Carlie studied the chips in front her, heat rising to her cheeks. “Then deal the cards already.”
Ryan shuffled. “We’ll start with something simple, five-card draw.” As he dealt, he explained how to play.
By the fourth or fifth round, Carlie began to get the hang of it. After the last ante and draw, she compared her cards to the cheat sheet. Ryan opened with a dime. Everyone tossed in their chips, and it was her turn. She sat up straighter. Holding her cards close to her chest, she grinned. “I’ll see your dime and raise you fifty cents.”
Ryan groaned, shook his head and tossed his cards facedown onto the table. “Somebody needs to teach you about poker faces, Carlie. You won’t win as much if you let everyone know you have a great hand.” He rose from the table and stretched. “I fold. I’m going to go get something to eat.”
“I fold, too.” Ceejay stacked her cards neatly in front of her and stood up. “Anybody want a beer?”
“Sure,” Noah said. “I’ll have one, and can you bring me a few of those mini quiches, honey?”
“Sure, just don’t lose all our money while I’m gone.” Ceejay patted her husband’s shoulder before walking away.
Wesley put his chip in. “I call, Ms. Stewart.”
“So do I,” Noah said, tossing in his green chip.
Paige tossed in her chip. “Let’s see what you have, newbie.”
Carlie turned her cards over with a flourish. “Four tens.”
“Curse that beginner’s luck,” Wes huffed, throwing down his cards.
“You win.” Paige turned her cards over. “I have two pairs.”
“I only have a pair of twos.” Noah grinned. “I only stayed in the game on the off chance you were bluffing.”
“Bluffing.” Carlie shot him a questioning look. “You’ll have to explain how bluffing would be useful in poker.”
“Nope. I don’t think I will.” Noah stood up and stretched. “I for one like it that you don’t have a poker face.”
“Let’s all take a break,” Paige said. “I’m almost out of chips anyway.”
“Actually,” Carlie said, glancing at the clock on the fireplace mantel. She was surprised to find it was already past ten. “I have to get up early tomorrow morning, and it’s getting late. We should probably get going.”
“Smart. Quit now while you have most of our chips.” Noah shot her a wry look.
“I told you I would,” she boasted. “I’m a firm believer in beginner’s luck.”
“We’re not playing in December, since there’s already so much going on,” Paige told her. “But in January, we’ll teach you a few new games, like Texas Hold’em. That’s what most of the tables are playing tonight.”
“I’m going to go see what became of my wife,” Noah said, glancing around the room.
Carlie stacked her chips as Noah walked away to find Ceejay. Paige soon followed her brother, and Carlie’s mind drifted. January seemed like a long way off, and her future was too uncertain to make plans that far away. Her stomach tightened. Would she be back in her rental house by then? The little white house she’d loved so much would never feel safe to her again. Jared had seen to that.
Oh, but she’d loved the peace and quiet of living in the country. The sounds of the birds, tree frogs and other creatures of the summer, accompanied by the occasional lowing of the McCurdys’ cows at milking time, soothed her. Having space for Tyler to explore and play outside meant a lot to her. Plus, rush hour in her neighborhood consisted of a tractor or two and a few pickup trucks loaded down with hay or bags of feed moving along the lane at a sedate speed.
The things that gave her comfort, made her feel safe, had been ruined for her once again. Like Wes had said more than once, the house was too isolated. Even when her ex was back behind bars, he’d continue to obsess about her and Tyler. He didn’t have a life sentence. Eventually he’d get out for good, and the terror would start all over. She’d never be free of him. Not really. She shook her head.
“What’s the matter?” Wesley leaned close.
“January,” she mumbled. “I can’t even think about next week, much less a few months from now.”
“Things will get better.” Wes covered her hand with his.
“No, they won’t. You have no idea what it’s like. Even when my ex is caught and back behind bars, it’ll only be a temporary reprieve.” Frustration and anger surged. “I’ll always be waiting for the next time he shows up—looking over my shoulder and jumping at shadows. Sometimes it feels like fear is the only thing constant in my life,” she bit out.
