Page 63 of Chasing Liberty

Chapter Eighteen

Wyler sensed her before he saw her.

He was sitting alone at a high-top table in the corner when Liberty and her sisters came into Mav’s. Seeing her just about ripped his heart out of his chest. She was a seven-course meal to a starving man.

Yet, he felt his defenses come up.

Seeing the photos of her wrapped in Reggie’s arms made Wyler both jealous and angry. Although it was her past, the private investigator that Wyler had hired told him Reggie had been briefly back in town. For whatever reason, Wyler guessed his wife didn’t trust him enough to tell him. Good thing Reggie—Ronald Cooper—was currently in jail because Wyler would have hunted him down and took care of the problem.

He downed the last dregs of his mug of beer, grabbed his hat and took a step toward the door but he paused.

He watched Liberty intently. As her sisters scattered, she seemed to stay by the door debating whether she wanted to stay or not. She looked tired. She’d lost some weight. His protective side reared its head. He wanted to go to her, shield her from all the pain in the world.

She didn’t want his protection, or him for that matter.

More anger shot through him.

He’d destroyed the photos, but the image was tattooed on every cell in his brain.

She finally took a seat at the bar, said something to Mav who was tending bar, and then swiveled around. He knew immediately when she saw him because she frowned.

He continued his path toward the exit. He had nothing to say to her right now.

But he got about one step outside of the door and he stopped. He actually had a lot to say.

He wouldn’t run from her.

Turning around, he went back inside and under the soft neon glow of a beer sign he spun her on the stool so that she faced him. Her eyes were filled with storm clouds. “Wyler?”

“We ain’t doing this, sweetheart. I told you I won’t leave. No matter what happens.”

She blinked those pretty eyes. “This isn’t the place…”

“This might not be the place, but you and I, we’re going to discussus.”

That storm that was brewing in her eyes seeped into her expression. “There’s nothing left to say.”

“Oh, I think there’s plenty to say. Does the name Reggie ring a bell?”

*****

Wyler’s gaze was steady and simmering as Liberty told him every detail, from the beginning of her liaison with Reggie to her call with Lee. Although she could see the anger breaking through his usual calm demeanor, the distance between them lessened because she no longer had to keep the secret from him.

“I’m sorry you were dragged into this.” She rolled her finger around the rim of the wine glass. They’d moved from the bar to a more private table in the corner while Freedom and Justice sung off-tune to Shania Twain. Not one Rose sister could sing to save their lives.

“Why couldn’t you trust me?” he said in a low drawl.

“I didn’t want to bring anybody else in on this. This is all so chaotic. What was Reggie doing in a homeless shelter after I gave Lacey the money?”

“From what my PI friend said, Reggie and Lacey had been staying in shelters all over the place. Maybe they felt that lessened their chances of being spotted by someone who knew him. My guess is, Lacey is long gone with the cash. And you’re certain that Reggie set the bunkhouse on fire?”

“I don’t have proof, but I believe he did. It makes sense. He had told me that he was a firefighter at one time, which could have easily been a lie.” She shivered. “I feel disgusted.”

“Hopefully Reggie will be in prison for a long time. They have an airtight case against him, if the victim can testify what happened.”

She sipped her wine. “The money is gone.”

He placed his hand over hers. “Sweetheart, you don’t have to deal with them again.”

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