Chapter 2
Marlie didn’t know what had come over her. She didn’t normally make a scene in public, but she was so over Ben’s nonsense.
After doing his best to win her over after that first date, he’d been a dream boyfriend. For all of a month.
Then, over time, the red flags had not only appeared but had flown and grown.
Though he accused her of only wanting him for his money, she’d been enamored of the good-looking, gentlemanly guy who didn’t live with his parents and actually had a job.
Turned out he might as well have lived with his parents for all the attention he gave them and not her. And his job seemed to be nothing more than a title where he got accolades for those who did the actual work. Some financial genius he turned out to be.
She knew she should have dropped him after hearing his constant bragging. Or his gaslighting when she’d call him on his attitude with people. The way he never wanted her to meet his wealthy friends or do more than say hello if they did run into them.
Friends like Darlene McBoob.
She snorted as she let herself into her small cottage a few blocks from central downtown. A dream she’d earned by being the favorite teacher of a few star pupils whose parents dominated the rental market.
She hadn’t been too proud to take the offer of a reduced rental rate. Teachers didn’t make squat, and she had to supplement her meager income by coaching and on some occasions, tutoring. The coaching she loved. The tutoring? Not so much.
Sighing, Marlie tossed her jacket on a hook and finally let herself grin at the memory of that giant lumbering after her.
Had she not already seen him in the restaurant—because who didn’t notice a near giant with dark eyes and a scruff that looked, well, not sexy, but not not-sexy either—she might have been worried. He had interesting features. A high forehead, a nose that had been broken before, and a square jaw.
The guy put the man in manly. Those muscles and that height had been no joke.
But coming on to her after she’d just torn into Ben? Who did that?
She had no intention of following up one bad boyfriend with another, especially not one who clearly looked like a serial killer. The deep, gravelly voice and big fists didn’t help his image.
For a short moment, she let herself wonder about him. Then her anger and disappointment over Ben returned.
Marlie had been on so many dates in her lifetime. Closing in on thirty, she’d expected to be married by now. Having a kid or two. Or at least dating someone seriously.
Instead, she’d spent years trying to find a real man with character and decency. They were few and far between. The dating apps sucked. Friends of friends hadn’t panned out. And her father would be more than content to never have his little girl find a man of her own.
Her brothers hadn’t helped her dating life either, come to think of it.
She refused to think about what those boneheads might do to Ben if they found out what a tool he’d been.
Should I…? No. I can’t tell them. Then one of them will get arrested for assault. And the sheriff is less than forgiving with my brothers already.
The sheriff being her mother, of course.
Marlie plunked down on her sofa, grabbed a throw pillow, and screamed into it.
Then she made herself a cup of cocoa and put on a Hallmark mystery.
A little fictional death never hurt anyone. And if the bad guy happened to resemble Ben, all the better.
* * *
The next morning, she received a call from one of the veterinary assistants and took herself to the office, where she often spent her free time.
Dr. Jeff Morrison, her best friend, motioned for her to assist him with a purring older cat, one of their regulars who needed help with his medicine while his elderly owner chatted outside with the receptionist. He shook his head. “In public? Really?”
“I know.” She stroked Killer’s fluffy tail and let him rub all over her hands. “I didn’t mean to share my business with the world, but can you believe Ben was, heck, probably still is, sleeping with Darlene McBride?”
Jeff arched a brow.
She sighed. “Yes, yes. You called it two months ago. You were right. Happy now?”
He held out a hand.
Marlie glared. “Hey, I’m holding onto Killer for you. That should be all I owe you.”
Jeff didn’t budge until she placed a dollar in his hand. Then he quickly gave the cat a shot followed by two pills Killer hated having to swallow. The treats following helped smooth things over before he walked Killer out to his owner.
Marlie wiped down the table and waited.
She’d known Jeff since elementary school. They’d been best friends since they’d fought over a lone school swing, giving each other bloody noses before bonding in time-out.
They’d been with each other through boyfriend after boyfriend. He was no better than her at finding someone to commit to. Though lately, he’d been pretty secretive about someone new in his life.
The moment he returned, she told him about the giant. Andre? No, he was a wrestler. Derrick? Doug? Something like that.
“You’re horrible with names.” Jeff shook his head. “But you were smart not going out with him. He followed you after witnessing you tear into Ben.”
“I know.” But he was kind of cute. In a stalkerish way.
“Guy’s gotta be a masochist. Who goes after someone after witnessing them break up?”
“Someone with bad social awareness?”
Jeff grinned. “You’ve still got it, Marlie. A man-magnet, as my sister likes to say.”
Like Carla was someone to judge. “Isn’t she married to husband number four?”
“Yes, but that doesn’t mean she’s not right.”
Marlie shrugged. “I can’t help that I’m awesome.” For some odd reason, guys had always liked her. Enough to date her for a while, but not enough to stick around for the long haul.
Before she could get back into her funk, she poked Jeff in the shoulder.
“Ow.”
“Oh please. You’re nearly as big as the socially awkward giant.”
Jeff preened.
“Now quit avoiding answering me. Why are you being so weird about who you’re dating?”
“It’s not that big of a secret.” He flushed.
“Ah-ha! It is. Who is it? Do I know him?” Hope’s Turn wasn’t that big, though he could be dating someone who lived nearby.
Before Jeff could answer, his assistant popped her head in the door. “Hey, Dr. Morrison? We got a call about an abandoned colony of feral cats. I’d go, but we’re swamped today.”
They both looked at Marlie.
I’m such a sucker. “I’ll go. Just give me the address.”
Jeff smile widened.
“But you’re not off the hook.” She poked him in the arm again.
His assistant, Maddie, grinned, handed Marlie a sticky note with the address, and left.
Jeff held up his hands in surrender. “Whatever you say, Mad Marlie. I truly appreciate the help.”
“I know.” Jeff and she loved helping animals. Yet another thing they had in common. “One more thing. Don’t even think of telling my brothers about Ben. You know how they get.”
He mimed zipping his lips then ruined it by saying, “I won’t tell them. But Marlie, it’s probably all over town by now. Maddie told me about it first thing this morning, and she heard it from her cousin who works at the restaurant.”
Marlie groaned. “Great. Well, hopefully I can get past Thanksgiving without them harping about what a douche Ben is.”
“They’re not wrong.”
“I know.” She groaned again. “I’ll go pick up the cats. Movie tonight?” She had a few more days until the school break ended. And since the tournament her team had been supposed to play in had gotten canceled, she finally had some free time to indulge in being lazy.
“Deal. My place though.”
“Sounds good.” She left after grabbing a few cages she stuffed in the back of the veterinary van.
With any luck, she’d be able to rescue the felines before the bad weather really hit.
She hadn’t counted on finding them behind a seedy bar on the outskirts of town.
Or that she’d come face-to-face with the giant who’d propositioned her last night strangling a calico.