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

by Jami Albright

  Her heart, which she’d forced to keep beating for Pod’s sake, gave a sluggish thump. Why she’d thought she could do any of this on her own, she had no idea. Everything Ron and Marci thought of her was true. She wasn’t good for much besides being pretty.

  Stop it. That’s not true.

  She’d built this business with her own hands, and she’d done it mostly by herself. Hard work and sweat had gone into every product she’d made. And if not for a certain law enforcement officer betraying her, her Grand Opening would’ve gone off without a hitch. She’d already made sure of it. But now… There wouldn’t be a grand opening. She was ruined.

  Charlie moved to the bathroom connected to her room and undressed. The hot water of the shower heated her skin but did little to melt the block of ice in her chest. Within the safety of the shower, she let the tears fall freely. After months of reinventing herself, she was back to square one. Surrounded by people who just wanted to use her for their own benefit.

  Too much time hiding in the shower depleted the hot water supply and now the chill of the cold water drove her from the confines of the shower. She flipped off the faucet, carefully stepped from the stall, and grabbed a towel. Trembling fingers smoothed her messy hair from her face. An examination of herself in the mirror revealed dark circles that set off glassy, sad eyes. Sallow, dry skin from all the crying covered her sunken cheeks. Scratch pretty from her short list of accomplishments.

  Who the hell even cared. She’d lost everything, and the last thing she cared about was how she looked. All she wanted to do was crawl into bed and hold Pod until she fell asleep. There were a few bags of toiletries, underwear, and clothes on the bed. It must’ve chapped Agent Murphy’s behind to have to shop for her. Good.

  She pulled on a nightgown and slid into the surprisingly comfortable bed. Just as she was about to drift off, there was a knock on her bedroom door. “Ms. Klein, Sheriff Odom’s on the phone. He’d like to speak with you.”

  A fresh wave of pain and betrayal smashed into her. “No.”

  “Alright. I’ll tell him. Do you need anything?”

  “No.” She lay there waiting to see if the agent said anything else. She didn’t. Her arms went around her belly. “I’m so sorry, Pod. I’ve really screwed it all up. I know I promised I’d fix this and take care of you, but I might need a little more time.” Yeah, like forever. She was beginning to believe that she might truly be incapable of handling her life.

  Hank chucked his phone onto the coffee table in Hailey’s living room. He let his head fall back to the top of the sofa. “She won’t talk to me.”

  “How are she and Pod?” Hailey sat across from him in an oversized chair, her dark hair piled on top of her head, her clean face pinched and worried.

  “The Feds had a doctor check them out, and everything is fine.” That had been the best news he’d gotten all day. “Agent Murphy says Charlie’s fine, except for a bad case of brattiness.”

  Hailey snorted without humor. “That she can be, especially when she’s hurt.”

  He raised his head and stared at her. “Thanks.”

  “Oh, my gosh. Sorry. I didn’t…”

  He waved her off. “It’s fine. She is hurt, and it’s my fault.” His elbows went to his knees, and he dropped his head in his hands.

  “How?”

  “Excuse me?” He couldn’t have heard her correctly.

  Hailey crossed her arms over her Shiner Bock beer t-shirt. “I want you to explain how this is your fault. From where I’m sitting, it looks like you had an impossible decision to make. Not to mention, you were doing your job.”

  “I crushed her, Hailey.”

  “No. You didn’t. You protected her and Pod.”

  With his elbows still on his knees, he let one hand hang between his legs, and rubbed his mouth with the other. “She’s never going to forgive me. It’s a miracle that she gave me a second chance after the Karen thing. I don’t know why I’m surprised that I screwed this up. We Odom men are cursed when it comes to relationships.”

  “Oh, for the love… Would you stop with that?” She uncurled from the chair and sat on the edge of the cushion. “I love you like a brother, Hank. But I’m so tired of this Odom chip you carry around on your shoulder. There is no curse. You’re not like your brothers or your father. So stop paying for their sins. Live your own life the way you want to live it. If you want Charlie, then talk to her. Don’t stop until you’ve made her understand that you didn’t have a choice in what happened today, other than to try and protect her. Which you did.”

