Hold On To Me (Welcome To Redemption)

by Netzel, Stacey Joy

  “I don’t know what else to think,” Grant answered Nadine. “Unless there was a major power surge that blew all the bulbs.”

  “Is that possible?”

  He shrugged, the movement barely visible in the dim light filtering up from the first floor. “I don’t know. If there had been, I think I’d have noticed it. But then again, the hall is on a separate breaker, so who knows.”

  Nadine had fit her key in the lock and opened her apartment door. Light from inside illuminated the hall. “Well, if I hear anything at all, I’ll let you know.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Sure. Night, Jenny.”

  She offered a little wave. “Goodnight.”

  Grant leaned the ladder against the wall before facing Jenny. “Come on, I’ll walk you home before I get started on this.”

  Relief added a tremor to her voice as she tried to make light of the situation on their way to her door. “It’s not like this was a date or anything.”

  “Technically, I did buy you dinner.”

  “That’s a bit of a stretch—”

  Breaking glass underfoot confirmed the lights had been broken on her end of the hall as well.

  “Damn it all to hell,” Grant ranted. “I hope I find out who did this.”

  “I’m sure you will,” she said quietly, guilt eating at her insides as she unlocked her door.

  He put a hand on her arm. “Sorry, I shouldn’t get so upset.”

  “Why not? It sucks.”

  “It does suck,” he agreed with a quick grin. “Especially when I’d rather be doing this.”

  Before she had any clue what he was about, he’d dipped down to capture her mouth with his. She thrilled to the romantic gesture of the unexpected kiss, until he grasped her arms to urge her closer at the same time the thought of Roy nearby stabbed into her conscious.

  She wedged her hands between them and pushed against Grant’s chest. In the moment he ignored her resistance, panic flickered to life. Then he released her, leaned past and opened the door at her back. His gaze swept the inside of her apartment while she backed across the threshold.

  “I’ll be working out here for awhile,” he said. “After that, you know where to reach me. Call me if you need anything, okay?”

  She nodded, that lump reforming in her throat.

  His penetrating gaze held hers. “I mean it, Jenny. Anything, anytime.”

  In a completely different situation, she’d have read a whole other meaning into that statement. Wished she could now—especially after his kisses had breathed life back into her conscious until her body practically hummed with sexual awareness.

  But his stern tone, coupled with the protective concern in his serious brown eyes, confirmed what she’d wondered more than once throughout the day.

  Frank had told him all about her failed marriage.

  Unable to face him knowing he knew, she choked out a “Goodnight,” and shut the door. Unlike the other night, this time she hesitated a long couple seconds before twisting the deadbolt, slow and quiet. Thoughts of a hall-full of broken light bulbs had her latching the security chain and grabbing one of her kitchen chairs to wedge beneath the doorknob.

  ****

  Jenny left the courthouse with a bounce to her step and a smile on her face. Even Mother Nature saw fit to shine the sun down upon her as she practically skipped along the sidewalk. Didn’t matter she was exhausted after tossing and turning much of the night, nothing could dampen her spirits.

  She was free. Finally.

  Carrie had been right—she needed to celebrate!

  The first person who came to mind was Grant. The first thing that came to mind was his kiss. So what if she’d waited until after ten a.m. for him to knock on her door to share the second cinnamon roll, and he never showed. Maybe she could still invite him to her place for—

  “Jenny.”

  Roy stepped from behind a large maple tree alongside the walkway. She jerked to a stop with a startled gasp. Casting a nervous glance around the mostly empty parking lot, she fidgeted with the manila envelope in her hand. Knowing what it contained gave her strength to meet her ex-husband’s cold blue gaze.

  “Leave me alone, Roy.”

  “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” he sneered.

  “That is why I divorced you.”

  “No, you divorced me because you’re too stupid to know better.”

  What? That didn’t even make sense. Jenny decided he wasn’t worth one more second of her time. Forcing herself to hold on to her courage, she held up the envelope. “The best thing about this is I don’t have to listen to you anymore.”

