by Jill Sanders
Beau fell silent for a moment.
“Is this a personal choice or a professional one?” he asked.
“Both,” she said. “My father wanted me to follow my heart, and I’m just not sure my heart is with FREE anymore. I have had another job offer, but I’m still not even sure about taking that one yet. This will give me the opportunity to explore for a few months before I make a choice.”
“Of course,” he said after a moment. She could tell he was sad but could see that she’d made up her mind. “We want nothing but happiness for you,” he added. “You’ll keep in contact with us, no matter what?”
“Of course.” She felt her breath whoosh out. “I plan on still being invited to your wedding.”
“For sure.” Beau smiled. “I’ll talk to Estelle and see if she’s interested in the position.” He opened the door and waved for Joy to come out.
Joy hugged her. “We’d better get back out there. Thank you for the breakfast.”
“Anytime,” Trent said. “Oh, hey—”
Beau stopped and glanced back.
“Addy mentioned that someone told you about our land deal?”
Beau frowned but nodded. “Yeah. I’m not sure I trusted the man completely, given his history, but after looking into it further, it seems some of his information was dead-on.” When Trent just waited quietly, Beau continued: “It was Dennis Rodgers.”
Trent nodded, and Addy could see the anger fill his eyes. “Yeah. I figured it was him.”
Trent tried to keep the swirl of questions he had for Addy to himself until after they had finished doing the dishes together. He had texted his brothers the information Beau had told him.
What did it mean? How had Dennis found out about the property? Had it been before or after he’d kidnapped Kristen? Trent knew his family had as many questions about it as he did. But for now, he had other questions he could get answers to, he thought as he looked over at Addy.
He knew some of Beau’s thoughts on Dennis, but still, he wondered if Beau believed everything Dennis had told him. And what had Dennis told him exactly? Trent’s mind was torn between protecting his family’s business and shouting their plans from the rooftops so everyone would just leave them alone.
His eyes met Addy’s, and his growing frustration with her taking a giant step back in their relationship surfaced. He’d tried to be patient; after all, she’d just suffered a terrible loss.
But the way she was acting around him, he was getting the hint that she was done with him. Done with wanting to be with him. What would he do if she didn’t want a relationship with him anymore?
Suddenly he needed to move. To get some of the frustration out.
“Will you take a walk with me?” Trent held out his hand, knowing the fresh air would do them both good.
He had to get back to work tomorrow, but there was nothing stopping him from enjoying today.
“A walk sounds perfect.” Addy gave him a slight smile.
She only had a few small Band-Aids left on two of her fingers. He couldn’t even see the scar on her chin or most of the scars on her hands.
They grabbed their light jackets and headed out on one of the popular trails.
“Looks like we might get some more rain later today,” Trent said as they began to walk. “Funny, we usually have one more snow in May, but I think we’ve already seen the last of it for this season.”
“Yeah, it’s been warmer weather so far this year,” she said. “I remember a time when I was about ten, it actually snowed two inches the week before my birthday.”
He glanced over at her. “Which is . . .”
She smiled. “June third.”
“Mine’s September third.”
“I know.” She avoided his eyes.
“How do you know that?” He moved a tree branch to the side so she could pass clearly underneath it.
“Your mother would always bring Rice Krispies treats for the class on your birthday.”
He sighed, remembering now. “That was until junior high. It became childish. Boy, was I stupid. I could go for a batch of those treats right about now.”
Addy giggled. “You just had five pancakes, three eggs, two pieces of toast, and a glass of orange juice.”
At his chuckle, she stopped and looked over at him. “What?”
“That was a small breakfast compared to what I’m used to.”
She shook her head in disbelief. As they reached a fork in the trail, he let her decide which pathway to take. She took the one that would end up taking them to the top of the hill that overlooked Haven.
He followed and when they reached the top, they sat on a large rock in silence.
He loved this view of Haven. From here you could see from one end of town to the other. The main street ran in an arc, cutting the town in half. Houses and businesses spotted both hills surrounding the valley. Mount Powell sat at one end of the town, so that when driving down the main street, you got the best view ever.
His family’s land lay in the opposite direction. The location of his house would give it a nice view of the mountain from the back deck. That was if he could clear a few more trees.
“I didn’t think I’d like being back here,” she said, breaking the silence. He looked over at her and suddenly wondered what it would be like if she decided to leave at the end of the month. His gut hurt at the thought.
“Now?” he asked.
She turned slightly toward him. “It’s grown on me. I’d forgotten how wonderful some of the people are.”
“Anyone in particular?” He reached for her hand, but she moved away, and he noticed the slight frown on her lips.
“A few.” He felt emptiness seeping in.
“I’ve never been one of those kinds of people who rely on others. I guess it stems from the way I grew up. Learning how to not count on anyone for anything. Even affection,” she said as her eyes scanned the view before them.
“That shouldn’t be how anyone lives.” His eyebrows furrowed as he looked out over the town. His town. Something hit him for the first time in his life. “There was a time when I—no.” He shook his head. “When my brothers and I all felt like we couldn’t get out of Haven fast enough.”
