Out of the Rain.pdf

8/22/2019 Out of the Rain.pdf

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OUT OF THE RAIN

JANET MERRITT


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To my husband Rick

For always being there

And

In Loving Memory

Of

Merle Merritt

(1932-1982)

Whose kind heart and

unconditional love

will be forever missed


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Out of the Rain copyright 2013 Janet Merritt

Cover photograph by Janet Merritt

This is a work of fiction and entirely the imagination of the author. Any

resemblance to any person or persons either living or deceased,or places, events orlocales is purely coincidental.


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Chapter 1

Kane Stewart stood watching the rain. The forecast had predicted thunder

showers for the afternoon, but as usual the skies had ignored modern

meteorological technology and began storming several hours earlier.

Another dreary day. Kane swallowed.

A few people, a woman and two men were huddled just outside his

storefront window, taking refuge from the morning downpour. His mens shop,

Stewarts Tailoring was one of the few stores on this side of the street that had an

awning, so he suspected that if the rain continued for much longer the small group

outside would soon turn into a party.He sighed and made a face.

The rain was now coming down harder. The asphalt pavement outside

awash with at least a half inch of rain as it flowed in a torrential rush down the

street. Already large puddles had gathered alongside the road, the gutters unable to

deal with the sudden deluge. He could see people jumping up onto the sidewalk

trying to avoid getting their expensive shoes wet. Kane doubted that despite their

efforts there was a dry foot to be found.

He glanced back at the people outside and noticed that two more had joinedthe club. Two women, and they were both holding coffee cups. The pale blue logo

stamped on the side of the large cups clearly identifying the trendy coffee and

pastry shop that was just half a block down from his.

Kane imagined he could smell the freshly brewed aroma of the coffee beans,

but when he turned his head toward the tiny screened opening in his shops outside

door all he could smell was the rain.

A loud crack of thunder boomed and one of the women outside screamed.

Kane rolled his eyes.

He could use a cup of java about now, a dark roasted blend, something full

bodied and rich. Or, maybe considering the drab weather, hed prefer one of those

fancier specialty coffees, one with caramel perhaps.

Whichever, it didnt matter. Hed probably lose the urge for the coffee by

the time the storm cleared and the growing group of people outside moved on.


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He had things to do before he opened his doors for business.

Kane started to turn from the window when something across the street

caught his eye.

He glanced back and saw a woman standing on the curb directly across from

his shop. There was nothing special about her. Just some lady trying to get to work

like everyone else in the middle of an unexpected downpour.

Except Kane couldnt take his eyes from her.

She stood stock still. Her only movement, her head as she turned it slowly

from side to side.

To Kane she looked forlorn. Lost among a sea of people, all trying

desperately to get out of the rain. And like most, she wasnt carrying an umbrella.

He saw her glance down at something in her hand, and then turn back

toward the shoe store that was opposite his. She turned back to face the streetagain and once more looked down at what was in her hand.

Kane saw the woman frown. She took a few steps to her right and then

returned to the exact spot where shed been only moments ago. Thats when she

lifted her head and stared straight across the street and into Kanes eyes.

Kane sucked in a breath and jerked back.

The woman didnt appear to take any notice of his movement and with an

unreasonable sense of disappointment he realized that the woman wasnt looking

at him, but was trying to make out the numbers on his shop window.She was searching for an address. The woman was lost.

Kane raised a hand and waved it.

At first his waving didnt catch the womans eye, but it did attract the

attention of one of the men standing outside. The man looked from the shop

window to the street, and then back again.

A few seconds later, Kane heard a loud whistle and then a shout. Hey, over

here.

Amber Heath cringed as a loud whistle and shout reached her ears.

She pressed her lips together, blinking slowly as she averted her eyes from

the two men who were waving frantically at her from across the street.


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She ignored them both.

She knew she wasnt in any immediate danger. She was far enough away

from the edge of the curb so she wouldnt get clipped by a racing courier on bike,

or get splashed with dirty rainwater from a passing truck. And if by any chance

there was a purse snatcher out in this torrential rain, hed be vastly disappointed

when he got a look at what was inside her purse.

Nothing.

Nothing at all. No money, no credit cards, not even a few coins rattling

around in the corners of the liner, and definitely no drivers license, or any other

piece of identification.

Thunder rumbled overhead, thankfully blocking out the shouts from the man

across the street.

She needed a moment of peace. A second to focus.Amber looked toward the street lights at the corner. She squinted trying to

make out the lettering on the bright yellow street sign, but with the skies darkening

even more in what was left of the morning light, she couldnt see squat.

Amber took a breath. She shivered as a gust of wind blew a cold sheet of

rain into her face.

She glanced back toward the shop across the street and noticed that the man

whod been standing in the window had disappeared.

She wondered briefly where the guy had gone and wished that hed takenthe other guy with him. The man was persistent in his shouting.

Amber took another deep breath.

Men. Another distraction she didnt need at the moment. She was trying to

get a handle on the situation.

She looked back at the piece of paper in her hand. By this time the pink slip

was thoroughly soaked and the green ink that the name, address and telephone

number that shed carefully jotted down had started to run.

Was that last digit an eight or a nine in the telephone number? And was the

mans name she was supposed to meet with Paul or Raul?

Amber shoved the paper into her jacket pocket. She was running out of

options. She was totally and completely screwed. Lost, soaked to the skin and to

make matters worse, her stomach had begun to growl, and loudly.

She looked back across the street. The man had finally stopped waving at


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her, and returned his attention back to the other women in the small group.

Good.

Amber wiped the rain dripping off her chin with the back of her hand. She

looked around for a phone booth.

Obviously she had written the address of the accounting firm down wrong

because there was no way that the street number in the address came anywhere

near the numbers on this block of shops.

She hoped the phone booth would have a phone book. With her luck shed

only find a dangling chain.

The man in the shop was back at the window. The top of his head only a few

inches below the shops name. Stewarts Tailoring.

Amber waited a moment to see if hed wave at her again. He didnt. He

instead held up a cardboard sign in front of his chest.NEED DIRECTIONS?

Amber huffed. Did she ever.

She nodded.

He gave her a smile and gestured with his chin for her to come over.

Amber wet her lips and swallowed. She headed for the street corner. There

was no way she was going to jaywalk. The way things were going for her, shed

get busted by some traffic cop, and the cost of a ticket was the last thing she could

afford.

Kane already had the door to his shop opened before the woman had a

chance to reach for the door handle.

The tinkling of the shop bell echoed through the empty shop as he quickly

closed the door behind her.

Thanks, she said.

Kane smiled. Think nothing of it. You looked pretty lost out there.

He moved around her.

She pressed her lips together. She didnt smile back at him.

Come in. He motioned with his hand as he turned away. What address

are you looking for?


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When the woman didnt reply, he glanced over his shoulder. She hadnt

moved. She was still standing only inches into his shop.

He watched her look around. Taking in the cash desk, the walls of mens suit

coats and dress pants, the tables of shirts and ties. The hardwood flooring, the

mahogany armchairs scattered around the shop, the marble fireplace, and finally

him.

He saw her swallow and glance down at the large half oval welcome mat

she was standing on.

There were dark wet blotches forming on the mat in a perfect circle around

her.

Kane smiled again. Oh, dont worry about the floor. People are always

tracking in mud. Ive got one of those fancy gizmos in the back. You know the

type that you squirt cleaning fluid onto the floor with the click of a button and thenmop it up with a dry cleaning sheet.

She looked up at him and said nothing.

Kane felt his chest tighten.

Watching her out on the street standing in the pouring rain, she looked like

any other lady. Standing before him now, he realized that she was far younger than

hed thought and far, far more prettier.

Her green eyes continued to watch him. Then in a soft voice she gave him

the address shed been looking for.Kane nodded and grinned. Hey, youre not the first one to get that address

confused. Ever since city council decided to amalgamate with the neighbouring

townships, its been a real problem for people needing to find that address.

Kane stopped speaking when he saw her frown.

He quickly added. There were a lot of duplicate street names, and the street

youre looking for was one that got renamed.

The woman pressed her lips together. Her green gaze was fixed on him, but

she didnt offer him a smile or nod.

Exactly how old was she? She looked no more than eighteen, twenty tops.

Too young for him.

Thats the old Dobb Building. Mostly a doctors building now, with a few

shops on the lower level. A pharmacy and a gift shop. Although if I remember,

theres some office space on the upper levels. A lawyers office, an accounting


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firm, a real estate agent and an insurance company. Oh, and also a travel agency.

They have beautiful posters of exotic, faraway places displayed in the window.

Kane knew that he was talking too much. He always rambled when he was

nervous, and this lady was definitely making him squirm.

