One Tough Love

by Zanne Sweeney

  Wes turned down the dirt road that would lead him to Jo. He still didn’t have a solid game plan yet. The houses on the small road that curved around the lake varied in size and style. There were A-frames, cabins, trailers, ranches, and large classy homes. Wes could see the edge of the lake because some of the homes had lights in their back yard.

  Wes' GPS signaled that he was at his destination and Wes turned in to a circular drive that was in front of a beautiful log home. Jo’s car was alone in the driveway and Wes breathed a sigh of relief. The dashboard clock told him it was after 11:00pm and although there was one light on in the cabin he questioned whether or not he should bother her at this late hour.

  Finally he got up the courage and knocked on the door, there was no doorbell. Wes waited and knocked again when he didn’t hear anything. After knocking a third time Wes ran through the scenarios in his mind; one: she was asleep and didn’t hear him. Two: she wasn’t home and three: she saw who it was and refused to answer the door. His third scenario actually made his gut tighten.

  Wes walked back to his truck and got in. After sitting inside for a few minutes Wes decided to go to the Candlelight where he could have a beer and think on his next step. He drove the half-mile to the quaint bar and parked. Wes was starting to feel the effects of no sleep, but he knew being this close to Jo would act as a stimulant and until he spoke to her there was no way he’d get any rest.

  He entered the bar and saw that to the right was a restaurant area, but it was late and there were no people sitting at the tables. On his left was a large square bar packed with Friday night partiers. The atmosphere was similar to his bar; everyone knew everyone. There was music playing and the televisions all had different stations on.

  Wes found an opening at the bar and just as the bartender caught his eye so did something else. At the far end of the bar sat Jo. She was bookended by two burly guys who were joking with her. She was smiling at them and it was apparent that they knew each other. Wes also noticed she had a bruise on her face and that her smile, the one he loved to see, didn’t reach her eyes.

  He felt instantly guilty. He knew he hadn’t physically hurt her but he couldn’t help but think that had he been there she would have been safe. He also knew he had hurt her emotionally, well Ginger had, but he should have figured out what the witch had been up to long before it happened. Wes saw that his Jo was smiling but he knew it was all show.

  Jo had arrived at her parents' lake house Friday afternoon after stopping at The Candlelight for a sandwich to take out. She put away the groceries that she’d bought and ate half her sandwich. She hadn’t slept in the hospital with the nurses coming in every two hours to check on her, so after she finished her sandwich she had tried to nap, but when she started to doze all she kept seeing was that kiss. That awful moment when Wes kissed Ginger Lola, Ginger freakin' Lola; one of the most beautiful actresses in modern day film. She had a body that men fantasized about and woman wanted to be her. She had perfect hair, teeth, and heart shaped lips. She oozed sex.

  What Jo couldn’t figure out was why had Wes even bothered with her comparably insignificant self? After tossing on her parent's king sized bed for a few hours Jo gave up on sleep. The clocks luminescent numbers told her it was 10:00pm. Jo decided she needed a drink, maybe then she’d sleep. The Candlelight was only a half-mile down the dirt road and one of her favorite places to eat and drink. She’d grown up on the lake and she knew most of the regulars that frequented it.

  Jo changed into a pair of cut off shorts, a clean tee shirt and a pair of sneakers and tied her hair up in a messy bun. She grabbed a helmet from the mudroom and fished the Cat’s keys off the hook board near the front door. Her parents owned two Cats, four wheel drive ATV’s, and when ever they went to the Candlelight they drove those instead of their cars.

  Jo parked and took off her helmet. She saw that the place was hopping. She was glad the little establishment continued to pull in customers, she shuddered to think how awful it would be if their doors ever closed. The Candlelight had great food varying from burgers to seafood, and her personal favorite, the riblets. The homey rustic inn had a friendly laid back atmosphere that Jo loved.

  The second Jo entered the bar area she was greeted with a few rousing greetings of “Jo!” Jo smiled and waved at the people she knew and then found a seat at the far end of the bar. She ordered a beer and made small talk with the owner. The jukebox was cranking out mostly country tunes with an occasional rock song mixed in.