“Has that changed?” she asked, glancing over at him.
“Yeah. It’s funny, now I don’t even think I could be happy anywhere else,” he admitted.
She was silent for a while. “I don’t know where I belong yet. I don’t even know if I’m willing to stick around here.”
The metaphorical boulder that had been sitting on his chest doubled in size.
She chuckled. “I’m out of a job at the end of this month, which means I’ll need someplace to park my trailer.”
“I have land,” he blurted out, causing her to smile.
“I was thinking of asking your mother if I could park at her place since she has that long driveway.”
“I’ll have electricity and a well by the end of this month,” he continued, as if the speed of his words could convince her. “Plus, if you’ll allow me to stay with you, it would be easier for me to work faster on getting the rest done so the house can be placed sooner.”
“Trent, I . . .” She shook her head as her eyes closed slowly as if in thought. “I don’t know what I want, but until I do, I can’t continue with this.” She motioned between them. “I have some things to think about. Lots of things, actually.”
He nodded, feeling as if the boulder had crushed him entirely. “Then park your trailer at my place. I’ll have it ready.” She started to open her mouth, but he stopped her by raising his hand. “I’ll stay at my mother’s place until you ask me to stay with you.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
The following evening Addy walked through the middle of downtown Haven, her mind spinning with complete shock.
She had made plans to meet Trent after work at the Dancing Moose, but she couldn’t hold in her excitement about the new information she’d learned. She wanted to tell someone, and s
he’d thought of him first.
To be fair, telling him that she needed a break had loosened the load on her mind. Yet for some reason, her body wasn’t feeling that release. She felt wound up tight instead. And the lawyer’s news had only increased that tension.
She walked the three blocks across town to the McGowan Enterprises building. The low sun was shining, and the entire town looked like it had been washed clean after the early evening rain.
Even the row of strip clubs she passed didn’t bother her—that was until Darla stepped out in front of her. The woman lit a long cigarette and blew the smoke in her direction.
“I thought it’s been known for a few decades now that pregnant women shouldn’t smoke,” Addy said dryly as she started to pass Darla.
Darla’s eyes narrowed as she took another drag. “It’s my body. My baby. I noticed you going into that lawyer’s office.”
“Yes,” Addy sighed, knowing she couldn’t simply sidestep and get away. Darla would probably chase her down to have the conversation she wanted to have with her. Still, she didn’t have to give her any more information.
“So? Did your father leave anything for me and his kid?” Darla asked.
Addy’s eyebrows shot up. “Why would he?”
“He’s the daddy.” Darla rubbed her hand over her very flat belly. She was wearing a dark rain jacket that ended just above her knees. What kind of outfit was underneath the jacket, Addy didn’t even care.
She continued to rub her hand over her midsection. The fact that she held a cigarette in that hand caused Addy’s skin to crawl.
“So you say.” She tried to edge aside, but Darla reached out and wrapped her free hand around Addy’s upper arm.
“You know it’s the truth.” Darla’s grip tightened. “You could always tell when I was lying.”
“That was years ago,” Addy supplied calmly. She searched her ex–best friend’s eyes to see if there was any way to tell now if she was telling the truth. The funny thing was, she couldn’t.
“The baby is your daddy’s. He showed up one night at the bar, just as I was closing, then he forced himself on me.” Darla’s eyes narrowed as she took a step closer.
Addy saw her lie for what it was as she stepped back and her shoulders scraped against the brick wall. The fact that the woman was almost a foot taller than Addy and almost twenty pounds heavier caused a quick moment of fear to spike through her. Then again, most of that height was from the pair of spiky heels she was wearing.
“I’m owed something. He gave me some money.” Darla bared her teeth in a mean smile. “Ten grand. Told me he was going to give me the same amount every month.”
Addy held in her temper. She’d been prepared for a fight, but Darla had brought her A game.
The lawyer had discussed the ten grand missing from her father’s account. Knowing her father had given it to Darla made Addy’s skin crawl, but then she got an idea to turn the tables.
“Did you blackmail my father?” she asked loudly and stepped toward Darla. She couldn’t hide her smile when the woman took a step away from her. “Even after you blurted it out in the grocery store? Did you think he’d pay again after you spilled the beans to everyone in town?”
She took another step and watched Darla back away even farther.
“You know, if you really are pregnant, I and my lawyer will want proof. Even then, we’ll demand a paternity test to prove it was his.”
Darla had been looking worried, but now she smiled. “How? Your father is dead.”
“DNA.” Addy raised a brow. “I share his DNA. They should be able to match it to me, and if not, I’ll exhume my father’s body before I give you one more dime of his. Don’t bother me again until you have proof that kid, if there is one, is my blood.”
She turned and walked the rest of the block to Trent’s building, reveling in the psychic win.
When she entered, she took a deep breath and leaned back against the glass doors. Boy, that felt good.
“Running from the law?” Rea chuckled as she looked at her over her reading glasses.