  This conversation wasn’t going as he’d expected, and he wasn’t enjoying the truth sandwich Hailey was serving up. “I’m—”

  “A good man who’s sabotaging his own happiness.” She rose and came to stand before him. She smoothed her hand over his hair like he’d seen her do to Lottie a million times. “Stop it.”

  He reached up and caught her hand. “How?”

  She squeezed his fingers. “I have no idea, but you’ll figure it out. Lock the door when you leave. I’m going to check on Lottie. Good night.”

  Was that what he was doing? Sabotaging his happiness because he didn’t believe he deserved it? Was that why he never went to find Charlie after she turned eighteen? And why he married a woman knowing they could never really be happy together? Was he catastrophizing this situation and preparing for the worst because he thought he didn’t deserve the love of his life and their child? The answer was as clear as Hailey’s glass coffee table.

  Yes.

  “Hailey, you’re—” He glanced around, but she’d already gone upstairs and turned off all the lights except for a small lamp. The more time he spent in the dimly lit room, the more he could plainly see all the ways he’d denied himself true happiness, and how the unachievable high standards that ruled his life only fueled his conviction that because he wasn’t perfect, he was just like his brothers and father.

  He thought of Charlie and their child. This was the time to choose. Believe the negative shit in his head telling him he’d ruined everything, or fight against it and go after the life he wanted with the woman he loved, no matter how hard or messy it was going to be.

  He rose and headed for the door. There was no question in his mind what he’d do. Charlie and Pod were everything to him, and he’d fight like hell, even if that meant fighting against himself until they were a family.

  Chapter 60

  The smell of bacon and something sweet lured Charlie from a deep, fitful sleep. She pushed her mess of hair from her face and glanced at the clock on the nightstand.

  It was 9 a.m. on her fourth morning as a guest in the safe house. So far she’d managed to avoid Agent Murphy as much as possible, choosing to take her meals in the bedroom in front of the TV set up there, not leaving her room unless she knew her babysitter was in the shower, or in the middle of the night when the good agent was asleep. She didn’t need or want the woman’s attitude.

  A pang of misery crashed through her chest. Tomorrow was supposed to be the grand opening of her shop, her beautiful emporium. The thing she’d put together with her own two hands. She didn’t know why she was being so dramatic about the whole thing. No one had taken the store away from her, it would still open, but now it would be tainted by this situation.

  Ugh, she was sick of her own company. Agent Murphy was preferable to spending another minute alone with her thoughts. She climbed out of bed, that and any other movement she made was becoming increasingly difficult. “No offense, Pod, but you’re about to be evicted. It’s been fun and all, but I want my body back.”

  Pod gave her a hitch-kick to the sternum.

  “Ow.” She rubbed where Pod’s foot had connected. “Sorry. I take it back.”

  A pretty pink robe that she’d found in the bag of clothes went over her pajamas, and she made her way to the kitchen. She needed to thank her warden for the clothes. Having clean underwear and clothes had been the one thing to make this time bearable. It’d kill her, but she’d
express her appreciation.

  “She lives.” Agent Murphy was at the stove wearing leggings and an oversized tee. The smart ass never turned to face her.

  “Yes, she does, and she’s hungry.” Charlie grabbed a mug and poured herself a cup of coffee. “Would you like a refill?”

  A blue mug was shoved in her face. “Yes, three sugars and cream.”

  “Wow, that’s pretty sugary for someone so acerbic.”

  Murphy pulled out the cop glare, but it lost some of its punch when Charlie noticed the unicorn with a rainbow shooting out of its butt on the front of her shirt, under the words I poop rainbows. “Sit down and zip it before I decide not to feed you.”

  Charlie snorted. “I’m pretty sure that’s against the Geneva Convention.”

  “And that would matter if this was an international incident and not a federal situation. But good try.”

