He twined his fingers with hers. “Sometimes our parents know what we need more than we do.”
She pulled her hand away. “Beth said you had considered veterinarian school.”
She pointed her finger at him. “You and Beth talk about me too much. You seem to know more about me than I do.”
He placed his elbows on the table, watched her with interest. “Nonsense, there is so much more I want to know about you. Why did you change your mind and decide to get your masters in public health?”
“After I graduated and got my bachelors in biology, I began an internship. During a course about herd animals and international programs teaching third-world farmers how to care for their animals, I was much more interested in the prevention part of it, and working with people, than I was in learning about animals. After what happened with Chad, I have decided to travel. I hope to go to third-world countries and help people, teach them how to prevent diseases.”
He took a sip of water. “How do your parents feel about you going to places you may be in danger?”
“As you can guess, they are worried. Because of my bad choices I have caused them many sleepless nights. Now, I have another reason for not starting a serious relationship.”
“Maybe I can change your mind and convince you to help the poor and needy in our area. There is a huge need in our country. There is a need in the Raleigh, Durham area.”
“Beth told me you and your family support several charities. I find that very commendable.”
“So you asked Beth some questions about me?”
Michelle giggled. “Hardly, she volunteered. For some strange reason she thinks we make a perfect couple.”
He raised a golden eyebrow. “I agree with her.”
“You are fine as frog hair. I’d never tire of looking at you.”
Laughing, he pulled in his long legs and sat forward. “That’s oddly sweet.”
She tilted her head and smiled at him. “How about you? Have you had any serious relationships? Are you a faithful person?”
He got a far-away look. “I let a girl move in with me once. That was serious to me and also a disaster. She put up frilly curtains, glass vases of wild colors, and asked me to help her pick out a china pattern.” He pretended to shutter. “Needless to say, I quickly ended our relationship.” He pressed his lips together. “After that uncomfortable situation, I never asked another woman to move in. Spending the night is okay, but it’ll be a long time before I ask another woman to play house.”
She gave him a hard laugh. “You didn’t answer my question. Are you a faithful person?”
“Yes, I am. I’ve never been in a relationship with two women at one time.”
The waiter brought their entrees. “Is there anything I can get you?”
“No, everything looks great. Thank you.” Scott closed his eyes. Michelle could see his lips moving.
Inside she was bubbling over. He blessed his food. It was the first time her date had done so. She closed her eyes and blessed her food. When she opened her eyes Scott was staring at her. “What?”
“You’re smiling.”
“I’m excited about eating. I love food.” The conversation continued and Michelle had to admit she enjoyed his company. Maybe she was the snob. Because he had grown up with money and the finer things, she assumed he would think he was superior to someone who grew up on a small farm in Georgia.
She pushed her plate away and announced. “I can’t eat another bite.”
Scott looked at her plate and grimaced. “Where did you put all that food? You’re much too tiny to take in that many calories.”
“I have a big appetite.”
Scott dropped a few bills on the table and pulled her to her feet. His hands cuffed around her wrists causing goose bumps to cover her whole body. “Let’s go to my apartment and watch a movie.”
“I have class tomorrow. I need to go home. Besides, I thought we agreed to take it slow.”
A gorgeous smile on his face, she noticed his bottom teeth were slightly crooked. It was odd to see a flaw on someone she thought was perfection. As far as his looks went anyway. The jury was still out on his personality. Deep down she felt he didn’t like to accept failure. “This is slow for me. Tell me you feel the same thing I feel.”
Michelle gritted her teeth in anger. “I said slow. I’m not going to sleep with you tonight.”
The smile vanished. “Damn, you’re stubborn.”
“You have no idea.”
“I’m beginning to. Beth mentioned you don’t have a car. How did you get to the restaurant?”
Again, anger swept through Michelle. She was going to have to talk with Beth. She shouldn’t be butting into her life. Forcing a smile to her lips, she spoke softly. “Beth dropped me off. She had business in Raleigh. I’ll call a cab.”
“I’ll take you home.”
“I don’t want to inconvenience you.”
“It is not an inconvenience.” Hand on her elbow he led her toward the exit. Obviously, he wasn’t going to take no for an answer.
****
Lacy peeped out the window and recognized Scott’s black Lincoln. The windows were tinted so she couldn’t see inside the vehicle.
“Should you be snooping?”
She whirled around and glared at Dylan. “I’m not snooping.”
“Looks like snooping to me.”
Lacy moved away from the window and stooped to her knees in front of the old trunk that had once belonged to Billy. “I’m just concerned. I worry about Michelle.” She took out a stack of papers and flipped through them. His mother’s birth certificate, marriage license, and the deed to her home were yellowed and the ink had faded.
“Fireball knows what she is doing. After her track record, she’ll be more careful before getting involved with another man.”
“What are you going to do with that old trunk?”
“It was the only thing Billy had left. I’m going to keep it.” Every night since his death, Lacy had been taking her time reading every document, looking at old photographs. Billy’s whole life was in the old trunk.
Both turned toward the door when Michelle slipped inside. Her cheeks flushed when she saw them sitting on the sofa staring at her. “How did it go? Are you going to see Scott again?”
