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

by Jami Albright

  There was another loud cry from the female half of the couple. Something about it made her turn in the direction of the noise. A black SUV was parked just out of the ring of light, about five cars down from where she was standing. The vehicle rocked in time with the grunts and moans of the couple.

  She should go inside, but she couldn’t. The instinct to investigate was so strong that she couldn’t fight the pull. What kind of pervert was she that she was compelled to see the faces of this couple? But she also needed to make sure it was consensual.

  As quietly as she could, she moved along the wall until she could see in the side window. A brunette was straddling a man with inky black hair and a beard. Something about her was familiar, but Charlie couldn’t see her face. The woman moaned for her partner not to stop. Yep, consensual.

  No need to continue to watch this intimate moment. Time to go back inside. As she was about to walk away, the woman turned her head toward the window. And time stopped.

  “Oh, no.” The words slipped out on a whispered prayer that this wasn’t happening. But with every blink of Charlie’s lids, the woman’s face seared into her brain. There was no denying her identity. The former Queen of Zachsville High, Karen Odom, was screwing some man’s brains out in the parking lot of Boon’s.

  Charlie was ashamed at the momentary thrill that all she’d ever wanted could be hers. It was followed closely by a crushing blow to her chest. For that to happen, she’d have to be the one to tell Hank. Would he believe her? She had no idea.

  One thing was for sure—she needed to get out of there.

  Slick-bottomed cowboy boots and gravel were a dangerous combination. In her hasty retreat, she slipped and fell. She got to her feet, and scrambling, uncoordinated steps had her nearly going down again. Didn’t matter. She’d deal with her bloody hands, and the pain shooting up her arms, when she was safely inside the bar with Hailey yelling at her, people staring at her, and her eyeballs not having to see Hank’s wife screwing another man.

  What the hell was Charlie doing outside? Hank checked his watch for the third time. She’d been out there longer than she should’ve been. Had Thomas and Raul intercepted her and taken her off?

  Get a hold of yourself, Odom.

  He nursed his second beer that was now room temperature. The singer’s slurred, off-key voice crawled up his spine like a mountain climber with ice picks on his feet. He stretched his neck from side to side to smooth out the kinks. His unease about Charlie’s absence was aggravated by the text he’d received from Agent Sheridan after he told the man about Charlie, Thomas, and Raul Perez. He reread the text, hoping it would say something different this time.

  Don’t say anything to Ms. Klein. This is very sensitive, and we have jurisdiction on this one.

  Translation: They were in charge, and Hank was required by law to do what they said. Damn it.

  This situation had the potential to turn into a giant cluster fuck. He had to protect Charlie from this mess. He had no idea how he’d do that, since she didn’t listen to a damn thing he said.

  It wasn’t turning out to be his week. Finding out about Karen’s job. The fight with Derek. And knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that she’d only come back to him because she wanted to settle some stupid high-school rivalry with Charlie, and not because she wanted him as a husband.

  His marriage was over. He hadn’t pulled the trigger yet. What he was waiting for? Maybe a sign from God. It gnawed at his insides that he’d failed. He’d be walking away from a commitment just like all the other men in his family.

  The back door banged open, and Charlie stumbled in with blood dripping from her hands and the glassy gaze of a trauma victim. He was moving before he even registered that he’d put his feet on the floor. “Charlie, what happened?” He took her hands and inspected them. “Did you fall? Are you alright?”

  She shook her head, but said, “Yes.”

  Her white face and red-rimmed eyes told another story, and had the bottom dropping out of his self-control. “Who’s out there? Who did this to you?”

  “Nobody. I slipped and fell.” The words barely gave the air coming from her mouth substance.

  “I don’t believe you.” He grabbed the handle of the back door.

  She clasped her hands around his arm. The blood oozing from her cuts seeped into his sleeve. “Please don’t, Hank. Help me get cleaned up.”

