Page 61 of Traces Of You

Or so she liked to tell herself.

She could push aside all the filth she’d lived with as much as she wanted, but it never completely disappeared.

Would she ever be clear or clean of her past?

She wasn’t sure that was possible.

It’s as if it was baked onto her skin at birth. A brand telling her she’d never be enough.

“I’ll be right back,” Reenie shouted the minute she was done with the floor.

She ran out the door after flipping the closed sign, hopped into her car and drove to the mill past the cafe.

Clay had liked one of her fliers. He’d had several that she’d emailed him printed locally and they were to be posted around the area. She’d gone to his social media page and did some work there posting things too for him.

She’d been surprised he’d given her access since she didn’t have her own accounts, but she was trying to prove herself to him, that she wasn’t here to take advantage of anything.

She opened the door to the mill, smelled the powerful scent of apples and alcohol.

“Hey, no one is supposed to be back here.”

She spun quickly to see one of the guys that was with Ford when she walked in earlier. “I’m just picking up the remains of lunch.”

“Oh, sorry.” He moved forward. “I’m Rod. I didn’t recognize you, just saw someone that wasn’t an employee.”

She pointed to her shirt. “I am one.”

“Yeah, I know. Ford gave me a hard stare when I said you were good looking.”

“He’s protective,” she said.

“Nothing more than that?” Rod asked. “Are you related to the Ridgeways?”

“She’s not,” Clay said, moving in. “And you’ve got work to do.”

Rod smirked. “I was running to the bathroom and thought someone was trying to break in.”

“I can handle anyone that messes with me, my property or my family,” Clay said.

He was staring at her when he said it.

She’d never be able to earn this brother’s trust.

Any childish hopes that she had of a future for her and Ford wouldn’t happen.

Brooke was sweet to her, still taking her in like a daughter.

Callum was too. Even showed her how to gather the eggs from the chickens one day when she asked how it was done.

Though Clay was giving her tasks to do with his business, it wouldn’t change the way he felt about her.

She wasn’t sure why she cared so much either. Okay, yeah, she knew, but she wasn’t going to let herself hope for too much.

She turned her head and piled the platter and bowl back in the box along with the small bowls of condiments.

“Everyone was hungry today.”

“The crew came in and finished the rest of the sandwiches. Thanks for bringing them. I could have brought it all back.”