Long Way Home by Nicola Marsh

Author:Nicola Marsh [Marsh, Nicola]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin Enterprises (Australia) Pty Ltd
Published: 2019-08-28T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER

20

Alisha watched Ruby from behind the counter of the shop. Ruby had pulled into The Watering Hole’s car park ten minutes ago but hadn’t got out of the car. Instead, she sat, alternating between staring through the windscreen and closing her eyes and resting her head against the backrest.

It took every ounce of self-control not to barge out there but Alisha knew the signs of someone wanting to be left the hell alone. She’d seen it enough times with Harry.

Harry. After her bold invitation on Friday night, and his equally shocking acceptance, they’d worked yesterday’s shift together in silence apart from the polite necessities that made things flow smoothly. As for this morning, he’d grunted a greeting before holing up in the kitchen, which she’d avoided. That fling she’d been fantasising about was looking less likely by the second. Given it had taken them years to reach this point of actually wanting to share a meal together in the privacy of his home she shouldn’t be so harsh. Then again, considering the way they’d been dancing around each other for the last twenty-four hours, that meal might never eventuate.

Movement outside caught her attention as Ruby stepped from her car. She glanced at the back seat and shook her head before trudging towards the shop. When she got close, Alisha glimpsed the tracks of tears down her cheeks. Hell. If Connor Delaney had upset her, she really would castrate him.

She’d seen the way he’d been ogling Ruby on Friday night and while she’d like nothing better than for the grieving girl to have a little fun, she knew someone like him would end up hurting her. The Delaneys were used to getting anything they wanted and she had a feeling Connor had set his sights on Ruby. Her inner cynic wondered if he was doing it because he wanted to get his hands on the roadhouse ASAP, but she’d seen the way his gaze rarely strayed from Ruby all night and figured he just wanted her.

Whatever his reasons, with Clara not around to protect her daughter, Alisha would happily take on the role. Ruby had enough on her hands without having to deal with a guy who could be duplicitous.

The bell over the door tinkled as Ruby entered, her expression so fragile Alisha had to clamp down on the urge to bundle her into her arms for a hug.

‘Everything okay, Rubes?’

Ruby nodded, her eyes filling with tears that she dashed away with the back of her hand. ‘Just one of those days when it hits home how much I missed out by staying away so long.’

‘Your mum understood—’

‘I know, but I let my own pig-headedness and immaturity keep me away.’ She sniffled but determination lit her eyes. ‘Let’s just say the support for this place is overwhelming—nothing like the narrow-mindedness of the past.’

‘This town has changed for the better,’ Alisha said, thinking Brockenridge had a long way to go. The old timers in town still stared at her like she was an exotic oddity, a few of them speaking extra loud because they thought her English was poor.

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