“Was the only constant in your life.” He placed a finger under her chin and turned her to face him, his eyes boring into hers. “You’re not alone anymore, Carlie,” he said, his voice gruff. “Whenever you need me, I’ll be there for you. That’s a promise and a constant.”
She forgot how to breathe and had to swallow against the tightness banding her throat. As much as she longed to believe him, she just couldn’t. Despite promises too numerous to count during her life, being able to rely on anyone other than herself had never panned out for her. Why would he be any different?
“I appreciate the thought, Wes, but who knows where either of us will be a year or two from now. You don’t owe me anything. I’m the one indebted to you for all the help you’ve already given me. A few home-cooked meals and a little light housekeeping doesn’t begin to cover it.” Her eyes stinging, Carlie rose from her chair, grabbed her poker chips and walked away before he could say anything else.
She was losing it. The stress was getting to her, and once again she’d dumped all over Wes. Regret pinched at her already frazzled nerves. They’d been having such a good time, and she’d wrecked it. She found Ryan in the kitchen, talking with the sheriff and Denny Offermeyer.
Paul winked at her. “We hear you cleaned up tonight.”
“I did.” She lifted the stacks of chips she held in both hands.
“Glad you could make it tonight, Carlie,” Denny said. “We hope you’ll become a regular.”
“Thanks, Denny. I’ll think about it.” She turned to Ryan. “We have to be going. Can you cash these chips in for me?”
“Sure.” Ryan set his soda on the counter. He took her chips from her. “Wait here, and I’ll be right back.”
“How’re you holding up?” Paul asked.
She shrugged. No reason to dump on him, too. “I’m all right.”
“I think the stress is starting to work on her last nerve.” Wes’s deep voice so close behind her sent Carlie’s heart racing. He placed his hands on her shoulders and squeezed. “I already cashed in my chips. I’ll go get Tyler. What do we owe the sitter?”
“Paige said she and Ryan are paying Allie, and if I wanted to give her a little extra, it was up to me. Whatever you give her, I’ll pay you back with my poker winnings.” She glanced at him over her shoulder. “I’ll meet you in the den to get our coats.” She couldn’t tear her eyes from him as he made his way to the front of the house. He stood a head above most people, and Lord, how she loved the way he moved.
“So, you and Wes are a couple now?” Paul asked.
“Huh?” Her attention shifted back to the sheriff. “A couple? No.” She frowned. “Until Jared showed up, the only time I ever saw Wes was when he came to eat breakfast at the diner. We’ve never been on a date. He’s . . .” She frowned. “We’re . . .”
Paul chuckled. “Well, once you get it figured out, you let me know.”
“Why?” she asked.
“Just curious.” His eyes twinkled. “Haven’t you heard about the wager going on at L&L?”
“A wager? No, I hadn’t heard.” She frowned. “What kind of wager?”
“Ask Wes.” He grinned. “It’s good to see you out and about, Carlie. I know the circumstances are less than ideal, but you have to admit, your ex’s sudden appearance hasn’t been all bad. I hear you’re taking self-defense classes with a few of the local gals, and here you are playing poker with the rest of us.
You’ve been in Perfect for a couple of years now. It’s about time you joined the community.”
Ryan returned, saving her from having to respond. He handed her some cash, and she folded the bills and stuffed them into a pocket. “Thanks so much for having us tonight, Ryan. I had a great time.”
“We’re glad you and Wes joined us,” he said.
“Nice to see you, Paul, Denny. I’m sure we’ll talk soon.” Carlie set out for the den, stopping to say her good-byes along the way. By the time she got to the door, Wesley and Tyler were coming down the stairs. Her son looked ready to fall asleep standing up. “Did you have a good time, sweetie?”
“I had a very good time,” Wes answered, a lopsided grin lighting his face. “How about you, darling?”
She couldn’t help but laugh. “What about you, Tyler? Did you have a good time?”
“Yeah. I like Allie.” Tyler yawned. “She’s pretty.”
“But not as pretty as your mom, though. Right, partner?”
“I guess.” Tyler shrugged his shoulders.
Wes walked into the den and fished through the pile of coats for their things. He handed her coat and purse to her.
