Charmed: A Small Town Enemies-to-Lovers Romance (Willow Springs Series Book 3)

by Laura Pavlov

  “Of course. We’re always drowning down here, and I don’t get around as well as I used to.” The man hadn’t been getting around well for the twenty-five years that I’d known him.

  “All right. There’s a guy camped outside. I want to give him a chance.”

  “Is it Maura’s friend, Beeves? Great guy.”

  I laughed. “How the hell do you know about Beeves?”

  “Maura brings him lunch every day when I’m on my smoke break. You going to hire that girl? She’s really something.”

  You’re preaching to the choir, buddy.

  “Working on it.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Maura

  “Thank you for doing this,” I said to Layla as we tossed the last paper plate into the garbage. She’d organized an amazing goodbye party for me in the break room on my last day at the office. Crew showed up and surprised me with Beeves and it took all I had in me not to kiss him senseless. He’d actually hired Beeves in the mailroom and his first day was on my last day. Crew left to take Beeves downstairs. We’d kept our distance from one another at the party, and we were both tired of pretending we weren’t together at the office. As much as I was sad for my internship to end, I was happy that we wouldn’t have to keep this a secret anymore. I was going to speak to my father about it when I went home this weekend.

  I’d taken my last two finals this week, and I was officially done with school as well. I was ready to start the next chapter of my life and going home and facing my father was a big part of that. He had completely stopped texting me, and we hadn’t spoken in a couple of weeks. I assumed he was angry at me for leaving Piper’s letter in his desk drawer. He’d sent me a snarky text that just said that he’d received the note I’d left him and that he didn’t appreciate it. I’d never felt so distant from him before. My mom and I talked almost daily, and she clearly didn’t know anything because she was looking forward to my graduation. She and my father had rented out a large banquet room in Dallas to have a party for both me and Ivy. Coco, Addy, and Gigi were all graduating on the same day, so we were missing one another’s big moment, but we’d be there in spirit.

  But the one I wanted there the most was Crew. A part of me hoped that my father would be accepting about the relationship, seeing as he had some pretty dark skeletons in his own closet, and he didn’t even know Crew well enough to hate him. I wanted Crew to be at both my ceremony and my party. So, I was going to talk to my father. Remind him that I was still here trying to fix our relationship even after all that I’d found out. I was going to tell him that Piper and I had a relationship and I thought he should reach out to her. Most importantly, he had to tell my mother the truth or I’d have no choice but to do it for him.

  “This wasn’t all me,” Layla said, looking up to make sure the break room was empty aside from us. “Crew wanted this to be special for you.”

  I could feel my cheeks heat. “That was nice of him.”

  “Listen, I know you can’t say anything, but I want you to know that you’re really good for him, Maura. He’s had this shield around him for so long, and ever since you’ve come into his life, he’s set it down. It looks good on him.”

  “What does?” I asked, looking over my shoulder to make sure no one was listening.

  “Happiness.” She squeezed my shoulder and smiled. “Being in love. It looks good on both of you.”

  I didn’t deny it. I couldn’t lie to her any longer. “Thank you, Layla.”

  “I hope you take the job here. We all love having you at the office.”

  I nodded. I’d gone on two other interviews with ad agencies in Dallas over the past few days, much to the chagrin of my boyfriend. I wanted to work here, but I also wanted to repair the damage with my family. I loved Crew no matter where I worked. I knew that my father would bring his wrath if I didn’t fix this first.

  “I really want to. I’m working on it.”

  Layla hugged me goodbye, and I stopped by creative and told everyone I hoped to see them soon. I hugged Sam and Gwen goodbye on my way down the hall. They’d officially started dating and they were adorable together. Crew was actually happy about it, because Sam was taking his job more seriously now that he actually wanted to keep it, seeing as his girlfriend worked here too.

  “Hey,” I said, leaning in the doorway. “Thanks for today. The party. Beeves.”

