Page 32 of Malice

Thenextmorning,despiteher anxiety and Corey’s trying to convince her she could stay away for another day if she needed to, Bonnie took his pickup and went to work.

She walked in, clocked in, and settled in as if she hadn’t been gone for the las two days.

“Glad to see you made it in,” Randy, her boss said when he stepped in and saw her. “How are you doing? You said your car was destroyed, are you okay?”

“I’m fine, I wasn’t in it.” She glanced around the overnight clerk was at the front counter and a quick glance at the clock told her they still had a few minutes before the end of his shift. “Can we step into the other room for a moment?” She tilted her head toward the back office.

“Sure.” He followed her and frowned with confusion when she closed the door so what she was about to tell him wouldn’t be heard in the lobby.

She didn’t know quite where to start, but knew she needed to tell him, so she took a deep breath and just said it. “I’m having some trouble with an ex. My car being destroyed was him vandalizing it.”

“Oh my. Are you okay? Has he come after you?” Randy being so concerned for her made her feel better and made it easier to continue.

“I’m fine. He’s tried to take me once, tried to force me into his car.” Bonnie shook her head as she thought about how she’d met Corey and everything that had happened since that night.

“Oh my word. Have you called the police?”

“The police are involved, but they’re limited what they can do without evidence.”

Randy watched her, concern clear on his face. “Are you sure you should be here? How can you be sure you’re safe? I know you live alone. I’m worried.”

“I’ve been staying with a friend the last couple of days, since he destroyed my car.” She didn’t like calling Corey just a friend, but she didn’t have anything else to call him. Well, lover might have worked, but that felt weird.

“Are you sure you’re safe there? If this ex will destroy your car, there’s no telling what else he might do.”

Bonnie tilted her head as she thought about it a second. Was she safe at the ranch? She felt safe. And it wasn’t just Corey, it was all the men who’d stepped up and offered to make sure Phillip couldn’t get to her while she was there.

“I am. Like I said I’m staying with a friend, but it’s not just my friend. He has a lot of friends who live at the same place, and they’re all watching for my ex, they all know what’s going on and are on the lookout.” She wasn’t sure how she’d feel when it came time to return to her apartment. Hopefully by then, there would be no chance Phillip would continue bothering her but who knew? She pushed the thought from her head and looked up to meet Randy’s gaze. “He tried to convince me I didn’t have to come in today, but I felt like I did. I need this job.”

Randy started to speak, but Bonnie held up one hand and continued. “I know I have time off I could have taken, but it’s more than just needing the money. I needed a sense of normalcy. I need to get back into my routine. I need it for me. I can’t feel like my ex has succeeded in taking over my life, because even if he doesn’t manage to win me back, and that’s never going to happen, he’ll have changed my life in ways I can’t accept. I had to come back for that, if nothing else.”

“All right. I can accept that.” He looked away for a moment then back to her. “Have you replaced your car already or do you need a ride somewhere after your shift?”

“I’m in a borrowed vehicle right now. I haven’t gotten word yet from my insurance company if they’re going to repair mine or if it will be totaled. I’m giving them another twenty-four hours, then I’ll start pushing for an answer. I can’t borrow rides forever.”

“Okay. If you’re set, then good. I was going to offer if you didn’t already have something lined up. You good to work the desk today or would you prefer something less public? I can find stuff that needs to be done away from there if you’d like. I can cover the desk.”

Bonnie smiled, grateful she worked for someone human and not someone who just worried about the bottom line. “I’m good with the desk, thanks though. And if you don’t mind, I wouldn’t say no to having someone nearby, just in case. I don’t think my ex will show up here, but I disappeared from his, I don’t know, his view, a couple days ago. Who knows how far he will go to get me back in his sights again.”

“Done. If I can’t be close enough to hear if you call out, then I’ll make sure one of the other men is.”

“Thank you.” Bonnie glanced at her watch again. “I better get out there, it’s almost time for Ben’s shift to end and I need to make sure the desk is covered.”

“Go ahead. I’ll be nearby if you need anything.”

“Thank you.”

She went out and exchanged greetings with Ben, chatting for a few minutes and getting the updates on what had been going on with the residents the night before. When his shift was over, she bid him a good day and turned her attention to the list of things she did every morning, trying to keep her mind busy so she wouldn’t obsess over Phillip and worry that he would show up every minute.

By the time the end of her shift rolled around she was exhausted. Between the day’s work, which was busy but no busier than a normal day and constantly being on the alert for Phillip or anything else that seemed out of place, she hadn’t been able to relax since she’d arrived, not even during her lunch.

Now, as she headed out to Corey’s truck, she looked forward to the evening. She could put on something comfortable and unwind. Even if they went to the big house for dinner, at least she wouldn’t have to keep looking over her shoulder.

She climbed up into the driver’s seat and locked the doors before putting her purse in the passenger’s seat and starting the engine. After a deep breath and forcing her shoulders to relax, she pulled out of the parking lot and headed for the ranch.

Why did the idea of getting there, of seeing Corey, and feeling his arms around her, make her feel better? How could she be sure she wasn’t trading one problem for another? Sure, he’d done nothing to set off a red flag in her mind, but neither had Phillip until he was showing up everywhere she was and insisting she was his. What if Corey was just as bad, or worse? But if he was, would he have given her his truck to go to work? Yes, he’d tried to talk her out of going, but he’d given his reasons, and they were sound. Even if they weren’t enough to keep her from going.

And when she’d decided she needed to go in, he’d given her the keys to his truck, even though what she was doing wasn’t what he’d wanted. Would someone who wanted to control her as much as Phillip did give her the tools to do something against their wishes? Somehow, she didn’t think so.

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