Chapter 39
Thirty-Nine
“Beck?” I pop my head up in surprise from where I’m sorting through some of my salvaged designs to see Meg standing at my door. “Do you have a few minutes?” she asks.
“Hey. I didn’t expect to see you today.” Yesterday was tough, but with the support of Ryan and my friends, I’m feeling better today. “The last time you stopped in unexpectedly, you brought me a treat.” I pretend to peek around her.
“No treat,” she laughs, “but I brought you something. Can we talk privately?”
“Now you have my attention.” I peer at the clock on the wall and grimace. “I only have ten minutes before my next appointment, though.”
“This won’t take long.” She slips in and shuts the door behind her. I gesture to a chair for her to sit down. “Are you okay?” My forehead creases as I sit on a stool and roll towards her. Her cheeks are pink from the cold, but underneath, her skin is pale. There’s no way she’s getting enough sleep.
“Yeah. I’m okay,” she tries to reassure me. “I have to tell you something, but I need you to promise me not to ask too many questions.”
“Okay,” I say slowly, furrowing my eyebrows.
She takes a big breath before all her words rush out. “I was lurking on one of those ‘Are We Dating the Same Guy?’ groups yesterday.” She glances quickly at me and then back at her hands. “I’m not ready to talk about why. Not right now, okay?”
“Okay,” I agree, nibbling the corner of my lip. “When you are ready, I’ll be here for you.”
“I know,” she says sadly before continuing. “While I was poking around, I found a photo of Braden.”
I jerk my head up and sit straight. “Really?” I exclaim.
“Yeah,” she sighs. “I hope I didn’t overstep, but I messaged the woman privately. I told her I had a friend she should talk to. Don’t worry—I didn’t tell her who you were.”
“What did she say?” I ask slowly, not confident I want to know the answer.
“Her name is Jade. She gave me her cell phone number. She would like to talk to you.”
Blowing out a breath, I stand and pace the length of the room. Do I want to talk to the person who’s covering for Braden? Maybe I should give the information to Mason and let him deal with her.
Megan slips her hand into the pocket of her jacket, pulls out a folded slip of paper, and places it in my hand.
“Thank you.” I unfold it and look at the number. Glancing up at Meg, I ask, “Do you think I should call her?”
Shrugging, she says, “Jade may be able to answer some questions. At least find out how long they have been together. I would want to know.”
“Yeah, maybe.” I put the note into my back pocket. “Thank you for this.”
“Can I ask you a question before I go?” she asks, tucking a loose curl behind her ear.
“Of course. Anything.”
“How did you know your relationship was over?” She looks at me with teary hazel eyes.
“I just couldn’t do it anymore,” I say sadly.
“There were lots of problems over the years, but then everything would be good, and I would convince myself it was all in my head. He knew that and used it against me. Finding out he made plans to meet another woman on our road trip was the final straw.”
I hate my friend feels like she needs to navigate what’s going on between her and Jeff alone. Unfortunately, I also understand why.
Before she can respond, there is a soft knock on my door, and April pops her head in. “Sorry to interrupt. Your next appointment is here.”
They can wait. I don’t want Meg to feel like I’m rushing her out the door. Before I can say so, she stands and says, “I won’t keep you. Talk soon.”
April opens it farther to allow her to pass. I hear her muffled voice say, “Excuse me,” in the hall and the deep timbre of a man’s voice before he appears at my door.
“Vaughan?” I stand and tilt my head. “What are you doing here?”
I haven’t seen him since the first time I met him at The Riff, but he would be difficult to forget. He oozes confidence and charm, and he’s easy to look at. April is a very lucky woman and, by the hearts in her eyes, she knows it.
“I have an appointment.” He smiles warmly before glancing down at April glued to his side.
“April,”—I quirk an eyebrow at my friend—“you never mentioned that Vaughan was my eleven o’clock client.”
“Didn’t I? Oops, I must have forgotten,” she says innocently, then chuckles.
“Don’t be angry with her. I asked her not to mention it was me. I just want a few minutes of your time to talk.”
Fuck my life. I’m trying to earn an income here. I can’t waste time chatting when I could be working. But Vaughan and Ryan are friends. Not to mention he is April’s…boyfriend. Maybe? Probably.
“Okay,” I agree. “Come in.” I’m going to have to think about hauling in another chair or a couch from the waiting room if people are going to keep popping in.
He drops a kiss on top of April’s head before saying, “After Beck and I talk, we can go for lunch. Okay, Sugar?”
“No hurry.” She grins up at him before giving me a quick wave and closing the door behind her. She’s become quite the little busybody lately.
“May I?” he asks, pointing to the empty chair.
“Of course.”
“You must be wondering why I’m here?” he asks, removing his peacoat and folding it over the back before he sits.
“I assume it’s not for the tattoo consultation that I have scheduled?” I sigh, narrowing my eyes.
