Read Online Emily and the Stranger by Beverly Barton - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Beverly Barton
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who has the hots for you," Nikki said. "But what if whoever this guy is, he wants more? He could turn out to be a stalker or a rapist or… Em, are you sure you trust this Ray Mitchell guy?"
"Pretty sure. He didn't even know my name until we introduced ourselves. Besides, there's no evidence pointing to him. And if it was Mitch, then now that I've agreed to a date, there shouldn't be any more phone calls or letters."
"I tend to agree with you. So, if it had been him, then there would be no need for him to send another letter, would there?"
"Well, yes, I suppose not. Why?"
Nikki drew an envelope from her pocket. "This came in the morning mail. I should have given it to you sooner, but—"
Emily snatched the letter out of Nikki's hand, ripped open the end of the envelope and drew out the plain white sheet of paper. "'My beloved Emily,'" she read. "'I arise from dreams of thee, in the first sweet sleep of night…'" Emily's hand trembled. The letter fell from her fingers, floating downward like an autumn leaf in the wind.
Nikki reached out and caught the romantic missive in midair. She scanned the page. "Whoever he is, he's smitten." Nikki laid the letter on the table. "Maybe you should call the police."
"And tell them what? That I've received another love letter?"
"Yeah, you're right. Maybe we're worrying about nothing. Maybe there's nothing more to these letters and phone calls than a guy too shy to tell you how he feels face-to-face." Nikki picked up her sandwich and bit into it, then chewed and swallowed quickly. She tapped her fingertips nervously on the table. "All the same, since you're sure this Mitch guy isn't the mystery man, I'm glad he's living next door, in case you need him. And I'm very glad that you're having him over for dinner. You could ask him, point-blank, if he's the one who's been writing to you and calling you."
"It's not him," Emily said. "But if you'd feel better, why don't you ask him yourself when he stops by the shop this evening?"
"I'll give him a thorough inspection and let you know what I think."
"You do that."
"Oh, don't worry, I will."
* * *
Mitch stood outside Zed Banning's office wondering what the hell he was doing there. He had a date with Emily, had promised to pick her up at her art supply store immediately after work. But his foreman at the construction site had given him a message from the big boss. Zed Banning wanted Mitch to drive over to Mobile to his office as soon as he left work.
Mitch shifted uneasily in the leather chair in the waiting area outside Zed's office. Zed's secretary had just left, telling Mitch that Mr. Banning was on a long-distance call and would be ready to see him momentarily.
He wasn't sure why Zed had sent him a message that he needed to see him. Was his old friend having second thoughts about hiring a man with a ruined reputation, whom no one else would touch with a ten-foot pole? Or had word reached Zed that Mitch was having problems with another worker, a real jerk named Buddy Crowell?
Or was Zed going to preach him another sermon on staying away from Emily Jordan?
Mitch knew that if Emily discovered the truth about his past too soon, she wouldn't want to be his friend. He needed a chance to win her trust before he told her that he was M. R. Hayden. He prayed that she would understand. If he could change the past he would.
Strange thing about Emily—she was the first woman he'd truly cared about in all the years since Loni had betrayed him. Once he'd met Emily, talked to her, touched her, he'd been afraid to tell her his real name. Afraid he'd lose her. Of course, he would have to tell her the truth—sooner or later. Ray Mitchell was really M. R. Hayden, a man hated by so many people—a man who'd lost his hard-earned construction firm along with every dime he had to his name, not to mention his reputation in the business and social worlds.
"Come on in, Mitch. Sorry to keep you waiting." Zed Banning stood in the doorway of his office, his
"Pretty sure. He didn't even know my name until we introduced ourselves. Besides, there's no evidence pointing to him. And if it was Mitch, then now that I've agreed to a date, there shouldn't be any more phone calls or letters."
"I tend to agree with you. So, if it had been him, then there would be no need for him to send another letter, would there?"
"Well, yes, I suppose not. Why?"
Nikki drew an envelope from her pocket. "This came in the morning mail. I should have given it to you sooner, but—"
Emily snatched the letter out of Nikki's hand, ripped open the end of the envelope and drew out the plain white sheet of paper. "'My beloved Emily,'" she read. "'I arise from dreams of thee, in the first sweet sleep of night…'" Emily's hand trembled. The letter fell from her fingers, floating downward like an autumn leaf in the wind.
Nikki reached out and caught the romantic missive in midair. She scanned the page. "Whoever he is, he's smitten." Nikki laid the letter on the table. "Maybe you should call the police."
"And tell them what? That I've received another love letter?"
"Yeah, you're right. Maybe we're worrying about nothing. Maybe there's nothing more to these letters and phone calls than a guy too shy to tell you how he feels face-to-face." Nikki picked up her sandwich and bit into it, then chewed and swallowed quickly. She tapped her fingertips nervously on the table. "All the same, since you're sure this Mitch guy isn't the mystery man, I'm glad he's living next door, in case you need him. And I'm very glad that you're having him over for dinner. You could ask him, point-blank, if he's the one who's been writing to you and calling you."
"It's not him," Emily said. "But if you'd feel better, why don't you ask him yourself when he stops by the shop this evening?"
"I'll give him a thorough inspection and let you know what I think."
"You do that."
"Oh, don't worry, I will."
* * *
Mitch stood outside Zed Banning's office wondering what the hell he was doing there. He had a date with Emily, had promised to pick her up at her art supply store immediately after work. But his foreman at the construction site had given him a message from the big boss. Zed Banning wanted Mitch to drive over to Mobile to his office as soon as he left work.
Mitch shifted uneasily in the leather chair in the waiting area outside Zed's office. Zed's secretary had just left, telling Mitch that Mr. Banning was on a long-distance call and would be ready to see him momentarily.
He wasn't sure why Zed had sent him a message that he needed to see him. Was his old friend having second thoughts about hiring a man with a ruined reputation, whom no one else would touch with a ten-foot pole? Or had word reached Zed that Mitch was having problems with another worker, a real jerk named Buddy Crowell?
Or was Zed going to preach him another sermon on staying away from Emily Jordan?
Mitch knew that if Emily discovered the truth about his past too soon, she wouldn't want to be his friend. He needed a chance to win her trust before he told her that he was M. R. Hayden. He prayed that she would understand. If he could change the past he would.
Strange thing about Emily—she was the first woman he'd truly cared about in all the years since Loni had betrayed him. Once he'd met Emily, talked to her, touched her, he'd been afraid to tell her his real name. Afraid he'd lose her. Of course, he would have to tell her the truth—sooner or later. Ray Mitchell was really M. R. Hayden, a man hated by so many people—a man who'd lost his hard-earned construction firm along with every dime he had to his name, not to mention his reputation in the business and social worlds.
"Come on in, Mitch. Sorry to keep you waiting." Zed Banning stood in the doorway of his office, his
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