“Then tell me,” he coaxed in a gentler voice.

“The night I was shot,” she intoned softly, “my partner was shot, too.”

Here it comes.Though his heart wrenched in sympathy, he braced himself for whatever else she was about to lay on him.

“He didn’t make it.” Her features crumpled. “He left behind a wife and a kid that I’ve been trying to help.”

His heart grew heavier. “By sending money to them, huh?”

“Every month.” She gave a damp sniffle. “Due to a bank error, they sent the amount twice this month and overdrew my account. I’ve been on the phone with the bank, trying to sort it out.” She gave him an apologetic look. “After business hours, of course, and during my lunch break.”

“Oh, for pity’s sake, Ash!” As if he was worried about that! He abruptly set the glass of water on the mantle. “You should’ve told me you needed money.”

“I don’t.” She drew back in defense. “I have a savings account. I just promised myself I wouldn’t touch it unless it was an emergency.”

“Since when does starvation not count as an emergency?” He hated the fact that they were arguing, but he couldn’t stand the thought of her not having any food in the cabin. She was going hungry inhiscabin onhisproperty, which made him feel oddly responsible.

“I’m fine.” She lifted her chin.

“No, you’re not.” He stalked toward the door. “I’ll be back in a few.” He raised another cloud of dust in the gravel outside her cabin as he gunned it back to the farmhouse. They were forever catering food in at work and sending him home with leftovers. Rummaging through his fridge, he quickly located half of a subway sandwich and a bowl of fruit salad. It wasn’t much, but it would provide Ashley with sustenance until he could get some groceries delivered to her cabin. He scavenged a box of crackers and an unopened bag of dry pinto beans from his pantry before heading back to his truck.

Ashley opened the door to the cabin before he could knock. “Gimme!” She all but yanked the sandwich from his hands, ripping the paper open and stuffing it in her mouth.

He chuckled even though it made him sad to watch her. “I’ll get these beans soaking in a pot.”

She laughed with food in her mouth and somehow managed to make it sound adorable. She chewed and swallowed before exploding, “That’s enough beans to feed an army!”

“Can Opener will help.” Johnny moved into the kitchenette and pulled out a saucepan. As promised, he soon had the entire bag of beans soaking.

Returning to the living room he whipped out his wallet and stood over her perch on the sofa. “I’m giving you an advance on your first paycheck.”

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