Chapter Seven
Hunted By The Past
H ailey
“I am so fucking sorry,” I say once the door slams shut behind Derick’s retreating figure.
I know that man well enough after spending two years of my life with him to know that this is far from over. This is why I left the city. Derick has lost his fucking mind, and I don’t feel safe anywhere near him anymore.
After catching him screwing Amanda’s brains out, a lot of other shit fell into place. He wanted me to quit my job, he tried to keep me away from my friends and family. I could finally see all the verbal and emotional abuse he had ben heaping onto me throughout the years. And when it all finally clicked, I realized how lucky I had been that it had never gotten physical.
Love makes us blind, though, and I was totally oblivious to his faults. But not anymore. I can see him for the asshole he is and not the nice guy he was pretending to be.
“I need you to explain what just happened, Hailey,” Laine says gently as he leads me back into his booth.
I am so grateful that neither Skye nor Alistair were here to witness that scene. Humiliation swamps me and I want to crawl under a rock and die. How the hell did he find me?
“Talk to me,” Laine says. It’s only now that I realize I’m sitting on his tattoo table. He must have lifted me onto the surface and I somehow missed it while I was lost in my thoughts.
“It’s nothing,” I say with a weak smile, trying to brush it off.
“I may have only met you yesterday, but I know what a woman looks like when she is terrified, Hailey. Your ex scares the shit out of you, and I’m not letting you leave until I know what is going on.”
“Laine...”
Embarrassment burns in my veins as I look away from him. How do I just lay out everything for this virtual stranger?
“My sister went through the same shit. She wouldn’t let me help her,” he confesses. “Let me help you,” Laine implores turning my face back to him. “You don’t have to be alone.”
I stare at him, waiting for him to show any sign of insincerity. But there isn’t any and I know why. Laine is one of those rare unicorns you read about in romance novels. He is a genuine, bonafide, good guy.
“I’ll give you the CliffsNotes version. But I’m not going into details without a truckload of booze.”
Laine nods before taking a seat in his chair and rolling between my legs.
“We dated for two years. I thought he was the one, and he thought he could fuck my sister and I would never find out.”
I watch Laine’s gaze harden at the words I say with practiced nonchalance. “I kicked him out, but he became weird. He followed me everywhere, basically stalking me. The thing that finally had me running was when my car broke down and he was waiting on the side of the road. It took his betrayal for me to see who he really is and I don’t want to see what he is capable of if pushed to the limit.”
“Did you go to the cops?” Laine asks.
“It won’t help. He’s one of them.”
“Shit.” He stands, starting to pace the small space. “What’s your plan?” He faces me, pinning me to the spot with his warm hazel gaze.
“I don’t have one. I left. And now he’s followed me here.”
Jumping down from his table, I grab my handbag and start for the door. “I should just get my shit and leave.”
I don’t get far before Laine cages me against the door, effectively keeping it shut. “You’re not going anywhere,” he rasps in my ear. “If you leave now, he is just going to follow you. We need to make him stop now.”
“Laine,” I start but he spins me around and I forget what I wanted to say.
I was not expecting to see the look of determination on his face.
“I’m not going to allow him to scare you anymore. I’m tired of assholes scaring and hurting good women.”
“And what are you going to do about it?”
A smile curves his lips. “I’m going to call a guy I played football with back in high school. He happens to be the sheriff now. Derick is way out of his jurisdiction. And this is Franklinton, not the city. We take care of our own.”
“You don’t even know me,” I remind him softly.
“I don’t have to know you to help you.”
“You can’t follow me around all day,” I point out hoping he will see sense.
“Well, since you basically declared me to be your new boyfriend, I think I can do whatever the hell I want. And when I can’t be there, I have two brothers, a cousin, and a town full of friends to fill in.”
“You can’t be serious!” I glare at him.
“You can fight me on this, but as your boyfriend ,” he says enunciating the word, “I will take care of what is mine.”
And then he kisses me. This isn’t like any kiss I’ve ever experienced. Laine Grey doesn’t just kiss you with his lips. No, this is a whole-body experience. One hand grabs my hip and pushes me harder against the door while his other threads through my hair and angles me exactly how he wants me.
My body responds to his dominance immediately, becoming soft and pliable beneath his ministrations. A small sound escapes me before I gather my wits and push against his chest.
Laine doesn’t disappoint, stopping immediately.
“I never should have insinuated that you were my boyfriend,” I say in a husky tone.
“I wasn’t complaining.”
“This situation is complicated enough without throwing attraction and emotion into the mix,” I counter.
He frowns and the scar on his face pulls taught. I brush my fingers across the raised flesh and his features soften. “Maybe we can just fake date?” I say softly.
“So, no kissing behind closed doors?”
“No. I have a problem, and you want to help me with it. This is how.”
“I may have gotten a little carried away,” he says with a smirk not removing his hands.
“Clearly,” I deadpan.
“I could say I’m sorry but that would be lying.”
“I can’t do this with you,” I say pushing him away again, and this time he releases me.
I need to get out of here and away from him. The man is putting me under some kind of spell that is fucking with my head, and I can’t deal with him right now. I have enough problems without adding to it.
He pulls me back when I finally have the door open. “I’m sorry, okay? I shouldn’t have done that. But I can’t promise I won’t do it again.”
I glare at him before stomping out. Men are a complication I don’t need in my life right now. Jumping in my car, I tear out of the parking space and drive home. It’s only when I see Damien sitting on the porch swing with his black eye that I realize exactly how serious Laine really is.
“Do you want me to hit you again?” I ask as I mount the stairs two at a time, my anger pushing me.
“I brought coffee,” he replies holding up a bag of beans and showing me the expensive machine beside him, still in its box.
“You’re a fast learner,” I smirk. “If I let you in this house, I want the spare key, and you’re not allowed to tell Laine shit.”
“How about I keep the key, just in case of emergency, and I set up your new coffeemaker?” he says with a smile. “And Laine can kiss both our asses.”
I laugh before letting him in. I like this one. At least someone seems to be on my side.