“What’s gotten into you?” Carlie asked, blinking at Wes.
“What? Hasn’t anyone ever told you you’re beautiful before?” He blinked back, imitating her look of confusion. Then he helped Tyler into his coat. “You were heading into a skid earlier, and I’m just trying to put us back in fun mode. Is it working?” He waggled his eyebrows at her.
She grinned. “It is.” Did he really see her as beautiful? “I really did have a great time. Poker is fun.”
“If you’re winning.” Wes slipped into his jacket. “You’re just lucky I went easy on you tonight.”
“Is that so?” she teased back. “I think I held my own pretty well.”
“Yeah, well, if only you’d held your cards as well as you held your own.” He shot her a sheepish look. “I peeked. Next time, hold the cards closer.”
She gasped. “You did?”
“I was sorely tempted. But no. I didn’t.” He scowled at her. “I can’t believe you think I’d cheat.”
This was a new side to Wesley, one she’d never seen before. Teasing, flirting—she didn’t know what to make of it. She trailed Wes and her son outside. The gibbous moon illuminated the yard, giving the parked cars a silvery gleam. The night was clear, and the stars were especially bright. “Brrr. It’s cold tonight.” Taking Tyler’s hand, she followed Wes to his SUV.
His cell phone chimed the moment they got to his car. He checked the texted message. “Bruce says no sign of your ex tonight.” He texted back. “We’re good to go.”
Once they were headed down the Malloys’ long drive, Carlie got to thinking. Wes had invited her to go to poker night with him. He’d been so nervous. Had he viewed tonight as a date? “You know, this is the first time we’ve ever done anything social together. Thanks for inviting me to go with you.” She threw it out there and held her breath.
Wes glanced sideways at her. “I had a good time, too. No reason why we can’t continue to do things together, is there?”
“No reason at all. So . . . you want to get . . . social?” Was that the same as involved? She peeked over her shoulder at her son. He’d fallen asleep the minute Wes had started his SUV.
“Didn’t I just say that?” He frowned and kept his eyes on the road.
Clearly he was uncomfortable with the direction their conversation had taken, and she wasn’t about to push. “The Malloys have a nice house, don’t they?” All that got was a nod. She racked her brain for something to say to bring things back to the happy place they’d been. Nothing came to her. “I left my bowl there,” she muttered.
“Paige will get it back to you.” Wes shifted and reached for her hand. He meshed their fingers together. “I’m glad we did this. I really like seeing you relaxed and enjoying yourself. Seeing you happy makes me happy, Carlie.” He glanced at her for a second, and then focused on the road again. “Is that OK with you?”
She sensed the vulnerability in his question, enough to cause her heart to skip a beat. “Sure.” She nodded. He kept her hand in his and drove down the highway toward Perfect. Staring out the windshield, she thought about what the sheriff had said to her.
He was right. If Jared hadn’t turned up the way he had, she and Wesley would still be virtual strangers, only seeing each other for the brief moments it took him to eat his breakfast at the diner each morning. She wouldn’t have started taking self-defense classes or come to know the women she now counted as friends. What would Jared think if he knew about the good that had come out of his intrusion into her life? She smiled.
“What are you thinking about?” Wes gave her hand another squeeze.
She beamed at him. “I was just thinking about how sometimes plants grow best when their roots are buried in manure.”
“OK.” He snorted. “That was random.”
They were on the main street of Perfect, and close to home. “Not really. Tonight Paul pointed out how my ex has forced me out of my comfort zone. I’m making friends and being social.” This time, she did the hand squeezing. “When you get right down to it, I’ve gotten to know you because of Jared, and for that I’m truly grateful.”
The pleased expression suffusing his face, and the vulnerability she’d glimpsed in him tonight, sent her spirits soaring. He turned into the alley, drove the half block to L&L and pulled into his parking spot. “Dammit.”
She sucked in an audible breath, and her soaring spirits tanked. The tires on her Ford had been slashed, and every bit of glass shattered. “He knows.” Her mouth went dry, and she trembled. “Jared knows about the US Marshals. That’s why he didn’t follow us to the Malloys’ house tonight. This is a message.”