  As she started to move past, his jaw tightened and familiar fury lit his eyes. When he blocked the walkway, her stomach revolted against the half cinnamon roll she’d finally eaten before leaving her apartment.

  “Oh, you’re going to listen and listen good. That little paper in your hands means nothing. You owe me, and a little birdie—”

  “I owe you?” she blurted out in amazement. “I didn’t even ask—”

  His raised hand cut off her words, and she retreated a step when he advanced.

  “Ever since you started flapping your jaw, exaggerating a little slap here and there, the people in this town have turned into judgmental bastards. Business is down, and my dad’s been riding my ass. So, the way I figure it, honey, yes, you owe me.”

  Endearments had always been a precursor to his violence. She shivered before reminding herself that legally, he couldn’t touch her anymore. And they were in public, in the middle of town—he wouldn’t dare try anything here. He’d always struck behind closed doors. She desperately searched for anyone who might notice, but the area was practically deserted this morning.

  “Now...what’s this I hear about you having a safe-deposit box at the bank?”

  Her attention jerked back to Roy, her stomach bottoming out. Oh, God. How did he find out about her box? She’d specifically used the bank because of the confidentiality. Anxiety swelled, but she clutched the envelope containing the divorce papers and clung hard to her shaky bravado.

  “What I have is no concern of yours.”

  “It concerns me when I find out you first rented it back when we were married.” After a quick glance around, he lunged forward and grabbed her arm, his fingers digging painfully into her flesh. “I have my ways. What do you have in there, Jenny?”

  Panic sent her heart into hyper-drive when he pulled her toward his Charger, parked on the other side of the tree. She tried to resist, but his grip tightened relentlessly, ensuring there’d be bruises. A fearful sob burst from her throat.

  “Shut up. Were you stealing from me? You stash a bunch of my money?”

  “O-of course n-not. You never gave me any cash.”

  His eyes narrowed, and she realized her mistake.

  “Then what’s in the box?”

  Should’ve let him think it was money. She could have figured out a way to give him a lump sum and it would’ve been over. Now her brain scrambled for an explanation he’d accept. Because, no way in hell could she tell him what she’d hid at the bank. He’d kill her.

  The auto-locks thunked open. He shoved her against his car, and the impact sent pain radiating through her arm and hip. Nightmare flashbacks stripped away her hard won independence, holding her immobile as she waited for the inevitable.

  With a chilling, confident smile, Roy reached past where she cowered against the car to grab the passenger door handle.

  “You and I are going to take a little ride, wifey. Odds are, you’ll smarten up by the time it’s over.”

  Chapter 8

  Tucking his wallet into his back pocket with one hand, new car registration in the other, Grant stepped out of the DMV and headed for the parking lot shared with the courthouse. The sun was shining and the temperature was warm for the last day of May; it was beginning to look a lot like summer. Yet, for such a beautiful day, he was surprised at how quiet the town was. Then again, it was nice compared t
o yesterday’s holiday crowds.

  About the only thing that could’ve made his morning better was if he’d given in to the impulse to surprise Jenny by knocking on her door and asking for half her cinnamon roll.

  Instead, he’d decided to give her some space. Her response to his kiss had been a very pleasant surprise—one that had kept him up more than half the night—but they’d only known each other a few days, and he didn’t want to frighten her by pushing too hard, too fast. Not to mention, keeping his hands off her during those kisses had taken every ounce of self-restraint he possessed. Apparently, he needed some space, too.

  He glanced toward the courthouse as he reached his car, and then did a double take in time to see Roy Adams shove Jenny against a car.

  White hot fury exploded and Grant’s direction switch didn’t even require conscious thought. He reached the shade of the maple as Roy opened the passenger side door of the midnight-blue Charger Jenny leaned against. She hugged a manila envelope to her chest. A red handprint showing individual finger marks marred the smooth skin of her upper left arm.