  Two of Jo’s friends, twins that she and Lou had spent many youthful hours with entered the bar and after spotting her, sat on either side of her. The two guys were great friends of the family and both she and Lou had remained in contact with them even during college and afterwards. Auggie and Griff were a year older than she and Lou. They were her and Lou’s first kiss, yet after that one exploratory night that had transpired because of too many beers and a friendly game of spin the bottle, neither she nor Lou ever became romantically involved with either of them again.

  “Hey.” Jo said as the two beefy men nudged her from either side. Jo grimaced in pain and Auggie looked at her quizzically.

  “Are you all right?”

  “Um, yeah, just had a little accident and I hurt my shoulder and hip.” She tried to make light of her accident.

  “And head.” Griff said grazing his finger along the bruise on her forehead.

  “Yeah there too.” Jo joked.

  The three friends caught up with each other. Auggie was a Physical Education teacher in New Jersey and Griff owned a Sporting Goods store a few towns away. They had each built A-frames on their parents' property that bordered the lake a few lots down from her parents place.

  Jo was giggling at one of Griff’s dumb jokes when a shiver ran up her spine. She felt someone watching her. She looked up and across the bar she saw Wes. She blinked thinking her eyes were playing tricks on her. He was so handsome; his eyes were locked on her. She audibly gasped which caused Auggie and Griff to look to where she was looking.

  Wes didn’t move he wasn’t sure what to do. Usually he was so decisive. He could analyze any situation and instinctively know what to do, but for some reason all his common and reasoning senses abandoned him. Jo couldn’t take her eyes off of him. He stood out in the small bar and she knew there were other females drinking him in. He was large and sexy, his green eyes, one sporting a bluish purple coloring around it, even more vibrant because of the dark green tee shirt he wore. His jeans hugged his athletic hips and of course he wore don’t-fuck-with-me combat boots.

  The other thing that Jo noticed was that in one week he’d dropped weight and as sinfully handsome as he was she also could see he looked weary. His lips sported a small frown and Jo could tell he was stressed. Auggie and Griff looked back and forth between the two of them and then Griff asked if she knew who he was.

  “Yeah, someone I know well thought I knew.” She said with a bite.

  “You want us to get him to leave?” Auggie asked deadly serious.

  Jo smiled at her two childhood friends. “Guys, I love you and thanks for the offer but I absolutely guarantee that man could take on every man in this bar and come out victorious.”

  Auggie and Griff weren’t pleased that she’d basically dis'd their manhood, but when she put her hands on each of their arms, they didn’t argue.

  Jo saw Wes’ eyes thin when she touched her two friends and although it shouldn’t have mattered, she was pleased that he looked pissed. He began the slow walk towards her and Jo kept her eyes on him. Her friends remained silent, but they stood from their stools as he neared them, and Jo knew that they were in full scale brotherly protecting mode. Wes stopped behind her and Jo swiveled on her stool to face him.

  “Jo I’d like to talk to you if I can please? Alone.”

  “I’m having a drink with my friends Wes.”

  “I can see that, but I need to talk to you.”

  Just then the bartender came over. She was over the top flirting wi
th Wes, batting her eyes and leaning suggestively over the bar asking what she could get him. Wes quickly dismissed her after ordering a beer. He hadn’t taken his eyes off Jo once and she squirmed under his gaze. Jo felt the twins tense beside her and placed her hands on their legs to hold them in check.

  The bartender came back and as she set the beer down she realized where she’d seen Wes before.

  “Hey that’s how I know you! You’re Ginger Lola’s new boyfriend. Wow! Is she here?” The bartender looked around the room hoping to see Ginger.

  Wes grimaced at the reference. “I am not, nor have I ever been with Ginger Lola.” He said tersely looking right at Jo when he said it. Jo’s jaw dropped.

  “Jo please can we talk.” Wes said softly.

  Auggie stepped closer to Wes and Griff did too. Neither was as large as Wes but Jo had seen them fight before and although she knew Wes would mop the floor with them they would do some serious damage to the bar before it ended. Jo sighed, almost defeated. She had no idea why Wes was there. She figured his PI Security firms had tracked her down, but regardless she didn’t like that he had found her.

