Page 20 of Sweet Southern Heat

“We got in my car. I was completely sober. I rarely drank at parties because I knew Lyle would, and I’d have to drive us home. I told him we were going to get more beer, but instead of turning onto the road to the carryout, I headed toward your house. When he realized what I was doing, he started yelling at me and demanding I turn around. He called me names and promised to make me regret it if I didn’t do what he said.” Sheswallowed hard, her body visibly shaking as she became lost in the memory. There was a far off look in her eyes as though the scene played in her head like a movie.

“As we neared the bridge, I started to relax because that meant we were almost there. Then suddenly, he gripped the wheel and jerked it. Hard. I tried to fight him off to correct the trajectory of my car, but he was too strong, and I was already injured. My wrist was so weak, I couldn’t even hold on. The car skidded and swerved, and before I knew it, we were careening off the road. We went over the embankment and crashed into a tree. The airbags went off, and smoke filled the air. My car was almost completely on its side, and I had to hang there helplessly, believing Lyle was dead.” A sob tore up her throat, and her shoulders curled forward. The gesture sent a sharp spear of regret through my chest. “He wasn’t moving, and I couldn’t find my phone to call for help. It was the middle of the night, and I hadn’t seen anyone else on the road. I was afraid no one would find us, and we’d both die there. There was so much smoke, I thought the engine was on fire.”

Tears streamed down her face, and her shoulders shook as she took a shuddering breath. I didn’t want to believe her. This version of the story was so far removed from what Lyle had claimed, but her reaction was so genuine and visceral, I couldn’t deny how real it felt. Either she was telling the truth, or she was the world's greatest actress.

“H-how did you get out?” I asked, needing to know every detail and to watch her closely for any sign she could be lying. I couldn’t yet admit to myself she was telling the truth, even though I felt it in my gut. It settled there like a lead weight, and I nearly doubled over from the pressure.

“My car was still running so I rolled down my window and cut myself lose from my seat belt.” My eyes widened with her confession. How had she cut herself loose? Reading the questionon my expression, she continued. “My grandmother insisted I keep a special tool on my key ring with a seat belt cutter in case of emergencies. I guess it’s a good thing I’d listened to her,” she said with a humorless huff of laughter.

I ran a frustrated hand through my hair before dragging it down my face. This was a disaster. Had everything I believed about that night been a lie? Lyle had been so convincing when he recounted the events leading up to the crash, but Olivia’s claims rang with truth. I didn’t know what to believe. I hung my head and stared at my worn work boots as though they could give me an answer.

The paper-wrapped object on the floor that I'd noticed earlier caught my eye, and I tilted my head to study it. Crouching, I tentatively reached for it and plucked it from the floor. I stood, turning it over in my hand, gauging its weight.

“What is that?” Olivia asked. I glanced up and found her worried eyes fixed on my hand.

“A brick,” I answered untying the thin piece of twine holding the paper in place. A gasp fell from her lips, and she closed the distance between us. She reached for the paper, but hesitated, pulling her hand back at the last second.

“What does the note say?” I unwrapped the brick and placed it on the floor before unfolding the paper. A low curse left me as I took in the word crawled across the paper in red ink. When I failed to answer her, she gingerly lifted the paper from my hand, ensuring her fingers didn’t touch mine. She gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. The paper fluttered to the floor, and she took a step away from it as it landed among the shattered glass face-up, the word ‘whore’ clearly visible in bold capital letters.

“Why would somebody write that?” Her widened gaze flew to mine as though I had the answers. I didn’t, but I had mysuspicions. If everything she'd just told me was true, there was only one person who would want to hurt her like this.

Before I could reply, flashing lights filled my vision, and a police cruiser pulled up to the front of the bakery. Two Sheriff’s deputies stepped out and shined their flashlights into the shop, effectively ending our conversation. They took our statements separately, and when they finished with me, I called Dean to let him know what had happened.

“Son of a bitch,” he hissed, frustration clear in his tone. “Tell Olivia I’ll get a replacement ordered ASAP. Get me the measurements, and I’ll take care of it.”

“Will do. I won’t be able to work on the reno today. They’re still processing the scene, and I’m not sure they’ll be done before I have to head to the garage,” I said, hating to let him down.

“That’s fine. There’s nothing you can do about it,” he assured me. We said our goodbyes, and I went in search of Olivia. She was still talking to Officer Jenna Marshall when I entered the kitchen. She looked up, and the sight of her red-rimmed eyes caused an ache to settle in my chest. They shone with devastation and fear. I swallowed thickly and nodded to the officer before returning my focus to Olivia.

“Dean’s going to order a replacement pane for the window. It shouldn’t take long since he uses someone local.”

“Okay,” she replied with a sniffle. The sight cracked open my chest. I never thought I could feel this kind of empathy toward her, but after the revelation she dropped on me this morning, I was seeing her in a different light. Maybe she wasn’t the villain in this story, after all. I cleared my throat and continued.

“I won’t be able to work on the renovations today since I have to head to work soon.”

“That’s fine,” she said in a rush, trying to put on a brave face. But she was scared. I could see it in her wide, worried eyes. I suddenly didn’t want to leave her. Would she be safe once thecops finished up here? Would anyone make sure she got home safely?

“Will you be alright?” I asked.

“I’ll be fine,” she assured me, though her hands trembled as she anxiously twisted them in her lap. I turned my gaze to the officer who watched me curiously.

“You’re not going to leave her, are you?” I asked, and she quirked a brow.

“We won’t leave until the scene is processed and the window is boarded up. Then we’ll personally escort Ms. Duprey home,” Officer Marshall assured me.

“Oh, that won’t be ne—” Olivia began to protest, but I cut her off.

“Good. She shouldn’t be alone right now.” I slid my gaze to Olivia who blinked up at me in surprise. There was so much more I wanted to say, but not here. Not with an audience. So I nodded my farewell and slipped away before I could let the fear in her eyes and worry knitting her brow lure me in further. Despite everything she'd revealed this morning, she was still my brother’s ex. And that meant I couldn’t act on any of the feelings swirling in my chest. No matter how badly I wanted to reach out and pull her into my arms, I couldn’t let what I’d just learned weaken my resolve to keep my distance. There was no going back if I crossed that line. I could lose my brother for good if I touched what used to be his.

Chapter 20

Olivia

“This callsfor something stronger than wine,” Honey mused as she strode into my living room with a bottle of spiced rum tucked under one arm and a tumbler with ice in each hand. She placed them on the coffee table and pulled a can of Diet Dr. Pepper from the pocket of her cut-off jean shorts. She poured a healthy amount of rum into each cup and topped it off with the fizzy cola. I was curled up on my couch, my tear-stained cheeks finally dry for the first time since this morning.

Honey had sprinted across her yard the moment I arrived home, escorted by a police cruiser. I was still too shaken up to speak, so Officer Marshall explained that my bakery had been vandalized in the early hours of the morning. She left out the part where Landon had been there and how before he left, he’d acted weirdly protective over me.

My mind was still reeling from that odd exchange. He went from hating me and blaming me for ruining his brother’s life to making sure I got home okay. The intensity in his gaze stirred something to life in my gut that was unfamiliar, but not at all unwelcome. It was like he suddenly cared about keeping me safe.I didn’t hate the way that thought made my stomach flutter, but his sudden change in attitude was giving me whiplash.

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