You got some doctors appointment? Or perhaps a meeting with a divorce

attorney? He shook his head. Never mind, none of my business.

Job interview.

Really? Kane glanced at his watch. It was a quarter to nine.

When he looked back at her he was momentarily distracted by a raindrop

that was clinging to the end of one of her eyelashes.

Was it even possible for a woman to have such long and thick lashes that

werent fake?

He mentally shook himself.Are you going to be late?

He watched her glance toward the antique clock on the shelf behind the cash

desk.

An hour fifteen.

Kane made a face. Oh man, thats not right. They should have given you a

call when they noticed that you hadnt shown up. Do you have a cellphone?

The woman shook her head.

Do you have the telephone number? I saw you looking at something inyour hand out there. I assumed it was an address.

She nodded at him.

Great. Give it to me and Ill give them a call. Ill explain that youre here in

my shop and that you got lost.

Thats not necessary.

Kane frowned. Of course it is. You shouldnt be penalized just because city

council couldnt come up with a new street name for the old Dobb Building. Ill

ust explained that with the address confusion, the rain...and now you standing

here talking to me, you were unable to make your interview. Ill explain all this

and get them to book you another time.

Really, its okay. I dont need-

The job? Obviously you do or you wouldnt have applied for it. Kane held

out his hand for the number. Im sure when I explain the situation theyll be


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happy to give you another chance.

The woman closed her eyes and took a breath and then began to release it

slowly.

Kane frowned. What was she doing? Then he clued in. Was she actually

counting? Yes, yes she was, she was counting to...ten.

She opened her eyes and stared at him.

He kept his mouth tightly shut.

You dont need to do anything. Im... She glanced again at the clock. An

hour and ten minutes early. My interview isnt until ten oclock.

Kane released the breath he hadnt realized hed been holding.

Well thats...thats really good. Itll give me plenty of time to get you out of

your clothes.

He heard the woman draw in a breath. She raised an eyebrow at him.Kane felt his mouth go dry. The sudden look in her widening green eyes

was rather daunting. Maybe she was older than he thought she was.

Your wet clothes, he quickly amended, and into something dry. Youre

kind of a mess. He grimaced. And I hate to tell you this, but it looks like you

have gum in your hair.


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Chapter 2

Amber was afraid to look into the full length mirror in the changing room of

Stewarts Tailoring.

She knew that the mans comment about her being a mess was a complete

understatement. At best she probably looked like a drenched cat. At worse, well

she didnt really want to think about how bad she looked. At least she hadnt worn

any mascara. Not that she had any to put on to be begin with.

You okay in there?

Peachy, Amber replied.

She heard the guy give her a chuckle. Nice to know someone was getting alaugh out of this. She certainly wasnt.

She listened, expecting to hear the heels of his expensive leather shoes

clicking on the polished hardwood planks as he walked away. She didnt hear

anything.

Didnt the guy have work to do? Like straightened an out of place suit coat,

an uneven pair of trousers, or for that matter an unruly tie?

No? She didnt thinks so. Like the man himself, Stewarts Tailoring was

immaculate. Nothing out of place. Not one speck of dust on the gleamingfloorboards, not a wayward shirt in need of buttoning, or, in his case a stray hair

that required a touch of spit to keep in place.

Amber sighed.

The guy looked like he had just walked off the pages of some glossy

magazine. The type she only ever got a chance to look through while sitting in a

doctors waiting room, or, more often than she liked to acknowledge, a hospitals

emergency admittance area.

He was certainly good looking enough to grace the pages of a high end

magazine for mens fashion.

Not like her. She looked exactly like who she was, a total loser.

Amber sighed again and began to unbuttoned her borrowed blazer. Peeling

the soaked garment from her shoulders, she shivered as a blast of cool air coming

from the overhead air conditioning vent blew onto her bare arms.


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The urge to squeeze the excess water out of the blazers sleeves was strong,

but she thought better when she took a quick glance at the hardwood floor. Small

puddles were beginning to gather around her feet.

She instead hung the jacket on a metal coat hook that was attached to the

back of the changing room door.

By the way, my names Kane, Kane Stewart.

Amber didnt reply. She turned to her empty purse, where shed placed it on

a hardback wooden chair when shed first come into the changing room. Now she

unzipped the bag and then began to unhook her belt from her skirt.

Carefully bending the worn belt in half and then in half again, Amber made

sure that the tiny leather pouch that was secured to the outside of the belt by a

leather strap attached to its back, was still zipped closed. She gave the pouch a

light reassuring pat before shoving the belt into her purse and zipping it closed.And you are?

Again Amber didnt answer. She was trying to concentrate on getting the

skirt unhooked. It felt like the clasp was caught on a frayed piece of material or

perhaps the backing of the zipper.

Besides she really didnt like to talk to strangers.

Hey, you dont have to tell me your name. Thats okay. I understand. Ill

ust think of you as my mystery lady who came in out of the rain to brighten up my

dreary day.Amber stepped out of the skirt. She placed it beside her purse and started

working on the buttons of the sleeveless blouse she was wearing.

People call me Mr. Stewart. Well, not everyone. Just mostly the customers

that come into the shop. I prefer Kane. More personable.

Amber preferred, Mr. Stewart. She wasnt planning on getting personal.

Although my family have a habit of calling me, Kis.

Amber paused. Her fingers on the last button. Did she just hear him right?

And I must say in the most inappropriate situations. Like, there once was

this time where I-

You mean, Kris?

She heard him chuckle again. No, Kis, like in give me a big kiss. Only

with one s.

Amber made a face and removed the blouse. Her nipples instantly hardened


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beneath the soaked material of her bra. Damn it was cold in here.

She quickly unhooked her bra, put it on top of the blouse and reached for

the shirt, Mr. Stewart, Kane, Kis, with only one s...whatever he called himself, had

given her.

She gave the charcoal coloured shirt an absentminded shake before shoving

her cold arms into the sleeves, then frowned when she felt the smooth feel of the

material sliding against her skin.

She groaned. Damn, the man had given her a silk shirt.

Amber shook her head. Great, just great. She better not lean up against

anything and get a run in the silken material because she could barely afford the

cost of the shirts collar or perhaps one cuff, let alone the cost of the entire

garment.

Anyway, I picked up the nickname quite early in life. My two older halfbrothers thought it a joke.

Because they liked the rock band?

Rock band? Well...no. They-

Amber buttoned up the shirt. You dont like rock music?

His reply was rushed. No, no. I like rock. In fact I like all kinds of music.

Well...let me amend that. Heavy metal gives me a headache and I have a hard time

picking up the lyrics to rap. I find country a little depressing at times, and as for

pop, if the female voices werent so shrieky Id like it better. Of course here in theshop I usually play classical music or sometimes Ill put a jazz piece on, but no,

my family calls me Kis because-

As a kid you went around kissing all the little girls.

No!

Amber frowned. Maybe it was best she kept her panties on. They were

nylon and besides they were almost dry. You dont like to kiss?

She heard the guy cough roughly. What? Kiss? Yes, yes of course I like to

kiss. I like being kissed. I kiss women all the time. All the time. Well...not all the

time. Its actually been awhile since Ive last gone out on a date...

Amber heard the guy pause. Was he taking a breath? She hoped so.

In the ten minutes since shed stepped into his shop hed rattled off more

words than she would utter in a whole day, probably two.

She took down the saturated blazer and gathered the other wet clothes up


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into her arms.

Come to think of it now, its been eight months. No... perhaps only seven.

Its close to the end of May now...and Tracey Hugh and I helped to chaperon a

Halloween dance over at the school, so I guess its been more like seven months

since I last kissed a woman.

Dont get much action do you? Amber pulled her purse up off the chair

and slung it over her shoulder.

No, no, I guess youre right. I dont. Not that I ever did.

Amber doubted the guys statement. Kane Stewart was gorgeous.

But what with work and all, I dont seem to have much time off. Especially

now that Dads retired, I pretty much run the shop all by myself. Nights,

weekends. My life these days seems to revolve around work.

Amber wet her lips. Did she ever know about that reality.You wouldnt think that a tailor gets much business. What with all the

ready-made suits in so many retail stores, but Im actually very busy.

You get a plethora of men in need of suits? She reached for the latch on

the changing room door.

A plethora?

The guy laughed.

Well, maybe not, but I do get quite a few referrals from the local funeral

parlour.Amber flung the changing room door open. Excuse me? She cried. You

dress dead people?

Kane had to physically stop himself from allowing his jaw to drop at the

sight of the woman as she exited his changing room.

He swallowed hard.

Well thats just creepy. She held out her soaked clothing toward him. You

dont actually touch them do you?

