Hellbent (Pine Bluff #3)

Chapter Ten

I woke up hungover as fuck, but luckily Rosie had left out water and crackers for me next to the bed. Once I pulled myself together, I checked my phone to see if Dom had texted me any updates on how things were going at Pretty Kitty or, even better, dirt on Dane. I figured no news was good news. An alert I’d set for myself flashed on my phone, reminding me to report Officer Boyd. Memories flooded me of how I’d suspected that asshole had roofied that drink he’d offered me, and his conduct had been wildly inappropriate.

I wasn’t shy when it came to justice. I’d reported Tyler, the dirtbag who cheated on Kaylee and Rosie, last year because his misconduct as a lawyer had been concerning. I was pretty sure I’d gotten him fired. I’d also reported a creepy professor in college who kept coming up with stupid reasons for me to visit him during office hours. He’d eventually left me alone, but gave me a lower grade than I’d deserved, the petty asshole.

I knew better than to simply report Boyd to his department. Since Pine Bluff was a small town, I was sure the circles were tight and the corruption ran deep. So I reported his ass to Maine State Police through their Office of Professional Standards. I stared at my email that outlined my concerns and request for a call back to discuss it further and felt like a Karen for a nanosecond. I reasoned with myself that if it wasn’t me last night, it might be a different woman tomorrow and hit send.

The rest of the day was spent running around and getting everything ready for the wedding. Everyone must’ve nursed their hangovers for most of the morning because by the time we gathered for the rehearsal dinner, everyone was in good spirits. The event was squaring up to be unpretentious and intimate. I was proud of Kaylee and Harley for not losing sight of what weddings should be about—a couple and their love. Not showing off or, worse, going broke.

The wedding party gathered before the rehearsal dinner to go over the logistics of the handfasting, which was taking place lakeside in front of their cabin. The ceremony itself was on a wide T-shaped dock, while the guests were to be seated on the shore. They’d even arranged Persian rugs to line the wooden dock, a little, colorful touch only someone like Kaylee would’ve thought of.

I was wearing a flowy pale-pink dress about as long as my bridesmaid gown so I could ensure nothing snagged it tomorrow. Dane was wearing black dress pants and a black button-up shirt, that was unbuttoned just enough to tempt me, and no tie. He caught me staring at him from where he stood with the other groomsmen and gave me a wink. I flashed him a smile, grateful Lady Geneva Gravedust, a middle-aged goth woman sporting purple hair, interrupted the gathering to burn a bundle of herbs around the perimeter of the crowd to bless us.

From there, I got in line. Lady Gevena Gravedust kicked off the procession by strutting to the altar at the end of the dock. The respective grandparents and parents made their ways to where they’d sit tomorrow, followed by Harley, who joined the high priestess at the altar. Carson, Harley’s best man, followed, then the rest of the groomsmen, including Dane. After the bridesmaids, it was my turn. And since they’d opted out of having a flower girl or ringbearer, Kaylee and her dad were right behind me. When it was time to walk back, Dane offered me a hand off the dock, which was infuriatingly polite but admittedly appreciated.

“Thank you,” I said, squeezing his hand before letting it go. “How’s your finger?”

He examined it with a lopsided grin. “Totally good. I forgot it even happened. Thankfully someone really smart bandaged me up.”

I swatted away his praise. “It was nothing.” Out of my periphery, I could see Kaylee getting swarmed by Harley’s yaya, who was insistently handing her a mysteriously thick envelope and pinching her cheeks. I pointed to the exchange. “I, um, better go save Kaylee from whatever that is.”

Dane just chuckled, hanging back while I made my way over to the bride-to-be.

After shielding Kaylee from any other exchanges, I drove to the rehearsal dinner. It was at Stonebriar Inn since most of the guests were staying there to begin with. The inn itself was a three-story Queen Anne-style Victorian estate with crisp white paint and sprawling gardens nestled near the top of one of the mountains in town. I parked and entered through the wrong door, coming in through the kitchen by accident. Azalea was there, beaming with a smile while she wiped her hands on her apron that had mushrooms printed on it.

