when she saw it. The door-sized opening in the wall between her kitchen and the main hallway. She could see straight through to Shaw’s kitchen. Setting her jaw, she faced Shaw. “What is that? You said we’d have privacy and safety. Not with a giant hole in the wall we won’t.”
Shaw grimaced. “Yeah. Just some exploratory work. I’ll take care of it.”
“When?”
“Today.”
It suddenly occurred to her that she and her girls would be alone with Shaw in this house. Concern skimmed along her nerves. She was accepting help from a stranger. All she knew for certain was that he had been irresponsible in looking out for her husband. “Do all the door have locks?”
His blue eyes bored into hers. “You’re safe here. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Lainie pulled her gaze away from Shaw’s probing assessment as her girls ran past.
“Mommy, look at the trees.” Natalie pressed her nose to the multipaned back door that led to a wide back porch and a large yard.
“Trees,” Chrissy said in awe.
Natalie looked over her shoulder at Shaw. “Mister, is there a swing?”
Shaw frowned, glancing at Lainie with a puzzled expression. “No.”
Natalie’s lower lip poked out. “But I wanted there to be a swing.”
Lainie peered out the window, at the tall leafy trees above full shrubs and a wide green lawn.
“Mom, can we play in the yard? Please?”
She couldn’t blame the girls for wanting to run and play. They’d never had a yard. Apartment life was limiting for children. She’d dreamed of a place like this to raise her girls. Maybe after she’d worked a few years, she could afford to buy them a home of their own. Lainie took Natalie’s hair in her hands gathering it at the back of the little neck before letting it go. “Not right now.”
Shaw cleared his throat. “Uh, Lainie, we need to talk. Maybe the kids could play outside for a while? Beaux can go with them. He’s a great guard dog.”
The serious expression on Shaw’s face started the anxiety in her stomach swirling again. She sent up a quick prayer. She couldn’t take any more bad news. “Girls, you can play outside for a while. Mr. Shaw and I need to talk. Take Beaux with you.”
With squeals of delight, Natalie and Chrissy rushed out the door. Lainie gathered what little strength she had left and looked at Shaw. “What is it?”
Shaw dragged a hand down the back of his neck. His dark eyes were filled with confusion and concern. Finally, he smiled. “Come over to my kitchen. You can use my phone and computer to get your accounts closed.”
He’d changed the subject. Why? But he was right. First things first. She couldn’t afford to have that crook charging her cards to the limit.
Shaw gave her an encouraging smile. “Don’t worry. It’ll all work out.”
Oh, but she did worry. She had mountains of things to worry about, and relying on Shaw was at the top of the list. How could she depend on someone who couldn’t take care of the people entrusted to him? Lainie followed Shaw through the opening. The minute her accounts were taken care of, she and her girls were out of here. She just had to hang on and get through the next few days. Once she started work at the library, everything would be fine.
* * *
Shaw settled Lainie at his kitchen table with his laptop and helped her get started on contacting her creditors to close her accounts, then he went outside to bring in her luggage. Having Lainie in his home created an odd tension in his chest and triggered a variety of unwelcome emotions. He’d never expected to see her again, let alone assume responsibility for her and her children. He’d worked hard to conquer the guilt associated with Craig’s accident. But now, every time he saw Lainie and those girls, he’d be faced with the consequences of his actions. In less than an hour, his old doubts and remorse had clawed their way to the forefront of his mind.
He sent up a prayer for strength. Somehow he had to take care of Lainie and her children, and keep the past at bay, because he needed all his focus on the job. Too much was at stake.
After hauling in several suitcases and bags from Lainie’s car, there was nothing else to distract him from the real problem—telling Lainie that her job wasn’t going to start this week. Or the week after. While the residents of Dover were grateful for the donation made by the anonymous benefactor, the many strings attached had caused problems. One of the biggest was the rumor that beloved former head librarian, Millie Tedrow, wasn’t going to return. Shaw wasn’t sure how the townspeople would react when they learned Lainie got the job instead. He had to prepare her for what she might be facing, and it would be up to him to stand between her and the town. If she’d accept his help.
Lainie was still sitting at the computer when he returned. She shifted in her chair and her thick, dark hair brushed across her shoulders like a curtain of brown silk. She wore ankle-length sand-colored pants and a bright yellow top that skimmed her curves. He shut down his observation.
He hated to interrupt, but she needed to know the situation. She glanced at him and he looked into her warm chocolate eyes, feeling momentarily disoriented. He didn’t remember her lashes being so long or her eyes so expressive. He could read her every emotion, and right now he read fear and anxiety. She was waiting for the next shoe to drop, and he was about to drop a big one. “How’s it going?”
She nodded, chewing on her thumbnail. “Almost done.”
She tapped a few more keys, her intense concentration evident in the rigid lift to her shoulders. He stepped to the back door, watching her little girls play. They resembled their father with their blond hair and blue eyes. Shaw rubbed his forehead. Funny, he only remembered one child.
“All done.” Lainie came to his side, looking out at her daughters. “They needed to run and play. It’s been a long day for them.”
The weary tone in her voice concerned him. “You, too.” She shrugged without looking at him. “Lainie, I need to tell you something about your job at the library.”
“What?”
The fear that flashed through her eyes filled him with dread. Best get this over with. “You won’t be starting work at the library this week.”
“You’re wrong. Mr. Ogden said I would start on the eighth. That’s this Thursday.”
“The library isn’t finished.” The confusion in her eyes made him want to hold her close, the way he had outside the police station when she’d nearly collapsed. His nerves still vibrated from holding her in his arms, inhaling the strawberry scent of her hair, feeling her tremble against this chest.
“What do you mean it’s not finished? I don’t understand.”
“The project is three weeks behind.”
“Project? I thought this was a new building.”
Shaw dragged a hand across his jaw. “The old Webster House was donated to the city for use