  Jo stood up and told the twins she’d be back in a few minutes. Without looking at Wes she walked outside. Wes followed and had the hardest time not touching her. She looked tired, but still beautiful. She was wearing cute little cut offs, a tee shirt, and simple sneakers, but somehow she made the outfit look hot. Her long hair was tied back in a bun that a few loose strands had snuck out of, trailing haphazardly around her face. Wes stopped himself from pushing an errant piece off of her cheek. He noticed the bruise and Jo watched as he froze. His eyes darkened and she saw such sadness enter them that it tore at her.

  Jo stopped by a four wheeler and leaned back against it, her arms crossed a clear sign to Wes that she was upset.

  “Why are you here Wes?”

  “Jo I need to explain so much to you.”

  “Okay explain.” She said gruffly.

  “Do you want to go some where? It’s a long story.”

  No, I’m good. I want to get back to my friends.”

  Wes sighed and decided he needed to get out what had happened before she walked away.

  “Well to begin with I never hung up on you Monday night. I know it appears that way but Ginger threw my phone over a balcony. It broke.”

  “Okay. I guess she’s the jealous type.”

  “Please, just listen Jo. Ginger had gone AWOL and when I found her she was drunk and belligerent. My team had been looking for her for days T.U.F. was her security detail.”

  “Yeah I saw the news. Bodyguard kisses girlfriend. I get it Wes.” Jo’s voice was dangerously low and he could see that she was trying not to get emotional.

  “Jo I was never with her. I actually can’t stand the woman. After we found her I had to go with her to a spa in Arizona. I didn’t have a cell. There were no computers. I didn’t have any way to get in touch with you. I sent Andy to your house on Wednesday but you weren't there. Then Ginger and her little bitch friend Carrie made that video and gave it to a reporter. It’s a lie Jo. It wasn’t true I swear.”

  “You were kissing.” Jo said even quieter than before. Wes saw her eyes were glistening with unshed tears. He boldly stepped towards her.

  “Baby, I know what it looks like. I just saw the video for the first time about five hours ago. They intentionally cut out the part where I pushed her away.”

  Jo didn’t know what to think or even say.

  “Jo please I need you to believe me.” Wes’ voice actually quivered. Jo knew he wasn’t lying.

  “Why didn’t you tell me who you were guarding before? Why was it such a secret?”

  “We aren’t allowed to disclose who we are working for. It’s in the contract.”

  Jo nodded she had to admit he had an explanation for everything. “Well thanks for telling me Wes.” Jo said all of sudden feeling exhausted.

  She stood up from leaning on her Cat and started to walk back inside.

  “Jo?” Wes said quietly as he watched her walk away.

  She didn’t turn around but she turned her head to look at him.

  “Jo please.”

  He saw her shoulders sag. “Please what Wes? We’ve had two dates; we're nothing more than that.”

  “We are more than that Jo. You know we are.” He said coming up and standing directly behind her. He placed his hands on her hips and when she didn’t move away he gently turned her to face him.

  “I care about you Jo. I’ve missed you. Please don’t walk away from me, from what we might have.”

  Jo wasn’t looking at him but at the gravel lot. She knew if she looked up she’d want to kiss him. Her heart ached, he’d damaged it. Maybe not intentionally but she couldn’t risk it again.

  Jo stepped out of his grasp. “I need time Wes. I appreciate what you’re saying but you can’t undo five days of hurt in 30 minutes. I trusted you.”

  Wes watched her walk back into the bar. He was aching to hold her, to comfort her. Shit! He hadn’t even been able to find out how she’s been hurt. He walked back to the truck and sat in it. He had no idea what to do. Part of him was telling him to drive home and regroup and the other part of him didn’t want to leave her.

  He sat in the truck for about fifteen minutes trying to gather his tattered emotions. When the front door to the bar opened Jo and her two friends walked out. He watched her hug the men and get onto the Cat she’d been leaning on earlier. The two men got onto their own ATV’s that were parked next to hers. The two vehicles headed down Jo’s road.