Kane opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. He quickly

averted his eyes. He should have given her a suit coat instead of a silk shirt.

The now rather damp garment, which was incidentally clinging to her ample


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curves, had him rethinking his previous assumption. The woman was definitely,

definitely older than hed first thought.

And she had a body that most women spent a fortune on at the gym, or, on

an operating table to attain.

For a moment his mind conjured the incredible hot imagine of her in a

bikini. A shocking pink, string bikini. One where the strap of the bath suit top had

conveniently slipped down her arm and the cup of her bikini was starting to dip

revealing-

He heard the woman take an exasperated breath.

Kane wet his lips.

He looked back at her.

She was looking at him expectantly.

What had he been saying? Oh, yeahthe dead.No, no. I have no contact with the dead body. He shook his head. I mean,

with the deceased. Usually someone from the immediate family comes in with an

old suit coat and a pair of pants.

She nodded at him.

Or, in most cases, they just give me an idea of the mans height and

weight.

And you can make a suit from only that info?

Its not that hard.You must be really good.

Kane shrugged. Thats what I do. Im a tailor. I cut suits all the time. Take

for instance you. I didnt need your measurements to know that a fourteen inch

collar would fit you just fine.

The womans green eyes widened. She gave him another daunting look, just

like she had before.

Kane frowned when he saw her shiver and cross her arms over her chest.

Again Kane swallowed and dropped his eyes to the floor. He noticed that

shed removed her shoes and was now standing in her bare feet.

Didnt all women paint their toenails?

She wriggled her toes and Kane inwardly groaned.

He snapped his eyes back to her face.

Why dont you go sit by the fireplace? Its gas so it should be generating


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heat by now. I turned off the air conditioning, although it will take a few minutes

before it stops pumping out cold air.

He took the bundle of wet clothes from her.

She gave them up easily. He noticed that she didnt hand over her purse.

Do you have a pair of scissors?

The woman was kidding, right? He was a tailor. What did she think he cut

the material for his suits with, a razor blade? Well, come to think about it, he had

several of those too.

I take it you want a pair small enough to tackle that gum still tangled in

your hair?

He watched her take a breath.

Would be nice, she said.

Its green, by the way.Thanks for the update.

Kane wondered if the woman was being sarcastic, or if she was just replying

to his statement. Her bland expression was hard to read.

Sure, no problem, but please dont ask me to help you. I may be great with

a pair of scissors, but Im definitely no barber. I wouldnt want you to end up

looking like some puffed up poodle in some dog show.

She gave him another look, this time her eyes narrowed. She stared at him

for a long moment, then she turned and began to head toward the front of his store.Kane heard her murmur. Wouldnt think of it.

Suddenly feeling like hed just been dismissed or perhaps snubbed, he

glanced down at the bundle of wet clothing still in his hands.

He saw the lacy bra sitting on the top of the pile, and swallowed.

Would you like a cup of coffee? he asked.

He set her clothes down on his cutting table, and reached for a couple of

wooden hangers.

The woman didnt answer.

Hoping that she just couldnt hear him, and wasnt intentionally ignoring

him, Kane picked up the blazer shed been wearing. A cotton, polyester blend.

Something that would dry fairly fast.

Because if you do, there is a fantastic little coffee and pastry shop just

down the street. They make the most amazing...


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Still no reply.

He hung the jacket on a hanger and flicked on the industrial size fan he used

to dry his more delicate fabrics, like silk.

He picked up the skirt shed been wearing and frowned as he felt a hard

object beneath his left hand.

He glanced down and noticed that a huge safety pin had been stuck into one

side of the skirt. No waittwo safety pins, one on each side.

Kanes frown increased.

Why would there be safety pins in a skirt? Unless.

He quickly looked at the sizing label.

Just as he expected, the skirt was at least two or three sizes too big for the

womans small figure.

Kane took a closer look at the garment. The waistband was frayed and therewas a tiny tear just right of the skirts zipper.

He hung up the garment onto a pant hanger and reached for her sleeveless

blouse.

He took a look at the label. Again the sizing was way off, and the blouse,

even still fairly wet, was conspicuously stained around the nipple area, as well as

the left shoulder.

Breast milk and baby spit up.

Had the woman recently given birth?Hed spent enough time over the years preparing baby bottles for his

nephew and nieces to recognize the tale tell signs of the affects on clothing while

feeding an infant.

Kane brought the blouse to his face. He sniffed.

The garment smelled clean, yet there was a faint hint of perfume.

The woman hadnt been wearing perfume. He knew because he would have

smelled it, hed been standing that close to her when shed first came into his shop.

Kane hung the blouse up and then the ladys bra. He refrained from taking a

peek at the bra sizing.

It stood to reason. The sizing of the clothes and her upcoming job interview.

The woman had obviously lost some weight after the birth of her child, and

was now looking to go back to work.

He hadnt noticed that she was wearing a ring, though. But that didnt


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matter, a woman didnt need to be married to have a baby.

Kane sighed. A woman taken. Just his luck.


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Chapter 3

Amber could hear Kane babbling on about coffee and a pastry shop.

She choose not to answer his offer for coffee.

The thought of a gooey pastry made her stomach growl painfully. She

grimaced remembering that she hadnt had anything to eat since yesterday around

two. Over eighteen hours ago.

She put her purse down on the floor behind an overstuffed armchair by the

fireplace. The warmth emanating from the fireplace heater felt good on her bare

legs.Kanes voice suddenly stopped.

Amber glanced over her shoulder expecting him to appear out of the short

hallway that lead to the back of the shop.

When he didnt, she glance around. There must be a mirror around here

somewhere.

She spotted one over by a table of ties. It was a stand-up kind and was tilted

in the exact position so that a man could match up a shirt and tie without having to

put both on.She ambled over to the tie table.

The ties were all silk and very, very expensive looking. Amber refrained

from reaching out and touching any.

Kanes voice started up again.

Amber gave a derisive chuckle. The guy couldnt keep quiet for more than a

few seconds, could he?

Anyway, he was saying, it will only take me a couple of minutes to pop

down to the shop. Depending upon how busy it is, I should be back in a flash.

Amber took a deep breath. No, thank you. She called loud enough so he

could hear her.

Its really no trouble. I was thinking about getting myself a cup before I

spotted you standing across the street. I usually dont drink coffee this early in the

day, but-


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Amber heard his footsteps before she saw him.

Really, no.

Kane paused and glanced in her direction. Sorry, I expected you to be by

the fireplace. Hey, look, the rain has stopped, so I wont even get wet. As I said, it

will only take me a second. You look like you could use a cup of coffee.

Amber bit her lip. I dont drink coffee.

Her negative response didnt faze him.

Thats okay. The shop has plenty of different varieties of tea. Orange

pekoe, green, herbal, and if I remember the menu correctly, they also have an

assortment of flavoured teas.

I dont drink tea either.

That stopped him. He gave her a wry smile.

You do drink water, dont you?Tap water.

Well, I have plenty of that. In the bathroom, but I wouldnt recommend you

drink from the sink tap. Im sure the shop has bottled water.

There was no stopping the guy, so Amber relented.

Fine, bottled water. Amber reached out to pick up the mirror. Did you

get me the-

Ill get that for you. Kane hurried over and grabbed the mirror before she

could even lay a finger on it. Where do you want it? On the cash desk? Theres astool in the back. Ill go get it, so you can have a seat.

Not necessary.

He tilted the mirror upward a touch more. I hope these scissors are what

youll need. He held up a tiny pair of the silvered instrument. Theyre the

smallest I have.

Amber walked over to stand in front of the cash desk. Theyll do fine.

Kane looked at her and smiled. Good. He placed the scissors beside the

mirror. Ill lock the shop door so that no one will bother you. He reached under

the counter and ripped a piece of paper towel from a roll that was stashed behind

the desk. He put the towel on the counter and gestured with his hand. Theres a

garbage pail back here. I hope you dont have to cut very much hair off. Thats a

really big wad of gum.

Amber doubted very much that what was in her hair was actually gum. Gum


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was a luxury.

Anyway, Ill leave you to it. He smiled again.

A second or two later he was locking up the front shop door. He gave her a

wave before he headed off.

When Kane was out of sight Amber let out a long sigh of relief. She walked

around the cash desk and reluctantly looked into the mirror.

As she suspected, it wasnt gum, but something just as bad.

She reached up and pulled out the wooden spikes that were holding what

was left of her once neat and tidy bun. Her hair tumbled down over her shoulders

in a thick wavy mass. Except for a large clump of hair that stood out

conspicuously on the left side of her head, close to her forehead.