  He looked up and his emerald greens locked with mine. “Of course. Come in and lock the door.”

  I chuckled as I locked it and made my way over to him. I stopped in front of him, and he lifted me up to sit on his desk and looked up at me. “You sure you don’t want me to fly you home today?”

  We’d discussed this several times already and I’d told Crew I was driving home with Ivy. I needed to face my father on my own, without being distracted that my boyfriend was next door.

  “I’ve got this. I promise.”

  “So, I know I can’t come to your graduation party, but I’ll be at your ceremony. I’ll just stay out of sight of your father.”

  I shook my head. “Piper wants to come too. It makes me sad that everyone has to hide because of my dad. I should have the people that I want there.” Piper and I talked often. We met for coffee once a week now and texted daily. It was something that I looked forward to. Piper had become an important part of my life. My father hadn’t reached out to her after reading her letter. He wanted to pretend that she didn’t exist. It wasn’t right. Lyle and Wes had plans to come to Dallas and meet her the week after graduation. Maybe my father would meet her at some point too.

  “Listen. I’ll do whatever makes it easiest on you. When are you going to make your decision about the job?”

  “Soon. I promise. I’ve got a plan.”

  “Okay. I’m going to miss you. Two nights without you in my bed. There should be a law against that,” he said, flashing me his beautiful smile.

  “Hey, I don’t think we have to worry about being caught at this point. Do you want to give me a proper goodbye?” I leaned down and teased his lips with mine.

  “What do you have in mind, Ms. Benson?” He pushed to his feet, and I reached for his belt.

  “You always wanted to have hot office sex. It’s the least I can do on my last day at the office.” My voice was all tease.

  “Consider it a parting gift for services rendered.” He reached for the bottom of my dress and lifted it to my waist, and I pushed up on my hands to make it easier. His mouth was on mine. Wanting and needing and claiming. I tugged at the waistband on his pants, and he reached in his wallet for a condom.

  I took it from his hands. “I want to do it.”

  When I first met Crew, I was uncomfortable in my own skin when it came to sex. But this man had opened me up in so many ways. I loved how comfortable I was with him. I loved how my body responded to him. And I loved that he knew how to please me.

  Every. Single. Time.

  “You can do whatever you want, baby.”

  I rolled the rubber over his erection and my gaze never left his.

  There was so much love looking back at me that my breath caught in my throat and a tear ran down my face.

  “Hey, what’s happening here?” he asked, tipping my chin up to look at him.

  “Nothing. I’m just really happy.”

  “That’s a good thing,” he said, teasing my lips with his again before his mouth crashed into mine.

  “I love you,” I whispered as he moved forward, slow and torturous. I felt him in every bone in my body. I leaned back on my elbows and we moved together slowly. With purpose. He knew what I needed, and I knew what he needed. Our gazes still locked on one another.

  And I never wanted it to end.

  “Did you hear back from your mom?” Ivy asked as we pulled into the driveway to my house.

  “Yeah. She’s at the club for a wine tasting with a few girlfri
ends. She said my father’s home working.” My stomach twisted because I knew this conversation wasn’t going to be easy.

  “Do you want me to come in with you?” she asked, and she didn’t hide her concern. My father could be a bulldog, that was no secret. But I’d never been afraid of him. I wanted to fix things, not make them worse.

  “Nope. I’ve got this.”

  “You know Crew is freaking out. He even texted and asked me to let him know if there’s a problem,” she said.

  I laughed. I was glad he’d gotten close to my girls, even if the others had only hung out with him on FaceTime and Zoom. They all liked him a lot. I couldn’t wait to date out in the open and do normal things that couples do, like go to dinner with friends. “He worries too much. Have fun with your parents. I’ll call you later. Love you.”

  “Love you,” she shouted when I got out of the car.

  My phone vibrated and I glanced down to see a message from Piper. She knew this was going to be a tough weekend at home, and her support meant the world to me. She had every right to be bitter and angry, yet she wasn’t.

