Chapter 8: Hot Dinner and a Bed

Chapter 8: Hot Dinner and a Bed

At the round kitchen table, Cole ladled steaming stew into the blue bowl in front of her, and then into his own bowl. He offered her a plate of cornbread, and she took a wedge.

"Anyway, it's not fancy, but it's filling." He grinned at her and scooped up an enormous spoonful of stew.

Closing her eyes, Jenny leaned forward over her bowl and breathed in deeply. The stew smelled divine. Her normal dinner was a cold sandwich. When someone remembered. If Slater was in charge, he usually brought an Italian sub, or at least the portion he hadn't eaten. She'd gotten to the point that the scent of salami turned her stomach.

Breathing in again, her mouth actually watered at the rich aroma of beef and vegetables. When she opened her eyes, Cole was watching her carefully. "Try it. It's not bad. I'm a halfway decent cook."

She picked up her spoon, dipped it into the stew, and took a bite. Oh, my God, this is the best thing I've ever tasted. She felt her eyes roll back in her head.

Cole was still watching her. She nodded and smiled, taking another bite. He seemed pleased.

After dinner, she helped him clean up, although he insisted she didn't have to. As she returned the last glass to its place in the cupboard, she stifled a yawn.

Hanging up his dishtowel, Cole smiled at her. "I need to go check on the horses. Make sure Dahlia has settled in okay. Would you like to go with me?"

Jenny pictured Victor and his goons lurking around outside, waiting to catch her and drag her back to her tiny room. Or worse.

The familiar knot of fear returned to the pit of her stomach. It must have shown on her face because Cole immediately changed his tack.

"You don't have to, of course. It's been a long day. You must be exhausted." Again, there was tenderness in his eyes.

She nodded, yawning again.

"Come with me." Cole led her back upstairs, opening the door across the hall from the bathroom where she'd showered.

"This is my sister's room." He smiled ruefully. "The room where she grew up, anyway. She lives in San Francisco now."

Jenny peered inside at the iron double bed with its handstitched quilt coverlet and the jumble of pillows at the top. A white-painted nightstand held a blue glass lamp with a white shade, and the top of the dresser was bare. She looked back to Cole.

His lips were pursed in thought. "You're welcome to stay here. For as long as you need." He shook his head. "I don't know what your long-term plans are, but…" He ran a restless hand through his hair. "You're safe here. Stay as long as you like."

Jenny felt tears welling up again. Leaning up on her tiptoes, she lightly kissed his cheek, the scruff of his five-o'clock shadow feeling prickly against her sore lips. Then she crossed the room and sat on the bed. She looked to him gratefully, touching her chin in thanks.

From the doorway, Cole nodded. "You're welcome, Jenny. Goodnight."

When he moved to pull her door closed, she jumped up, grasping the door to stop him. Shaking her head, she pushed it as far open as it would go. She turned back to him and nodded firmly, giving him a sad smile.

Cole felt his heart melt. "Open it is," he said. "Goodnight."