Michelle tossed her purse on the counter and plopped onto Dylan’s recliner. “Are you spying on me?”
“No, just curious.”
“I don’t know, Lacy. We come from different backgrounds. There are a million reasons that a relationship with Scott will not work.”
Dylan grabbed the folder on the coffee table and handed it to Michelle. “Maybe this will help you decide.”
Michelle scanned the first paper. “You did a background check.”
“Yes, I did. The only thing on his record is a couple of traffic tickets. He likes to drive fast. Other than that, he is squeaky clean.”
“Reading about his life makes me feel guilty. I feel like I’m intruding.” She tossed the folder onto the coffee table refusing to go beyond the first page. “He seems to be a great guy.”
“He is, Fireball. He donates money to several charities. He and his family are trustworthy, hardworking people. His mother doesn’t even have to work, but she works tirelessly organizing food drives, and soup kitchens. Last year she was responsible for buying the building and hiring the staff to house the homeless on Maple Street in Raleigh.”
“Yes, Beth told me the Wallace family are philanthropists in the Raleigh/Durham area.” She scrubbed her hands across her face. “You did a background check on the whole family?”
“Yes, I wanted you to know they have nothing to hide. Not even one whisper of wrong doing.”
The room remained quiet as Michelle digested the information. She still seemed unsure. Lacy stretched over the arm of the chair and took her hand. “Trust your instincts, Michelle. Scott is extremely sexy, intelligent, warm, and comes from a good family. Take time to get to know him before you dec
ide you’re not right for each other.”
“He does piqué my interest.”
Dylan offered, “Consider the differences between Lacy and me. Never in a million years would I have thought our relationship would survive my tragic childhood and her pampered upbringing. I can never imagine my life with anyone but her. Our relationship has weathered several storms and survived.”
Lacy felt a surge of satisfaction hearing Dylan’s declaration of love. She laced her fingers with his before she added, “Were I you, I’d give it a chance. Get to know him better before you end the friendship. Life is a gift from God. Enjoy every day. Stop walking around in the clouds because of Chad.”
“My whole life changed in one tiny, little second. I am not broken, but I am forever changed. I loved Chad with all my heart. It’s not easy to trust after discovering the man I loved was a serial killer. You can’t possibly understand.”
“No, we don’t understand. We have not walked in your shoes. Bad things happen to good people. You have wrestled with those demons, Michelle. Next to Lacy, you are the most admirable person I know. You are devoted, loving, and extremely strong.” Dylan’s voice became stronger. “Fear can keep us safe, but sometimes it holds us back. It’s time to be happy again.”
Michelle smiled at Dylan and Lacy. “Maybe you’re right. I’ll give it some thought.”
She reached into her back jeans’ pocket and pulled out a wad of money. “Beth paid me for working the past two weeks. Take it for rent.” She dropped the bills on the coffee table next to the folder.
“As I’ve told you on other occasions, Michelle, you don’t have to pay rent.”
“I’m not a charity case, Dylan. I pay my way.” Yawning, she placed her hand over her mouth. “I have homework. I’d better hit the books. I’ll see you two in the morning.” Before she shut her bedroom door, she turned and snapped, “And for the love of God, stop worrying about me.”
The moment Michelle shut her bedroom door Dylan stood and lifted Lacy into his arms in one smooth movement. Sometimes she forgot his strength and agility. His mouth twisted into a grin. “I know a way to stop worrying about Michelle. How about we go to bed? I’ll make it worth your while.”
“Just what does worth my while mean?”
“Come with me to the bedroom and I’ll show you.”
****
Keys in hand, Lacy rushed to her Jeep Cherokee. She had an early class and would be late if she didn’t hurry. A path of red rose petals had been placed on the sidewalk leading to the parking lot. Following the petals, Lacy stopped at her vehicle. Red rose petals covered the front of her Jeep. A gentle breeze blew the delicate petals onto her windshield. She turned a circle in the parking lot, but she didn’t see anyone. The most logical place would be the park across the street. There was a walking path that twisted through the forest and it would be easy to lurk behind a tree and watch her reaction. The swings and huge tree house were void of children. It was much too early for children to be at play. Three spandex-clad bicyclists pedaled on the path until they disappeared from sight into the forest. Two female joggers ran side by side. No one was interested in her.
Her first thought was Bret had something to do with the petals. Of course he couldn’t have placed them on her vehicle himself, but someone could have done it for him. Even behind bars, he taunted her. He had shattered her sense of security.
She considered gathering the rose petals before Dylan saw them, but they had promised no secrets.
“What the hell?”
Lacy whirled around to find Dylan glaring at the rose petals. Just as she had done, he looped around in every direction hoping to see someone watching them. Gray eyes stopped at the forest in the park. “He has gone too far. This proves he has no intention of leaving you alone. Threats and intimidation has not worked.”
Lacy gripped Dylan’s arm. “Please, don’t kill him.”
“Why not?”
“If someone discovers you had something to do with Bret dying, you would go to prison. It would ruin our lives.”
“As I have explained before, I am smart enough to make it look like an accident, Lacy.”
