Read Online A Place to Call Home by Christina James - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Christina James
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disappointed tomorrow when they eat cereal.”
Hannah laughed, the slight tug of her hair reminding her of his touch, making her want to turn into his arms. “I’m sorry I took your truck without letting you know but you were in the shower. I knew I had to hurry since you had to work.” She sent him a sideways glance. “I guess you thought I stole it, huh?”
His mild grin spread slowly. “The thought did cross my mind. But I wasn’t too worried since I know where you live.”
“Where I’m staying temporarily,” she corrected. “I won’t be living here.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah. I move around a lot. I stay long enough to open the restaurant, then move on to my next project.”
“Where are you from?” he asked, releasing the curl but keeping his arm close. “You have a slight accent. I just can’t place it yet.”
Hannah froze. Her breath hitched. The unexpected question caused her to become quiet for a moment. How could she explain her past without scaring him off? If he knew the truth, he’d run fast and far from her.
“Well, nowhere in particular,” she managed with more calmness than she felt.
“Come on. Everyone comes from somewhere.”
And some people didn’t want to remember where that somewhere was. Those memories were better left in the past. “Listen. I know you have a full day, so I’ll let you get going. Thanks for the ride.”
Intending to end the conversation, she stepped out of the truck and shut the door. She waved to Mac before turning away, her once steady legs threatening to collapse beneath her. As she rushed to her house in hopes of leaving Mac behind, her heart pounded. How else could she ward off his questions? Questions she didn’t want to answer.
He followed her to her door. “Okay, so you don’t want to talk about where you’re from. I get it. Listen, I’m coming by later this afternoon to install new locks on these doors and hook up an alarm system.”
“You don’t have to do that.” She could focus only on the way his body shadowed hers. Not one spot on him didn’t display muscle.
“I do. This house has been vacant a long time. Who knows how the locks work. I’ll take care of it today.”
“Thanks. I really appreciate that.” It seemed strange having someone want to help her.
He shrugged. “The alarm system will only have a siren until you arrange for phone service to tie it into the alarm company who will dispatch the sheriff. For now the alarm will sound, usually enough to scare off unwanted visitors.”
Would it be enough to scare off unwanted family members? “Charleston doesn’t seem like a place where there’d be a lot of crime. Should I be worried?”
He shook his head and hitched his thumbs in his pockets. “Nope. Just need to be practical. Just the smart thing to do.”
She rubbed her temple to ward off the beginnings of a headache. “Okay, if you think that’s the best to do then do it. Just give me the bill.”
“I’ll stop by the hardware store in town, and with your permission, I’ll start an account for you. I’ll purchase the locks and you’ll have itemized receipts. Just pay the hardware store directly. The labor will be free.”
Her back stiffened. She didn’t want to feel like a welfare case. Those days had been left in the past. “I don’t need handouts. I’m quite able to pay for the labor. Just give me a bill.”
“Didn’t say it was a handout. Consider it a housewarming gift.”
“But it’s not my house. Just my business.”
“Whatever,” he said, looking around. “You going to be okay here?”
She looked up at the dilapidated house. “Yeah, I’ve got to get settled and check on my car.”
“I’m very good friends with the mechanic,” Mac said, placing his hand on her shoulder. “I’ll call him. When it’s ready, I’ll give you a ride.” His fingers gave a slight squeeze before he
Hannah laughed, the slight tug of her hair reminding her of his touch, making her want to turn into his arms. “I’m sorry I took your truck without letting you know but you were in the shower. I knew I had to hurry since you had to work.” She sent him a sideways glance. “I guess you thought I stole it, huh?”
His mild grin spread slowly. “The thought did cross my mind. But I wasn’t too worried since I know where you live.”
“Where I’m staying temporarily,” she corrected. “I won’t be living here.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah. I move around a lot. I stay long enough to open the restaurant, then move on to my next project.”
“Where are you from?” he asked, releasing the curl but keeping his arm close. “You have a slight accent. I just can’t place it yet.”
Hannah froze. Her breath hitched. The unexpected question caused her to become quiet for a moment. How could she explain her past without scaring him off? If he knew the truth, he’d run fast and far from her.
“Well, nowhere in particular,” she managed with more calmness than she felt.
“Come on. Everyone comes from somewhere.”
And some people didn’t want to remember where that somewhere was. Those memories were better left in the past. “Listen. I know you have a full day, so I’ll let you get going. Thanks for the ride.”
Intending to end the conversation, she stepped out of the truck and shut the door. She waved to Mac before turning away, her once steady legs threatening to collapse beneath her. As she rushed to her house in hopes of leaving Mac behind, her heart pounded. How else could she ward off his questions? Questions she didn’t want to answer.
He followed her to her door. “Okay, so you don’t want to talk about where you’re from. I get it. Listen, I’m coming by later this afternoon to install new locks on these doors and hook up an alarm system.”
“You don’t have to do that.” She could focus only on the way his body shadowed hers. Not one spot on him didn’t display muscle.
“I do. This house has been vacant a long time. Who knows how the locks work. I’ll take care of it today.”
“Thanks. I really appreciate that.” It seemed strange having someone want to help her.
He shrugged. “The alarm system will only have a siren until you arrange for phone service to tie it into the alarm company who will dispatch the sheriff. For now the alarm will sound, usually enough to scare off unwanted visitors.”
Would it be enough to scare off unwanted family members? “Charleston doesn’t seem like a place where there’d be a lot of crime. Should I be worried?”
He shook his head and hitched his thumbs in his pockets. “Nope. Just need to be practical. Just the smart thing to do.”
She rubbed her temple to ward off the beginnings of a headache. “Okay, if you think that’s the best to do then do it. Just give me the bill.”
“I’ll stop by the hardware store in town, and with your permission, I’ll start an account for you. I’ll purchase the locks and you’ll have itemized receipts. Just pay the hardware store directly. The labor will be free.”
Her back stiffened. She didn’t want to feel like a welfare case. Those days had been left in the past. “I don’t need handouts. I’m quite able to pay for the labor. Just give me a bill.”
“Didn’t say it was a handout. Consider it a housewarming gift.”
“But it’s not my house. Just my business.”
“Whatever,” he said, looking around. “You going to be okay here?”
She looked up at the dilapidated house. “Yeah, I’ve got to get settled and check on my car.”
“I’m very good friends with the mechanic,” Mac said, placing his hand on her shoulder. “I’ll call him. When it’s ready, I’ll give you a ride.” His fingers gave a slight squeeze before he
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