Page 53 of Guarded Secrets
She dropped her hand. “Anyway, about you sleeping in your Bronco. Pam was murdered. I get that, but I don’t see how that puts me in danger. If it did, the sheriff’s department would do something about it. I don’t know why you’re doing this overprotective big brother thing. Is it because Mom asked? Or Sawyer? Is it because you’re a big strong alpha and think it’s your job to protect the little lady?”
He scowled at the alpha comment. “I sure as hell don’t feel like your brother.”
She snorted and added an eye roll.
“What?”
“Let me get this straight. You kissed me last night, but then regretted it. When I’m leaving, you make a point of telling me you’re unavailable. Then you spend the night outside my house because you think I’m in danger.” She huffed out a breath. “I can’t figure you out.”
He scrubbed a hand over his face. “I shouldn’t’ve kissed you.”
“Whatever. You’re not the first man I’ve made the mistake of having feelings for.” He opened his mouth to speak, but she held up a finger. “I dated a guy during my last year of college. We were good together, we had fun. I thought he was someone I could build a future with. Then I got pregnant.”
Owen’s gaze whipped up to hers. “What happened?”
“I was twelve weeks along when I miscarried.” She gave him a fleeting smile. “That baby daddy had already dumped me with aSorry, I can’t do thisexcuse. You stepping back is nothing new.”
“Fuck.” Owen stared hard at her. “You deserve better than that.”
“That’s right, I do. And I’m going to make better happen for me.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Keeley walked through the back door of Easy Money for her evening shift. She stowed her bag and tied on her waist apron. Owen was in the kitchen changing the CO2 tanks. He gave her one of his all-encompassing looks then went back to his task without a word.
Which was pretty much the way the evening went. Keeley was determined to keep their relationship firmly in the employer/employee camp and he seemed to feel the same. The Friday night crowd was enjoying the country rock band performing popular covers, and were having a good time dancing.
“Hey, there. When’s your break?”
Keeley took a step back from the big man who’d stepped into her path. Jay Berringer was the assistant manager of Sisters Hardware and was generally a good guy. Unless he’d been drinking. She’d had her eye on his table as he and his two friends had become increasingly loud. Time to cut them off. But first she’d have to deal with the big guy.
“Not for a while yet, Jay. Can I get you anything?”
“Oh yeah, sweet thing. You can get me something.” He gave her a leering, gap-toothed smile while he puffed out his chest and adjusted his belt. “Always thought you were a looker. How about you take your break now and we have ourselves a get-to-know-you-better dance.”
“Nope, no get-to-know-you-better dance for me, Jay. But thanks.”
“You don’t need to play hard to get. I’m a friendly guy. I can show you a good time.” He slurred the word “show” so it sounded more like he’d slow her a good time.
“I don’t need a guy for that. How about I get a round of Cokes for your table, on the house?”
A hand on her shoulder drew Keeley back and Owen stepped forward. “Hey there, Jay.” He kept moving, his hand going to Jay’s shoulder as he turned the man and had him headed back to his table. “Heard a shipment of that new siding came in. I’ll be in to take a look at it.”
Keeley had never fully appreciated Owen’s skill in diffusing a situation. He could certainly get in someone’s face if circumstances warranted, and he did. But he adeptly maneuvered Jay back to his table with his buddies while keeping it nonconfrontational.
Behind the bar, she filled three glasses with Coke, added a fresh bowl of bar mix, and when she would have lifted the tray, Owen was there.
“I got it.” He hefted the tray to take to Jay’s table.
A vibration had her digging her phone from her apron pocket. The notification showed a voicemail from an unknown number. Phone to her ear, she listened as she transferred clean glasses from the wash rack to the shelf, arranging them by type. Message over, she stared at the screen, trying to make sense of what she’d heard.
“What’s up?”
“Listen to this. Jaxon left a message using a different number.” She tapped speaker so Owen could hear and pressed play. Sounding agitated, Jaxon spoke, voice shaking.
“Keeley, I need help. I’m in trouble. I wouldn’t call if it weren’t an emergency. Something bad’s gonna happen, and only you can help me. There’s these bad dudes and they want to hurt me. Or they could hurt you. Police questioned me about that woman’s death. I had nothing to do with it. Come to that gas station past the Welcome to Sisters sign tonight when you get off work so we can talk. Comealone.” His voice dropped. “I think they’ll kill me. You’re my only hope.”
“There’s no way in hell you’re meeting that fucker.”