  His instinct to take care of her and the need to find out who’d hurt her beat the shit out of each other. Someone hurting her won. He yanked the door open and barreled outside, ready to take whoever had put their hands on her to the ground. Nobody was there. The parking lot was empty of people.

  “Hank.” She stumbled through the door and took his arm again. “Let’s go back inside.”

  “Charlie, what’s going on? You’re worrying me.” He heard it then. The moans and cries of two people having sex. Was this what she was trying to keep him from seeing? It was most likely teenagers. Did she know them? He glanced around and saw a familiar black SUV swaying back and forth.

  His heart skipped and refused to settle into a normal rhythm. Since his pulse had gone off the rails, his breathing decided to follow suit. The muscles in his jaw locked, but he was grateful for the pain. It added to the bonfire of his fury.

  He moved slowly and quietly. Each step he took toward Karen’s truck was another nail in the coffin of their marriage.

  Like the masochist he was, he stood and watched his wife fucking Matt Allen. It was the last bit of evidence he needed to be released from the joke of a commitment where he’d trapped himself.

  Rage unfurled through his body, burning and blistering everywhere it touched until his insides were nothing but ash.

  He’d seen all he needed to see.

  The scrape of his boots on the rocks as he turned to make his way back inside and quiet sobs were all he heard as numbness took him. Who was crying? He locked eyes with Charlie. The tears sliding down her face were the final straw. He didn’t want her pity. Why did she have to be here to witness the end of his marriage at the expense of his pride? He strode past her and flung the door open.

  Her trembling hand reached for him. “Hank.”

  “Don’t.” He might regret that later, but at the moment he only cared about getting as far away from the woman who owned his heart and the one who’d shredded his soul as fast as he could.

  Chapter 32

  Second Trimester

  Hank grunted and strained, but finally maneuvered his new mattress into place. He’d bought it the day he’d filed for divorce. It was all part of his starting over campaign. Though he couldn’t say he was starting over as much as pivoting away from something destructive, and trying to maintain the status quo in the rest of his life.

  It wasn’t working as well as he’d like. He went to work, followed Thomas Chang, and came home alone. He wasn’t really living. He was existing. Since the day he’d filed for divorce, he’d avoided Hailey, Roxanne, and most especially his mom. Anyone who had the power to make him feel better or worse about this fucked-up situation. He didn’t deserve their comfort and couldn’t handle any disapproval.

  That included Charlie. Most especially, Charlie since she’d stood witness to his greatest humiliation, and his pride couldn’t take one more hit.

  He could accept that what he’d had with Karen hadn’t been healthy, probably from the start, but he couldn’t put that all on her. He’d used her to try and get over Charlie—that was why their marriage had been screwed from the start. He’d just been too stubborn to see it.

  Operation new mattress complete, he went to the kitchen to grab a beer. A knock at the door stopped him in his tracks. If he were very quiet, maybe they’d go away.

  Knock. Knock. Knock.

  “Hank, I know you’re in there. Open this door right this minute.” His mother used her don’t-give-me-any-shit voice. One he was helpless to disobey. The woman was a pussycat, except when she used that tone.

  He opened the front door an
d stood back to let her pass.

  She carried a cookie sheet with several tin-foil covered bowls on it. He would’ve taken it from her, but she marched past him like a drill sergeant on her way to the front line.

  “Hey, Mom.”

  The cookie sheet hit the table with a clank, and she held onto it for several moments, head down, shoulders stiff, like she was preparing for battle.

  Shit.

  This didn’t bode well for him. He prepared himself for the lecture about commitment and making promises he was sure was coming. She’d pounded those things into his and his brother’s heads their whole lives.

  When her shoulders began to shake his heart crashed into his gut. He’d disappointed her. “Mom, I’m sorry.”

  She spun to glare at him. Anger shot from her watery blue eyes. “What exactly are you sorry for, Hank?”

  He wasn’t sorry he’d kicked Karen out, or about the divorce, but it did hurt him that he hadn’t lived up to her expectations. “That I disappointed you.”