Amber surveyed the damage. She chewed the inside of her cheek.

Okay, how was she going to fix this?

Kane was only gone a couple of minutes but by the time he returned to his

shop, unlocked the door and stepped over the threshold, the woman was gone.

Kane felt a rush of panic.

He wasnt concerned about the mystery lady robbing the shop, since he

hadnt had a chance to open the safe and put the cash tray into the till. Not that

there would have been very much money in the tray. Most of his customerspreferred to paid by credit card.

No, the panic he felt rising in his chest stemmed from the fear that shed

hurriedly put her wet clothes back on and hightailed it outta there.

It wouldnt be the first time a woman ditched him.

He knew he tended to yammer on way, way too much. A nervous habit that

he couldnt seem to stop. Especially around beautiful women.

Whats in the bag?

Kanes breath gushed out of him.

She hadnt left. She was still in his shop.

He looked toward the direction of her voice and saw her sitting in an

armchair by the fireplace. Her legs were curled up underneath her.

Danish pastries. Kane came forward with a cardboard tray of coffee cups

and a bottle of water. He set the tray down on a small triangle style table between


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the two armchairs. He handed her the water.

She took it and set the bottle on the floor beside her chair. He noticed that

she didnt open it.

I hope you dont mind, but I got you a cup of hot chocolate. I know, I

know, I was taking a chance, but I thought what the hell. Its a pretty dreary day

and...you probably dont drink hot chocolate too, but-

Thank you.

Kane paused. He smiled.

Hot chocolates a winner? He gave her a thumbs up.

She gave him a nod.

A warmth spread through Kanes chest. He opened the coffee and pastry

shop paper bag and reached in.

I see that you gave yourself bangs.The woman lifted her hand to her forehead and feathered a few strands of

her dark hair through her fingers.

I did the best I could under the circumstances.

Kane swallowed. She did better than best. If it was at all possible, she

looked even more prettier now.

He took out a wad of napkins from the top half of the bag and placed them

on the table.

He held the bag out toward her.He saw her hesitate, then she picked up a napkin and reached in and

withdrew one of the Danishes.

He put the bag on the table and gestured toward the tray of cups.

Theyre both hot chocolate, so take whichever one you want. Im going to

go check on your clothes. Ill be back in a minute.

It had only taken him a few seconds to ensure that her clothes were drying

well. When he returned he found her sitting with her feet now on the floor and a

cup in her hands.

He smiled as he sat in the armchair across from her.

The Danish shed taken was resting on the napkin in her lap. There was only

a tiny bite out of the side.

Kane frowned.

Didnt she like Danishes? Then he paused.


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Hey, wait a minute. Wasnt the one shed pulled out of the bag earlier a

lemon one? The one on her lap, the one with the bite out of it, was definitely

cherry.

Did she put the lemon one back and take another one? Or was the one in her

lap, her second? If it was, what did she do with the first, inhale it? She couldnt

have chewed it because he wasnt gone that long. Then again she could have

stashed the pastry in her purse.

He glanced around. He didnt see her purse anywhere.

He looked back at her.

She was staring at her cup.

Amber.

Kane shook himself. Excuse me?

She looked up at him. My name is Amber. Amber Heath.Kane felt the warmth that had spread to his chest arrow toward his gut. He

gave her a smile. Its nice to meet you, Amber.

The lemon Danish felt like a lead weight in her stomach. She knew she

shouldnt have eaten so fast, but Amber was just so, so very hungry.

She took a sip of the hot chocolate. It tasted so incredibly rich and creamythat Amber closed her eyes for a moment to savour the still piping hot liquid.

Kane was talking, again.

Asking her about how she liked her hot chocolate, and was she going to take

another bite of her Danish?

Then he was rambling on about the coffee and pastry shop, the people hed

stopped to talk too, and of course about how the weather had suddenly cleared.

Amber kept her eyes closed and concentrated on the deep and husky tones

of his voice, and not on his words.

Her stomach growled.

Amber opened her eyes and looked at Kane to see if hed heard.

He just smiled at her and took a drink of his own beverage. He hadnt taken

a Danish for himself.

She lifted the cherry Danish to her mouth and took a bite.


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Danishes werent her favourite pastry. In fact she really didnt like them at

all. But her stomach rumbled, demanding more.

She quickly chewed and took another bite.

Would you like another one?

Amber licked her lips. She glanced down and realized that shed polished

off the cherry Danish too.

Dont be shy, I bought plenty.

Amber bit her lip.

Kane sent her a wink.

Amber grabbed the coffee and pastry shop bag and reached in again.

You know, she said in way of distracting Kane from noticing that she was

devouring the now blueberry Danish almost as quickly as she had the cherry one.

You never did tell me why your family calls you, Kis, with only one s?Kane smiled. Well, thats quite a story, but the gist of it is, is that my

initials spell Kis.

So your middle name begins with an I?

Yep.

Isaac?

Nope.

I could be here all day guessing.

Kanes smile widened. He was now grinning at her.Amber suspected that thats exactly what hed like her to do. Spend her

whole day guessing, so she decided to speed things up. Just tell me.

Iris.

Like the flower?

Spelling, yes, but I pronounce it, Irus.

Amber nodded. Then she shrugged. I dont get the connection.

Kane laughed. Youre not supposed too.

She frowned.

Kane continued. My mothers grandfathers name was Russell. When he

was a kid he was blinded in the left eye by a slingshot rock.

Thats terrible.

Kane nodded. Anyway, he wore an eye patch and the other children made

fun of him and call him names. Eyeless Russ. One eyed Russ. There were


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numerous others, but by the time hed reached his teens, Iris had become the most

prevalent.

Amber wet her lips. Not such a bad nickname.

Kane took another drink of his hot chocolate. It was a moment before he

spoke again.

My mother wanted to name me after her grandfather, but my father has a

brother named Russ, so they compromised and decided to give me my great-

grandfathers nickname. I was six when he died, but I remember him pretty well.

He was a fascinating man.

Amber opened her mouth to say something, but a sharp rap on the glass

window of the shops door stopped her.

Kane turned his head.

He leaned further around the armchair and waved a hand dismissively at the

person who had his face pressed up to the glass.

The face frowned and then turned away.

When Kane looked back at Amber, he saw she was carefully brushing a few

crumbs off of the shirt hed given her.

I really should be going, she said.Kane glanced at his watch. Was it time for her to leave already? His watch

read 9:28.

Kane swallowed his disappointment.

Im keeping you from your customers.

Kane frowned, then he clued in. Him? He gestured toward the front shop

door with his thumb as Amber stood up. He stood up too. He wasnt a customer.

She looked at him, then put her cup down on the triangle table.

That was my nephew, Craig. Actually, technically, hes my half nephew.

Hes looking for a summer job, and I promised Hank, my oldest half brother, that

Id show his kid around.

Amber smiled at him and then bent to retrieve her purse.

Kane sighed. He didnt want her to leave.

Ill go with you, he blurted.


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Amber froze. When she straightened, her purse was suddenly clutched to her

chest. She gave him a sharp, direct look.

To the changing room? Her voice held a good measure of wariness.

Kane guffawed. What? No, no, but I do need to get you your clothes. I

hope theyre dry by now.

Kane noted that Amber relaxed slightly.

Kane continued talking.I was, however, thinking about walking with you to

the old Dobb Building. You know, showing you the way, so that you dont get lost.

I wouldnt want you to be late for your interview.

Kane watched Amber wet her lips. A tense filled moment passed between

them.

That would be...nice, thank you. She finally said with a nod.

Kane gave her a half smile.She gestured toward the back of the shop. Ill just...

Kane snapped to attention. Yeah, sure, come on.


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Chapter 4

Well that was a colossal waste of time.

Amber frowned as she opened the accounting firms door and stepped out

into the old Dobb Buildings second floor hallway.

A six hour drive, a night spent sleeping in the backseat of her car, a

thorough drenching from an unexpected downpour, and an unpleasant episode

with a pair of scissors had all been for not.

Paul, oh yeah, his name had been Paul, had kept her waiting for over an

hour before he finally found the time to agree to see her. He blamed his

receptionist for the mix up over Ambers intended interview.Amber wasnt impressed.

Even if the jerk hadnt rejected her qualifications outright, Amber doubted

very much that she would have taken any position, Paul had to offer her.

She was desperate for money, but not that desperate.

The hallway was deserted, but Amber could hear the soft sounds of music,

country music emanating from an opened doorway just down the hall.

Amber headed toward the stairs.

As she passed the office where the music was coming from, a voice calledout.

I hope you didnt take the job.

Amber stopped and looked through the open doorway.

She didnt say anything, but she did glance around at the beautiful posters

plastered against one wall.

