Brides on the Run (Books 1-4): Small-Town Romance Series

by Jami Albright

  Ugh. The garbage hadn’t been emptied in a while. It was a large metal can and was full to the brim. She gathered the edges of the bag and pulled. The awkward angle meant she couldn’t get the correct leverage, and the greasy film on the floor didn’t help at all. She tried not to think about the bacterial equivalent of Woodstock partying it up under her feet.

  She did a shuffle, slide, step thing then maneuvered to the other side, yanked, and lost her footing.

  She hit the ground. Hard.

  Pod!

  A quick roll to her side and her body instinctually curled around Pod. She gripped her stomach and waited.

  And waited.

  And waited.

  No pain in her abdomen. No weird wetness between her legs. Just a sore backside. Her muscles went lax, and she said a grateful prayer.

  Then the door swung open, and Hank walked in. Why did he keep showing up at the worst possible times?

  The look on his face would’ve been hysterical if she hadn’t been coiled in the fetal position, holding The Pod, on the men’s bathroom floor.

  “Are you alright?”

  She gulped past the instinctive panic that was lodged in her throat. “Yes. I slipped and fell trying to get the garbage out of the can.”

  He squatted down next to her. “Are you hurt?”

  “Just my pride.” Thank God.

  He reached for her hand. “Let me help you up.”

  “Better take my elbow. Hailey didn’t give me any gloves to do this job. I don’t think you want to touch my hands. As it is, I’m going to have to burn these clothes and sterilize my body.” She held out her elbow and he helped her to her feet.

  “What was Hailey thinking? I’m gonna tell—”

  “No.”

  Confusion was all over his face. “No, what?”

  She made sure her shirt covered the ever-growing bump. “You’re not going to say anything to Hailey. This is my job and my business. I can handle it.”

  “You’re right.”

  “I can take—wait, what?”

  He lifted the bag of garbage from the can. “You’re right. You can handle it. You’re more than capable. You’re a grown woman and perfectly able to handle your life.” He tied a quick knot in the top of the bag and handed it to her.

  A stray hair hung over her face. She blew it out of the way. “You’re serious?”

  He shrugged. “Yes. You’re beautiful and appear delicate, which causes people to underestimate you. But I know you. I just forgot for a second how smart and capable you also are.”

  She searched his face to see if he was sincere. There wasn’t a trace of sarcasm on his achingly familiar face. He meant it. The tears pricking her eyes weren’t because of the smell in the bathroom, though that was god-awful, but because he’d just said the sweetest thing that anyone had ever said to her. The organ in her chest that she was only using to stay alive and care for Pod gave a huge double thump. “Thank you.”

  He grinned and held the door open for her. “You’re welcome.”

  As soon as she came close to the bar, Hailey started in on her. “Where the hell have you been?”

  Hank’s words came back to her, and her spine got a little straighter. “Hey! Get off my back. I’m doing the best I can. And next time, you better have some gloves, or you can do this yourself.”

  The bar owner’s eyes went round, and she stopped washing glasses. “Alright.”

  “Okay. Now get the door for me before I drop this all over the place.”

  “Careful. I’ll let you get away with the first bit of sass because you’re right. I should’ve given you gloves. But I can still fire you. Don’t forget that.”

  “Please, you love having me here. Who would you pick on if I were gone?”

  Hailey held the door open and stood aside for Charlie to step outside. “I’d find someone.”

  Charlie laughed. “I’m sure you would.” She reared back and threw the first bag into the dumpster. Easy enough. Just as the second bag was about to clear the lip of the dumpster got caught on something and ripped, showering her with its contents. “Shit! Shit! Shit!”

  Hailey laughed so hard Charlie thought she might hyperventilate. Then she disappeared inside the club. There was garbage everywhere, and it had touched her head and face. Disgusting!

  A pair of gloves were shoved at her. “Here.”

  Charlie took them wearily.

  More laughter bubbled out of her old friend’s mouth. “You’re right. I think I would miss you. Now clean this up.”