  “I am disappointed in you, Hank. Of all my sons, you’re the last one that I thought would do this to me.”

  If she’d taken a knife and carved the word disappointment in his chest, it would’ve hurt less. “I know, but Mom, I couldn’t stay with Karen. I have my pride. And frankly, I’d swallowed all I could stomach.” He raked his fingers through his hair, surprised he didn’t yank some of it out by the roots. “I was willing to look like a dumbass to everyone I knew if she and I could turn this around. I owed it to myself and the commitment I made to do that, but I won’t be the town pussy who lets his wife screw around with other men.”

  Her eyes went wide, and her hand flew to her chest. “Hank.”

  Never in his life had he said something that vulgar in front of his mother. He shrugged. “I’m sorry to offend you, but you need to understand why I finally kicked Karen out and filed for divorce. But I’m sorry it upsets you that I made that decision.”

  Tears spilled over her lids. “That’s what you think? That I wanted you to stay with that lying, cheating witch?”

  He blinked and cocked his head. “Didn’t you?”

  Fresh sobs rattled her body. He couldn’t stand it. He wrapped his arms around her until she quieted. Once the crying stopped, she stepped out of his arms and wiped her face with her hands.

  “Hank. I’m furious because you cut me out. I haven’t seen or heard from you since you told me what happened with Karen, more than six weeks ago. You’ve dodged my calls and refused to see me. I never thought you’d do that. Though, now that I know you thought I’d be upset because you finally ended things, I guess I can see why you haven’t been around.” Her forehead rested between his pecs.

  He patted her back. “I’m sorry, Mom.”

  “It’s fine. I just…” Her eyes met his. “Why did you think I’d be mad at you?”

  His fingers wrapped around her cold hand, and he led her to the sofa. They sat, but he never let go of her. Somehow, he knew she needed the connection. “Mom, all our lives you’ve preached to us about keeping our commitments, and how important it is to keep a vow, and not too long ago you said that you’d feel like a failure if not for me.” He shrugged. “I just figured you’d be disappointed that I was just like Dad and my brothers.”

  She grabbed a tissue from the dispenser on the coffee table and blew her nose. “That’s horseshit, Hank.”

  He barked a laugh and fell back on the sofa. His mother never cussed. “Don’t hold back, Ma. Tell me how you really feel.”

  “I will. What I meant when I said that was that you were the only one of my sons who even tried to do the right thing. And that’s all I can ask of you, that you try.” She crumpled the tissue in her hand. “Now I’m the one who needs to apologize. I shouldn’t have put all of that on you.”

  He wrapped his arm around her and kissed her forehead. “Nothing to be sorry for. I’m the one who was avoiding you. I needed some time to process everything.” He drew back and looked into her eyes. “You understand, right?”

  Her head shook like she was trying to shake her hair from her face. However, she had it hair sprayed within an inch of its life, and it didn’t move at all. “I don’t like it, but I do understand.” She took his face in between her palms. “I want you to hear me when I say this. You haven’t done anything wrong. You gave one hundred percent to your marriage and Karen didn’t. End of story.”

  He loved this woman. But she didn’t know about Charlie, or how he’d never really gotten over her and married Karen as a poor substitute. He couldn’t tell her. Maybe that made him a bad guy. But he couldn’t bring himself to tell his mother how badly he’d failed. He hugged her tight. “Thanks, Mom.”

  She rose and pointed to the dishes she’d brought. “Heat that on three-fifty for twenty minutes and serve it over the rice. There’s also a peach cobbler.”

  He grinned. “Homemade?”

  Hands on her hips, she gave him a death glare. “Yes, it’s homemade. What kind of Texas woman do you think I am? I wouldn’t bring a store-bought cobbler to make peace with my son.”

  “Of course you wouldn’t.” He rose. “Let me walk you out.”

  “I know the way.” She grabbed her purse and keys and headed for the door.