  “What’s going on here?” Grant demanded, fingers curling into fists.

  Jenny didn’t move as Roy spun around to face him. Surprise was quickly masked by a smile. “Grant, buddy, how are you doing? I’ve been waiting for you to stop by the dealership so I can show you the cars. Like this beauty here—we’ve got a couple on the lot yet.”

  Ignoring the flashy sports car, Grant focused on Jenny and saw her eyes widen at Roy’s words. Damn. Too late to explain now. Softening his tone, he asked, “Are you okay?”

  Roy situated his body between her and Grant. “This is my wife, Jenny. We should all get together for a beer sometime—like you and I did the other night. Just like old times.”

  Idiot forgot he’d bragged about being free and single the other night and now did his best to make it sound like they were good friends. He hoped Jenny saw through Roy’s attempts to discredit him.

  “It’s ex wife,” Jenny corrected in a burst of defiance. She sidled along the car until Roy reached a hand back.

  “Honey...stay there. I’ll take care of this.”

  She halted, wide eyes darting to Grant, her grip on the envelope white-knuckled. He switched his attention back to Roy and locked gazes so there was no question to his intent.

  “Let her through.”

  “What’s the problem?” Roy blustered with a laugh. “I was just going to give her a ride home.”

  “By forcing her into your car? I don’t think so.”

  Grant glimpsed evil as Roy dropped all pretense of friendliness. “This is none of your business, friend.”

  “You shouldn’t consider me a friend anymore, Roy. Now move, or I’ll move you.”

  Despite being shorter by a good two inches, Grant didn’t waver under the asshole’s bristling animosity. Roy finally dropped his arm, shifting to the side so Jenny could pass. Grant extended his hand to her. Emotion tightened his chest when she took hold and moved behind him. The trembling in her touch told him the extent of her fear, and anger lent a sharp edge to his next words.

  “You might want to leave before I change my mind about being civil.”

  Roy gave him a two second glare before slamming the passenger door to make his way around the Charger. “She’s good for nothing anyway.”

  Tires squealed on his exit from the lot, and Jenny’s grip on Grant’s hand tightened like a vice. Once he was sure Roy was gone, he turned to face her.

  Speech deserted him at the sight of tears swimming in those huge blue eyes. One blink spilled them down her pale cheeks, and in the next instant, she practically collapsed into his arms, silent sobs shaking her slim shoulders. Grant held her against his chest and let her cry. A lump formed in his throat as he eased closer to the shadow of the tree and tilted his head to rest his cheek on the top of her head.

  He didn’t try to quiet her, or tell her it would be okay. Even though he planned to make sure she remained safe, he sensed in this moment she needed the release.

  After a few minutes, the shaking subsided, and she stiffened in his arms. The envelope crinkled between them as she mumbled into his shirt. “I’m sorry. I didn’t sleep much, and I’m tired, and I never expected him to do that out in the open like this.”

  Grant’s arms tightened for a brief second, then he took hold of her shoulders to look into her eyes. “Don’t apologize for what he does. Ever. It’s not your fault, you hear me?”

  Fresh tears sprang to her red-rimmed eyes, but she nodded, sniffling as she wiped at her damp cheeks with a hand that remained unsteady.

  “Come on, I think I have a napkin in my car from breakfast.”

  He led her across the lot, questions pounding in his head, demanding to be voiced and answered. Instead, he leaned inside to dig a clean napkin from the fast food bag on the passenger seat. When he straightened to hand it to her, the sight of Charlie Russell and his fiancé making their way toward them thinned his mouth. Between them walked a huge Great Dane almost as big as Jenny.

  She must’ve noticed his expression because she followed his gaze. With a soft sound of dismay, she tossed the envelope into his car and bent to peer into his side mirror. After dabbing the napkin on her tongue, she scrubbed at her face.

  Grant stepped forward to intercept the couple and give her an extra minute. “Hey, Charlie, Dana, nice to see you both again.” He extended a hand toward the dog. “Who’s this?”