  Hailey disappeared into the building. A survey of the ground around her confirmed that it was as big a mess as Charlie thought it was. She could leave. She didn’t have to take this shit from Hailey or anyone. She was Charlie Kay, for cryin’ out loud. Then Hank’s words came back to her. I forgot how smart and capable you are. Pride shoved her ego out of the way. She tugged on the gloves and went to work.

  Charlie returned to work after scrubbing every inch of exposed skin three times. Tracy and Maria were huddled together at the bar. Tracy gestured wildly, but it was clear they were trying to keep their voices down. She glanced around to find Hailey was nowhere in sight.

  “Hey, guys. What’s going on?” She tried to act like she didn’t know they were in the middle of a private powwow.

  Maria peeked over her shoulder, then back to Charlie. “Hailey’s ex is here with his girlfriend.”

  “The one he cheated on Hailey with.” Tracy glared daggers Derek’s way. “Bastard.”

  “Where?” She tried to look over Maria’s shoulder, but both women shut her down.

  “Don’t look,” Maria whispered.

  “Okay. Why are you two huddled in the corner?”

  Maria chewed on her lower lip. “We’re arguing over who has to wait on them. I don’t want to. I don’t like uncomfortable situations.”

  “And I don’t want to because I’m slammed and have a party of rowdy frat brothers.” Tracy picked up her tray of drinks. “Speaking of which, I need to deliver these to their table. You’re on your own, Maria.”

  The young waitress glanced over her shoulder again. “Fine, I’ll go.”

  “Wait.” Charlie stopped her with a hand to her arm. “Where’s Hailey?”

  “She’s in the back. Derek brought Ariel up to the bar to order their drinks and say hello. He’s a mean son of a bitch.” She picked up her tray with the cocktails the couple had requested. “Well, I better go take them their order.”

  Fury burned up Charlie’s insides. She and Hailey were on the outs, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t hate her ex for her. Derek always did have a cruel streak. She snatched the tray from Maria. “I’ll go.”

  “But—”

  “I’ll go.” She gave Maria the same look she gave handsy costars just after she threatened to ruin their careers.

  Maria backed off. “Yeah, okay.”

  She took a minute to get into her sweet, wholesome, and a little air-headed Charlie Kay character. It was like slipping on an old comfy pair of slippers. She made sure her boobs were still contained in her super tight uniform, happy for once to have it. It would play nicely into her plan. With a bit of extra sway to her step, she sashayed up to the table. They were cuddled up together like two nasty bugs during mating season. “Hey, Derek, long time no see.” She smiled so widely she was surprised she didn’t sprain her cheek.

  “Oh, hey, Charlie. I heard you were working here to study for a role.”

  She shrugged. “Who’s your friend?”

  “Um…”

  The woman stuck out her red-nailed hand. “Name’s Ariel, and you can back the fuck off my man.”

  In a perfect Charlie Kay way she laughed like that was the silliest thing she’d ever heard. “Oh, Ariel, you’re funny. Derek and I are like brother and sister. Don’t worry. I’ve got no designs on your man.” The tray with the drinks teetered slightly, and she righted it. “Woo. I’m still getting the hang of this.”

  “Do you want me to help you with
that?” Derek asked.

  She moved between them. “No, I think I’ve got it.” She brought the tray around with her tongue stuck between her teeth like she was removing a kidney, not serving drinks. Just as she maneuvered it over Ariel, the drinks slid and toppled onto the woman’s head. “Oh, my gosh.”

  “What the fuck?” Ariel screamed.

  “Ohmygosh, ohmygosh, ohmygosh.” She tried patting Ariel down with the dirty bar rag tucked into her apron. While the spilled drinks had been planned, the yucky bar towel had been a happy, impromptu addition to this karma sandwich. Speaking of karma, Ariel should be glad Hailey used plastic cups, or she’d have a concussion as well. That part of the plan hadn’t been very well thought out. Oops.

  “Charlie, get out of the way,” Derek yelled. “You’re making it worse.”

  “I’m so sorry, Ariel. Please send me the dry cleaning bill.”

  “You can bet your ass I will. Let’s get out of here, Derek.” She yanked her purse off the back of the chair. Charlie stifled a giggle as liquor leaked from the designer bag, leaving a wet trail behind Ariel.