  Heat pricked Charlie’s cheeks. She hated being the dumbest person in the room. Or at least feeling like the dumbest person in the room. She’d discovered over the last several months that she was good at some things, and that she was pretty smart. So instead of being defensive, she decided to learn something new. “Oh, really? I didn’t know that. Can you explain the difference?” Again, anything was preferable to her own company. She almost doubled over laughing at the look on Murphy’s face. Well, double over was a bit ambitious in her condition, but the point was still true.

  “Mostly it applies if we’re at war, and it’s boring as hell. I’d rather talk about something else. Like how the pity party you’ve been throwing yourself has stunk up the whole house.” She transferred the bacon and French toast to a plate and brought them to the table.

  “I’m not having a pity party. I have a lot of things on my mind.” Now that did make her defensive, mostly because the woman was right.

  Murphy passed the platter of food to her before she filled her own plate. “Oh, please. You’ve practically got poor me stamped across your forehead.”

  “Why are you trying to make me mad? I came out here to thank you for the clothes and toiletries you bought me. They’ve helped to make this less horrible. But if you don’t stop baiting me, then I’m not going to say it.” The agent’s confused expression baffled her. “What?”

  “I didn’t get those things for you.”

  Charlie took a bite of perfectly cooked bacon. “Oh, well please pass along my gratitude to whoever did.”

  “You should probably thank him yourself. It was Sheriff Odom.”

  The bacon lodged in Charlie’s throat, and then the coughing began. She grabbed her coffee and tried to wash it down, but all that did was burn her esophagus. “What?”

  “Hank’s responsible for those things. We have some clothing we keep for our…guests, but he wouldn’t have it. He went and got them after you sent him away on the day you were arrested.” She sawed through her French toast. “He’s a real bastard, that fiancé of yours,” she said around a mouthful of syrupy bread.

  The room took a dive with her in it. “He’s not…”

  “Your fiancé? Oh, that’s right. You tossed him aside for doing his job.” She waved her fork in the air. “I forgot.”

  Charlie shoved her full plate away from her. “He lied to me. He not only let me be arrested, but he came up with the idea. If that’s his job, then it sucks.”

  Agent Murphy dropped the sarcasm and looked her straight in the eye. “Sometimes it does. But in the Sheriff’s case, he had no choice but to follow orders, unless he wanted to lose his job. Is that what you would’ve wanted?”

  Did she? She hadn’t considered that he might’ve lost his job if he’d warned her. “I don’t—”

  “And the man did everything he could to ensure your safety and comfort. This,” she flung her arm out to indicate the house, “isn’t something we do for everyone. He insisted on this for his cooperation. Maybe we would’ve eventually come around to bringing you here, since you’re pregnant. But he made it part of the deal. And as far as him coming up with the idea to arrest you along with Perez and Chang? Can you imagine how hard that was for him to watch? But he did it to protect you, knowing you might react exactly the way you have. Like I said, he’s a real bastard.”

  Charlie fiddled with the tie to her robe. The robe Hank bought her. “I didn’t know.”

  The messy bun on top of Murphy’s head wobbled back and forth as the agent shook her head. “You didn’t know. And why is that? Because you turned him away even after he explained things to you. Listen, Princess—”

  “Don’t call me that.”

  “Listen, Charlie, I’ve seen a lot of bad shit, a lot of bad men.” She shrugged. “It’s the job. But Hank Odom isn’t a bad man. He’s one of the good guys, and if you’re too stupid to see that, then there are plenty of women out there who will appreciate him.” The chair scraped when she pushed to her feet. “Your turn to do the dishes. I’m going to shower.”

  Charlie examined the officer’s beautiful face, smooth skin, and rock-hard body as she exited the kitchen. “Agent Murphy.”

  She stopped and glanced over her shoulder. “Yeah?”

  “Are you one of those women who would appreciate Hank?”

  The woman’s cop stare had a flirty edge to it. “In a heartbeat. But he’s so in love with you that he wouldn’t see another woman if she danced naked in front of him with hundred-dollar bills hanging from her ears.”