  Piper ~ Good luck this weekend. Sending you big hugs.

  Me ~ Thank you! Say a prayer for me. I think I’m going to need it.

  Piper ~ You’ve got this. And if it doesn’t feel right, just trust your gut.

  My father’s car was in the driveway and my mother’s car was gone as I’d expected. I walked up to the front door and typed in the code. When I pushed the door open, I heard the TV on in the family room.

  “Hello,” I called out.

  When I made my way down the hallway and saw my father sitting on the couch with a cocktail glass in his hand, my heart sank. He looked angry. His eyes were a little bloodshot which let me know he’d been drinking.

  “I have a bone to pick with you.” His words slurred a bit, and I dropped my bag on the floor and set my purse on the counter. I moved to the couch and sat down beside him.

  “Great. I have one to pick with you.”

  “No one likes a broken record, Maura. I got the letter that you left in my desk drawer. So, you’ve gone behind my back and seen this girl again?”

  “This girl? Do you mean my sister?”

  He pushed to his feet and threw his cocktail glass against the wall. It shattered into a million little pieces, and I gasped. I’d never seen my father unravel like this before.

  “She’s not your goddamn sister. Stop with the theatrics. What are you trying to do, Maura? You want to break up my marriage, is that it? We don’t give you enough attention?”

  “What? This is not about attention, Dad. I want to repair things. I came here to talk to you. I want to fix things between us, but you need to tell Mama the truth. I can’t keep this secret from her. It’s wrong,” I said, and the tears were falling down my cheeks.

  “It’s wrong? Is it wrong to lie to your father about where you’re working? I had my investigator look into you as well. Seeing as you’re digging into my private life, I thought I’d do the same to you. And I find out that you’re working for Crew Carlisle and you’re spending the night at his home. Whoring yourself out for a fucking Carlisle,” he shouted so loud I swore the walls shook.

  I stood, facing him head-on. The veins in his neck were threatening to explode. They were bulging out and his face was bright red. He looked so wounded. So betrayed. His words cut me deeply.

  “It’s not like that.” My words broke on a sob. “I love him, Dad. I’m happy. Isn’t that what you want for me?”

  “Is that what I want for you? To be shacking up with the enemy? Are you kidding me right now? You have gone too far, Maura. This is unforgivable.” He punched the wall beside him, and I startled again.

  This had gone from bad to worse. My sobs made it difficult to speak.

  “Unforgivable? Seriously? You had an affair. You have another daughter who you refuse to acknowledge. You’ve been lying to my mother and to your entire family. And you’re pointing the finger at me?”

  “That girl is not my daughter. I was a sperm donor for a woman desperate to trap me. If she chose to keep that child, that’s on her. I will not tell your mother, nor will you. Or I promise you I will make your life and your boyfriend’s life a living hell.”

  I could barely see him through my teary eyes. I’d never cried this hard in my life, but all the pent-up anxiety had come to the surface. The lump in my throat was so deep it was difficult to breathe. “You’re an absolute monster.”

  “Yeah. Well, I haven’t even started with what I’ll do to you if you dare speak of this to your mother or your brothers. Do you hear me?” He moved into my space, backing me up to the wall beside the couch. I couldn’t breathe. His eyes full of fire and his threatening stance caused all the air to leave my lungs. He’d made it clear that he’d do whatever it took to shut me up.

  He was clearly intoxicated. I’d seen my father drunk many times in my life, but never like this. He’d never lashed out at me before. And it stung something fierce. I realized for the first time in my life that I was afraid of him.

  “Get away from her now.” My mother appeared behind my father, and her eyes were wild and angry.

  “It’s not what you think.” My father didn’t back away from me and I tried to catch my breath.

  “It’s exactly what I think. I decided that I didn’t want to be out with friends when Maura was home. So I changed my plans and this is what I walk into? You haven’t changed a bit, Arthur. I heard the whole conversation. I guess a tiger never truly changes his stripes, does he? And you’re drunk and threatening our daughter for trying to do the right thing. Now step the hell away from her.”