“I wish it was the law.” Addy dropped her bag on a waiting room chair. “Just a former best friend turned stripper, turned . . . possible . . . what? Mother of my supposed half-sibling?” She got a headache just thinking about it.
“I heard about that mess.” Rea shook her head and pulled off her reading glasses. “I’m sure we will find out soon enough that Darla is lying.”
“I hope so. I can’t tell when she’s lying anymore.” Addy stopped at the end of Rea’s desk.
“She’s had years to practice since you left town,” Rea said. “Are you here to see Trent?”
Suddenly Addy remembered why she had come here in the first place and smiled.
“Yes, is he in?” She glanced down the hallway.
“No, but you can keep me company until he gets back.” Rea nodded at the wall clock. “Which should be in about fifteen minutes.”
“Sounds wonderful,” she said, taking the chair that Rea indicated.
“You look fancy today.” Rea motioned to Addy’s simple flowered summer dress. She’d found it in the back of her small closet and decided to wear it to the lawyer’s office. She’d tossed on her cream button-up sweater over it and had been impressed at how nice it felt to wear a dress again. She didn’t own a pair of heels, but her brown dress boots finished the look perfectly. She knew she would be dealing with a dark chapter in her life that morning and wanted a little sunshine to get her through it. So she had taken extra time with her outfit, makeup, and hair.
“I had a meeting with my father’s lawyer,” she said, taking a deep breath. Since she couldn’t tell Trent, Rea was the next best thing. The news was almost bursting from her chest.
Rea’s eyebrows shot up. “I heard about what your parents did.”
Addy nodded and played with one of the last Band-Aids on her fingers. The stitches had been taken out, leaving only bruises. She knew as much as anyone that Rea didn’t care too much for gossip because she’d been the subject of it for years. So her interest was surprising. Well, here comes a great tidbit.
“Turns out my dad left me everything he had. Apparently he’d kept his finances a secret from my mother.”
“Smart man,” Rea said, and at Addy’s look, shook her head. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean . . .”
“It’s okay. It was smart of him. My mother would have consumed it all like she consumed him.” A wave of sadness washed over her.
“Even though she’s blood, it doesn’t make her family. Take a look at me. I love my son, but . . .” Rea leaned back in her chair. “There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t wish he had turned out like my other boys.” She smiled over at the picture of the McGowans. It was an oil painting done several years back of the entire family.
Trent must have been around seventeen then. He was just as handsome as she remembered. He’d been her fantasy. Sure, all the boys were handsome, but Trent . . . he made her heart melt just looking at him.
“Does he know how you feel about him?” Rea smiled over at her.
“What?” Addy blinked a few times.
“Honey, I’m not blind. I’ve been in love a few times in my life.”
“Love?” Addy shook her head. “I’m not . . .”
Rea’s laughter stopped her just as the door opened.
Addy felt her heart skip as she watched Trent walk in.
He was wearing a pair of gray slacks and a white button-up shirt with a dark-gray jacket. His hair was neatly combed; however, the scruff on his jaw contradicted the businesslike look. He was so damn sexy she felt her mouth water.
“Damn meeting ran over . . .” he said before looking up from his phone. When he did, his eyes locked with hers almost instantly.
She couldn’t be in love with Trent. Nothing good could ever come from it.
“Well,” Rea said, breaking the silence, causing both of them to glance over at her. “That’s it for me tonight. I’ve got a hot
date.” She winked at Addy. Then turned to Trent. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” She flipped off her computer and grabbed her purse. “You’ll make sure to lock up when you leave?”
Trent didn’t even blink as Rea closed the front door behind her, laughter leaking back through.
“I thought we had dinner plans,” he said.
“We do.” Addy stood up and tucked her hands together.
His eyes moved over her dress and he smiled, causing his dimple to flash. “You look . . . wow,” he said, setting down a circular black case on Rea’s desk.
“Thank you.” She tried to think of a different subject, anything to change the way he was looking at her now. She knew she had to be strong if she was going to remain on course. She looked down at the case. “Is this for the school?” He’d talked with her about the project, and she’d been very interested in his plans.
“Yeah, they finally approved these.” He patted the case, not taking his eyes from her. “It only took them half a dozen versions to finally agree.” He shook his head as he wrapped his arms around her waist. “Have I mentioned that you look amazing?”
Addy felt her entire body react to his touch and knew that she couldn’t fight her desire to be with him much longer. She was so used to not having happiness, not having someone close to her, that she was losing a hold on her own life. Why couldn’t she finally take her pleasures and enjoy life? She wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “No, I believe the word you used was . . . wow.”
“I can be smoother,” he said, pulling her closer.
“Show me,” she said just before his lips met hers.
Trent pulled them toward the hallway, thinking of nothing other than getting her to the sofa that sat in the corner of his office.
They moved down the long hallway and his back bumped into a door. The sofa forgotten, he pulled on the handle and spun them around, pushing her up against the back of the door as his mouth took hers in a greedy dance.
Her hands were removing his jacket, pulling and tugging at his shirt until he heard buttons pop. When her fingers touched his bare skin, they both moaned.
