Chapter 6
When Jules came hobbling out of the bathroom using her crutches, Nikki gave her a once-over.
“You’re not dressed,” she observed with a raise of her sculpted brow.
“Yeah, sorry. I’m just not feeling up to going to the Stockyards tonight.” She glanced out the window at the leaden sky. “And the weather’s crappy.”
Nikki’s face fell. “We’ve been talking about this all day.”
“No, you’ve been talking about it all day,” Jules corrected.
Nikki rolled her eyes. “Fine. I’ve been talking about it all day. I just can’t sit in this house for one more minute, okay? I’ll go out of my mind.”
“Then go by yourself,” Jules replied offhandedly,
Nikki blinked. “What?” Her voice pitched high. “Go by myself? Who wants to go to a rodeo alone? I need you to come with me. Come on, cuz—you’re my sidekick.” She pressed her palms together in a pleading motion. “Please.”
Jules hobbled over to the couch and collapsed, placing her crutches beside her. “I’m sorry, Nikki. I’m just not feeling up to it.” And it had been raining all day. It was the type of evening that called for staying indoors.
Nikki shuffled over, plopped down on the chair across from Jules, and crossed her arms over her chest. Her glossy, dark hair framed her face in loose waves, and her hazel eyes flashed with frustration. Even dressed casually in a fitted tee and yoga pants, Nikki exuded the effortless style of someone who’d just wrapped up a feature on coastal villages in Greece. She had that same glamorous vibe as Zoe.
The vibe had passed right over Jules. She was the down-to-earth variety who lived in the real world. The type who worked a regular job and actually enjoyed staying at home, curling up under a soft blanket, and getting swept up in a TV show.
Nikki threw her a steely look. “You can’t stay holed up in here forever.”
Watch me. This was getting old. Nikki had gone from cheerleader to mother hen, and Jules was starting to feel smothered. It had been three weeks since the accident, and she was still struggling. She was better—thankfully—but her body still hurt. She was able to go long stretches without wearing a sling on her left arm, which was a good thing. However, getting around was still difficult due to the hairline fracture in her pelvis, and her ribs were still sore, so she had to be careful not to make any big movements.
And Nikki? Nikki had turned into a cruise ship activity director, suggesting that they go to the movies, out to eat, and even shop for clothes. Just thinking about it made Jules feel exhausted. Jules kept reminding Nikki that she was still in her rehab phase, but the words fell on deaf ears. Nikki couldn’t sit still.
Nikki was here to help Jules, but there was another reason why she was in no hurry to leave. She was hiding. Hiding out here in Jules’s neat little bungalow in the quaint and historic Texas Christian University Area, or TCU as the locals called it.
Nikki had broken up with Soren—Prince Soren of Norrhavn, to be exact. Jules still couldn’t say that without chuckling in disbelief. Her cousin had been dating the actual crown prince of a real-life Scandinavian kingdom. Not just dating. The prince had proposed to her. Nikki panicked and fled the scene … back to the good ole USA where she was trying to fill Jules’s days with a flurry of distractions.
“I just want us to go out and have some fun. Is that too much to ask?” Nikki sulked.
Jules let out a long sigh. She appreciated Nikki’s help. Truly. “No, it’s not too much to ask,” she relented. “But I’m worn out right now. Can you just give me a break?”
Nikki made a face. “Give you a break? All you’ve done for days is lounge around here and watch TV.”
Jules rolled her eyes. “Okay, watching TV—that’s productive.”
“No, it’s not productive,” Nikki spouted. “And sitting around eating a pint of ice cream isn’t productive either. If I keep hanging out here, I’m gonna weigh 200 pounds before this is over. You’ve got to pick yourself up and get over Brock—plain and simple. Look at me; I got over Soren.”
“It’s hardly the same thing. You weren’t in love with him,” Jules pouted. “You’re the one who broke his heart, not the other way around.”
“True,” Nikki conceded, “but it’s time for you to move on.”