  “Wait.” Charlie jogged to catch up with the spitting mad cow.

  “What?” Ariel cried.

  Charlie reached up and tugged a cherry from the woman’s hair. With a weak, apologetic smile, she held it up to her. “And a cherry on top.”

  Ariel let out a frustrated scream and shoved Charlie aside. “Get out of my way, you idiot.” She was out the door before Charlie could respond.

  The look on Derek’s face was priceless. “You did that on purpose.”

  Charlie shrugged and dropped her Charlie Kay persona. “The two of you deserve far worse.” She glanced toward the door. “She’s a real winner, Derek. Enjoy your life.”

  “She hates you, you know?” The sneer he wore reminded her of the old Derek that used to tease and ridicule her and Hailey.

  Her hand went to her hip. “Who, Ariel? You think I care?”

  “No, Hailey.” He leaned toward her and got in her face. “She hates your guts. So you just made an enemy for nothing.”

  She crossed her arms over her chest, and refused to give him the satisfaction of knowing how his words broke her heart. “Not for nothing. That’s the most fun I’ve had since I got back to Zachsville.”

  Ariel poked her head back in the door. “Derek!” The screech had dogs in three counties barking.

  “You have a good night, Derek.” She turned to clean the table and caught Hailey staring at her from behind the bar. After a few seconds, a small smile ghosted across her old friend’s face.

  Not for nothing then.

  Chapter 23

  Hank pounded the nail like it had personally offended him. His arm ached, and sweat ran down his face, but he welcomed the chance to work out his frustration. He’d been so happy when his mom called and asked him to help with her broken fence. Of course, then he’d had to field questions about his and Karen’s relationship. Which he side-stepped like he was line dancing at Boon’s.

  He’d come home from the junior college the other night prepared to lay into her about her lie, but before she could get home, he’d been called into work for a bad car accident with fatalities. The paperwork had kept him out all night. He’d headed home hoping to catch her before she left on a scheduled trip to see her parents. But he’d been too late, which meant he still had a million questions and not one damn answer.

  And yes, he had called her mother to confirm the visit was legit. With so much distrust, could this thing between him and Karen be fixed? Could they ever get back to where they’d been in the beginning? He had loved her in the beginning. True, it hadn’t been the kind of love that makes you feel like you’re hanging by your fingers on a giant Ferris wheel covered in lights with music ringing from the speakers.

  But it was sound, sturdy, and steady. There wasn’t a damn thing wrong with sound, sturdy, and steady, it was something they could build a life on… were building a life on, until one day they stopped. And the sad truth was, he didn’t know who quit first. All he knew was that he’d only ever had that swooping, flying, scream-it-from-the-mountain-tops kind of love with Charlie.

  And that was his problem.

  But Charlie was his past, and Karen was his future. The one he’d committed to. The one he’d made promises to. Promises he wanted to keep.

  Yes, she’d broken hers, but they were working that out. Or at least he’d thought they were.

  “When you’re done there, I’ve got a list a mile long that you can start on.” Derek leaned against his truck.

  Where had he come from? Some lawman Hank was. So lost in thought that he hadn’t heard his brother’s truck pull up the drive.

  He loved his brother, and that was what made being angry with him so hard. “Hey, what’re you doing here?”

  Derek hitched his thumb over his shoulder toward the house. “Just came to drop off Lottie.”

  Hank slipped his work gloves off and stuck them in his back pocket. “Isn’t this your weekend to have her?”

  “Yeah, but Ariel wants to go to Houston for the weekend. Mom doesn’t mind keeping her, and Lottie doesn’t care.”

  “Are you kidding me right now?”

  His brother looked offended. “No. Why do you care?”

  “I care, Derek, because I love that little girl, and she misses you.” He advanced on his sibling. “I can’t believe you’d throw her over for a piece of ass.”

  Derek shoved him. “Watch your mouth. That’s my woman you’re talking about.”