A smile came to Ambers lips.

The travel agency that Kane Stewart, no, Kis had told her about.

That Paul is such a sleazebag. A pretty girl like you, I bet he spent the

whole time he was interviewing you staring at your tits.

Amber didnt know if she should be shocked or amused. Paul had indeed

done exactly what the voice had said.

The owner of the voice appeared around the door.

In his mid to late sixties, she guessed, the man was medium height with light


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brown hair that in several places had turned completely white. His moustache and

neatly trimmed beard gave the elderly gentlemen a most dapper appearance.

He smiled and held out a hand.

Jeremy Dixon.

Amber wet her lips. She took his hand. Amber Heath.

Well, Miss Amber. He raised an eyebrow at her. He gave her hand a solid

shake. You havent answered my question.

The job? No.

Jeremy Dixon sighed in relief. Good.

Amber swallowed. It didnt matter, I wasnt qualified anyway.

The elderly gentlemen gave her a mock grimace. I find that highly unlikely.

Hand it over.

Amber stared at him.He wiggled the fingers of his right hand. Again he raised an eyebrow at her.

Come on, let me see.

Amber frowned.

Oh, stop pestering the girl.

Amber jumped at the sound of another voice. It was directly behind her.

Amber turned.

A woman, in the same age range as Jeremy stood smiling up at her. The

woman held a tray with two cups. The logo stamped on the side of the cups wasthe same as the hot chocolate Kane had purchased earlier.

I am not pestering the girl, Birdie.

The woman walked around Amber and came to stand beside the man. She

looked at Amber with a critical eye.

Im Beatrice Dixon, Jeremys wife, but everyone calls me, Birdie. You

must be, Amber, and you are as pretty as Kis said you were.

Amber frowned. She glanced nervously behind her. Thankfully Kane

Stewart was not lurking nearby.

What had the guy done, followed her?

She hadnt known what to say to the man after hed walked her to the old

Dodd Building. Hed practically talked her ear off. Barely taking the time to take a

breath as they had walked the block and a half to the address that had been on her

soaked pink piece of paper.


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So shed thanked him for his kindness, shook his hand and then quickly left

him standing out on the sidewalk as shed hurried inside the building.

You know Kane Stewart?

Know Kis? Both of the Dixons answered at the same time.

My dear, that boy is practically family. Birdie smiled.

For years. He and his father are the only ones I trust to make my suits,

Jeremy said. He ran a hand down his finely tailored suit coat.

Amber gave the two a forced smile.

She hoped that Kane wasnt still downstairs standing out on the sidewalk.

She didnt want to have to have the stalker talk with the man.

Jeremy was again wiggling his fingers at her. Your CV, my dear. Let me

have a look.

Amber shook herself. Shed completely forgotten that Paul, the sleazebag,Paul had given her back a printed copy of the resum that shed included as an

attachment to her application for the job.

She immediately handed her resum over to Jeremy.

He took it, then turned to pick up a pair of wire framed glasses from a desk

behind him. He slipped them on.

Birdie set the tray of coffee cups down on the same desk. She took a peek

around her husbands shoulder.

Amber swallowed. She suddenly felt like she was back in the interviewroom. Both Jeremy and Birdie were frowning.

Amber chewed nervously on the inside of her cheek.

Im not surprised, Jeremy finally stated. At least he could have given you

a chance.

Amber looked from Jeremy and Birdie, then to her CV.

She knew that her qualifications to work in an accounting office were rather

dismal. Shed only completed two college courses in accounting, but shed gotten

excellent grades and the job shed applied for was only for a receptionist. And

according to Pauls disparaging comments about his current receptionist, Amber

figured she couldnt have done much worse than the other woman.

Amber heard Birdie cluck her tongue. The elderly woman shook her head

and then reached for a notepad on the desk.

As she began to scribble something on the top sheet of paper, she said.


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Heres the name of two places that are always in need of employees. Id

recommend the first one, but the second one is just as respectable.

She tore off the sheet and handed it to Amber.

Amber glanced at the paper. She noticed that neither of the names of the

companies were for office work.

Well, what did she expect? Even if she did get an office job, shed have to

search for employment elsewhere. She needed more money than one minimum

wage job plus benefits could provide her in order to survive.

She folded the piece of paper and tucked it into the pocket of her blazer.

Thank you.

Dont thank me yet. You must promise me something first, Birdie

demanded.

Amber looked at the elderly woman.You must promise me that you wouldnt break Kiss heart. After what

Susan did to him, I dont want to see the boy hurt again.

Amber snorted. There was no way she was going to get involved with Kane

Stewart. Not even a slim chance.

She had no time for men. Especially one like Kane. Though she did briefly

wonder who Susan was, and how she had hurt Kane?

Amber finally answered Birdie. Thats something I can definitely guarantee

you. Kane and I wont be seeing each other again.

After leaving the travel agency and Mr. and Mrs. Dixon, Amber headed

once again toward the stairs.

She had two job opportunities to investigate and she was burning daylight.

As she passed a real estate office she stopped to take a look at a few listings

that were posted on the glass window of the door.

She wasnt looking to buy a house. There was no way that she could even

afford the kitchen in one, but sometimes real estate offices posted houses that the

owner was also advertising for rental.

Amber hoped she would be in luck.

She wasnt.


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Amber sighed. She took another look just to be sure.

Her eyes skimmed over one particular home. A beautiful ranch style

bungalow, with a wrap-around porch on an enormously sized lot. Her eyes

returned to it again and again. It was a home that Amber could only dream about,

and it had a red sold sticker plastered across the top left corner of the picture.

On impulse Amber reached for the real estates door handle. Maybe a rental

listing had come in that hadnt been posted yet. It was worth a try.

The door was locked.

Amber frowned and turned away.

She headed once more for the stairs.

With a sigh of relief, Amber noticed that Kane Stewart was nowhere in sight

when she left the old Dodd Building.

Amber quickly headed back to her car.

Amber was hungry. Again.

It was a little after seven oclock in the evening and shed already eaten

what was left of the Danishes that Kane had purchased earlier that morning.

Hed insisted that she take the pastries along with her, since, Craig, his half

nephew had upon his return come bearing gifts in the form of a bag filled withdonuts and fritters.

The bottle of water was also gone too.

Amber was tired, cranky and still without a job.

The two leads that Birdie Dixon had given her had been good prospects, but

neither of the employers needed employees at the moment. Theyd both recently

hired a team of college and university students for the summer. She was

encouraged to try back in the fall.

Amber couldnt afford to wait until the fall.

She needed a job, preferably two before she headed back home. And she

needed to get back quickly. She didnt relish the idea of spending another night

camping out in her car. For one, her hair didnt need another encounter with the

sticky, encrusted substance that shed encountered this morning.

Two nights sleeping in her car. It was risky. She hoped she didnt get spotted


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by a cop. Thats all she would need, a confrontation.

Amber chewed the inside of her cheek.

The house she was parked in front of still had no car in the driveway. It did

however have a House For Rent sign in the front window.

Shed driven around the small town three times, locating a grocery store, a

pharmacy, another one besides the one in the old Dobb Building, a small sized

home renovation store, a bank, and a couple of restaurants, but no other shops

other than what was on the main street.

Things werent very encouraging, but she had found an elementary public

school, three blocks over from the house she was parked in front of. There didnt

seem to be a high school, but that didnt mean that there wasnt one. Worse case

scenario, the older kids could always be bussed to the nearest town that had one.

No big deal.Amber glanced to the house again. It did look promising. She sure hoped so,

since shed already looked at two others and neither of them came anywhere near

being suitable.

A car, a dark blue sedan suddenly pulled into the driveway. Amber quickly

got out of her car.

She hurried up to the man who was taking a bag out of the cars front seat. It

was obviously take out.

Excuse me.The man looked over his shoulder toward her.

I know its late and you obviously are about to have your dinner, but could

I possibly have a look at the house? Amber said in a rush.

The man who was in his late fifties, possibly early sixties gave her a

doubtful look.

You want to rent the house?

Amber looked up at the three level structure and nodded.

The man looked her over from head to toe. Then he shrugged. He slammed

the passenger side door shut. Sure come on in. He glanced at the bag he was

holding. My wife can always warm this up later.

Amber smiled. I really appreciate this. I would have called earlier, but I just

happened to be driving by, and...

The man shrugged again. He walked up to the front door. Its a big house.


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You sure youll need this much room?

Amber nodded. She would need every inch of space and probably more than

the house could offer.

The man reached for the handle and opened the door.

Honey! He hollered. Theres a young lady here who wants to have a look

at the house.

A woman poked her head around the corner of what Amber thought was the

dining room.

