* * *
They spent the following few hours opening boxes. Kiefer would tell her where the supplies were needed and she would put them there. He was a clean-cut guy in an all-American way. Dressed in a knit collared shirt and jeans, which seemed worn enough that they might be his favorite, and loafers. He was a striking man. As much so as he had been on St. Patrick’s Day. He oozed confidence, but she knew from experience that he would need to gain acceptance in this neighborhood. His eyes were his most arresting feature. They twinkled with merriment. She should have remembered them, but it had been his voice that had pulled at her. That timbre when he said certain words made it special.
Kiefer was a worker, she’d give him that. She had no idea what some of the items they were handling were or how they were used, but he seemed pleased to see each of them. On occasion she would catch him looking at her. It made her feel a little nervous. That kiss stood between them. Theirs was a business relationship and she was going to see that it stayed that way.
“I’ll need to make a list of other things we need when we get this all finished,” he said.
“Good luck with that. I had a hard enough time getting these donated.”
“I know someone I could ask.”
“Who’s that?” Ashley pushed another empty box out of the way.
“My mother. She’s always looking for a cause. I’ll put her on it. It may take a while for us to get what we need, but we will.”
“Your mother isn’t Maggie Bradford, is she?” She should have known. Last name Bradford. She’d been at Maggie Bradford’s party. Great. Another connection between them. Ashley knew his mother.
“That’s her.”
“She’s a smart woman. Very persuasive.”
“Yeah. That’s Mom.”
He didn’t sound that pleased. “She has a big heart.”
A shadowy look came over his face. “Sometimes to her own detriment. That’s a characteristic the two of you share.” He picked up another box and headed out the door.
What had he meant by that comment?
Sometime later he looked at the large, expensive watch on his wrist. “I’m sorry, but I’ve gotta go. I’ll finish the rest of this tomorrow.” Picking up his jacket from where he’d hung it, he pulled it on. “Walk to the door with me. I want to make sure you close up.”
“You don’t have to worry about me. I’ve lived in Southriver all my life and I’ll still be here when you’re gone. So please don’t start trying to play hero.”
“No hero here. Just put my concern down to having been there, done that, and humor me.” He stood at the door, waiting on her.
What was that all about? She stopped what she was doing and followed him down the hall. Kiefer opened the front door. “Lock up.”
“I will, but I’m going to wait here until you get into your truck. If any eyes are looking, they need to know you’re with me.”
He started toward his truck. On his way he called, “This lot needs a security light.”
“I’ll add it to the already long list.” She watched him climb into his late-model truck. It was a nice one and she was afraid it might not fare well in this neighborhood. Vandalism could be a problem. It also made him stand out as a visitor, and that could cause confidence issues with the locals.
He waited with his headlights shining on her until she turned and went inside. Oddly, she liked his concern.
CHAPTER TWO
KIEFER SPENT SOME of the late hours of his evening contemplating the curiosity of life. Who would have thought he would ever meet the leprechaun again and, even more amazing, be working with her. Life took funny twists. More than once as they’d stored supplies he’d thought about their kiss. Had that just been a onetime incredible kiss or would all hers be like that, causing that instant fire of desire? He’d like to find out but something about the all-business Ashley Marsh had said that wasn’t going to happen. What a shame.
He arrived at the clinic the next morning a couple of hours before opening time. A group of young men stood across the street even at that early hour. A ripple of alarm went through him and his gut tightened.
Was Marko trying it again?
Stepping out of the truck, he used his key fob to lock it and walked toward the front of the building. The roar of a car going too fast filled the air. By the time he had reached the door the men had started across the pavement.
Surely these guys were just trying to intimidate him. Since the day he’d seen his mother beaten by the homeless man she’d brought home for a meal, he’d been on guard where people were concerned. He was a realist. Some people were bad by nature. Defenseless he wasn’t anymore and he’d sworn a long time ago that he would never again watch another person be hurt.
Trash had been dumped in front of the door. Kiefer stepped in it to knock on the clinic door, all the time aware of the approaching group. His entire body was on alert as he formulated a plan if they attacked him. He vowed to get his own key today.
“Hey, you looking for Ashley?” the guy who led the men asked.
Kiefer slowly turned. “Yes.”
“You’ll need to go around back. The door to her place is there.”
Was the guy kidding him? Kiefer counted heads. Four to one. He wasn’t going to put himself into a position of being jumped. Before he had to make a decision about how to handle the situation, the door opened.
“Good morning, Dr. Bradford,” Ashley said with a smile. She was already dressed for the day in a pantsuit, giving her a professional and approachable air at the same time. He recognized this persona from TV. The one where she was determined to get what she wanted.
“Mornin’.”
She looked around him. “Hi, guys. Everything’s okay. Dr. Bradford is going to be the clinic doctor. It opens today.”
One of the guys said, “Okay, we were just makin’ sure you’re okay. Marko is spreading the word that he’s pissed about what you’re doing around here. We’ll get that trash cleaned up for you, Miss Ashley.” The guy dipped his head respectfully.
“Thanks, Wayne. I appreciate that.”
Kiefer shook his head as if confused. Then, indicating the garbage, he said, “Why do you put up with this?”
“Because this is my home. I’m not leaving it because someone doesn’t like me.”
She was a gutsy lady, Kiefer would give her that. Most of the women her age he knew were always looking out for themselves. How they could financially better their situation. Like Brittney. She’d certainly done a number
on him. It had turned out she’d married him because he was a doctor and would be able to give her a good life. When she’d found out Josh’s bank account was even larger she’d moved on to him. Now Kiefer had no use for women other than a casual night out and a few laughs. He couldn’t trust one not to use him. As far as he could tell, they all wanted the same thing. What they could get for themselves.
“Come on in.” Ashley opened the door wide. “We need to get ready. Patients should be here soon.”
“Those guys said you live in the back.” Kiefer followed her in.
“That isn’t exactly right. The entrance to my place is there. I actually live upstairs.”
“You don’t mind living above the clinic?”
“It’s my building and my idea. The people around here needed a place to come for medical care and I had the space.”
Kiefer was impressed. She really was committed to seeing her ideas work, even to the point of financing them. Outside of his mother, few people he knew were that devoted to anyone other than themselves. How much Ashley reminded him of his mother made him feel uncomfortable. Did all her work to better the world leave Ashley with any room for anything more in her life? Did she have a boyfriend? Want children? Something to care about besides her political agenda?
That wasn’t his concern. He believed in helping people. His mother had instilled that in him, but he was still aware that some people would take advantage of you. His impression was that Ashley Marsh hadn’t learned that lesson yet.
She was saying, “I’m sorry I’m not going to be much help today. I have a speech to give this morning, a committee meeting with the local businesses and then a council meeting tonight.”
“I didn’t expect you to spend the day with me. I can handle the clinic. That’s why I was given the job.”
“I’d hoped to be here but these meetings were already on the calendar and couldn’t be moved. I just thought I could help smooth things over with the community. My neighbors can be mistrusting until they get to know you.”