  “Oh, please. You and I both know that she’s just the flavor of the month. You can’t spell commitment let alone keep one.” They were nose to nose now, spitting and heaving like the wild bulls their mother used to accuse them of being. “I never thought I’d see the day that I was ashamed to be your brother, but that day has come.”

  An ugly sneer marred his brother’s face. “Speaking of a piece of ass, have you seen Charlie lately? She’s gotten fat, man.”

  Hank’s fist came around and connected with his brother’s mouth. No forethought, no planning, just a pure, unadulterated, furious reaction.

  Derek wiped blood from his lip with his thumb, looked at it, then wiped again. “You want to talk about being ashamed. Let’s talk about my pussy-whipped brother. Your old lady fucked some other guy, and you’re still around, now that’s embarrassing. One thing I can say about Hailey, at least she had the balls to leave my ass when I screwed around with Ariel.” He snorted without humor. “She’s more of a man than you.”

  Fire flashed up Hank’s neck and face. “You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”

  “I know that I just insulted your wife, and you didn’t do jack shit. But I said your old flame was a piece of ass, and you knocked the shit out of me.” He shook his hair back. “I saw the way you were watching her last night at the bar. Looks like saint Hank’s halo might’ve slipped a bit.” He turned his head and spit blood on the ground. “Face it, you’re no better than Jett or me.”

  Hank jabbed his finger toward Derek’s truck. “Get the fuck out of here. I’m sick of listening to you.”

  Derek shrugged. “Gladly. I got places to go.”

  When his brother was out of sight, Hank leaned against the fence and tried to get his breathing under control. Derek was a jackass. Hailey and Lottie were better off without him.

  But was he right? Was Hank no better than his brothers?

  “Uncle Hank, can I get two scoops?” Lottie skipped along beside him as they walked to Zachsville’s only ice cream shop, Scoopalicious.

  “Can a little thing like you eat two scoops?”

  She stopped abruptly and jutted her chin out. “I’m not little. I’m almost eight.”

  The stubble on his face scratched his hand as he rubbed his jaw. “Are ya, now? Turn around, let me get a good look at ya.” She obliged with shoulders squared and back ramrod straight. “I reckon you’re big enough. Two scoops it is.”

  She pumped her fist i
n the air. “Yes!”

  He laughed and wondered for the millionth time how Derek could be such a dumbass to walk away from this amazing kid.

  “Where’s Aunt Karen?”

  “She’s visiting her parents. I would imagine she and her mother are shopping right about now.”

  She scratched her leg while still skipping, making her do this one-leg hop thing. “Oh, I like shopping too.”

  He held the door to the ice cream shop open for her. “You do, huh?”

  She gave him a giant you-know-you-want-to-buy-me-something grin.

  He laughed. “Get in there, trouble.”

  “Okay.” She ran to the display and pressed her nose to the glass.

  “Hey, Sheriff Odom,” Kelly Marks, the owner’s daughter, said from behind the counter. “Oh, hi, Lottie. I didn’t see you there. What can I get y’all?”

  Hank held his hand out to Lottie. “Ladies first.”

  “I’ll have a scoop of bubble gum and a scoop of peppermint in a cup, please.”

  “You got it.” The teenager began dishing up the ice cream. “Tell Mrs. Odom I said hi, Sheriff.”

  “I’ll do that.” One thing he could say about his wife, she was one hell of a teacher, and since she’d gotten out of the classroom and started working with some of the kids with learning issues, she’d really found her calling.

  Kelly plopped a ball of blue ice cream into a cup. “I’m really going to miss her.”

  Hank examined the girl. Karen’s graduating students often said that, but Kelly was only a sophomore. Was she moving? He hadn’t heard the Marks were leaving town.

  “I think it’s totally crappy what they’re doing to her.”

  What in the hell was this kid talking about? “You do?”

  “Yeah, she’s the best teacher at Zachsville High, and it’s stupid that they’re shutting down the program she’s working in. I don’t know why they won’t keep her and let her teach a regular class, or at least let her finish the year. If I were her, I wouldn’t have come back. It was shi—um, crappy, that they didn’t tell her until the first week of teacher in-service.” She handed the ice cream to Lottie. “Does she know what school she’s going to next?”