Chapter 11

CHAPTER ELEVEN

The moment Marley’s taillights disappeared from view, Dare let out a deep breath. Movement from his peripheral vision caught his attention. A few feet away, Ainsley fidgeted nervously, anxious once more at being alone with him.

Keeping his movements steady and slow, Dare turned toward her. “Sorry about that. My sister can be a little overbearing. And bossy.”

Ainsley offered a tiny smile. “She said she’s your older sister. I think that comes with the territory.”

Dare chuckled. “That it does. I don’t remember a time when she wasn’t trying to push me around.”

Taking care to keep a healthy distance between them, Dare headed down the hallway toward the kitchen, shortening his stride so Ainsley could keep up with him if she chose. As he suspected she would, she stayed behind him and slightly to the left, out of arm’s reach.

When he reached the kitchen, Dare retrieved the paper bag he’d dropped on the counter when he got home. Reaching inside, he extracted the key and held it out to Ainsley. “I had the hardware store cut a spare key so you can come and go as you please while I’m gone.”

Her bright blue gaze darted up to his before dropping to his outstretched hand. Hesitantly, she reached out and slipped it from his palm, fingertips barely grazing his skin. Her flesh was warm, and he curled his hand into a fist, tucking it close to his side.

“Thanks.”

“No problem.” He cleared his throat. “Tomorrow’s my day off, so I thought we could go into town. Get your banking stuff done and get some groceries. I know the suite’s empty, and my cupboards are pretty much bare.”

Ainsley stood deathly still, and Dare swore he could see the myriad doubts flickering behind her expressive eyes. Finally she nodded. “Sure. I could use some stuff.”

Dare nodded. “We’ll meet up in the morning whenever you’re ready.”

“Great.” She offered a tiny smile. “I think I’m actually going to head up to bed if you don’t mind. It’s been a long day.”

“Sure thing. I’ll walk you out.”

She shook her head. “Oh, that’s okay. You don’t have to go out of your way?—”

“No problem at all. Things can look different at night, especially here on the lake, so I’ll go with you until you’re comfortable.”

“Okay.” She dipped her head, giving in much more easily than he’d expected.

He led the way out to the patio, holding the door for her as she passed. Dare walked beside Ainsley, the cool evening air whispering through the trees surrounding his property. The path to her suite was dimly lit, but as they approached, a bright security light flicked on, casting a bright halo around them. Ainsley flinched, her eyes darting to the source of the sudden illumination.

“It’s okay,” Dare reassured her softly, his voice calm and steady. “It’s just the security light. It’s motion-activated, so you’ll be able to come and go safely. Plus, you’ll be able to tell if something’s moving around outside.”

He slid a sideways glance at her, studying her reaction. Ainsley offered a tight, almost imperceptible nod, but her body remained tense. She didn’t acknowledge his statement, but her eyes continued to rove the darkened lawn. Was she watching for someone?

A chill slithered down his spine. He didn’t like this—not at all. He desperately wished she would open up to him. But it was too soon. She’d barely known him for twenty-four hours. Earning her trust was going to be a gradual process.

“We get a lot of wildlife around here,” he said conversationally. “Deer, raccoons, squirrels… Sometimes they’ll set it off, so don’t worry too much if it kicks on.”

They reached the steps that led to her suite, and Dare gestured for Ainsley to precede him. She dipped her head as she slunk around him, careful not to touch him, and quickly climbed the stairs.

Upstairs, Dare reached out and gently tried the door handle, finding it locked. Good. He was glad she was taking precautions to keep herself safe.

“Let me just check inside,” he said. “Make sure everything’s all right.”

Ainsley hesitated, her fingers curling into the sleeves of her oversized sweater. “Okay,” she murmured, stepping back to allow him access.

“Key?” She passed him the key and Dare unlocked the door, then stepped inside. He flipped on the lights, making sure that the living area was empty before motioning her inside and locking the door behind her.

“Stay here for a second.”

“Of course.”

