by Parker, Lexy
“You met him?”
“Yes, and he is a snake, but I think if I shared blood with him, I would have to overlook some of those nasty qualities,” I said, shuddering at the memory of the way he leered at me and kept touching me.
“Clay is a gentleman. He is polite and treats people with respect. I’m sure his dislike for his brother stems from his brother’s disgusting behavior. I’ve heard a few stories and I have not been impressed,” she muttered.
“I know I was wrong.”
“Dani, I think the reason you haven’t tried to talk to him yet is because you aren’t sure you want to. I think you’re thinking about Gage, which is understandable, but it’s time to think of you and your happiness. You have a future and it should be filled with love, joy, happiness and all the pretty, shiny words to describe a happily ever after. Don’t let yourself get stuck in this pit of sadness. I will say it again; I support your decision to move on and find love. I want you to find love. I want us to have babies together and have double dates and all of those things,” she said, tears in her eyes. “I don’t want you to be sad.”
“I’m not sad, not really.”
“But you’re not happy. You’re not living your best life,” she insisted, and I had to agree.
I was going through the motions. I was living day in and day out with nothing to really look forward. It was one foot in front of the other as I marched on to another birthday, another year gone.
“You’re right.”
She grinned. “I know. Does that mean you want to work it out with Clay or are you going to wait for someone else, tall, dark and handsome to come along?” she said with a wink.
I chuckled, shaking my head. “You’re persistent.”
“I get it from you.”
“Yes, I’ll talk to him, but can we eat breakfast first? I’m feeling a little drained after my workout this morning.”
She groaned. “I bet you probably put fifty miles in today. You always get like that when you’re stressed.”
“I didn’t do fifty, but I did do a little extra,” I admitted.
“You know I love you, right?” she asked.
“Yes,” I answered, wondering what was coming next.
“Nothing more. Just that. I love you like my sister and I want you to be happy. I’ve felt so guilty all this time with me finding true love with Philip. I want us to be able to share all the ups and downs that go with being in a relationship. I’m so looking forward to you being truly happy again,” she said.
I sighed. “I want it too. Just a warning, I don’t know if Clay and I are truly destined for a happily ever after. We barely know each other. There’s a lot more to work through before we can get to that point.”
“And that means you have to take the first step, or you’ll never know,” she replied.
I laughed. “I get it. After breakfast.”
The waitress came over and I was finally able to order. I was starving after my workout and splurged a little. I was stalling. I knew that, but I was going to talk to him or at the very least try to talk to him. If he didn’t want to talk to me or had already made up his mind that I was too crazy for my own good, I would accept it and move on.
Being with him had been good for me. It was the little push I needed to get back out into the world. If Clay wasn’t interested in a relationship, I told myself I would date. I would start the hunt for my next Mr. Right. I really, really hoped he was out there.
Chapter 33
Clay
It was just after lunch when the front door opened and the most beautiful woman in the world walked in. I saw her figure backlit by the sun pouring in and recognized her body right away. I got up from my chair and walked out to greet her. She was carrying a small box in her hand. I didn’t take a second look at it. I was focused on her.
“Hi,” I said, not sure if she was there to tell me to leave her alone forever or to toss something at me.
“Hi. I got the part,” she said, holding up the box.
“The part?” I asked, somewhat confused.
“For the truck. I’m assuming you didn’t buy it. I actually had to go to three different towns to get this thing,” she said with half a smile.
“You did?” I asked, feeling like a fool, but I was shocked.
“Yes. You need your truck fixed, right?”
I nodded. “Yes.”
“This is the part that fixes it. Do you want me to put it on?”
“Yes! Please!”
She grinned. “Is the truck still in the shop?”
I smirked. “It isn’t going anywhere.”
We walked to the shop together. I pushed open the door, the truck sitting in the shop, just the same as it had been when we had sex.
She put the box on the edge of the bumper and quickly pulled her hair back into a ponytail. She had on a pair of distressed jeans, low-rise Nikes and a plain black shirt. On her, the outfit looked amazing, like she could be going out for dinner, but it was her, getting ready to work on a truck. She looked good in whatever she wore.
“I’m sorry,” she said, her voice soft with her back to me.
I stepped close to her, putting my hand on her shoulder. “Dani, I’m sorry.”
She turned around to look at me. “I shouldn’t have tried to force you to love your brother. It’s really none of my business. I want to be in a relationship with you—not your brother. You’re the one I want to be loyal to.”
“I appreciate that. I shouldn’t have been so close-minded. I didn’t listen to your reasons and that was wrong,” I told her.
“I promise I will stay out of your family business,” she said, looking me in the eyes.
I didn’t get a chance to reply. Emmitt opened the door to the shop and popped his head in. “Hey, I’m back. I’m going to get to work.”
“Thanks. I’ll be there in a few.”
I turned back to face Dani, who had a look of pure shock on her face. “Um, was that your brother?”
I chuckled. “Live and in person.”
“I’m so confused.”