“Hey, girl! Let me show you where to go!”

“I’m sorry. I had a feeling I parked in the wrong spot.” I eyed my hearse over my shoulder.

“Oh, nonsense! You’re totally fine.” She ushered me in through a narrow hallway, turning through corridors of rooms.

The inn had that quintessential Victorian charm with an edge of rugged details. The mix of historic Maine and cozy care was so evident. The floors were wooden with the occasional creaky board, and the walls were sprinkled with detailed molding, antique light fixtures, and oil paintings. Thankfully, instead of the old funk most historic homes had, it smelled like baked goods. It made my mouth water.

Azalea escorted me into the banquet hall, which was more masculine than I expected, with darker woods and hunter-green wallpaper. The chandelier above the table was dimmed, making the lighting intimate along with a fireplace at the end of the room with a moose bust above it.

“This place is lovely, Azalea.”

“Thanks! I love hosting small events like this. Especially for friends.” She clasped her hands together under her chin. “It’s a pretty small crowd, so we’re not doing assigned seating except for the bride and groom at the end closest to the fireplace. Feel free to pick a spot and help yourself to some water, wine, and a roll,” Azalea explained cheerily before turning to leave.

I eyed the large oval table, picking a spot two seats from the end in hopes that Kaylee’s parents would sit next to her and I could buddy up to them. A few people came in that I finally started to recognize after the festivities. We made a few jokes about the bachelorette party, trailing off our polite conversation when Rosie came in holding Carson’s hand as he walked behind her protectively. He was somehow a broodier version of Harley, which I found amusing but a little intimidating. I had no clue how Rosie had tamed that beast. She must be braver than I was.

“Hey, Rosie!” I said as perkily as I could. The rehearsal was so quick, I hadn’t even had time to say anything to her.

She looked up from where her feet dodged chair legs to squeeze between the table and wall. “Oh, hey, girl! Glad you recovered from last night!” she said, flashing Carson a pretty smile as he pulled out a chair for her.

Taking his own seat, he glowered at me. We had never been formally introduced so I held eye contact with him, finally earning a nod with a simple, “Hey.”

A solid, warm chest skimmed my back. The scent of oakmoss and leather teased my nose.

“Hey, Maze,” Dane’s deep voice rumbled as he pulled out the chair on my left.

“I’m sorry, that seat is reserved for Kaylee’s parents,” I explained in my friendly customer service voice I was so accustomed to using at work.

“My bad,” he said, dragging across my back again. I looked up at the ceiling, rolling my eyes as Rosie giggled, watching us. Now on the other side of me, he sat down with a smirk. I shot him daggers, fiddling with the cloth napkin on my lap. This was not the place to openly flirt with me. Not only did I not want to pull attention from Kaylee and Harley, I also didn’t want to get all flustered. I was already experiencing enough emotions with my best friend getting married.

Sensing he should give me a moment, he turned to Carson and Rosie across from us. “Car-bro, didn’t get a chance to ask you last night. How was the honeymoon?”

“Warm,” Carson said flatly.

Wow, stunning response.

Dane went on, unperturbed. “You look tanner than normal. Did you get some good beach time?”

“Yeah.”

Rosie elbowed her husband, breaking into another amused smile. “It was lovely, thank you for asking. Did you hear Kaylee and Harley are going to Greece for theirs? How cool is that?”

Dane unfurled his cloth napkin, putting it on his lap. “It’s probably just an excuse for moose killer to dance around naked on some beach without being arrested.”

We all snickered at that accurate observation as more people streamed in. Dane pulled out a Diet Coke from his pants pocket, snapping the tab with a playful glance at me.

“Why do you have that?” I asked as he poured it slowly into my wine glass.

“What do you mean? I love this stuff,” he said, pouring the last half into his own. “To keeping a clear head,” he said before clinking his glass to mine.

I took a sip, keeping my eyes on him. He was handsome as hell in the dim light, the fire casting a soft glow on his strong cheekbones and defined jaw.

