Payback (Summer Rush #6)

by Cheryl Douglas

  When he was led into the room, wearing a bright orange jumpsuit and shackles, Bella squeezed Loran’s hand. He could hear her sharp intake of breath when his dark, soulless eyes landed on her before shifting to Loran.

  Loran saw a flash of recognition and surprise when Bella’s ex looked at him. Must have a lot of time to watch sports behind bars.

  The proceedings passed quickly, with each side stating their case in favour of and in opposition to the prisoner being granted parole before Bella was asked to speak.

  She gave Loran a reassuring smile and nod before she stood, tugging on her fitted white sweater before she made her way to the front of the room. Facing half a dozen well-dressed men and women seated behind a long table, she set a rumpled piece of paper on the pedestal in front of her and cleared her throat.

  “The night this man tried to take my life,” she said, pointing at her ex. “He taught me a valuable lesson about survival. He taught me that I was stronger than I thought I was and my life was worth fighting for. Others may see me as a victim, but I see myself as a survivor. I’ll never be grateful for what happened to me that night, but I’ve let go of the fear and hatred I felt towards him. I’ve forgiven him. Not for his sake, but for my own. I deserve to be free. He doesn’t.”

  She looked him in the eye and Loran felt more proud of her than he’d ever been of anyone. The admiration he felt for his teammates after they’d persevered after a grueling series to take the championship was nothing compared to his respect for Bella.

  “The man who almost beat me to death was soulless. He showed no remorse.” Her voice was strong and steady, her gaze unwavering as she locked eyes with each person behind the desk. “I begged and pleaded for my life and he continued to beat me.”

  Loran swallowed his rage and curled his hands into fists, wishing for just five minutes alone with the guy who’d hurt her.

  “He was like a vicious animal. I pleaded for mercy. He showed me none.” She stared at him, narrowing her eyes. “Today he’s the one asking for mercy. I’m asking, for the sake of every woman out there he might victimize in the future, show him no mercy. He doesn’t deserve it.” She inclined her head in the direction of the parole board. “Thank you for your time.”

  Loran put his arm around Bella when she sat down, brushing his lips over her temple. Her ex turned to watch them but Loran’s savage look prompted him to turn quickly, facing the front of the room while he awaited his fate.

  The judgement came swiftly. Parole denied.

  Loran could finally breathe a sigh of relief as they led him away. Back to the living hell he’d created for himself, where he’d have plenty of time to think about the woman who’d put him there. And if ever tried to come after Bella again Loran would be there waiting for him.

  “Let’s go,” she whispered. “I need to get out of here.”

  As soon as they were outside the building she took a deep breath and looked up at the cloudless sky. “I’m so glad that’s over.”

  “You were amazing.”

  She smiled. “I’m really glad I came. Facing him again was liberating. Letting him know that he may have hurt me once, but he’d never get the chance again.” She held Loran’s hands and turned to face him. “I’m not afraid anymore. And you’re a big part of the reason. You make me feel safe. Secure.”

  He would spend the rest of his life protecting her from anyone and anything that tried to hurt her. He not only considered it his job. It was his privilege. “You have nothing to be afraid of, sweetheart. Not anymore.”

  She nodded as she reached into her purse for her keys. “Will you drive?”

  “Of course.”

  He threaded his hand through hers as they walked to her car. They’d stowed their suitcases in the trunk before they left the hotel, planning to leave right after the hearing. She told him she’d like to bring him back to her college town someday, to share her good memories of those years with him, but this didn’t feel like the right time for reminiscing.

  As soon as they were in the car and strapped in he turned the radio to a soft rock station. “Why don’t you take a nap, babe? I’ll wake you when it’s time to stop for lunch.” Like him, she’d had a fitful night’s sleep.

  Her smile was soft, appreciative, as her eyes drifted over him. “How’d I get so lucky?”

  “I’m the lucky one.” He leaned in to kiss her. “And I promise I’ll never forget it.”

  ***

  After a couple of pit stops for food and washroom breaks they were finally rolling into town just before midnight.

  Bella had slept most of the way, so she wasn’t tired, but she knew Loran must have been after the thirteen-hour drive. “You must be exhausted,” she whispered. “I’m gonna head home so you can get a good night’s sleep.”

  “Don’t leave me tonight.”

  His request made her heart beat a little faster. She’d never want to leave him. “Okay, I’ll stay if you want me to.”

  “I do.”

  She was surprised when he took a turn that didn’t lead to his house or hers. “Where are we going?”

  “To the lot.” He looked at her out of the corner of his eye. “If that’s okay?”

  “Sure, but I figured you’d be tired. Don’t you want to go home and get some sleep?”

  “Not yet.”

  She didn’t know why he’d want to drive out to the lot at night, but after all he’d done for her, she was willing to follow him just about anywhere. And she knew it might come to that. Life with a professional athlete involved trades, sudden moves, uprooting the life you loved. But she wouldn’t love her life nearly as much without this man, so if she had to, she’d start over somewhere else with him.

  “What are you thinking?” he asked, turning onto the dirt path that would soon be a stone driveway.