Her heart was thudding. Had he killed someone in his past and staged it to look like an accident? It was on the tip of her tongue to ask him. In the end she decided not to ask the question because she feared the answer.
“I will do whatever it takes to protect you. You are my responsibility. You are the woman I love and intend to spend the rest of my life with.”
“There must be another alternative.”
“It would be less time consuming to murder him.” A tear slipped over Lacy’s cheek. He brushed it away with the back of his hand before he took her into his arms. “I’ll have Robertson moved to a maximum security prison while he is awaiting trial. While we can’t prove he is responsible for the rose petals, we can prove he made the phone calls. It was his voice you recognized when he called. That way he will not be able to have contact with anyone outside the prison walls.”
“Thank you, Dylan.” Seconds passed as she stood there in the morning sun with her head resting against Dylan’s chest. She could feel his heartbeat and in that moment she knew everything would be okay. He would make sure Robertson would never be able to hurt her. She prayed whatever he did would be legal.
****
Bret was livid. He tossed his cot mattress against the wall and shouted profanities. He kicked over the tiny table he used as a desk sending his pad and pen falling to the floor. Leaning against the wall, he placed his fists to his eyes. He had received a phone call from his lawyer informing him that the FBI was going to have him transferred to a maximum security prison in New York as soon as the paper work was finished.
Dylan Bauer had more power than he thought. Maybe the rose petals were a little over the top. Prison had not helped him control his impulses. He wanted, no he needed to know, Lacy was scared. He needed her to know he could still have control over her life even though he was in prison. She would not forget what he was capable of doing to her.
Back to the wall, he slid to the floor. Waves of anger radiated off of him. While his lawyers were going to fight his extradition, the possibility had him sweating bullets. Now he would have to move up his plans to escape. If he was transferred to a maximum security prison, he’d never be able to escape. Thoughts of having to rush his plans along made him nervous. He couldn’t afford to make any mistakes. His freedom was at stake.
He pushed himself to a standing position and peeped through the bars of his cell to make sure no one was around. It was dinner time and all the guards would be on duty in the cafeteria. He crawled under his cot and wiggled the loose brick until he was able to remove it from the wall. He flipped open the burner phone hidden behind the brick and punched in his father’s number. After the third ring, his father answered. “We are going to have to change our schedule.”
His father asked, “Why?”
“I’m being transferred to a maximum security prison in New York. I’m confined to my cell until then.”
“What did you do this time?”
“It is not important.” He could hear his father’s gasp on the other end of the phone. Again he had disappointed him. “Just make sure everything is ready on your end.” Bret felt a surge of happiness. “A few more days and I’ll be a free man.”
“Yes, but at what cost?”
His father hesitated. “Are you responsible for the rose petals on Miss Reynolds car? I saw the scene on the news this morning. The whole ugly business was reported by Abby Coulter on channel two. Did you have someone put the petals on her car?”
Seconds passed as Bret thought up a plausible answer. Should he lie to his father or tell him the truth? It was his father who finally broke the charged silence. “You are responsible, aren’t you? That is why you are being transferred. The authorities know what you did.”
“The authorities know nothing. They have no proof I had anything to do with what happened to Lacy’s car. I have an alib
i. How could I have been responsible when I’m under lock and key?”
“Forgive me if I don’t believe you. Why can’t you leave Lacy Reynolds alone? The look on her face was heart wrenching. Cameras in her face, the press asking questions. Why do you feel the need to terrorize her? Can you imagine how I felt knowing my own son caused her pain. I’m mad as hell at you. You are sick and need help.”
Even though he couldn’t see his father, he could imagine he body language. His face red with fury, his hands clinched into fists. Rarely did his father get angry, but when he did he was a very intimidating figure. “I’m sorry you’re angry with me, Father. I’m sorry for disappointing you.”
“You have disappointed me, Bret. After ending up in prison, you should have learned your lesson. But no, you are still stalking Miss Reynolds. You’ve lost your mind.” Doubt, worry, and grief came through in his voice.
Obviously, it wasn’t a good time to ask his father for another favor, but he was running out of time. He shoved his free hand through his hair, and fought off a sick feeling in his stomach. “I need you to put twenty thousand dollars in a plain manila folder and have it delivered to this address.” Bret gave him the address. “Have someone you trust take it to the house. Send someone that will not draw attention. It’s better if you are not seen in the neighborhood.” Dead silence on the other end caused him to worry. His father could refuse to help him. Without his father’s assistance his chance at escape would be impossible. Someone had to do the leg work.
“What’s the money for?”
Relieved, he let out the breath he had been holding. At least his father’s temper had passed. “It’s best you don’t know.” Bret needed a new identity. The money would buy him a new birth certificate, social security number, driver’s license, and a passport. He would be starting a whole new life in another country.
“I’m scared, Bret. All this could blow up in your face.”
Bret closed his eyes and fantasized about the day he walked out of prison a free man. He had to convince his father to help him. “I know what I’m doing. Follow the plan and nothing will go wrong. I trust you to take care of it.”
Blood of the Falls (Twelve Oaks Farm Book 4) Page 19