Page 29 of Help Wanted

“I walk fast.”

“Be careful. I’ll check in later. We’ll do dinner.” Again, he wasn’t really asking, and since he had a gun, she just smiled and nodded.

“Okay. Thanks.” It was the best offer she’d had so far, so why not?

* * *

The next night around eight she was still in the office. She had some time to make up thanks to the cable repairman who did not show up in the four-hour window he’d given her.

Zane was going to be in the next afternoon. She wanted everything to be perfect. She still had plenty of time to demolish a half-eaten container of ice cream. The first half had met its demise the night before.

As she straightened her desk to leave for the night she received a text from Zane.

“Seriously?” she said to her phone as she read the message. He wasn’t coming home after all. “That’s just great.” She shut down her computer, grumbling the whole time.

The sound of someone coming in through the back door made her jump. She’d locked both doors at five when the business had officially closed for the night. The guys were gone for the night. Zane, Paul and Brady were all out of town. That only left the possibility of an intruder. Did Officer Porter have a key?

Breathing quietly became impossible as the sound of heavy footsteps came toward her. She picked up the only weapon she had available—a stapler—and prepared to bash in the intruder’s head.

Except the intruder was Zane.

They both gasped in surprise.

“What are you doing here?” they asked at the same time. He motioned that she should go first.

“I was finishing up some things before I went home.”

“Your car isn’t out front.” He almost sounded accusatory.

“Right. I walked.”

“From Madison?”

“No. I moved here. I live on the next street, two blocks down.”

“Oh.” He rubbed his forehead, obviously uncomfortable.

Something occurred to her at that moment.

“You just sent a text that you weren’t coming home?”

“Yeah. Uh…” He looked up at the ceiling. His expression could only be described as busted.

Kenley’s heart seized. She understood what this meant. He was avoiding her. All this time, while she was lonely and wishing he was there, he was probably in the same town, hiding from her.

She’d guessed he was never really on board with hiring her, but she thought he’d at least give her a chance. If she could only prove herself, maybe they would get along. Obviously she had been wrong. Her second theory for his avoidance was even worse.

Had he seen how infatuated she was with him? Had she made him so uncomfortable he was desperate to stay away? She wanted to disappear.

“I see. Well, I should go.” She put the stapler back on her desk and opened the bottom drawer to get her purse, her hands shaking.

“You’re walking home in the dark?” He gestured to the front window.

“I’ll be fine.” She started for the door and then stopped. “I wanted to make a good impression.” She shrugged and unlocked the door. This was beyond embarrassing. She used to be a strong woman, confident of her value as an employee, but thanks to Ruth she felt like a beggar, constantly trying to prove herself. And failing.

And now this man couldn’t even stand to be in the same office with her.