Page 12 of Refuge for Ailsa

“Um…” She could tell he was struggling with something. It seemed he was about to give up when he finally squeezed out, “Uh, would you have dinner with me?”

Ailsa wanted to sing. Ever since he’d stood there in the marina store, she’d been thinking about him, wondering if she’d ever see him again. And there she was, in his house, looking into the future with him to the day it would be a beautiful home. “Of course I’ll have dinner with you. I’d love that.”

“You would?” For reasons she couldn’t understand, he seemed surprised that she’d say yes.

“Why wouldn’t I? I like you, Tav. You’re not like the other guys around here.”

He chuckled. “How’s that?”

“You don’t brag. You aren’t loud. I have a feeling you get overlooked a lot.”

He shoved his hands down in his front pockets. “I guess you could say that.”

“You shouldn’t. You seem like a remarkable person, one I’d like to get to know.”

His eyebrows shot up. “I was thinking the very same thing about you on the way over here.”

“Yeah? That’s funny, isn’t it?”That’s not funny. That’s a sign, she told herself as she stood there, gazing at a man who was easily the best-looking guy she’d seen in a long while and wondering why he’d want anything to do with her. She was all pale skin and flaming red hair and big weird-colored eyes. The kids at school had called her “Zombie Girl” when she was growing up, and then in high school, they’d started calling her the “skinny husky” because of the color of her eyes. Oh, and there were the guys who’d say, “Red on the head like the dick on a dog.” Classy. Very classy. She’d heard that one her whole life, that and “carrot top.”

She was about to ask him how he’d decided to become a conservation officer when her phone rang. “Oh, great. Donovan.” Tavish groaned as she answered. “Yeah.”

“Hey, Bonnie’s got dinner almost on the table. Are you coming back?”

“Donovan, I?”

“Ailsa, please… I’m really into Maureen. Please don’t mess this up for me,” her brother whined.

“Fine, fine. Tavish can drop me off if he doesn’t want to come back in. I’ll be there in just a couple of minutes.”

“Good. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” She hit END and sighed. “I guess you figured that out.”

“Yeah. I did.”

“He’s whining. But honestly, I’ll understand if you just want to drop me off. I can see why you wanted to leave. And it hurt me to…” She stopped. That kind of honesty probably wasn’t good so soon.

But the look of concern on his face startled her. “Hurt you? Something hurt you?”

“Uh, yeah.” She couldn’t think of a way to save it.Oh, just say it, she told herself. “Yeah. It hurt me to hear them run you down that way. They should be proud that you bought a place like this. If you were my son, I’d want to help you with it and see you living here happily, enjoying all the hard work you put into it.”

The look on his face said it all. “There’s a lot there that you don’t know.”

Ailsa nodded. “I got that. And if you want to talk, I’ll always listen.”

“Thanks.” It seemed as though he wanted to say something else but didn’t know how. Finally, he said, “I guess I should get you back.”

“Would it freak you out if I said I wish I could just stay here?”

Something in his eyes told her she’d just said something important to him, something that he could hang onto when the world was beating him down. “No. It wouldn’t freak me out at all. I wish we could just stay here. But the hovel-dweller kidnapped you, and I’ll never hear the end of it if I don’t bring you back. So come on.” He headed toward the stairway, and Ailsa fell into step behind him. But as they descended the stairs, he looked back over his shoulder and smiled.

Wouldn’t that be a great master bedroom? She hoped she’d eventually find out.

* * *

He openedthe door and let her go in, closing it behind them as he stepped inside. “Well, there you are! I’d about decided you’d run away,” Bonnie said with forced cheerfulness.

“Yeah. Here we are.” He pulled a chair out from the table and waited until Ailsa sat down, then helped her push it up to the table before sitting down beside her. The little sideways glance and tiny smile she gave him in thanks made him feel warm all over.

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