  “I was thinking about the future, and what might happen if you get traded.” Knowing that she could share anything with him, even her fears, meant everything to Bella. That kind of trust was something she’d always wanted but wasn’t sure she’d ever find.

  “It’s a possibility,” he said, staring straight ahead.

  There was a full moon that cast a bright light over the water and Bella took a moment to appreciate it, while she sensed Loran was contemplating his career and what being traded would mean for them.

  “Being traded is always a possibility,” he said, clearing his throat. “Especially as I get older. The team will likely want to get what they can for me.”

  It hurt her to hear Loran talk about himself like he was a commodity. To his team he was. But to her he was everything. “The life of a pro baller,” she said with a smile, trying to lighten the mood. “I guess it’s what you signed on for, right?”

  “But it’s not what you signed on for.” He bit his lip. “You just built a new life here, and I know you love it.”

  She let him continue, knowing whatever he said next could have a huge impact on their future.

  “I know you didn’t intend to fall in love with a professional athlete, Bella. Hell, you probably avoided it for this very reason, because you weren’t willing to give up everything for a guy. And I don’t blame you.”

  She reached for his hand, sensing he needed the reassurance. “That’s true, but you’re not just any guy. You’re the one.” His eyes drifted to her and she smiled. “My person.”

  He drew a deep breath before kissing her hand. “Hearing you say that means everything to me,” he whispered. “You don’t even know.”

  She had some idea. “It’s true.”

  “I know.” He lowered his head. “I love it here. I know you do too. I wouldn’t be building this house and having my mom move just down the road if this wasn’t the place I intended to call home. But you’re right about the trade. That could happen. And if it does—”

  “We’ll deal with it. Together.” She wasn’t going to let anything else come between them. If he was worried she couldn’t handle a trade, he clearly didn’t realize how much she loved
him. “Wherever you go, I go. Simple as that. During the off-season we come back here to be with our family and friends. When you retire, this becomes home, full-time.”

  “And you’d be okay with that? Your business—?”

  “Will survive.” She finally understood there was more to life than building her business. She’d spent years doing that. Now she was more interested in building a life… with the man she loved. “I’ll still be able to do what I love, Loran. Nothing can take that away from me.”

  “I would hate myself if I thought you had to sacrifice everything to be with me.”

  “You mean like Grace did for my brother?”

  Her best friend had given up her business, home, family and friends to be with Ethan and had never been happier. Grace was thriving in her new life and Bella knew the same would be true for her, no matter where baseball took them, because she’d be with Loran.

  “Well yeah, but—”

  “No buts.” She pressed her fingertips against his lips. “Grace never regretted moving here to be with Ethan because she loves him. As long as she has him, she’s good.” She leaned in to kiss him. “And I’ve never been happier than I am with you. My career isn’t everything. I love my family, I love my friends, but they’ll always be a huge part of my life, no matter where we live.”

  “I just have to be sure you know what you’d be getting into. It’s a lot to ask of anyone.”

  She appreciated his concern, but after today she was more certain than she’d ever been that this was the man for her. “You’re not asking me to do anything for you. I knew when I fell in love with you what the deal was.”

  “Which is why you were so hesitant.”

  “Not true.” She ran a hand through his hair, curling her fingers around the back of his neck, coaxing him to look at her. “I was hesitant because I was afraid of getting hurt. I’m not afraid anymore. I know you’d never hurt me.”

  He turned his head to kiss the inside of her wrist, pressing his lips to her pulse. “I wouldn’t. Not intentionally.”

  He was reminding her there were no guarantees, and she knew that. There may come a time when they would inadvertently hurt each other, but she wasn’t going to live her life in fear of that anymore. If it happened, they’d deal with it.

  “I can see my life with you.” He gestured through the windshield. “I can visualize the house, the kids, even the dogs.” He smirked. “I can see it all.”

  She could too, and she loved the picture he painted. “I can too.”

  He looked her in the eye. “Step outside with me?”

  “Sure.” It was cold so she grabbed her wool coat from the backseat, reaching for his jacket at the same time. “Fresh air will do us some good after being cooped up in the car all day.”

  As she stepped out of the car she looked up and realized the sky was glittering with stars, illuminated by a full moon. “It’s a beautiful night,” she whispered, when he rounded the front of the car to meet her.

  “It is.” He slipped his hand in to hers and carefully navigated to the water’s edge. “I wanted to bring you here for a reason, Bell.”

  Her heart started beating faster and she didn’t know why. His look was intense, and she struggled to read him. “Okay.”

  He looked back at the site where the house would be built. “When I bought this land I had a vision of what I wanted my life here to look like.” When she nodded, he said, “And you’re the one bringing that vision to life. Not just with your incredible design, but with your smile, your compassion, understanding.” He pulled her close, whispering in her ear. “Your love. Without that none of this would be possible.”

  She shuddered in his arms, because of his words, not the cold, but he held her tighter and she wasn’t complaining.

  “My dream would be one dimensional without you. I’d have what I’ve always had. The sport I love. Money to buy cool cars or build nice houses. But that’s all I’d have. You add the most important element to that dream, Bella. Hope. You give me hope and make me excited for the future.”