  Wes waited; he knew Jo didn’t know Andy’s truck. He just couldn’t leave her yet, it would feel like he was giving up. He sat for a good 30 seconds and then started the truck before slowly heading back down Jo’s road. He kept his window down so he could hear the two vehicles ahead of him. He was closing in on Jo’s house and he hoped the two men weren’t accompanying her there, but then he figured if they were with her she’d at least be safe.

  He rounded a bend and had to slam on the brakes in order to avoid hitting one of the men that had been with Jo, who was standing in the middle of the road. Their idling ATV’s were at the top of a driveway and the other man stood next to them with his arms folded. The man who stood in the road walked to Wes open window.

  “You following us?”

  “I’m following Jo.”

  “I think you need to turn around. If Jo wanted you to go back to her place she would have invited you.”

  Wes was silent for a second. “I understand and I appreciate that you are watching out for her. I won’t approach her or bother her, I promise. I just want to make sure she’s all right.”

  “You saw that she was fine tonight.”

  “If you think Jo was fine then you don’t know her as well as you think you do.”

  “And you do?”

  “I do.” Wes said confidently. “Did she tell you how she got that bruise on her face?”

  “She tripped.”

  “Nope, pretty sure that’s not how it happened.”

  “You still need to go or we’ll call the Sheriff.”

  Wes sighed. “Listen, do what you need to do. I care for Jo and screwed up, but aside from that, I think some bad people are causing trouble for her. I'm worried about her. Call her; let her know I’m here. I’m just going to sit at the top of her drive and keep watch, that’s all.”

  “We’ll be calling the Sheriff. If you really do care for Jo you’ll leave her alone.”

  Wes thought that it was the second time someone who was close to Jo had said that to him.

  “I care for her a lot, and that’s exactly why I won’t be leaving her alone. Will I try to talk with her again? No, not unless she wants me too. I’m simply going to sit in my truck, and make sure no uninvited visitors show up.”

  “I’m calling Jo and I’m calling the Sheriff and for the record if you hurt her we will deal with you, even if Jo says you could take down the whole bar, we will hurt you.”

&n
bsp; Wes snorted a small part of him pleased that Jo knew he was a bad ass. “What ever you need to do man. I only have Jo’s best interest at heart.”

  “It’s her heart I’m worried about, man.” Jo’s friend said emphasizing 'man.'

  He finally stepped away from the truck and Wes drove past him. He parked at the top of her drive just down the road from the men's own driveway. There were no other houses near hers. He could see the lights on in the cabin and he watched as one by one they turned off. Then he saw them turn back on again and he saw a curtain move and saw Jo look out the window. He watched her shut her eyes as if in pain and turn the lights off again.

  A few minutes later a car drove down the small lane. It was the Sheriff’s car. The man got out and went to Wes side window.

  “License and registration please.”

  Wes handed him everything. It was Andy’s car but one phone call would verify that he had loaned it to Wes. The Sheriff came back to the truck.

  “I’d like to ask you real friendly like to move on.” He said handing everything back to Wes.

  "I'm not going to approach the house Sheriff. I just want to hang out for a bit. The woman inside…”

  “Jo?” The Sheriff said and Wes nodded. Of course this guy knew her.

  Wes continued. “She's been the victim of some scary stuff lately. I’m just going to hang until morning, and then I’ll leave.”

  The Sheriff nodded and then walked down the driveway to Jo’s house. Wes saw him knock and a minute later Jo appeared. Wes watched as the Sheriff talked to her. Jo looked up the driveway towards him and nodded at the Sheriff. The Sheriff was satisfied with what she said and he turned to walk back to his car. Jo came down the front steps and approached the truck. Wes stepped down from the cab as the Sheriff passed by.

  Jo stood in front of Wes with her arms crossed looking adorable in a pair of boxer shorts and a tee shirt. Her hair spilled down her back and she had flip flops on. She waved at the Sheriff who was pulling away and then looked back to Wes.

  “Wes, go home. I heard all you had to say before.”

  “Relax Jo; I’m not trying to stalk you. I already screwed up once leaving you alone, I just want to make sure you’re safe tonight.”