Page 12 of Trailer Trash

Crap.I hadn’t thought of that. I was going to need to change before I headed back to the office. Not to mention all the blood in my hair. “Fine. One hundred dollars should cover it.”

“One hundred dollars?” Merv protested. “Hell, you can buy a new shirt for ten bucks at Walmart.”

“Actually, add an additional one hundred for my pain and suffering. Two hundred.”

“You’ll have it before you leave,” Skeeter said as Merv staggered out of the room. “And I offer you my guarantee this won’t happen again.”

“Well,Ican’t guarantee it won’t happen again,” I said, flinching as the woman tugged on a stitch. “If I’m attacked again, I’ll do the same or worse.”

Skeeter raised his brows, a slight smile still playing on his lips. “I would expect nothing less.”

I could practically feel Mindy staring at the back of my head. “Jed will pick you up at noon tomorrow,” Skeeter continued. “Text him where you’ll be.” He headed out the door. “Now I have actual important things to do . . .”

Jed stayed behind, watching the woman work.

“Well, that was a decent gash. You got four stitches,” Mindy said, pulling away. I watched as she wrapped up the kit she’d used and stuffed it into a small red trash bag. She checked my eyes, looking for signs of a concussion, then deemed me fit as a fiddle. “You can wash the blood out of your hair, but try to keep your scalp dry. You won’t be able to use a bandage, so it might seep onto your pillow for the next few nights.”

“Thanks.”

“You can get your stitches out in a week. Have Malcolm call me, and I’ll take care of it.”

“Okay.”

She stole a glance at Jed before returning her focus to me. “Remember what I said.” Then she turned to Jed. “Where’s Mr. Chapman? Am I taking care of him in the pool hall?”

“No. Skeeter wanted to keep him away from her.”

She nodded. “Then send him in if he’s ready.”

Jed moved toward me, gesturing toward the door. He followed me out to the pool hall, and when Merv shot me a glare from his chair—probably one of the ones I’d knocked over—Jed slid in between us. A silent warning. Merv got up, slapped some money on the table, then headed to the back.

I kept on going. Jed snatched it up and followed me.

“Neely Kate,” he said as I reached the front door, but the worry in his voice told me I needed to get out of there quick before I lost it.

Ignoring him, I headed out into the summer heat, temporarily blinded by the sunshine.

He followed me to my car, pushing the door closed when I tried to open it.

“Get away from my car, Jed, or I’ll give Mindy something else to do before she leaves.”

Typical Jed, he didn’t say a word, just grabbed my arms, startling me when he gently pulled me to his chest and wrapped his arms around me.

“I’m sorry.” His words were muffled in my hair, but they burned a mark into my heart.

I gave myself several seconds before I jerked out of his hold. Looking away so he wouldn’t see, I wiped at an escaping tear. “I’ve handled worse.”

His eyes found mine. “From whatever it is you’re running from?”

I hesitated, then nodded.

“I should have gotten to you sooner.”

I shook my head, thankful my skin was still numb. “I can’t do this.”

I opened the door, and Jed didn’t stop me this time. Instead, he handed me the money he’d picked up and closed the door once I was inside.

Just my luck, the damn car didn’t start. I whacked the steering wheel with my fist. Why couldn’t I escape this man?

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