  Her sharp intake of breath as he dropped to one knee was followed by tears streaming down her cheeks when he opened the velvet box he’d slipped from his pocket. She could see the sparkle of the diamond, but not the size or shape. That didn’t matter. She didn’t care about the ring. She only cared about the man offering it to her.

  “I knew from the first time we spoke you were different.” He reached for her left hand, kissing it. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you. Then when I lost you, it felt like I lost a part of myself too. Having you back in my life this past little while just confirmed what I already knew. You’re it for me.”

  And he was it for her. Without question.

  “So, will you make my dream complete by agreeing to be my wife?”

  She sobbed before clasping her free hand over her mouth. “Absolutely.”

  He grinned before slipping the ring on her finger. He stood, scooping her up and holding her tight. “This is just the beginning, babe. It’s gonna be a crazy ride.”

  “And I am so ready.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  It had been four months since Loran proposed to Bella, and while they mingled in a fancy ballroom, celebrating the wedding of one of his teammates, Loran realized his life had never been better. The construction on their house had started. Bella was finalizing the plans for his mother’s little dream home. They were living together at his place. A wedding date had been set and his team had just signed him for another five years.

  He was a lucky man. And he never let a day pass without giving thanks for all his blessings. And Stella, the woman who’d reminded him how important it was to do just that.

  Ethan handed him a drink, before raising his glass. “To the man who put that smile on my sister’s face. I owe you.”

  Loran tapped his glass against Ethan’s before letting his eyes drift across the room. Bella was chatting with a small group of his teammates’ wives, wearing a purple scoop neck dress that hugged her curves and made his mouth water.

  “I don’t think I’ve stopped smiling since she agreed to be my wife.” He still couldn’t wipe the smile off his face, even when he tried. “Still doesn’t seem real, to be honest.”

  “What do you mean?” Ethan asked, sipping his drink.

  “Bella.” He shook his head, trying to put into words what only his heart seemed able to express. “It’s like I knew from that first exchange with her that she was the one. Even before I met her, which is crazy.”

  “Not so crazy,” Ethan said, smiling. “Sometimes you just know.”

  “Losing my shot with her…” He still hated thinking about how stupid he’d been. “It changed everything for me. I knew I had to get her back. Didn’t know how or when, just that I couldn’t give up.”

  “Persistence pays off,” Ethan said. “No one knows that better than we do.”

  “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

  He’d almost lost hope a time or two, but if he had he wouldn’t have been standing in this room, sharing a smile with the woman he loved, while imagining their future. It was all coming together. Their house was underway. Bella’s business was thriving and she was planning their dream wedding.

  As she crossed the room, her eyes fixed on him, he felt something shift as uneasiness crept through him. Her eyes were clouded with an emotion he couldn’t read and he thought he’d seen them all.

  “Looks like your fiancée wants to talk to you,” Ethan said. “I’ll catch up with you later, man.”

  “Yeah, sure.” Loran reached for her hand. It was ice cold. “Hey, baby. Havin’ fun?”

  She nodded, but her eyes were watery. “Can we step outside for a minute? I need a breath of fresh air.”

  “Sure.” He set his drink down on a nearby table and slipped his jacket off, setting it around her shoulders before they stepped out on the balcony. “You okay?” he asked, trying to calm the fear racing through him. She wasn’t herself. Something was wrong. He’d sen
sed it earlier, but accepted her excuse of stress and fatigue, when he pressed her about it.

  She shook her head and his stomach plummeted.

  “What’s wrong?” When she didn’t respond, he curled his hands around her shoulders. “I need words right now, Bell. Please, I’m going crazy not knowing what the hell’s wrong or how to fix it.”

  A tear slipped down her cheek before she dropped her head. “You can’t fix this. It’s too late. I screwed up and I hate myself. I’m so sorry.”

  His first thought was that she’d cheated on him, but that was crazy. Bella loved him. She didn’t want anyone else. But she travelled a lot for business. If she’d had a one-night stand with a stranger, after a few too many drinks, he’d… lose his mind. The thought of his fiancée sharing her body with another man. He couldn’t handle that.

  “Just tell me what you did.” So he could decide if he needed to hunt someone down and beat him within an inch of his life for taking advantage of a woman who never would have complied without the benefit of alcohol. That he knew for sure.

  She brushed away the tears sliding down her cheeks. “I went to the doctor today.”

  “The doctor?” His mind raced while the cheating scenario took root. Unplanned pregnancy? STD? What the hell was she going to tell him?

  “I had a miscarriage, Loran. I didn’t even know I was pregnant, but—”

  “Wait! What?” He gripped his forehead, trying to process what she was telling him. “Was the baby mine?”

  She gasped before slapping him across the face. “You bastard! How can you even ask me that!”

  White hot rage, at himself, spiked before being displaced by shock, sadness, and fear. She’d been pregnant with his baby. And lost it. And he just accused her of sleeping with someone else. What the hell was wrong with him?

  “Baby, I’m sorry, I—”

  “Take your hands off me.” She glared at him. “I mean it, Loran. Don’t touch me right now.”