Before I could ask him anything else, Kaylee inched by me, Harley right after her, their presence pulling my attention to the end of the table. They were both beaming, the happiness tangible. It filled up the room. Both of their moms and dads gave short speeches, and then Dane. He didn’t deliver any jabs at me, only heartfelt memories of growing up with Harley and a couple of rowdy jokes to poke fun at him. He was charming as hell and had the entire room chuckling. At one point, I had to stare at my plate because the way he stood with one hand in his pocket and the other clutching his wine glass, the veins on the back of his hand on full display right by my face, made me tailspin into a bunch of naughty thoughts I shouldn’t have in public.

When it was my turn, I recollected some memories I had with Kaylee and how I’d always known as a true bohemian who believed in love that she’d find it someday. I also mentioned I’d been her confidante while snowed in with Harley, and without even meeting him, I’d known he was a safe place for her. That made his mom cry, then Kaylee. I could’ve sworn I even saw a little shine in Harley’s eyes, so I tied up my thoughts.

When the dinner was over, Dane stood and knocked on the table with a single nod to Harley.

“See ya tomorrow,” Harley said.

“You take care, man.” He bumped knuckles with Kaylee. “Get some sleep, moose killer.”

“Thanks, Dane.”

His green eyes flitted to mine, but he was unable to hold my gaze. “See ya, Maze.”

“Bye.” My farewell was barely a whisper as I watched his broad frame stroll out of the room, his large hand silently crushing the Diet Coke can.

I hung back to buffer Kaylee from any draining conversations someone might want to spring on her. Harley’s family was kidnapping him for some Greek superstition, so Kaylee was going home to an empty cabin tonight. I walked her to her Jeep and gave her a goody basket of bath salts, sleep promoting tea, and her favorite chocolate so she could unwind properly.

She made a cooing noise while inspecting the basket. “You’re a damn good friend, Maisie Quinn.”

I hugged her. “So are you.” Breaking the hug, I opened the door to her Jeep. “Alright, it’s your last night as a single woman. Let me know if you need me to come over. I’ll keep my ringer on.”

“I’ll be fine!” she said. Her brow scrunched together as she let out a breath. “It’s actually you I’m worried about.”

“What do you mean?”

She smoothed a piece of my hair. “If I forget to tell you tomorrow, please be extra careful driving back to Texas, okay? And wear that bracelet I gave you.”

“I will, I promise.”

She hopped up into the driver’s seat.

“And hey, guess what?”

She flashed me a coy smile. “I get to marry my other best friend tomorrow?”

“Exactly! So don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. It’s your big day and it’s going to be so lovely. Everyone is excited and ready to celebrate you guys. Now all you have to do is go home and rest.”

With a tired nod, she shut the door. I sighed, watching Kaylee’s Jeep take off down the hill at a breakneck speed.

And you know what? I believed what I said. Kaylee marrying Harley was a low risk. From what I could tell, no one was whispering will they make it? behind their backs like they probably had with Conner and me. Together, they were just easy. Meant to be. I secretly wanted a love like that someday. But I knew I’d missed the boat by settling for the first guy that had asked and blowing my chances. With everything Conner had put me through, I couldn’t risk it again. With all the big changes happening in my life, I didn’t have the courage to try.

I moseyed back into the inn’s kitchen to help Azalea with dishes. When I opened the door, a cute guy was at the barn sink with bubbles almost spilling over. He had kind eyes and an athletic build. He was in earthy-colored clothing, his simple T-shirt exposing sinewed forearms that only an avid rock climber could sport.

I recognized him from the bachelorette party. His name was Noah, and he was one of Harley’s buddies and a fellow ranger. He and Azalea were “just friends,” but Kaylee was convinced there was something more.

“Hey, Noah.”

“Hey there, Miss Maisie. What can I help you with?” he asked good-naturedly.

“I was just popping in to see if I could help Azalea with the dishes.” My eyes bounced around the empty kitchen, Azalea nowhere in sight. “Um, can I help you dry or something?”