Dread lodged itself in her chest, and she could hardly breathe. Thank God Tyler was asleep. She didn’t want him to see this. It was bad enough he’d seen Jared hit her. Worse, he’d heard his dad threaten to end her and take him away. Then Jared had backed up his threats with the attempted kidnapping. Her son was already having a tough enough time. He didn’t need this reminder that his dad was still out there stalking them.
“I’m going to disable the alarm,” Wes said, his voice low. “Stay right where you are. When I come back, I’ll get Tyler out of his seat and carry him inside. You’ll have to open the door for me.” Wesley leaned over, unlocked his glove compartment, drew out his handgun and stuffed it into his belt.
Carlie waited while Wesley unlocked the back doors to L&L and slipped inside. Lights went on, and he returned for them. He opened the rear door of his SUV and lifted Tyler out.
Holding her sleeping son, Wesley nodded to her. She climbed out and hurried to open the door for him. Once inside, they secured the building and climbed the three flights of stairs to his apartment.
Carlie pulled her keys out to open the door into the kitchen. Her hand shook so badly, it took a couple of tries before she could fit the key into the lock. Wes placed a hand on her shoulder just as she managed to get the door open. They’d left a few lights on, wanting to give the impression that someone was home, and she was glad for the light now.
Rex met them at the door. He whined and stayed close to Wesley’s side as they made their way to Ty’s bedroom. Carlie turned the covers back on the bed, and Wes laid her son down on the mattress.
“I have to take Rex outside,” he whispered. “I’ll call the marshals and let them know what’s happened.”
Carlie followed him out of the room. She closed the door softly behind her. “I don’t want you to go out there, Wes. Call the marshals first and wait for them to show up. Rex can wait a while longer.” Fear choked her, and she still shook from head to toe. “Please don’t go out there.”
He pulled her into his arms. “I won’t go to the alley. I’ll take Rex out front.” He rubbed her back. “Jared’s not anywhere near here anymore, sweetheart. He did his bad deed for the night, and like the coward he i
s, he’s long gone. I’ll be all right.”
She shook her head and gripped the front edges of his jacket. If she held on tight enough, he wouldn’t be able to leave the safety of the third floor.
Wes gently pried her hands free. “Go take care of Ty. You don’t want him sleeping in his jeans and sneakers, do you?” He kissed her forehead. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. I promise.”
“You promise? You can’t say for sure Jared is gone, and you have no control over what he plans to do.” She struggled to keep her tears at bay. “What if he’s waiting for you to step outside? He’s armed. Have you forgotten about the rifle he stole?”
“Trust me.” He stepped away from her. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“If you won’t wait for the marshals, then let me come with you,” she begged.
“Absolutely not.” He closed the space between them. Giving her a little push, he sent her toward Ty’s room. “Get Tyler tucked in, and I’ll be back before you know it.” He gave his dog a silent hand command, and Rex took his place by Wes’s left side.
Desperation ate away at her as she watched him leave. She wanted to run after him. No. It wasn’t a want. She needed to go after him, so she could place herself between Wes and any possible harm. The urge to do just that overwhelmed her, but Wes wouldn’t allow it.
A ringing started up inside her head. Torn between running after him and staying put, Carlie forced herself to turn away. She went into Ty’s room and got him undressed down to his T-shirt and briefs. As she pulled the covers up over him, her heart seized. If anything happened to Wesley or her son, it would be the end of her.
Running her fingers through Tyler’s unruly hair, she worried. If anything happened to her, what would become of her son? She hadn’t made any plans or drawn up a will. Whom did she trust enough to care for him? Her mom? No. Her mom couldn’t protect Tyler from Jared. She leaned over and kissed his forehead. He made a sound and then turned to his side without waking. She’d have to come up with a plan. Maybe the Maurers would take Ty. She and Jenny were distantly related, after all.
She ached inside. She’d isolated herself for so long that she had no one. For far too long she’d cultivated acquaintances, but no real friends—until recently. Jared would find a way to ruin that for her, too.
The Twisted Road to You (Perfect, Indiana Book 4) Page 14