  My mother moved toward us, and my father looked between us. “The right thing? Did she tell you she’s fucking a Carlisle? She’s dead to me.”

  A gasp left my mouth and I pushed against him to get away. I couldn’t listen to this anymore. “I hate you,” I shouted.

  He turned around before I could move, and his hand came at me so fast I didn’t even see it coming before it made contact with my cheek. He slapped me so hard that I lost my footing, and my face came down on our stone fireplace. I held my hand to my cheek and saw the blood there.

  My mother shrieked and ran toward me. “Get out of this house, Arthur.”

  “This is my home. I’m not going anywhere.”

  My mother assessed my face and urged me to my feet. “Can you walk?”

  I nodded. She moved me past my father who stood there watching us.

  “Go to the door and wait for me,” she said, and her voice shook just a bit.

  My cheek was bleeding, and I was completely stunned by what had just happened. I moved carefully to the door, terrified that my father would come after me again.

  “Where are you going?” I heard my father say to my mother when I stood at the door.

  “Away from you.” Before I could process what was happening, my mother had my suitcase in hand and what looked like a dishtowel and a bag of ice, and she hurried me out the door. She helped me get in the car and leaned over to fasten my seat belt. Tears were streaming down her face.

  She studied me. “I’m so sorry, Maura.”

  I nodded but couldn’t speak over the lump lodged in my throat.

  My mother used the dish towel to clean up my cheek and handed me a bag of ice. “Hold this on your cheek.”

  I couldn’t feel anything. My body was completely numb. Never in a million years did I see this conversation unfolding this way. The tears continued to fall, the salt burning my cut mimicking the hurt in my heart, and I stared out the windshield as she pulled down the driveway.

  “We’re going to make one stop, okay?” she said as she turned into the Wilsons’ driveway a few doors down from our home. He’d been our family doctor for as long as I could remember.

  When she put t
he car in park, she ran to the door and Mrs. Wilson looked startled to see us there so late. But she hurried toward the car with my mother, and they helped me inside.

  “Come on in, sweetheart. Let me go get Burt.”

  My mother dropped down on her knees and broke down in sobs. “I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s not your fault, Mama.”

  “I never thought he would lay his hands on you.”

  Dr. Wilson came around the corner with a medical bag and ushered my mother out of the way before bending down to look at my face. “How are you doing, sweetie pie?”

  The man was everything you’d imagine for a small-town doctor. Everyone in Willow Springs loved him.

  “I’ve been better,” I croaked. He pulled out some sort of towelette and cleaned up my cheek, looking from side to side.

  “You’ve got a bad cut on this side but I think we can just use a little glue and fix you right up. The other side is going to have a nasty bruise. Can you tell me who hurt you, Maura?”

  I shook my head. The shame and embarrassment was overwhelming. My father had struck me. I’d pushed him to the point of madness. I’d ruined my family.

  “Her father,” my mother said, her voice stone-cold.

  “All right. Well, you may want to file a police report. At least that’s my advice,” he said, using some sort of tool to apply something soft over the cut.

  “No. We’re not pressing charges. He’s my dad. He was drunk and angry. It was an accident.”

  “Striking a lady is never an accident, Maura,” Dr. Wilson said, his tone stern.

  My mother had called my brother Lyle and filled him in on what happened.

  What had I done?

  This wasn’t supposed to happen.

  “Thank you so much for taking care of her. We’re going to head over to Lyle’s house. Wes will meet us there too,” my mother said.

  “All right. You know y’all are welcome to stay here with us,” Mrs. Wilson said.

  “We’ve troubled you enough. Thank you so much for taking care of my girl.”

  My mother walked me out to the car, and I buckled up. I pulled the little mirror down above my seat and studied my face. I looked like I’d been in a fight, and it hadn’t gone in my favor.