Chapter 10

CHAPTER TEN

A sudden commotion rose from the front of the house as the front door opened, and a woman’s voice lilted on the air. “I’m here!”

Ainsley glanced over at Dare, eyes wide. He didn’t seem like the type of person to just let people walk into his home. Was this the sister he’d talked about, or did Dare have a girlfriend he hadn’t mentioned?

Ainsley braced herself as the woman’s clipped footsteps drew closer, and Dare let out an exasperated sigh as he pushed to his feet. “In case you’re wondering, that’s the sound of hell on wheels.”

Ainsley didn’t have time to process Dare’s wry statement, because the woman appeared in the arched frame of the living room just a moment later. Her eyes swept over the room, immediately locking on Ainsley.

Dare gesture with one hand. “Ainsley, this is my sister, Marley.”

Marley ignored him completely, her focus riveted on Ainsley, who popped up from the couch. She forced herself to remain still as the woman strode toward her and stopped barely a foot away, a wide smile on her face. “It’s so nice to meet you. Dare told me all about you.”

“He did?” Ainsley barely tamped down the urge to slide a look his way. Instead, she turned her attention to the woman in front of her.

Her dark brown hair and green eyes were almost identical to Dare’s, but that was where the similarities stopped. Marley was petite, shorter even than Ainsley herself. Her hair was an explosion of riotous curls, and her eyes danced happily over cheeks that glow pink with happiness, her sunny disposition a complete contrast to Dare’s far more stoic nature. The difference between the two was almost startling.

Marley took Ainsley’s hands in her her own. “Goodness, you do look just like your sisters, don’t you?”

Ainsley jerked a little. “You know my sisters?”

Marley nodded and released her, then dropped onto the couch cushion and gestured for Ainsley to join her. “My son, Owen, had Kinley as a teacher last year. He just adored her.”

Ainsley couldn’t help but grin, pride for her younger sister suffusing her heart. “That doesn’t surprise me at all. I’ve heard she’s an amazing teacher.”

Marley nodded. “She’s wonderful. I bet your family is glad to have you back in town.”

Guilt rippled through Ainsley. Everything had happened so quickly that she hadn’t even had a chance to tell her parents and sister she was back in Brookhaven.

She could feel warmth creeping up her cheeks under the weight of Dare’s intense gaze. “We were always very close,” she said by way of reply. “Kinley and Brynlee were my best friends growing up.”

Marley smiled. “Dare and I are that way too. Except when he’s grouchy. He can be awfully moody sometimes.”

“Mar…” came Dare’s warning.

Marley grinned, and Ainsley couldn’t stop herself from returning the smile. It was impossible not to like Dare’s sister. Ainsley was incredibly curious to know more about her. “Do you live close by?”

“About twenty minutes north. My husband, Troy, and I own Premier Packaging. Did Dare tell you that?”

Ainsley nodded. “He said you might be looking for someone to help out with office work.”

“That’s right.” Marley briefly explained what needed to be done. “Do you think you might be interested?”

“It sounds great. I really appreciate this.”

“You’re helping me, trust me.” Marley tipped her head at Dare. “There are a few boxes in my car. Can you get those?”

Dare sent a quick look toward Ainsley, silently asking if she would be okay alone with Marley. She gave a slight dip of her chin and he reluctantly disappeared from the room.

Marley continued, “Let’s talk about the important stuff. I brought an application for you to fill out, but that’s just a formality. I’ll add you to payroll first thing and get everything filed tomorrow so you can start whenever you’re ready. We can deposit the money directly into your account if that’s easier for you.”

Humiliation, sharp and hot, rolled through Ainsley, and she swallowed hard. “Actually, ma’am…”

Marley laid a hand over Ainsley’s. “Call me Marley—please. You’re a friend of Dare’s and, by extension, a friend of mine.”

Saying she was a friend of Dare’s was overstating their relationship astronomically, but she wasn’t going to argue with the older woman. She focused on the issue at hand. “It’s just... I don’t have a bank account at the moment.”

The admission escaped on a whisper. She’d been paid under the table at the bar, and she hadn’t had control of her own bank account for years.

Something flickered in Marley’s expression but was gone a second later. “That’s right. You just moved. Well, we can just cross that bridge when you’re ready.”

Ainsley was certain Marley knew she was lying, but she was acutely relieved that Marley hadn’t made a huge deal of it. Ainsley needed this job—everything depended on it. “I just need a few days to get it set up. I’ll try to take care of it tomorrow.”

“Take your time.” Marley gave a little wave of her hands. “Once everything is ready, you can fill out the form.”

She outlined the pay schedule, and gratitude rushed through Ainsley. “That sounds amazing, thank you.”

Dare returned a moment later, boxes in his arms. “Is this all?”

“For now. I didn’t want to overwhelm you,” she said to Ainsley. “Do you have a computer?”

Ainsley felt the heat creep up her cheeks once more. “Not yet, but I can get one.”

It would seriously cut into her savings, but it would be worth it if the job paid well enough.

“She can use mine,” Dare cut in.

Ainsley snapped her head his way. “You don’t have to do that. I?—”

Dare shook his head, alleviating her concern. “There’s no sense in you buying a computer when I have one right here.”

Marley turned toward him. “Do you have a scanner?”

He nodded, though his attention and words were directed at Ainsley. “Everything is in the office. You can either move it up to the suite, or you can work from here.”

Ainsley rolled the hem of her shirt between her fingertips. Working from Dare’s office meant spending more time in his house, being in closer proximity to him. She swallowed hard, indecision twisting her stomach into a tight knot.

“I’m gone half the time,” he said quietly. “You won’t have to worry about me bothering you.”

“It’s true. I practically have to pry him out of the office sometimes.” Marley rolled her eyes, then glanced at Ainsley. “Is that okay with you?”

“Sure.” Ainsley avoided Dare’s penetrating gaze as she stood and followed Marley down the hallway. Dare fell in behind her, boxes in hand, and she could practically feel the weight of his gaze boring into her back.

Marley stopped next to a room with wide French doors, then stepped inside and flipped on the light. Her glance roved over the computer situated on the desk, the combo printer/scanner on a table off to the side.

“Perfect.” Marley grinned at Ainsley. “I think we’ve got everything you need.”

She dropped into the chair and plugged in the external hard drive, then walked Ainsley through the process to upload and save the files.

Ainsley discovered she was a quick study, and Marley grinned at her. “That’s it. Pretty boring, but a necessary evil. The most important part is categorizing them and making sure the date is correct.”

“Thanks again,” Ainsley said as she stood. “I appreciate everything. I’ll get the paperwork filled out and…”

She trailed off, thinking about her banking options. She’d have to go into town, but it was inevitable. She’d have to show her face sooner or later. And really, what were the odds that Joel had followed her here and would still be hanging around by tomorrow?

Marley seemed to read her mind, because she shot her an encouraging nod. “If you need help with anything, don’t hesitate to call.”

“I will, thanks.”

Dare, who’d been silently watching them up until this point, nodded toward his sister. “Thanks, Mar.”

Ainsley fell into step behind them as Dare saw Marley to the door. On the porch, Marley paused and tossed a smile at Ainsley. “Glad you’re back in town. I hope everything works out for you.”

Dare seemed to tense next to her, but Marley’s smile only grew as she tossed one last wave their way and headed down the stairs toward her car.

Then she was gone, leaving Ainsley alone with Dare once more.