“Sure!” He nodded to a white towel hung on the oven.

“So, you and Dane, huh?” he asked, handing me a large platter. “You guys were really at each other’s throats last night.”

“He’s just so easy to argue with.” I smiled. “You’re pretty close with him?”

“Yeah, I’ve been working as a ranger here for a couple years. I met Dane through Harley. He’s a good friend, always down to help me.” Noah carefully handed me a gravy boat. “But don’t believe everything you hear in this town. People get bored, they come up with crazy things.”

“I’ve also heard you and Azalea may or may not have a little romance brewing.”

“Where did you hear that?”

“Everyone. Plus, I don’t think most guy friends would do my dishes like this.” I waggled the now dry gravy boat in front of me.

Noah shook his head bashfully, scrubbing a pot. “It’s not like that. I live in the old groundskeeper’s cottage out back and I come inside to use the kitchen, so I feel obligated to help out.”

“Still, you haven’t thought about dating her? She’s so caring. And beautiful.”

His lips pulled to the side for a split second as he gathered his thoughts. “Dane dated her in the past. I mean, granted, it was high school, but I’d still feel like I’m betraying my good friend by dating the first girl he fell in love with.” He blinked quickly. “And I just don’t feel like I have my life together enough. She deserves better.”

I playfully nudged him with my shoulder to lighten the mood. “Hey now, don’t sell yourself short.”

Noah shut the water off in the sink, drying his hands. “I don’t want to play matchmaker or anything, but I thought you should know. Maybe hearing it from one of his friends—the man is obsessed with you.”

“But how much of a compliment is that really if I’m not the first tourist he’s fallen for?” I asked. Continuing, I put on a more playfully mocking tone. “I don’t want you to lie to me and convince me he’s changed his ways and that he’s cleaned up his act for me.”

“I don’t think there is an act to clean up. He’s just a young guy living in a small town. Trust me, that’s hard.”

I could tell Noah was a nonconfrontational type, like a golden retriever. He was visibly uncomfortable challenging me this way and it showed. It was adorable.

He went on, “With all due respect, I think you haven’t given him a chance and you might be surprised. Or maybe it will give you some closure. That’s all I’m saying, Miss Maisie.”

I whipped him playfully on the chest with the drying towel. “Fine! But will you do me a favor?”

“Sure,” he said, catching the towel while I walked to the back door.

“If you want me to look past Dane’s previous . . .” I picked the word carefully. “. . . transgressions, then I want you to do the same. Really consider things with Azalea. I think you’d be cute together.”

He gave me a half-hearted nod, wadding up the towel. “Will do.”

Accepting that I had helped Kaylee and Azalea as best I could, I decided to head back to the cottage for the night. Getting in my hearse, I wondered if I should just cut the shit and go talk to Dane at his shop. Or maybe invite him over to the cottage. The can of Diet Coke he’d brought tonight was a peace offering. That part was undeniable.

Flashbacks crept in my mind of him hovering over me in the forest, his hungry eyes roaming my body before his laugh echoed around the trees.

A laugh that had been aimed at me. He’d laughed at me.

I straightened my back, shifting the car in gear, reminding myself of that detail. Fuck him. In my humility, I floored my car, racing toward the cottage. Only a few blocks away from the inn, I ran a yellowish-red traffic light since I wasn’t thinking straight. I only noticed my snafu flying through the intersection, blue-and-red flashing lights bursting in my vision seconds after.

“Oh, fuck me in the ass,” I whined to myself as I pulled my car over, unrolling the window an inch before fetching my license and registration. When I opened my wallet, the blood froze in my body. The slots for my I.D. and credit card were empty. I remembered the bartender at Tilly’s had asked to keep both my license and credit card to open the tab. Since my driver’s license was from out of state, that was their policy.

I must’ve never closed it out. I racked my brain, trying to remember the details, but I couldn’t recall much past swing the weenie except Rosie getting me inside the cottage and helping me unlace my boots. I hadn’t partied that hard in years. With just Rosie watching out for multiple drunk girls, it was no wonder a little slip like this had happened.