I put my hands on her waist, pulling her close. “It turns out you actually had some good advice. I told you I should have listened to you. You were right. Emmitt came to me and told me he was jobless and broke. He asked for a job and I gave it to him. He’s combing through my books and acting as my accountant, something I desperately need.”
“Wow. I’m really happy for you. That’s great. You guys are talking then?” she asked hesitantly.
I wrinkled my nose. “Kind of. We’re not talking about going fishing or anything like that yet, but we’re not trying to kill each other. He’s still an arrogant son of a bitch, but he hasn’t insulted me in a good hour. Of course, he’s been at lunch for the last hour, but the insults are mild compared to what he usually throws out.”
She grinned, leaning up on her toes to kiss me on the lips. “Does this mean we’re okay?”
“We are very okay. I promise not to be a stubborn jerk. I’ll be more open minded,” I vowed.
“I promise not to butt in.”
“No, don’t promise that. I can guarantee you there are going to be more problems and I’m going to need your good advice to navigate through those problems,” I told her.
“I’m not an expert. I have no experience.”
I kissed her, tempted to take things up a notch but remembered Emmitt was in my office. “So, you drove all over this morning to get the part?”
“I did. I wanted to do something for you. I’ve felt bad about how things ended and didn’t want to show up empty handed.”
I laughed. “You could show up empty handed and naked and I would be okay with it.”
“I’ll have to remember that for next time.”
I heard the bell on the front door jingle. “I don’t think I’ve ever had this many people use the front door in a week, let alone an hour,” I said with surprise.
I headed out front to see who it was and saw two men wearing suits and dark sunglas
ses. It was not the typical attire of someone living in Hope. They were large men, reminding me of NFL linemen. Big, bulky and very mean looking. “Can I help you?” I asked, assuming they were lost.
“We’re looking for Emmitt Pierce,” one of them said, pushing his sunglasses on top of his head. I got a chance to look into his beady eyes and was automatically put on guard.
I put my hands on my hips, keeping about five feet between myself and them. I fought the urge to look at my office door. Something told me the men were not looking for him because they wanted to grab a drink. Something was not right with them.
“Why? Why are you here in my shop?” I asked.
“We want to have a word with Emmitt. Is he here?”
“What business do you have with Emmitt?” I said, my voice tight.
The other man took off his sunglasses and stepped forward. I knew he was trying to intimidate me. Despite his girth, I was still taller. I looked down my nose at him.
“This doesn’t concern you,” the man growled.
“You’re standing in my place of business and asking me questions. That means it does concern me,” I snapped.
The man standing in front of me turned to look at the other one. I watched as the man behind him gave a quick nod of his head. “Emmitt owes us twenty grand. We want it.”
“He owes you twenty grand? Who are you?” I asked, completely shocked.
“Clay, is everything okay?” I heard Dani’s soft voice behind me.
“Go back to the garage, please,” I said, not sure what was happening but knowing I didn’t want her hurt or threatened in any way.
“Should I make a phone call?” she asked, her tone sharp.
“No,” I said, my gaze focused on the two men.
“Where is he? We’re going to keep coming back until we find him,” the man threatened.
I heard my office door open and cringed. “He’s right here,” Emmitt called out.
I turned to look at my brother, seeing the guilt and embarrassment on his face. “What the fuck is going on Emmitt?”
He looked at me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know what else to do.”
“Are they telling the truth? Do you owe them that money?” I asked.
“I do. I couldn’t stay there. I left, hoping it would go away,” he said.
“We don’t go away. You owe us that money and every day we don’t get it, there will be interest tacked on. If you don’t get us the money, we’ll be adding on our traveling fees as well and we’re not going to stay in some shitty motel. You’ll be paying for everything and look at us, we like to eat,” the first man growled.
“I don’t have it,” Emmitt whined.
“Too fucking bad. We get our money, or we get it from him,” he said, pointing his finger at me.
“I’ll get it. I need some time,” Emmitt interjected.
The guy looked around my shop, then back at me. “He pays or we take it out of the business. You see, we don’t care who pays, but we will get paid. You’re his brother, right?”
I sneered. “What’s that got to do with anything?”
“Looks like you could afford to pay his loan. We’re not above making things right the old-fashioned way,” he hissed.
“What are you trying to say?” I said, stepping forward, using my height to intimidate.
My tactic didn’t work. He stepped closer. “Your brother has until Monday to get us our money. If he doesn’t, you’ll be filing an insurance claim.”
I raised my eyebrows. “I will?”
The man smiled. “Yep. Your little business here will be burned to the ground. I assume you have insurance, right? You’ll get your money and we’ll get our money.”
“You motherfucker. Get the fuck out of my shop before I have your asses arrested. Do not try me. I’m not a man to be fucked with!” I shouted, furious with the situation and not afraid to throw around my own threats.
Both men were smiling as they looked over at Emmitt and waved. “We’ll see you Monday, Emmitt. Hopefully, we’ll get this all taken care of and your little brother here won’t have to make a claim and cause his insurance rates to go up. That would be a terrible shame.”