He methodically checked each room, ensuring the windows were locked and there were no signs of tampering. The hum of the air conditioning mingled with the soft scuffle of his footsteps as he moved from room to room.

He quickly cleared the rest of the suite, checking every possible hiding place before returning to Ainsley where she stood just inside the doorway, her posture still stiff. “Everything looks good,” he said, offering her a reassuring smile. “Just make sure to lock up after I leave.”

Ainsley nodded again but didn’t move. Dare could see the wariness in her eyes, the way she kept herself on high alert. It broke his heart a little each time he saw her like this, a young woman so clearly haunted by her past. But he couldn’t push her. He had to let her come to him in her own time.

He sensed she wasn’t comfortable being in his house either, and a small part of him regretted talking her into it. “I know you said it was okay, but… if you’re not comfortable working from my office, I can bring everything up here.”

“No, really. It’s fine.” She gave him a small, fleeting smile, a glimmer of gratitude in her eyes. “I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me. Both of you. It means a lot.”

“I’m happy to help. I just don’t want you to feel like you’re being forced into it.”

Her head tipped slightly to one side as she studied him, her eyes conveying surprised curiosity, like she wasn’t quite sure what to make of his words. It only served to solidify his opinion that someone hadn’t treated her well.

“I’ll be right next door if you need anything,” he said gently. “You can call or come over anytime, no matter how late.”

“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. She stepped farther into the room, and Dare could see her starting to unwind, if only just a little. “For everything. I don’t think I’ve said that enough.”

“You don’t have to thank me,” Dare said gently. “I’m just glad everything worked out.”

She looked at him for a long moment, and Dare could see the internal struggle in her eyes. She was fighting to trust him, to let down the walls she’d built around herself. It wasn’t easy, but he knew she was trying.

He studied her for a moment, then nodded. “We’ll go shopping for groceries in the morning. Just come get me when you’re ready.”

She gave a tentative smile. “Okay.”

“I’m going to let Sarge out, so you’ll probably want to stay inside.”

She nodded, eyes wide. “I will.”

“Goodnight, Ainsley,” he replied, stepping back towards the door. He paused before leaving, giving her one last reassuring look. “Sleep well.”

As he closed the door behind him, Dare couldn’t help but feel a mixture of frustration and hope. Frustration because he wanted so desperately to help her, to ease her fears and make her feel safe. Hope because he knew that with time, patience, and kindness, she might one day trust him enough to open up about her past.

He waited until the lock slid into place before starting back down the steps toward the house. He made his way back inside, his thoughts lingering on the woman upstairs.

He put Sarge outside to use the bathroom, then tossed his favorite ball a few times. All the while, he imagined he could feel Ainsley’s eyes on him from the suite, boring twin holes into his back. He petted the dog’s head, then headed back inside and locked up for the night.

Grabbing a beer from the fridge, he cracked it open and dropped into his favorite armchair. But instead of turning on the TV, he stared out the window, watching the play of moonlight over the lake.

Sarge slunk into the room and flopped down next to Dare’s feet. He closed his eyes and pictured Ainsley on his doorstep just two days ago. He could still see that wild look in her eyes, like a frightened animal ready to bolt at the drop of a hat.

Within the space of a few minutes, he’d decided he would offer her the suite, no questions asked. Whatever she needed from him, he would do it. He wanted her to see that not all men were to be feared, that there were still good people in the world. He would do whatever it took to help Ainsley heal, to show her that she could trust him and that she didn’t have to face her fears alone.

As the hours passed, Dare found himself unable to sleep. He kept thinking about Ainsley, about the shadows in her eyes and the way she seemed to flinch at the slightest noise. He knew trauma like that didn’t heal overnight. It took time, patience, and a lot of love. And while he couldn’t offer her love in the romantic sense—not yet, anyway—he could offer her unwavering support.

For now, though, he was content to take things slowly, allow her to come to terms with everything. And maybe, just maybe, one day she would open up to him about her past so they could face it together.