I jumped as a knuckle tapped my window, glancing up. There he was in the annoying lights, the same asshat from last night. Officer Boyd. His light hair was receding on his unmoisturized forehead, his eyes a flat shade of blue, like the color of a Febreze bottle. He was in the habit of either smiling or mouth-breathing so you constantly saw his bad veneers.

Wow, this fucker is so slappable.

I knew the type. He looked like the kind of guy who’d peaked in high school yet still couldn’t get into the Army. I was sure he’d married his high school sweetheart and knocked her up with several of his spawn who were probably sticky iPad kids.

“License and registration.”

“I only have my registration. My I.D. is still at the tavern. I didn’t close out my tab.”

Maybe I shouldn’t have told him that. Now he for sure knew it was me last night. The real question was, did he know about the email I’d sent his superiors earlier?

“Okay, so we’ll start with driving without a license.” He held out his hand. “Registration.”

“I’m not familiar with the roads here and this wedding is very stressful. I promise I’ll be more careful.”

“Is there a reason you’re withholding your information from me?”

I wasn’t going to explain the obvious—that I didn’t want him to know my whole government name and home address. I flipped into logic. He couldn’t know I was heading back to the cottage. And even if he’d already scanned my plate, I didn’t want him in front of me a second longer than needed.

Contriving a quick lie, I put on a pleasant smile, letting my Texas drawl seep in. “I’m sorry, officer. I was actually heading to Tilly’s to pick up my I.D. I assure you I will be very cautious if you let me go with a warning.” I gestured to the road behind me. “No one is even out right now. Surely, I didn’t put anyone in danger.”

“I don’t care what your circumstances are. You ran a red light going over the speed limit.”

I scanned the front of him, trying to find a body cam. He wasn’t wearing one. With a small town, I guessed that tracked. “Given our history, I’d like a different officer to conduct this traffic stop.” I gulped, hoping my nerves weren’t showing.

“This is the last time I’m asking for your registration.”

I shoved it through the slot of my window with a grumble.

Boyd read the paper. “And where are you staying in town?”

“With a friend,” I lied.

He rolled his eyes. “Figures.”

“Can you at least turn off your lights? It’s going to give me migraine waiting for you.”

“No,” he bit back before turning to leave.

Twenty minutes later, I popped my head out from my window, flagging him to unroll his. “Hey, how much longer? I really gotta pee,” I shouted back at him.

“Piss on the side of the road.”

“That would be the only way you ever got my pants off!” I grunted, rolling my window back up.

I snapped a wide-eyed selfie with the police lights behind me and sent it to Kaylee.

Kaylee: What the fuck? I leave you alone for ten minutes.

Me: I ran a red light. Officer Numb Nuts from last night is giving me a ticket and it’s taking forever. He’s for sure Googling me.

Kaylee: Drunk with power. Let me know when you get back to the cottage safely.

Another thirty fucking minutes later, and yes, I counted, he strolled back to my hearse. Something deep down in my bones told me to record our interaction, so I did, propping up my phone on the speedometer, praying it was slanted enough to not catch his eye as he slid my ticket and registration through the crack in my window.

“Really?” I asked in indignation. “It took you that long to write a simple ticket? People give birth faster than this!”

He leaned against my car, both hands on the lip of the roof, palms digging into the tiny slant of space where the window was unrolled. “Listen, I don’t like your kind in this town.”

“My kind?”

“I just looked you up. Some magazine interviewed you when you opened your sex shop in Austin. Sounds like you’re a pervert, sexualizing a perfectly good neighborhood.”

I scoffed. “You’ve got to be kidding me, right? It’s the twenty-first century. Everyone uses toys. And it’s a boutique first and foremost. There’s nothing wrong with lingerie, dude.”

“I think you’re a nasty woman, selling all those dildos. That sort of thing encourages women to neglect their husbands’ needs.”

