know if you need anything else. And don’t forget to come down for afternoon tea. We serve around four o’clock.”
“Thanks,” he replied, pushing his chair in. “I’ll be sure to do that.”
Alan walked out of the dining room and up the stairs to his bedroom. At least his head wasn’t pounding anymore. A low ache in his temple made him grab a couple of aspirins out of his suitcase and wash them down with a glass of water. Now if he could just get this fascination with Rowena Dahl out of his system.
Somehow he knew the cure wouldn’t be so easy.
CHAPTER SIX
R OWENA WALKED INTO Cooper’s Corner General Store two days after her consultation with her attorney and stomped her snowy boots on the large rubber mat. The heat emanating from the radiator melted the icy snowflakes clinging to her hair and eyelashes.
Phyllis Cooper, a short, portly woman with gray-blond hair, stood behind the cash register. She and her husband, Philo, owned the store and took an active interest in all of their customers. Sometimes too active. The couple were known for sharing the latest news and juicy tidbits with everyone who walked into their store. But they were good people at heart.
“Think this dang snow will stop anytime soon?” Phyllis asked her.
“I sure hope so,” Rowena replied, pulling off her black leather gloves. “I’m going to have to restock my woodpile soon. Winter is usually my favorite season, but spring can’t start soon enough for me this year.”
“Same here.” Phyllis shook her head and emitted a long sigh. “This weather is keeping all our customers away, although Philo has been making several delivery runs. Hardly a soul’s been in the store all day.”
Rowena bit back a smile, certain Phyllis and Philo missed the local gossip their customers supplied as much as their business.
“Well, my cupboards are almost empty,” Rowena told her, “so I may be here for a while. I want to stock up before the next storm hits.”
“Go ahead and take your time,” Phyllis said as the telephone rang beside her. “And check out those chocolate chip granola bars you like so much over in aisle six. They’re on sale today.”
“Thanks.” Rowena grabbed a grocery cart and started down the produce aisle. She’d been serious about her empty cupboards. When she’d stepped onto the bathroom scale this morning after her shower, she’d been horrified to find she’d lost a pound since last week.
Thanks to Alan Rand.
It had been three days since she’d seen him, but just thinking about him still upset her. Maybe because he reminded her a little of Max Heller, a director on Another Dawn whom she’d dated for almost a year. At first, Max had been fun and charming. So concerned about her career and happiness.
But after a few months, that concern had started to turn obsessive. He’d wanted to make all her decisions for her. To direct every move she made, not only on camera but off. His advice had evolved from suggestions to commands to outright threats. When she finally broke up with him, he started sending her letters, pretending to be a deranged fan. Although she’d never had any definite proof he was the one behind them, she’d known it was him.
Max had been the main reason she’d finally left the show. She’d been growing weary of the frantic pace of the city anyway and knew she didn’t want to spend the rest of her life in New York. She didn’t tell anyone where she was going and, thankfully, Max didn’t attempt to track her down. No doubt he was trying to dominate another ingenue actress. Rowena swore she’d never let herself get trapped in such a controlling relationship again.
She mentally shook herself. That was all a long time ago. She didn’t want to think about Max Heller anymore. Or about Alan Rand. But as she began bagging some oranges, she couldn’t help but wonder if Alan was still in town. Either he’d already gone back to Toronto or he was holed up in his room at Twin Oaks.
She
“Thanks,” he replied, pushing his chair in. “I’ll be sure to do that.”
Alan walked out of the dining room and up the stairs to his bedroom. At least his head wasn’t pounding anymore. A low ache in his temple made him grab a couple of aspirins out of his suitcase and wash them down with a glass of water. Now if he could just get this fascination with Rowena Dahl out of his system.
Somehow he knew the cure wouldn’t be so easy.
CHAPTER SIX
R OWENA WALKED INTO Cooper’s Corner General Store two days after her consultation with her attorney and stomped her snowy boots on the large rubber mat. The heat emanating from the radiator melted the icy snowflakes clinging to her hair and eyelashes.
Phyllis Cooper, a short, portly woman with gray-blond hair, stood behind the cash register. She and her husband, Philo, owned the store and took an active interest in all of their customers. Sometimes too active. The couple were known for sharing the latest news and juicy tidbits with everyone who walked into their store. But they were good people at heart.
“Think this dang snow will stop anytime soon?” Phyllis asked her.
“I sure hope so,” Rowena replied, pulling off her black leather gloves. “I’m going to have to restock my woodpile soon. Winter is usually my favorite season, but spring can’t start soon enough for me this year.”
“Same here.” Phyllis shook her head and emitted a long sigh. “This weather is keeping all our customers away, although Philo has been making several delivery runs. Hardly a soul’s been in the store all day.”
Rowena bit back a smile, certain Phyllis and Philo missed the local gossip their customers supplied as much as their business.
“Well, my cupboards are almost empty,” Rowena told her, “so I may be here for a while. I want to stock up before the next storm hits.”
“Go ahead and take your time,” Phyllis said as the telephone rang beside her. “And check out those chocolate chip granola bars you like so much over in aisle six. They’re on sale today.”
“Thanks.” Rowena grabbed a grocery cart and started down the produce aisle. She’d been serious about her empty cupboards. When she’d stepped onto the bathroom scale this morning after her shower, she’d been horrified to find she’d lost a pound since last week.
Thanks to Alan Rand.
It had been three days since she’d seen him, but just thinking about him still upset her. Maybe because he reminded her a little of Max Heller, a director on Another Dawn whom she’d dated for almost a year. At first, Max had been fun and charming. So concerned about her career and happiness.
But after a few months, that concern had started to turn obsessive. He’d wanted to make all her decisions for her. To direct every move she made, not only on camera but off. His advice had evolved from suggestions to commands to outright threats. When she finally broke up with him, he started sending her letters, pretending to be a deranged fan. Although she’d never had any definite proof he was the one behind them, she’d known it was him.
Max had been the main reason she’d finally left the show. She’d been growing weary of the frantic pace of the city anyway and knew she didn’t want to spend the rest of her life in New York. She didn’t tell anyone where she was going and, thankfully, Max didn’t attempt to track her down. No doubt he was trying to dominate another ingenue actress. Rowena swore she’d never let herself get trapped in such a controlling relationship again.
She mentally shook herself. That was all a long time ago. She didn’t want to think about Max Heller anymore. Or about Alan Rand. But as she began bagging some oranges, she couldn’t help but wonder if Alan was still in town. Either he’d already gone back to Toronto or he was holed up in his room at Twin Oaks.
She
Similar Books