  “What’s your first name, Agent Murphy?”

  “Julie.”

  “Stay away from Hank, Julie.”

  Murphy snorted. “Like you care.”

  She did care. She cared very much.

  “Good news! We’re getting out of here.”

  Charlie glanced up from her book to see Murphy in her bedroom doorway, phone in hand.

  “Really, when?” After their conversation that morning, there’d been an uneasy peace between them.

  “Right now. Grab your things, and I’ll drive you back to Zachsville.”

  Charlie glanced at the bedside clock. It was ten at night. But it didn’t matter—she just wanted to go home.

  Murphy tapped the door jamb. “I’ll meet you at the front door.”

  Charlie flung back the covers and stood. The moment her feet hit the ground a pain low in her belly sliced through her. Sometimes she forgot her big-as-a-house size, and that sudden movements weren’t a good idea.

  The ride to Zachsville was quiet. That was one of the things she appreciated about Agent Murphy—she only spoke when she had something to say. Her hard truths from this morning hadn’t gone unnoticed. Her words had pounded on the door to Charlie’s heart all day and made her do some serious soul-searching.

  For the last eight years, and probably even before then, she’d let other people do her heavy lifting. It was easier to avoid conflict and not have to deal with overbearing personalities, but mostly it was just easier. She’d liked easy. It kept you deaf, dumb, and blind to the challenges of life, but it also made you a bystander in your life.

  When she’d decided she was going to start making some of her own decisions, her solution had been to run in the face of difficult circumstances. She’d run from Hank in his hotel room, from her wedding, and she’d been relieved to run away from Hollywood due to her Pops’ accident. But that wasn’t her anymore. Over the last eight months, she’d learned to face her problems and not run from them.

  Not letting Hank explain when he’d come to get her out of that cell was a classic example of the old Charlie. She’d done the same thing after their night in Austin, and when he and Karen broke up for good. Shame washed over her. Once again, she’d assumed the worst of him instead of letting him explain.

  Her grandfather’s house was dark except for a lamp in the living room. She’d called Pops once Murphy had returned her phone to tell him she was on her way home. He’d wanted to wait up for her, but she’d made him promise that he’d go to bed.

  The car rolled to a stop and Agent Murphy put it in park. “You’ll unders
tand if I don’t walk you to the door.”

  She laughed. This woman was a piece of work. “I understand.” She gathered her belongings and opened the door. Her lower back ached like crazy and was beginning to seize up on her. “It kills me to say this, but thank you.”

  Julie Murphy cocked a grin at her. “Hank and I will be sure to wave to you when we see you around.”

  With a hand on the door for support, Charlie hoisted herself from the car, then poked her head back in. “Not unless you want me to smack you in the face again. He’s mine.”

  Murphy laughed. “Bring it, sister.”

  One thing had become abundantly clear throughout the day. She couldn’t live one more day without Hank in her life. Murphy was right, he was one of the good ones, and she’d be a fool to let him go. They’d work it out. She was unsure how at the moment, but she still had faith in them, and that was all that mattered.

  Chapter 61

  Charlie stared at the ceiling. Between the pain in her back and Pod sticking summersault landings on her bladder she’d hardly slept at all. If the back pain didn’t improve today, then she’d have to call the doctor and see if there was anything she could take. If she was going to figure out her life she needed to do it with as little pain as possible.

  First thing on her list was find Hank, give him a chance to explain, then forgive him. She wasn’t wasting one more minute without him.

  The second thing was to reschedule the opening of the store. Yes, not opening when she’d planned was a setback, and being arrested had caused a bit of a scandal. She’d watched the entertainment reports during her stay at the safe house, and it was all they could talk about. Child star arrested on suspicion of drug smuggling. As they say, there’s no such thing as bad publicity. Sometimes being notorious was just as good as being famous. Bottom line, nothing was ruined, she’d figure it out, and it would all be okay because she wouldn’t stop until it was.