Jules knew her cousin was right, even though she wasn’t about to admit it out loud. She did need to pick herself up and get over Brock. It’s just that she was hurting. Physically. Mentally. Emotionally. And there was still a serious threat hanging over her head. “Even when I do start feeling better, I don’t know that it’s a good idea to go traipsing all over town. Think about what Mindy said when she called me the other day … that she thought she was being followed.” Jules wondered if any of her other coworkers were feeling threatened. Was Steve going on the warpath again? A shudder ran through her. She certainly hoped not.
“You said Mindy was paranoid,” Nikki countered. “That she has a tendency to blow things out of proportion.”
“She does.”
“Well, maybe she just thinks she’s being followed. You told me that Steve stopped with the threats—that you thought he’d finally moved on after his wife’s death. Why are you suddenly afraid to go out of the house?”
“Because I got hit. That’s why!” Jules nearly shouted.
Nikki came back swinging. “Yeah, but you told your dad everything was fine. That the hit and run accident had nothing to do with what happened at the surgical center.”
“I told my dad everything was fine because if I didn’t, he’d go out of his mind. You know how overprotective he is.”
Nikki let out a low chuckle. “Yeah. Trust me, he’s just like my dad.”
Jules flung her hands into the air. “Exactly. That’s why I said what I did.”
A crease dented the strip between Nikki’s eyes. “Do you think Steve was the one who rammed you with the car?”
“I don’t know.” Jules reached for the remote and turned on the TV, staring at the screen without seeing it.
Nikki groaned. “Okay, I can’t handle any more TV. Turn that wretched thing off.”
“Fine,” Jules muttered as she complied. “Sorry to put you out,” she said sarcastically.
“Has anyone even heard from Steve? Have the authorities uncovered anything?”
“No. They tried to question Steve after my accident …” Her voice dribbled off, not wanting to tell the rest. Saying it out loud made it seem all too painfully real.
“What?” Nikki prompted.
“A week before my accident, Steve got into an argument with his boss. He left work and never returned. It’s like he’s disappeared off the face of the earth. Even his kids haven’t heard from him.” When Jules met Steve, she guessed him to be a mechanic because of the grease on his fingernails and the fact that his name was embroidered on his work shirt. He was actually a diesel mechanic at a rail hub, so she wasn’t too far off.
Concern flickered across Nikki’s face. “That is concerning.” She paused, chewing on her lower lip. “I sure wish there had been a traffic camera at the intersection where you were hit.”
The accident happened at a smaller intersection where there wasn’t a camera. Had someone intentionally hit her at that particular location so there wouldn’t be any footage of the accident, or was it a coincidence? According to one of the police officers who’d taken her statement at the hospital, even if the accident had occurred at an intersection with a camera, most municipal traffic cameras weren’t equipped with night vision. They were used to monitor traffic flow rather than to identify anyone.
As far as Jules knew, there were no witnesses.
She was starting to wonder if she would ever find out who hit her. She just kept hoping that it was a random thing rather than intentional. If Steve Randall was the one who hit her, then that meant he’d been following her. Also, it meant that she was in danger of another attack.
Nikki interrupted her thoughts. “Look, I can understand why you’re spooked, but you can’t just sit around waiting for something bad to happen.” She shuddered. “You’ll go nuts.”
What Nikki really meant was that she would go nuts.
“I’m not waiting for something bad to happen,” Jules countered. “I’m relaxing. I was trying to watch a show before you freaked out about it.”
“Fine, Miss Couch Potato. Have at it.” Nikki rose to her feet. “But don’t expect me to sit around twiddling my thumbs. If you won’t go to the rodeo with me, then I’ll go for a run.”
Unease slinked through Jules. “You think that’s a good idea? To go running by yourself right now?” With all the rain, everything was gloomier and more menacing.
Jules looked at her like she’d suddenly sprouted another head. “I go running by myself all the time.”
“I know, but what if Steve is hiding out and watching us?” She spoke faster as her heart began to pound. “What if he lumps you together with me and tries to hurt you?” She couldn’t stand the thought of anything happening to Nikki, especially on account of her.
She scrunched her nose. “That’s a bit farfetched. We don’t even know yet if Steve Randall was the one who hit you.”
