26. Hannah #2
"Don't insult me," he snarls, finally letting me see his true colors in all of this. "I've invested a great deal in this event, Hannah, and I don't appreciate having my access revoked by a woman who couldn't even manage the planning without my help."
My back hits the door of my car and I realize I've been stepping backward without meaning to.
He's standing over me close enough that I feel boxed in.
This definitely isn't the way a gentleman treats a lady at all.
It's intimidating and if there were people here to witness it, they'd chase him off. My God, I think I’m going to throw up or piss myself. Or both.
"I need you to step back, Mr. Dorsey," I say, but it's almost a whisper. God, I'm scared, and I need help, but my eyes dart around frantically, seeing no one.
"I need you to reconsider your decision," he says, and he leans so I have to press myself flat against the car to keep distance between us.
"Because the people I work with don't take kindly to having their plans disrupted.
And believe me when I tell you, Hannah, this is much bigger than your little festival. "
"She asked you to step back." Luke's voice cuts across the parking lot, and Dorsey straightens like someone pulled a string at the top of his spine.
I look past him and see Luke stalking toward us from the sidewalk.
I don't know why he showed up or how he knew I needed him, but I'm so thankful he's here.
"Mr. Maddox," Dorsey says, turning to face him, "this is a private conversation."
"It doesn't look like a conversation to me." Luke's eyes are dark and his jaw is set. Relief floods me as I slip between Dorsey and the car and walk over to him. "The lady asked you nicely to back off and I'm here to make sure you do that."
Dorsey's jaw clenches and his eyes narrow on Luke, sizing him up. I bet a million bucks in a fair fight, Luke would win. I've felt those rigid muscles under his skin. I know the power locked up inside that body. Dorsey wouldn't stand a chance.
"I think there's been a misunderstanding," Dorsey says as he takes a step back and adjusts his jacket. "Hannah and I were just discussing the festival transition. Things got a little heated, that's all."
"Things seem to get heated around you a lot." Luke takes my hand and pulls me closer, then nudges me behind his back. "You need to walk away before you say something that you'll regret. Now."
Dorsey holds Luke's gaze for a long second. I don’t like the way they're staring each other down. My instinct is to pull my phone out and call the police, but Dorsey smooths his tie and produces that saccharine smile that has never once reached his eyes.
"Of course," he says. "My apologies, Hannah. I didn't mean to overstep."
He turns and walks across the parking lot toward his car, where he climbs in and pulls away without looking back. I finally sag against the car, trembling. God only knows what that bastard would’ve done had Luke not shown up.
Then Luke pulls me against his chest and holds me tightly without even asking if it's okay. His heart is strangely calm, not the erratic, wild beat mine is performing. And I feel safe here, pressed to his body as my nerves unravel and make me shiver like it's below zero.
"You okay?" he asks.
"Yeah." I nod and try to pull myself together. "Yeah, I'm okay. He just caught me off guard. I thought everyone had left."
"I was parked across the street waiting and watched him walk up to you." He looks toward the lot exit where Dorsey's taillights are disappearing down the block. "That asshole almost saw a side of me he'd regret provoking. He won't be doing that again."
"You don't know that," I say fearfully. Calvin Dorsey clearly doesn't take kindly to his access to my festival shipments being cut off now. It's just more proof that Luke is right and something is going on.
"Yeah, I do." He looks back at me so certain as he touches my face lightly. "Because if he does, it'll be the last time."
Looking into Luke's eyes is so calming. My heart is still pounding but it's slowing down.
I know he's the reason for it too. Not just because he chased Dorsey off, but because after a night like this, I need someone I feel safe with.
And if there is anyone in this town who makes me feel safe, it's Luke.
Which is a complete one-eighty from the way I've felt about him for the past twelve years, but I can't deny it or fight it anymore.
"Thank you," I tell him. "For being here."
"I'm always going to be here, Hannah."
When he lets me go, I almost whimper. I don't want to feel the distance between us anymore.
I hate it. When I'm with him and he's holding me, I feel like I'm anchored.
Like there's no other place on this earth I'd rather be than right where I am.
And when he's not with me, I feel untethered and alone, like I'm floating in an ocean by myself just waiting for life to drown me.
Luke isn't my enemy. He's the one person on this earth who lost as much as me and can understand my pain.
Maybe more so than my parents do. I pushed him away and stayed mad at him for so long because I blamed him, but it was never his fault.
I just needed to feel like someone was paying for the pain they inflicted on my family, and for Nick.
"I should go, but I want to make sure you get home safe.
I figured Dorsey would be up to no good.
It's why I sat out here tonight." He runs a hand through his hair and I watch his bicep flex.
I almost ask him to go home with me, if for no other reason than to make sure Dorsey doesn't come to my place to harass me. But he looks tired.
"Yeah," I mumble, glancing at my car a few spaces down. It's a scary thought that I could be lying in my own bed sleeping and Dorsey could show up.
"Want me to drive you home?" Luke looks genuinely concerned. I'd almost think if I asked him, he'd sit out front of my house the whole night watching me.
But this is pathetic. I'm not a little child who needs protection. My doors have locks, and I have a phone to call 9-1-1 if something happens. I can't cling to a man for this stuff. I've been living on my own the past eight years and I can keep doing it without help.
"Uh, no, it's okay," I say, though I really want him to.
"Then I'll see you tomorrow?" Luke's hand rises to my cheek again, plucking a few hairs from my skin. I pause, hoping he will lean in to kiss me, but he doesn’t.
"Tomorrow," I repeat.
Luke waits for me to get in my car and start it.
Then he watches me drive off before he starts walking to his car.
The whole time, my thoughts are on Calvin Dorsey and just how far he'd have gone to force me to change my mind and let him do what he wants.
My guess is he isn't going to stop smuggling his contraband in simply because he's lost festival access.
If I'm right, Luke will have more crates on his piers tomorrow morning and every morning after that.
And if we can't stop him, who knows what else Calvin Dorsey will do?