Now?

If you dont mind, Amber said quickly. I wont take up much of your

time.

The woman gave Amber a slight frown.

Ill put this in the kitchen while you show her the upstairs.The woman nodded to the man and then came around the corner. Her frown

turned to an unsure half smile.

This way. The woman gestured to Ambers left.

As Amber followed the woman up a set of carpeted stairs, she noticed that

the wooden banister was worn in several places from many years of use.

We have five bedrooms, plus the master.

Amber said nothing.

The woman came to the first door. She opened the door and the two of themstepped inside.

Amber smiled.

This level has three bedrooms and a bath. The level above has two

bedrooms and a bath, along with the master. The master bedroom has its own

private bath, a small walk-in closet and a balcony that faces the backyard. You

getting married?

Amber shook her head. No.

She glanced around the room. It was decorated in shades of yellow and

gold. One wall was lined with a bookshelf and there was a leather sofa and chair

by the window.

The woman headed out of the room and opened the door to one of the

bedrooms across the hallway.

This room was considerably bigger and Amber felt relief flood through her.


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Youre not planning on renting these rooms out, are you? Because if you

are, this isnt the house for you.

Again Amber shook her head. No, one family.

The womans frown was back again.

After a quick glance at the bathroom, they headed up the next flight of

stairs. Are you a real estate agent?

No.

The woman didnt ask anymore questions as she showed Amber the other

bedrooms and then moved onto the master bedroom and the private bath. The

woman walked to a bank of windows and threw back the heavy curtains.

Amber tried to hide a grin as she looked out onto a spacious balcony.

This was going to be a winner.

The woman opened the set of floor-to-ceiling doors, but she didnt step outonto the balcony. Neither did Amber.

What youve shown me so far is magnificent.

The woman nodded, then closed the doors. She headed out of the room.

As Amber followed the lady paused at another door. This bathroom is

slightly smaller than the one downstairs.

Amber glanced in. The space was more than adequate.

We have a powder room on the main floor. She gestured to a door beside

the bathroom. This door leads to the attic.Amber thought quickly.

Is there space up there to have perhaps another bedroom?

The woman looked at Amber in sudden surprise. She nodded. The room

used to be my husbands when he was a boy. Our boys used it as a sort of

playroom, but, yes, the space is suitable for sleeping. Would you like to see it?

Amber shook her head, although she was dying to see exactly how much

space was truly up there. Its not necessary.

You sure? Theres an extra bathroom up there. Well, just a shower stall and

a toilet and sink, but theyre functional.

A private bath? Amber almost salivated.

You two about done? The man appeared at the end of the hallway.

The woman looked to Amber.

Yes, could I see the kitchen?


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Of course.

Back on the main floor, after viewing the living room, the dining room, the

kitchen, the finished basement, and even the backyard, complete with a tree house

and a huge vegetable garden that the landowner had already begun to plant, Amber

couldnt help but feel a strong sense of dread.

The house was perfect. Too perfect. Shed never be able to afford the rent.

So what do you think? the man asked.

I love it? How much per month?

The man named a price.

Ambers stomach clenched. As she had suspected. Shed need a job and a

half just to pay for the rent, plus a third one to pay for all the other expenses.

That would include everything. Electricity, telephone, cable, and taxes. The

house runs on oil and the tank was just filled.Amber hesitated. She wet her lips.

And, the woman added, if youre still here in the winter, the guy on the

other block has a snowplow attached to his pickup. Well include his fee in with

the cost.

Amber took a breath.

All right. She was back down to only two jobs. Two jobs she didnt have.

The man looked to his wife and then back at her. He gave her a smile.

Amber looked around at the large kitchen. The stove and refrigerator weremodern, and the room had plenty of cupboards with a door that lead to a good

sized pantry.

Amber chewed the inside of her cheek.

The house also comes furnished, the woman announced. You can use

whatever pieces you need, we just ask that you store what you dont need in the

garage.

Furnished? Well that just about did it.

How much time do I have before you need me to give you an answer?

The mans smile widened. How about the end of the week?

Amber nodded. Sounds great.

Would you like to stay and have a bite to eat? the woman asked suddenly.

I know its just some take out from the local diner, not much.

Ambers stomach growled. She started to shake her head.


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Please, the woman encouraged, Id like to find out a little more about

you. Youre far too young to need a house of this size. Im sensing that you have a

story to tell.

Amber swallowed. Did she ever.


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Chapter 5

Kane stood looking out at the street from his shop window.

It was raining, again.

A few people had gathered underneath his awning, coffee cups clutched in

their hands. Others were scrambling to find cover, and the whoosh of truck and car

tires on wet pavement echoed through the opened screen of his shops door.

An almost carbon copy of the scene more than two weeks ago. The only

difference was, it was now early evening instead of early morning and there was

no forlorn looking woman standing across the street needing directions.

Two weeks? Had it really been over two weeks since Amber Heath had beenhere in his shop?

Kane sighed. Yes, it was. Two weeks, four days and, Kane glanced down at

his watch, ten hours.

Kane sighed again.

He was counting. Man he was pathetic.

Thinking about a woman who hed only known for like about forty minutes,

two and a half weeks after shed slipped back into the mob of people going about

their daily lives.But he was. Kane couldnt help himself.

He wondered where she was? Had she found a job?

He knew from the Dixons that Amber hadnt gotten the job shed

interviewed for at the accounting firm.

Kane couldnt say that he was sorry. Hed never liked Paul.

Birdie Dixon, a lady who hed known for his entire life had reluctantly

admitted that she had given Amber the names of a couple of potential employers.

When hed asked for those names, Birdie had given him one of her

sorrowful looks.

Hed known what shed been thinking. And yes, he probably would if given

the chance, make a complete and utter ass of himself over Amber Heath.

But what choice did he have?

Here he was, twenty-nine years old, unmarried, overworked and lonely, with


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very little to no prospect of ever finding a girlfriend. Or more to the point, finding

a girlfriend that he would eventually want to ask to be his wife.

So how did anyone expect a guy to react when a virtual goddess landed in

his lap? Well figuratively anyway. There was no lap, but Amber was definitely a

goddess, a jaw dropping babe if he ever saw one.

Kane sighed again.

What did it matter?

Hed checked out the employers Birdie had handed over to him, but to no

avail. He hadnt found Amber, and to add insult to his injured heart, hed gotten

quite a few blank stares and even more dirty looks.

So where did that leave him? Back at square one?

Kane frowned.

No, it left him actually further back.Five hundred kilometres, plus, or, somewhere around three hundred miles,

thereabouts to be exact.

That was roughly the distance between here and Hamilton, Ontario, where

Ambers last job apparently was located.

Jeremy Dixon, whod taken pity on him had divulged the location of

Ambers most recent job listed at the top of her resum. Birdie had scowled at her

husband, but Jeremy didnt apologize for slipping Kane that one small piece of

information.So what had Amber done? Gone back to Hamilton? Or had she found other

employment here in town?

And even that begged the question. Why was Amber searching for

employment in a small town, hundreds of miles away, when she could have just

gotten another job in Hamilton which was a much bigger city?

Kane hadnt a clue and from all indications he was never, ever going to find

out.

The click of one of the changing room doors opening and closing alerted

Kane to the fact that hed better stop moping in front of his window. He stiffened

when he heard the laughing voice of his older half brother.

Eh, Bro. You still looking for lady-love?

Kane grimaced before turning around. Damn Craig for opening his big

mouth. Now every time any of his family saw him gazing off into space, they


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automatically assumed that he was thinking about Amber.

Well, he was, but they didnt need to know that fact.

Naw. Kane shook his head. Just wondering if it will ever stop raining?

Going on three weeks now.

Hey, watch that mouth of yours. Willis Stewart scowled. Rain is good for

business.

Yeah, for you and mosquitoes.

Now dont you be disparaging, The Berry Man. Ive got two kids, with

one more on the way to put through college someday. Rain makes everything

grow, so Ill take every last drop I can get.

Kane rolled his eyes.

Dont you be giving me that look. I can still whoop your ass, Kis boy.

But Im the one holding the straight pins, Kane pointed out. So unlessyou want to be a human pincushion...

Would you two give it a rest? Hank Stewarts deep voice boomed from

inside one of the changing rooms. Dont make me come out there. It wont be a

pretty sight.

What you in your skivvies? Willis snorted. I already know that.

Hank growled and told his younger brother to go stuff himself. Then he

inquired. Is Craig back with the coffee yet?

No, Kane answered.Aw, hell, hes probably talking to some girl. I dont know how he expects

to bring home good grades in college when he thinks more with his dick than his

head.