“Yes, but it does seem strange that I got hit by a car. A week before, Steve got into an argument with his boss and then went off the grid.” Even as she spoke the words, apprehension soured her gut. Something told her that she’d not seen the last of Steve Randall. Things were about to get gnarly; she could feel it.
“I can’t just sit around the house, I’ll go crazy. I need to go for a run.”
Nikki was so high energy. She never sat still. Jules could almost see the sparks zigzagging through her like a lightning storm. “Fine,” she relented, “but at least take some mace. I have a can on my keychain. It’s in the top drawer of the dresser in my bedroom.”
“You have mace?” A smile tugged at her lips. “Wow, cuz, I’m impressed. I guess you can handle yourself.”
“When I get to work in the mornings, it’s still dark outside most of the time. I want to be prepared.”
“I can certainly respect that.”
Jules glanced towards the bay window. “It’s been so nasty out today. You sure you wanna go outside?” She already knew the answer, as Nikki was a stubborn mule. However, she at least had to make some mention about the weather so she could claim to be the voice of reason.
Nikki got up from her seat, traipsed over to the bay window and peered out. “It’s clear,” she chirped.
“For now, but who’s to say it won’t start up again once you’re out?” Going off of the dark clouds crowding the sky, it looked like it could start pouring any minute.
“Well, if it does, I guess I’ll just get wet,” Nikki countered. “What is it I’ve heard Uncle Clayton say? If you don’t like the weather in Texas, wait a few minutes.”
“That’s the truth,” Jules chuckled. Most of the time. The last couple of days had been dreary, and it didn’t seem to be letting up anytime soon.
Nikki puffed a long, put-out breath. “I still wish you’d reconsider and go to the rodeo at the Stockyards. It’s indoors.”
“Like I didn’t know that.” She cut her eyes at Nikki. “I grew up here, remember?”
“Well, smarty pants, since you’re being such a crabby patty, I’d might as well break the news.”
She eyed Nikki warily. “What news?”
A bright smile wound over Nikki’s lips. “I signed us up for a Mediterranean cooking class.”
Jules’s jaw hit the floor. “You what?”
“Yup,” Nikki said, casually like it was no big deal. “Starts next Wednesday.”
“Nikki, no. I’m going back to work next Monday. That won’t be necessary.”
“There’s more to life than work,” Nikki stated firmly. “You need something extra to get you out of this funk.” She flashed a wicked grin. “You’ll thank me later.”
“Don’t count on it,” Jules retorted.
Nikki was still looking out the window. Her voice lifted with sudden excitement. “Oh my goodness—who in the heck is that eye candy across the street?”
Jules made a face. “What?”
“The house across the street. It’s been for sale, right? I remember seeing a sign when I first got here.”
“Uh-huh. Been vacant for months.”
“Well, it looks like someone just bought it.”
“Really?”
Nikki leaned closer to the glass. “Yep, and he looks good,” she drawled. “Real good. Things are certainly looking up in your neighborhood. Maybe I’ll have to mosey over there and bring some cookies as a housewarming gift.”
“Since when do you bake cookies?”
“Who said I was gonna bake them? That’s what grocery stores are for.”
“You’re impossible,” Jules groaned.
She motioned Jules over by wagging her hand. “Come over here. You’ve got to see this.”
The last thing Jules wanted to do was gawk at some guy across the street.
“Come on,” Nikki urged. “Just take one look. It’ll brighten your evening. Trust me,” she chimed.
With a heavy sigh, Jules grabbed her crutch. Propping it under her arm, she heaved herself up, wincing at the tenderness in her shoulder and ribcage. “This had better be worth it,” she muttered. Grabbing the other crutch, she hobbled over to the window. She looked and then looked again.
It couldn’t be.
“What the heck?” she growled.
Nikki turned to her with wide eyes. “You don’t like having a good-looking guy living across the street?” A hopeful smile curved her lips. “Maybe he’s single.”
Jules gritted her teeth. “You just wait. I’m gonna have a nice little talk with my dad.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Go and get my phone.”
“Your phone?” Nikki asked dubiously and then glanced back at the guy. “What’s this about? Do you know him?”
Urgency swelled like a tidal wave in Jules’s chest. “Just get my phone,” she ordered. “I need to call my dad. NOW!”