Wow. Okay, he was one of those zealots who believed a woman owed her husband sex. Like a signed wedding certificate equaled continual consent. I was in too deep. This wasn’t my town, and the odds were stacked against me. As much as I didn’t want to, I had to play it vague. I had to make it to the wedding tomorrow, not jail. Lord knew I’d look much cuter in my bridesmaid dress than prison orange.

I shoved the ticket and my wallet in my purse with a tense, fake smile. “Well, bless your heart. Thanks for expressing your concerns to me. I will pay this ticket before I head out, sir.”

“Did you hear me? You come into town acting like a fucking slut, you’ll have to eventually deal with the consequences.”

An icy sensation zinged up my spine. “What are you insinuating?”

“Your wild behavior shouldn’t be rewarded in society. It would be a shame if you turned up missing.” He stood upright, resting his hands on his belt that definitely had a gun and cuffs. Even more evidence of things stacked against me. “You came to town and got so drunk you don’t even have your I.D. What respectable woman does that? Only a stupid slut.”

“Am I free to go?”

He continued to glare.

“Am I free to go?” I repeated.

He slapped the hood of my car, right above my head, making me jump before returning to his cruiser. My hands trembled as I faked my route. I knew I could show up at Kaylee’s and stay with her for extra safety, but I didn’t want to stress her out before her wedding, so instead I drove around and avoided Main Street at all costs, snaking through side streets until I made it to my rental. I reversed into the driveway in a pathetic attempt to conceal my hearse. The last thing I needed was Boyd driving by and seeing it.

I texted Kaylee that I was safe, and it got me thinking maybe Dane could come stay with me. There were three bedrooms, so we wouldn’t even have to share a bed. While brushing my teeth, I pulled up my PadHopper app, fully tempted to send in a help request to get him over here.

His big, brawny body could slide right against mine. He could hold me through the night. That idea alone got me flustered.

A part of me was kicking myself in the ass for not ever giving Dane my number.

Another part of me was kicking myself in the ass for wanting to see him in general. I didn’t want to be some damsel. It was bad enough I was in his cottage.

Spitting out my toothpaste, I pointed at myself in the mirror with my toothbrush. “You’re a fully capable, grown ass woman who doesn’t need a man. Hell, you willingly lived in Florida for five years. You can handle anything! You didn’t do anything wrong except run a red light in a sleepy town. Tomorrow will be fun, and Kaylee is going to look so beautiful. You’ll do the wedding, sleep here one more night, and then it’s all over. You’ve got this!”

I inspected the mirror. I didn’t even look like myself. I hated my dark hair and the worry lines scrunched on my forehead. Even the way I held my shoulders was too high. I took a couple of deep breaths, willing myself to relax, promising myself a hot stone massage or something when this was done.

As I crawled into bed, I wondered if the room I was staying in was originally Dane’s. I never wanted children of my own, and I didn’t particularly like kids, but I bet Dane was cute growing up. I could imagine that his sandy brown hair was originally blond and he had little, chubby cheeks. And that his dad taught him fly fishing and how to fix up cars.

The idea of young Dane made me smile, and with it I shot out of bed. I found myself flinging every door open in the house until I found the one—it was the door to the pantry in the kitchen. Trailing up the doorframe, etched in pencil and marker, were stacks of different heights with dates, along with the names Dane and Jamie. My fingers trailed up the vertebrae of time. He’d been so little, then the last one hovered up at the top, well over six feet.

Something about it tucked away made me want to cry. Two children’s whole lives shut away, forgotten. I’d never gotten the full story, but at the engagement party he’d mentioned his parents and sister had died within a couple years of each other. It had left Dane completely alone, the rest of his family down in Boston.

I could see why he felt obligated to stay in Pine Bluff. His auto shop was his dad’s. I was sure a part of him felt proud it remained open, but if he didn’t want to live in this house, it definitely felt like a piece of the puzzle was missing.

Why stay in a small town like Pine Bluff?

I still had so many questions about him. I was beginning to realize at this pace, I was never going to get any answers.

Maybe I should change that.