“Maybe another time,” his voice rumbles. Getting right to the point, he says, “I hear you are having trouble with an ex-boyfriend. Braden Mathews. Is that correct?”
Leaning my ass on my tattoo table, I narrow my eyes. “I am. Which one of them is telling stories about me? Ryan? April? Both?” What the fuck? Vaughan is a virtual stranger. I don’t like that he knows anything about my private life.
He holds up a hand. “Please don’t be angry with either of them. April has been concerned about you for months. Ryan has been tight-lipped about what’s going on, so I’m coming directly to you.”
“Okay?” I question, narrowing my eyes and crossing my arms over my chest.
“I may be able to help you with your problem,” he says plainly.
When I raise an eyebrow, he continues. “What is the one thing Braden wants more than anything?”
“Besides driving me crazy?” I huff out a sharp breath. “That’s easy. To move away from Emerley. He hates it here.”
He nods his head as if I gave him the answer he was expecting. “What would you say if I told you I can make that happen?”
“I don’t understand,” I say slowly.
“I own businesses all over the province,” he says. “Hotels, bars, a golf course, a construction company. I’m sure I could find a position for Braden somewhere that would get him far away from Emerley…and out of your life.”
Rubbing my forehead, I watch him. “I don’t understand what’s happening right now.”
He holds my gaze, his expression steady.
“Unfortunately, you and I both know Braden’s probably never going to be held accountable for any of this,” he says—putting into words what Mason has only hinted at.
“Even if the police find evidence to arrest him, he’ll only get a slap on the wrist. And then he’ll be right back to harassing you. ”
My stomach tightens. I know he’s right.
“The system isn’t perfect,” he continues, his voice quieter now. “Too many men get away with things they shouldn’t.”
“Okay,” I say hesitantly, biting the corner of my lip. “But…how would this even work? Braden leaving town would fix most of my problems, but this feels a little too good to be true.”
Satisfaction crosses his face.
“My assistant, Finn, will give him an offer he can’t refuse.”
I draw my eyebrows together. “How? I can’t imagine any world where Finn and Braden even travel in the same circles.”
“Leave the details to me,” he says with certainty. “Finn is very good at his job. He’ll do whatever is needed to get this done quickly.”
“That sounds ominous,” I mutter.
Fiddling with the end of my silk scarf, I ask, “Why do you want to help me, Vaughan? Because I am April’s friend? Ryan’s girlfriend?”
“Yes, partially. I care deeply about April. Her concerns are my concerns. And Ryan is one of my best friends. Since you have come into his life, he’s been happier than he has been in quite some time.”
“I’m not sure about that; I’m kind of a pain in his ass.” I push my hair over my shoulder before resting my palms on either side of me on the table.
“Both things can be true.” He smirks at me before his voice turns serious.
“My other reason is selfish. My mother was married to an angry, arrogant man—my father. I watched him break her down over the years until she was only a shell of herself. She sent me away to boarding school with Ryan to protect me from him. I’ll always be grateful for that. ”
He leans forward slightly. “I couldn’t help her then, but I can help you now. You’ve already been courageous and removed him from your life. Allow me to take care of the next step and send him away. He will be so busy he won’t have time to bother you.”
“Where is your mother now?” I ask, fearful of the answer.
“Thankfully, she was able to divorce my father many years ago. She kept the cottage in Muskoka and now lives there year-round with her new husband. She’s very happy. I would like you to find that happiness as well.”
“I don’t know, Vaughan. This is a lot.” I glance down at my shoes before meeting his eyes. “Braden may become suspicious. He may refuse.”
Rising to his feet, Vaughan steps towards me and places a gentle hand on my shoulder. “Trust me. The offer will be too good for him to decline.”
“Can I have a few days to think about it?” I ask. This all seems a little too good to be true.
“Absolutely. Take as long as you need. My offer doesn’t expire.”
“Thank you.”
He puts on his coat and removes a money clip from the inside pocket. Counting out five one hundred-dollar bills, he places them on the table beside me before opening the door.
“No. I can’t take your money.” I scoop it up and try to shove it back into his hands.
“Nonsense. I booked an appointment, and now I’m paying for your time. Let me know what you decide,” he says with a wide grin before returning to reception to collect April. I feel like that man always gets his way.
“What was that about?” Logan asks, leaning up against the doorframe. “Isn’t that April’s new man?”
Shoving the money into my pocket, I say, “Yeah. He thinks he can help me with Braden.”
“Oh, yeah?” He stands up straighter and glances towards reception.
“Uh-huh.” I bite my lower lip. “It’s not a secret Braden hates living in Emerley. Vaughan thinks that a job and money may give him an incentive to leave town permanently.”
“It’s a good idea,” Logan says as he spins the beaded bracelet circling his wrist. “Are you going to take him up on it?”
Nodding slowly, I run my palm along my jaw. “I think so, but I need to talk to someone first.”