They walked out of the shop, the door jangling behind them. My ears were ringing, my heart pounding in my chest. I could literally see red. I was beyond furious. I was almost a little scared. I didn’t know who the men were or what they were capable of.
“Clay?” Dani’s voice behind me brought me back to the present.
I turned to look at her. She looked scared. I shook my head at her. I was a little disgusted with how easy I had been manipulated. My eyes went to Emmitt. There were so many thoughts running through my mind and none of them were things that should be said in front of witnesses. I didn’t know what to say, to think. The three of us stood there staring, none of us saying a word. What was there to say? Both of them were waiting for me to speak first. That would be a mistake. I was pissed. Pissed at Emmitt. Pissed at Dani for making me feel like I had to give him the benefit of the doubt and pissed at myself for falling for his bullshit. I should have known better. Emmitt was a snake. He hadn’t changed overnight. He was using me.
Another thought occurred to me. I looked at Dani before stomping past Emmitt and going into my office to grab my keys. I snatched them up and my phone and walked out the back door without saying a word to either one of them. I didn’t care if they locked up. It didn’t much matter now. I didn’t care if she fixed the truck. Hell, let it burn and I would add it to the insurance claim. There was no way I would ever recover. If they followed through with their threat, I was finished. I wouldn’t be able to pay my mortgage or make ends meet. Emmitt would destroy not only his life, but mine as well. It was unforgiveable. I was regretting the decision to ever let him into my office.
I needed to get to my mom and make sure she was okay. I had to believe the men would have gone there first. I was already thinking about what I would do to Emmitt and the men if they had laid one finger on my mother. I would kill them. I was a marine and I knew at least twenty ways to do it. I wouldn’t stop with them. I would make Emmitt pay. He would pay dearly. I sat in my truck, taking a few deep breaths in through my nose and exhaling through my lips. I was doing my best to calm down. It wasn’t working.
Chapter 34
Dani
I couldn’t believe what I had seen or heard. I had felt the malice coming off the two men. There was no way I was going to leave Clay alone with them. I had stayed out of the way, but I wasn’t some simpering female who was going to sit back in the corner and cry.
I watched the door close behind Clay. I had seen how furious he had been, and the fury hadn’t been directed solely at Emmitt. I knew he was angry with me for convincing him to go easy on his brother. I was somewhat responsible but, in my opinion, the men would have shown up at Clay’s shop regardless if they were on good terms or not.
I turned to look at Emmitt, who had paled a little after the encounter. I wanted to slap him and shake him. How could he have been so selfish and brought those men to his family’s doorstep? I had a new appreciation for why Clay had been so hesitant to talk with his brother. I should have listened. I should have minded my own business.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” I hissed.
“Me? I didn’t threaten to burn down the shop,” he defended.
My mouth fell open. “Seriously? That’s your defense? You aren’t the one who’s going to light the match? You brought them here! You ran like a little bitch and brought those men right to Clay’s front door!”
“I didn’t run like a little bitch,” he argued.
I stomped toward him. “Really? Because it sounds to me like you got in some serious shit and when you couldn’t handle it, you ran home to your mommy and daddy to protect you.”
He shook his head, holding up a hand. “You don’t understand. It isn’t that simple. I tried, really did try but then I lost my job and I couldn’t pay them back.”
“Don’t gi
ve me your excuses. I told Clay to give you a chance. I actually walked out on him because I thought he was treating you too harshly. I couldn’t have been more wrong. You deserve everything he said about you. In fact, I think he went too light. I would have been much more vicious,” I seethed.
Emmitt looked apologetic. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t tell me, tell Clay, tell your parents,” I snapped and turned to go out the back door in the hopes of catching up to Clay.
I couldn’t let him walk away, not again. We had just finally come to an understanding. Couldn’t we have more than a few minutes of happiness?
I saw Clay in his truck and immediately waved my hands, running toward him. “Clay, wait!” I shouted.
The brake lights came on. I reached for the passenger door handle and jumped in. He looked at me. His eyes were full of anger and hurt. My heart went out to him. I felt horrible for what was happening.
“What do you want?” he asked, exasperation in his voice.
“I’m sorry. I had no idea he would bring that with him. I’m sorry,” I said again.
He looked at me, before staring out the window. “I told you he wasn’t a good person.”
“I know. You did and I should have listened to you. I’ve never met anyone like him. I really thought you were exaggerating. I mean, the way you talked about him, it sounded like he was the devil’s own brother,” I said.
He turned his head to look at me again. I hated the way he was looking at me with such disappointment. “I told you. I told you he was only about himself. I can’t believe you thought so little of me to automatically assume I was exaggerating to make myself look better. You actually think I want to dislike my brother? You think I like not having a relationship with my only sibling? That’s what kills me. You just assumed I was the worst.”
“Clay, no. That isn’t it at all. I didn’t assume anything. I only saw two brothers with a broken relationship and I felt compelled to try and fix it because I do care about you and I didn’t want you to have to deal with that stress,” I defended.