Kane laughed. What do you expect? The kid is eighteen.

Yeah, Hankie, Willis said. You remember what being eighteen was like,

dont you? And it wasnt like you kept your equipment in your pants at that age

either.

The door to the changing room slapped against the wall as Hank flung it

opened.

I had hoped my son would show a little more restraint than I did at that

age.

Restraint? Willis snorted. I still dont think you have any restraint. Not

when it comes to women.


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Yeah, yeah, Hank mocked. We all know, Willyton, that youre all Mr.

Responsible.

Well someone has to be.

Hank huffed. Thats only because Ginny keeps you in line.

Willis gave Hank a dry grin. Youre just jealous.

Hank shrugged his broad shoulders. Hell, yeah.

Hanks right, Will, youre lucky, Kane said. Id do practically anything to

have a good woman like Ginny to keep me in line.

Like that lady-love of yours?

Craig said she was a real hot babe. Hank smirked. He turned to look at

himself in the full length mirror between two of the changing rooms. Still no luck

in finding her?

Kane shook his head. He came to stand behind his oldest half brother. Icant even be sure that shes still in town. He knelt and grabbed the bottom of one

of Hanks trouser legs.

You could always head down to... Willis frowned. Where did you say she

was from?

Hamilton.

They have a good football team.

What does football have to do with anything? Willis scoffed.

Nothing. Hank shrugged. Itd just be nice to see a professional game. Wedont even have a high school here to have a football team.

Kane finished pinning up both Hanks trouser legs. He moved onto Williss.

Are you wearing these to the wedding? Kane rapped his knuckles against

the toe of his half brothers left boot.

Willis glanced down. If I can get away with it.

Kane raised his eyebrows.

What?

Hey. Kane shrugged. Im not the one who is the best man for Larrys

wedding. Worn old boots with manure coating the heels, may not be such a great

choice.

Willis laughed. Old Larrys gotten just a tad too fancy since hes become a

flashy lawyer. Someone needs to remind him that it wasnt so long ago when he

had to scrape cow crap off the bottom of his boots.


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Kane frowned.

Aint that the truth, Hank said.

Though I betcha hes real pleased to been squeezing himself into one of

Kiss damned monkey suits, not like us.

Kane swatted Williss leg with the back of his hand. Tuxedo. And like you,

I hope to one day support a wife and family on the proceeds of these damned

monkey suits.

Concentrating on the cuff of Williss trouser leg had Kane missing the look

that his two half brothers exchanged.

A long silence followed.

Kane finished pinning the last leg of Williss trousers.

Have you decided where youre going to have the bachelor party?

Not yet, Willis replied, answering Kanes question. Though I had thoughtwe could check out that new bar they recently opened. The one they built out by

the old train tracks. Ive heard that theyve got some seriously hot, and I mean, hot

flesh out there. Some babe with dark hair and a killer body.

Sounds interesting. Hank smiled. You want to come, Kis?

Not really.

Aw, come on, Willis pressured. Itll do you good.

Kane got back to his feet. No, Ill pass.

You may never find her.Kane glanced at Hank. He knew that his older half brother was probably

right, he just didnt really want to entirely go down that road. He still had a grain

of hope that Amber Heath would someday walk back into his life.

Hank gave Willis another look. He gestured to Kane with his eyes.

Willis picked up the silent signal.

I really think you should come, Kis. Itll be good for you to blow off some

steam.

Kane swallowed. He knew that his brothers meant well. It was just...his

heart wasnt into the bar scene.

An imagine of Amber standing soaking wet at the door of his shop flashed

in his mind. He wondered if shed let her bangs grow out again.

Get your ass in gear, Kis, Willis said. Youre coming with us as soon as

were finished here. Right, Hankie? Kis is coming with us.


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Hank nodded. Yes.

Kane shook his head. You two go.

Willis frowned, then he glanced down at his feet. Hey, Kis, you need

glasses? You made the cuffs way too short.

Not for a pair of dress shoes.

Aw, really?

Yes, really. Now straighten up. I need to have a look at your jacket.

Willis made a face.

Hank laughed. Just do as he says. The faster you let him do his work, the

faster we can get out of these straight jackets.

Willis straightened, then almost immediately began to squirm. Man, Kis,

he complained, this shirt feels like Im wearing sandpaper.

Yeah, Kis, dont you have anything softer.Kane laughed. Yeah...silk, but I dont recommend you wear a silk shirt on a

hot July day. Youll be sweating like a pig and then itching like youve gotten into

poison ivy.

Hank scowled.

Why did Larry have to have a big church wedding, anyway? He should

have just gone to the Justice of the Peace. A lot less trouble and expense.

Hank sent his brother a warning look.

Willis ignored Hank. And its not like she-Hank shook his head and groaned.

Susan deserves to have the wedding shes always wanted.

Both Hank and Willis turned to look at their younger sibling.

Only you would say that, Hank said. He gave Kane a sympathetic shrug.

Kane brushed imaginary lint from the back of Williss jacket. Yeah, I

know.

You going to call Ginny before we head over to that new bar?

Willis cringed. I guess I better. Do either of you have anything I can tell her

that will soften the blow?

Hank titled his head in Kanes direction. Tell her Kis is coming with us.

Now it was time for Kane to groan. Aw, come on, do I have too?

Stop whining, Kis, and buck up, Willis demanded. Its time you get back

up on that old horse. What do you think, the girl of your dreams will just come


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waltzing in here someday? Oh, wait, she already did.

Kane shot Willis a fierce glare.

Willis only raised his eyebrows. Too bad. Get over it.

Kane looked to Hank.

Hank shook his head. You dont have to stay long.

Yeah, Willis echoed. Just long enough to have a couple of drinks and

check out the girls. You know, see if the place will be suitable for the party.

Kane groaned again. He already knew that the venue would be great for a

stag. What better combination was there than free flowing booze and women who

were wearing barely more clothing than one did on a public beach?


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Chapter 6

The bar was jammed packed.

Bulging at the seams, dangerously close to the fire code regulations limit,

and noisier than a jet plane flying overhead.

Amber bent at the knees and hefted a tray filled with pitchers of beer and

beer glasses up onto her left shoulder. She balanced the tray on her left hand and

then turned back to the crowded tables.

It was her first Friday night shift and she was so happy to have landed this

ob that she could have leaped up onto one of the tables and given the entire bar a

table dance.Considering the clientele and her suspicions about the bar owner, she

doubted anyone would bat an eye, and shed probably make some seriously good

cash, only Amber wasnt comfortable with being that type of barmaid. Even

though she was quite desperate for money.

The job front had turned out to be much more dismal than shed first

thought, and after several attempts at securing employment, shed still been

without a job up until only a few days ago.

Curse small towns. She hated them.Well...not exactly. She loved small towns. Really, she did. Loved the quaint

homes, the slow pace, and most of all the peace and quiet.

What she didnt like was the fact that there were very few jobs, and even

fewer opportunities to find one that wasnt already taken. Plus the fact that

everyone knew practically everyone. It was incredibly difficult to stay anonymous.

Amber liked to be anonymous. It was easier to fly under the radar. Beneath

everyones notice.

And it made for quicker exits.

Which shed been forced to do out of Hamilton.

Amber sighed. She wasnt entirely sure exactly why her mother had

suddenly decided to pull up stakes. In the past she had a very bad habit of moving

the family every time she got a divorce. Only this time her mother wasnt married.

So what was different? And why had her mother chosen to move the family way


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out to the sticks.

Literally.

This town, or, what passed for a town was fairly small in comparison to

what she was usually accustomed too. The largest building shed been able to find

was the old Dobb Building down near the main street, and even that wasnt very

big, just four storeys.

It was mostly farmland out here, and water. Lots and lots of water. In fact

Amber had crossed three bridges on her way to work this afternoon.

Youd think with so many lakes and rivers around that this would be cottage

country. It wasnt. Just a whole lot of bush and fields and fields of what she knew

by summer would be filled with corn or hay crops.

Someone grabbed her ass.

Amber forced herself not to stop. To just keep moving forward.Besides even if she could spot the sleazy culprit in amongst the mass of

sweaty male bodies, there wasnt much she could do about it. Her hands were full

and she couldnt afford to pay for the cost of the beer and glasses if she allowed

the overloaded tray to go crashing to the bars peanut shelled covered floor.

And what had she really expected in a bar as rowdy as this one?

It was only a matter of time before some guy made a grab for her. At least

this guy hadnt tried anything else, which was good, because she wasnt in the

mood to have some jerk test her boundaries.Amber gritted her teeth.

She repeated in her head the mantra shed come up with her first night, just

get through the next ten minutes, ten minutes at a time.

