much I enjoy his company.
After the kitchen is completely cleaned, Ian goes to start a fire while I dish up plates of pecan pie a-la-mode. I am almost giddy as I bring the plates to the coffee table, hardly controlling myself from shoving the whole thing in my mouth and running back to the kitchen for more. Pecan pie is my absolute favorite dessert, one I haven’t had since the year before my parents died.
As Ian comes over and sits next to me, I hand him his plate. Picking up my fork, I cut a small piece of pie off and bring it to my mouth. “Mmmmm.” I close my eyes and moan at how amazing it tastes. When I open my eyes, Ian is staring at me with his mouth slightly open. Embarrassed, I shrug. “I warned you it was my favorite.” He continues to stare at me for a few seconds more and then digs into his own pie. I am conscious of any little noises I let slip as I continue eating, trying to control myself as I revel in this exquisite dessert experience. When I am done, Ian stands and takes my plate without saying a word.
Moments later he returns with two cups of coffee and sits back down. I thank him and take a drink, noticing that he is watching me closely. “Do I have some pie on my face?” I ask, smiling at him. He shakes his head and sets his cup down. His face is suddenly so serious that I start to feel a little bit nervous.
“Ian? Is something wrong? I ask quietly. He puts his head in his hands, “Shit Ally, I need to tell you something.”
Chapter 30
~Ian
My heart is in my throat. I don’t know why I chose now to do this now. I guess as I sat there, watching her, knowing I am falling in love with this woman, I feel the need to let her know that I betrayed her.
“Ian,” I hear her whisper, “You’re starting to scare me.” I look up and lock eyes with her. I know that if we are able to build a relationship, I have to lay this all out there if she’s ever going to be able to trust me. I run my hands through my hair and take a deep breath. “Ally, I did something that I shouldn’t have, and I’m hoping you will allow me to explain before you ask me to leave again.” I see her bite her lip and can tell I’m making her really nervous.
“Tuesday, after you told me to leave, I went into town to drop off some of the work I had completed at the office.” I begin, watching her closely. “After doing that, I needed to pick up groceries because I didn’t have anything in my house to eat since I had been staying with you here.” I said, looking around. She nodded, listening. “Well, I ran into Ronnie and he asked how you were feeling.” I swallowed hard, “Umm, he told me that he thought it was very nice of me to help you when you were sick.” She nodded at me, “I agree.” She said quietly looking down. God this was killing me! “Ally, he umm….he said he felt bad for you, knowing you had been through so much already with umm…with the murder and all.” Her head snapped up so fast it almost made me jump. “He what?” She gasped.
I felt like the floor had dropped out from under me. The look on her face showed so much pain that I could hardly breathe. “How does he know?” She was shaking her head, like she couldn’t quite believe it. “Ally,” I said softly, “He overheard a private conversation between his boss and Mr. Reddy from the hardware store. He said they were trying to figure out how to get things out to you so that you didn’t have to come into town. He’s a good kid, and has been very discreet.” She was sitting there trying to process everything. She finally looked up at me and shrugged. “I guess it doesn’t make a difference.”
Now it was my turn. “Ally, that isn’t the main reason I wanted to talk to you.” I said, scooting closer to her. She was looking at me with such confusion. “Ally, I did something I shouldn’t have.” I paused again, trying to control
After the kitchen is completely cleaned, Ian goes to start a fire while I dish up plates of pecan pie a-la-mode. I am almost giddy as I bring the plates to the coffee table, hardly controlling myself from shoving the whole thing in my mouth and running back to the kitchen for more. Pecan pie is my absolute favorite dessert, one I haven’t had since the year before my parents died.
As Ian comes over and sits next to me, I hand him his plate. Picking up my fork, I cut a small piece of pie off and bring it to my mouth. “Mmmmm.” I close my eyes and moan at how amazing it tastes. When I open my eyes, Ian is staring at me with his mouth slightly open. Embarrassed, I shrug. “I warned you it was my favorite.” He continues to stare at me for a few seconds more and then digs into his own pie. I am conscious of any little noises I let slip as I continue eating, trying to control myself as I revel in this exquisite dessert experience. When I am done, Ian stands and takes my plate without saying a word.
Moments later he returns with two cups of coffee and sits back down. I thank him and take a drink, noticing that he is watching me closely. “Do I have some pie on my face?” I ask, smiling at him. He shakes his head and sets his cup down. His face is suddenly so serious that I start to feel a little bit nervous.
“Ian? Is something wrong? I ask quietly. He puts his head in his hands, “Shit Ally, I need to tell you something.”
Chapter 30
~Ian
My heart is in my throat. I don’t know why I chose now to do this now. I guess as I sat there, watching her, knowing I am falling in love with this woman, I feel the need to let her know that I betrayed her.
“Ian,” I hear her whisper, “You’re starting to scare me.” I look up and lock eyes with her. I know that if we are able to build a relationship, I have to lay this all out there if she’s ever going to be able to trust me. I run my hands through my hair and take a deep breath. “Ally, I did something that I shouldn’t have, and I’m hoping you will allow me to explain before you ask me to leave again.” I see her bite her lip and can tell I’m making her really nervous.
“Tuesday, after you told me to leave, I went into town to drop off some of the work I had completed at the office.” I begin, watching her closely. “After doing that, I needed to pick up groceries because I didn’t have anything in my house to eat since I had been staying with you here.” I said, looking around. She nodded, listening. “Well, I ran into Ronnie and he asked how you were feeling.” I swallowed hard, “Umm, he told me that he thought it was very nice of me to help you when you were sick.” She nodded at me, “I agree.” She said quietly looking down. God this was killing me! “Ally, he umm….he said he felt bad for you, knowing you had been through so much already with umm…with the murder and all.” Her head snapped up so fast it almost made me jump. “He what?” She gasped.
I felt like the floor had dropped out from under me. The look on her face showed so much pain that I could hardly breathe. “How does he know?” She was shaking her head, like she couldn’t quite believe it. “Ally,” I said softly, “He overheard a private conversation between his boss and Mr. Reddy from the hardware store. He said they were trying to figure out how to get things out to you so that you didn’t have to come into town. He’s a good kid, and has been very discreet.” She was sitting there trying to process everything. She finally looked up at me and shrugged. “I guess it doesn’t make a difference.”
Now it was my turn. “Ally, that isn’t the main reason I wanted to talk to you.” I said, scooting closer to her. She was looking at me with such confusion. “Ally, I did something I shouldn’t have.” I paused again, trying to control
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