  “What kind of Texas son would I be if I didn’t make sure my mama got to her car safely?” He opened the door and stood with his forearm resting against it as she made her way out of the house and to her car. “Thanks for coming by.”

  She stood in the open car door and rested one arm on the roof. “You’re a good man, Hank. Don’t forget it. Lick your wounds then be happy.” She blew him a kiss, then got in the car and headed out of his driveway.

  Be happy. The only time he’d honestly been happy in the last eight years was the few hours he’d spent with Charlie in Austin, and that was a one-off thing, never to be repeated. She didn’t want to have anything to do with him. Just as well—if she gave him another chance, he’d sure as hell screw it up.

  The Odom men were broken, and he wouldn’t drag her into that crap.

  Chapter 33

  Charlie made her way through the back door of Boon’s. After more than two months of working there, the smell and dim lighting barely registered anymore. She headed to the employee locker room, which was really a broom closet with a few cubbies big enough for a purse and a jacket and not much else.

  The bar hadn’t been her first choice of places to work. Hell, it hadn’t been her thirty-fifth choice of places to work, but she’d grown to like it, as long as it wasn’t a night when Chester the ear ripper was performing. Those nights were tough, not just because she had to endure the man’s horrible singing, but because the club was virtually deserted. No customers, no money.

  While the auditory assault Chester inflicted was terrible, the worst part of her nights at work was that Hank had made Boon’s his new hangout since filing for divorce. Yes, she knew about that. She and every other living soul in Zachsville knew about it. She also knew that in the six weeks since he’d filed for divorce, he hadn’t spoken to her once. No, he just sat at a corner table and glared at everyone in the place.

  So much for thinking that his marriage was what was keeping them apart. If her tender heart had expected him to come to her after his separation, it would’ve been disappointed. Good thing she hadn’t expected it…much.

  He didn’t want her. That was painfully clear. It was better that she knew now how he felt. It wouldn’t be long before she had to tell him about the pregnancy, and she knew he’d try to do the right thing. He’d want them to be together for the little thing they’d created and not because he wanted her. She wouldn’t live a lie, not even for Pod.

  The guilt of not telling him was keeping her up at night. She knew she needed to quit procrastinating and deal with it. Just when she thought she had conquered adulting, her old tendency of avoidance would rear its ugly snout.

  “Dad, I’m doing the best I can.” Hailey’s voice floated down the hall to where she s
tood. Charlie wasn’t proud that she covertly peeked around the corner to see Hailey and her father sitting in her boss’s office. Mr. Lawson looked almost the same, except for the gray head of hair.

  “I’m sorry, Hailey. It’s not good enough. I’ve told you what has to happen to keep this place, and you’re falling well short of that mark,” Hailey’s father said.

  “It’s freakin’ Chester. He’s horrible, he’s a drunk, and he’s driving my customers away.” She swung her arm toward the door. “He needs to go.”

  Mr. Lawson stood and placed his hands on top of Hailey’s desk. “Unless the man falls down drunk on the stage, he stays. Or we can call off this waste of time and money and sell the place right now.”

  Hailey’s hands went to her hips in obvious defiance. “No. You said you’d give me some time to turn a profit, and I want that time.” She rocked back in her chair, insolence written all over her face. “You owe me that.”

  He shook his head, and something like guilt washed over his features. “Stubborn as your mother was about this place.”

  “That may be the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me, Dad.”

  “It wasn’t a compliment.” He took a folder from the desk and turned to leave.

  Charlie ran back to the lockers and pretended she hadn’t just been eavesdropping on a private conversation. She glanced over her shoulder as Hailey’s dad went past. “Hello, Mr. Lawson.”

  “Oh, hello, Charlie.”

  She pulled her hair into a ponytail. “How have you been?”

  He glanced down the hall to Hailey’s office. “I’ve been better. Maybe you can talk some sense into that girl of mine. She’s got it in her fool head to keep this place open—”

  “Dad.” Hailey stood in the doorway of her office with her arms crossed. “Charlie doesn’t want to hear our family business.”