She felt some guys hand brush down her back.

Amber stiffened and took a deep breath.

How she missed her old job at the Italian restaurant. None of her customers

back there would have ever thought to lay a hand on her, let alone touch such an

intimate part of her body.

No her customers back home, especially the regulars had treated her with

respect and kindness. And they had certainly tipped her far better in just one night

than shed gotten over the last three working here.

But then that had more to do with the bizarre way her fellow waitresses

dived up the tip money, than how much the customers tipped her.


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Amber never liked the pooling of tips. She never got her fair share.

Ambers heart ached.

She needed another job. That is, another one on top of this crappy one.

A guy suddenly pushed his chair backward right into her path and with a

quick sidestep Amber barely avoided colliding with an arm of the chair.

She did however feel her hip bump into someones shoulder.

Sorry. Amber mumbled absentmindedly. She hastily steadied the tray. She

continued onward.

No problem.

The mans voice made her pause. She glanced back but couldnt see beyond

the pitchers of beer.

She knew that voice.

Oh, no. She hoped it wasnt him. Really hoped it wasnt Kane Stewart.

Amber, darling. Lori Heath-Chapman-Forrester-Maynor smirked. You

have an admirer.

Amber swallowed. She refused to turn her head and acknowledge that the

man sitting at the table with two other men, was actually Kane.

She knew he was watching her. Shed felt his stare following her for the lastfive minutes.

Hes quite good looking

Amber took a deep breath. No.

Why not? Ambers mother scolded. She pushed back a thick lock of dark

brown hair from her forehead. Hes kind of a little young for me, but-

Amber cut in. I said, no.

Lori ran her tongue over her red painted lips. She leaned sideways and

Amber saw her mouth widened into a big friendly smile.

What are you doing here, Lori?

Lori looked back at her oldest daughter. She still had the smile on her face,

but her eyes had narrowed. I wanted to make sure you were working in a decent

place.

Amber rather doubted that explanation. Looking for husband, number five,


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was a much more plausible excuse. And this place wasnt decent, not by any

estimation.

Why arent you home with Toby?

Lori gave Amber a dismissive look. Tobys fine.

Tobys not fine. She should know, shed spent three hours early in the

afternoon at the nearest towns walk-in/emergency clinic. It had been a forty-five

minute drive away. Toby has an ear infection. And who did you leave the kids

with anyway?

Birdie Dixon. She lives a couple of doors down. Nice old lady. She-

I know who the woman is.

Then you know that Toby and Melissa are in good hands.

Amber didnt doubt Birdies ability to take care of the children. She just

hoped that the elderly woman would only charge her a pittance when she went tocollect them. She couldnt afford much else.

Amber clenched her jaw.

The bar was noisy and she needed to think. Needed to process the latest

curve her mother had just thrown her.

As if travelling six hours with a sick child wasnt enough, her mother had

also hauled Melissa out of school as well.

Amber was having trouble understanding why? Why had her mother not

taken Toby to see his regular doctor back in Hamilton? And why had she not leftMelissa back home to finish what was left of the school year, like she did the other

kids? And to top things off, as if Amber didnt have enough to worry about, if

social services got wind that only Betty and Veronica were looking after the other

children.

Amber shivered. She didnt want to go down that road. She just hoped that

none of the neighbours back home would notice both her and her mothers

absences.

Amber unclenched her jaw. Did you at least pick up Tobys prescription?

The pharmacist is filling it now.

Now! You mean you dont have it with you?

Lori sighed dramatically. No, Ill pick it up later.

Amber glanced at her watch.

She began to panic.


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There is no later. Its twenty to nine.

Lori shrugged. So? The drugstore is open all night.

But the pharmacist goes home at nine oclock.

Ill pick the prescription up in the morning.

Amber fumed. Toby needed the ear medicine tonight.

Never mind, Ill get it.

Amber turned away.

What about my drink?

Amber didnt even bother to look back. Im sure youll still be here when I

get back.

Told you this would be good for him. Willis laughed.

Hank shook his head. Surest way to forget a woman is to find another.

Kane ignored Willis and Hank.

It was her. Amber Heath. Hed found her.

Kanes pulse picked up. His hands began to sweat. Now what?

Must say you have great taste, Kis. Willis grinned. That one sure is

something to look at. The guys werent joking. She is hot.

Which one? Hank lifted an eyebrow. He looked over his shoulder towhere Kane was staring. He smirked and gave a low wolfish whistle. Whoa, and

check out the lady shes talking to at the bar?

Willis glanced back toward the two women. Shes hot too and looks near

enough to be her older sister.

Its her.

Hank shrugged. Who?

Kane swallowed, hard.

Willis looked to Kane, then back at the women. No way? Really?

Kane swallowed again.

Willis laughed. The waitress is the girl from the shop, isnt she? Thats

your lady-love.

No- Shes-

Hank turned around and looked at Kane. Oh, yes she is, Hank argued.


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Shes the one. He raised an arm intending to attract the womans attention.

Hey, no! Kane cried. Dont.

Whoa-ho-ho. Willis chuckled. Oh, Kisy, youve got it bad.

Kane shook his head.

This wasnt how he wanted to see Amber again. Not here, not like this.

Ill bet you a hundred bucks that shes the girl.

Im in. Willis nodded. He reached for his wallet and pulled out two fifty

dollar bills. He slapped them down on the table.

Hank did the same.

Kane frowned. How was he going to get out of this?

Kane started to sweat.

So, how are we going to do this? Willis asked.

She comes over. We get her to verify that she knows Kis, here.How?

Kane spoke without thought. She had gum in her hair.

Eweee, kind of messy, but that will work. Hank raised his arm again.

If I win, she gets the money, Kane added. He too took out his wallet.

Fair enough. Willis agreed.

This time the waitress saw Hanks hand waving and began to head their

way.

Look, guys, Ill get another girl to serve you, she said in a hurried manner.Ive got to-

Hey, no, no, wait, Willis interjected.

The waitress paused. She frowned at Willis and Hank.

Kane noticed that she made a point of not looking at him.

No, really, theres something I-

This will only take a sec. Hank smiled. We have a bet going here.

The waitress raised her eyebrows.

You get three hundred dollars if you can verify that you know, Kis?

Kane saw her eyes flare.

Kiss? Of course, I know how to kiss. But I aint kissing you.

Willis started to laugh. Oh, no, Hankie. She shot you down.

Hank snarled at Willis. So you dont know this guy? Hank jutted a thumb

in Kanes direction.


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She didnt glance at Kane.

Nope.

Willis laughed harder.

Hanks eyes narrowed. And you cant tell us what was in your hair when

you were in his shop?

The waitress raised a hand to her forehead and finger brushed her bangs out

of her eyes.

Kane swallowed hard. He now knew shed kept her bangs and they still

made her look so incredibly sexy. He could hardly take his eyes from her.

Shop? No, cant say Ive had time to shop. Been too busy busting my butt.

And FYI, I dont chew gum.

Well, Im convinced. Willis hooted and slapped Kane on the shoulder.

You lose, Kisy baby.Kane felt his throat clog. He quickly lowered his eyes to the table. Boy, he

got her message, loud and clear. How stupid of him.

Hank frowned as he eyed the young woman. Sorry, our mistake, he said

slowly. Can you get us three beers?

Ill tell one of the other waitresses.

Hank nodded.

But before she turned to go, the waitress leaned forward and gripped Kanes

aw in her hand. She tilted his face up so they could stare into each others eyes.I may be a lowly waitress working in some crappy bar, but I wont be

treated like a whore. You cant come in here and try and shove three hundred

bucks in my short-shorts and expect me to give you a lap dance. If you plan on

making a habit of coming in here, I suggest that you find yourself another waitress

to serve you, Irus. Because it wont be me.

Amber had simmered down by the time shed made her way out to the

parking lot. Not much, but a little.

She knew she shouldnt have been so hard on Kane, but shed been still so

angry at her mother over Toby, that shed let her frustration cloud her judgement.

If she could just get a little ahead of the game, shed do fine. But there


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wasnt any end in sight. Only open road and lots and lots of worries.

Amber reached into her short-shorts for her car keys. She pulled them out

and was walking across the parking lot when she saw him.

Kane. How the heck had he gotten out of the bar faster than she did?

It didnt matter. She didnt want to talk to him. She didnt want to talk to

anyone.

All she wanted to do was get to the drugstore, pick up Tobys medicine,

drop it off at home, at least she hoped Toby and Melissa were at home, and get

back to work so that she could make another twenty or thirty bucks before the bar

closed.

She shook her head and groaned. Three hundred dollars. Three hundred

dollars worth of food she could have put i

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