Read Online Anchor of Hope by Kiah Stephens - Free Book Online Page A

cross bounded out of the back tray and pranced towards her.
    “Benson?” She was surprised the old dog was still alive. “Is that you? Look at you.” She bent over to pat the dog as he sniffed her, his tail wagging so fast the entire back half of his body wiggled.
    “You lost or something?” Jay asked from the car. His face was blank, and he avoided eye contact.
    “Uh, no. I was looking for you, actually.” She forced half a smile. “Bryan asked me to drop these out to you. I was going to leave them on your front step.” She pointed to the front step.
    “Yeah, well, I don't live here anymore.” His voice held an undertone of anger. She quickly handed him the bag and envelope.
    “So what are you doing out here if you don't live here?” She placed her hands on her hips and looked around, not that it was any of her business.
    “I live further up.” He indicated towards a small dirt road that disappeared into the trees.
    “Does your dad still live here?”
    “Nah, Bill Canby bought this place as a vacation home a few years back.”
    “Yeah, well, it's a beautiful place.” Ashley smiled looking around at the trees. “I can understand why he bought it. I mean, the view of the lake is—”
    “Is that it?” Jay interrupted, staring her in the eye, brows furrowed and lips pressed together.
    “Pardon?” Ashley was startled by his words.
    “I said, is that it? Are we done? Because I’ve got work I need to do.”
    Ashley didn't know what to say. It was obvious he didn't want her there.
    “I'm getting the hint you're not too happy to see me.”
    “You don't miss a thing.” His voice sounded hostile, and she saw his jaw tighten.
    “I’m gonna go.” She said raised her hands in defeat and started back towards her car.
    “Yeah, well, you're good at that.”
    She opened the car door, cheeks burning.  “Ass,” she said as she stepped into the car, just loud enough for him to hear.
    As she drove away she could see Benson leap back into the tray of his truck and he slowly continued along his path.
    Her eyes burned and she almost felt like crying.
    He was rude. Seriously, there was no need to act like that.
    Since when had he grown so bitter? Then again, she had pretty much walked out of his life eight years ago with no explanation.
    She wished she was brave enough to turn the car around and give him a piece of her mind.
    But she wasn’t.
    And she wouldn't.

Chapter 6
     
    Ashley followed the same path as her run yesterday morning. It felt a bit cooler which was a nice change from the stifling heat of yesterday.
    Yesterday.
    She mentally tried to shake off the memories of last night’s encounter with Jay. She still hadn’t gotten over his harsh insults. Any questions she had about how he felt towards her had now been answered.
    Oh well, a few more days and I'll be out of this town and back with Steven.
    She was planning on stopping in at the cafe and seeing Bryan but was hesitant, in case he asked her to work again. She could smell the aroma of freshly roasted coffee beans from a block away and the aroma won her over.
    Ashley was relieved when she walked into the cafe and saw Amanda had turned up for work today, although it was still quite busy.
    “Hey.” Bryan smiled as he walked out from the kitchen “You'll be happy to know I've decided to give you the day off work.”
    “Ha ha,” Ashley said. “Best boss in the world.”
    Bryan laughed. “That's what I keep telling everyone.”             
    “How'd you go with that check for Jay?” He began making a cappuccino.
    Ashley sat down on one of the stools near the counter. “Terrible. He hates me.”
    Bryan frowned. “What? He does not.”
    “Trust me, he does. Oh, and thanks for telling me that he moved.”
    Bryan lifted his palm against his forehead and gritted his teeth dramatically. “Ahh, I'm so sorry. He hasn't lived there for years. I keep forgetting that you haven't been around.”
    “Well, it doesn't matter now, he's got