  “Sugar,” Charlie supplied, though his gaze remained trained on Jenny.

  Sugar sniffed and snuffled before ignoring Grant and doing her suddenly hyper-active best to reach beyond him.

  “Jenny? Everything okay?” Charlie asked as he struggled to restrain the giant dog.

  His questions held a strange combination of protection and suspicion, with no question as to which emotion was directed at whom. Grant heard her sigh before she straightened and faced them.

  “Yes, Charlie, I’m fine.”

  Concern deepened in Dana’s expression, and the instant Charlie saw Jenny’s tear-stained face and lingering smudge of mascara around her red eyes, he tensed and whipped his accusing gaze to Grant. “What the hell is going on?”

  Dana laid a hand on his arm, and Jenny stepped forward, too, as if to keep Charlie from going after Grant. The excited, whining dog got in the way, and while petting Sugar, she shifted her gaze between Charlie and Dana. “Honestly, I’m okay now.”

  “Now?” Charlie echoed. “What happened?”

  Even though he wanted the answer to that question, too, Grant’s eyes narrowed at Charlie’s intimidating tone. “Ease up, man.”

  Charlie handed the leash to Dana and took a step toward Grant. “Don’t you tell me to ease up. Jenny’s been through enough, and I’m not going to stand by while you take advantage when she’s vulner—”

  “Stop it!” Jenny pushed between them. The fact that she presented her back to Grant, demonstrating her trust in him, made his heart skip a beat.

  “It wasn’t Grant,” Jenny told Charlie. “It was Roy, okay?”

  “No, it’s not okay,” Charlie retorted.

  “Charlie,” Dana admonished. “This isn’t helping.”

  He slid his gaze to his fiancé, then blew out a frustrated sigh while stepping back. “I’m sorry, Jenny. It’s just that the thought of that guy walking around free after all he’s done really pisses me off.”

  “I know,” she said softly. “I’m sorry.”

  The odd note in her voice prompted Grant to move up along side her to get a look at her face. He’d swear he saw guilt, but wondered what for? Maybe because she hadn’t pressed charges against her ex? At least as far as he knew she hadn’t.

  “You have nothing to be sorry for,” Dana assured Jenny, her tone gentle and encouraging. “Will you tell us what happened?”

  Jenny’s hard swallow was evident before she took a shuddering breath and shrugged her shoulders in a helpless gesture. Her gaze flitted between them, not really meeting
anyone’s eye.

  “Roy confronted me outside, and having just signed the final divorce papers, I stood up to him.”

  “Good,” Charlie said.

  A humorless smile flashed and disappeared. “I knew he wouldn’t like it, but I never expected him to do anything in public. Grant showed up right after he grabbed my arm.”

  Grant felt Charlie’s gaze like needles pricking his skin, but he watched Jenny’s face. There was more to that scene he’d witnessed than her simple explanation. He’d felt it when he faced Roy, and sensed it again now. She’d left something important out—besides the fact that Roy had been trying to get her into his car only minutes after signing divorce papers.

  “You know they’re friends, right? Him and Roy.” Charlie informed her. “And birds of a feather...”

  The incriminating words hung in the air. Grant forced himself to relax his fists, but no way he’d let that accusation go unanswered.

  “Grant is nothing like Roy,” Jenny declared before he formed his own denial, her tone indignant, her defense impressive. “In fact, Charlie, he reminds me of you.”

  Dana brought up one hand to cover a surprised smile. Grant read the consternation in Charlie’s scowl and raised his eyebrows and shoulders as if to say, “She said it, not me.”

  “I appreciate your concern,” Jenny continued. “And I’ll never forget what you did for me last summer, but I trust Grant.”

  His heart swelled even as Charlie nodded to Jenny with obvious reluctance.

  “Doesn’t mean I’m not going to keep an eye out for you, though.”

  She laid a hand on his arm. “And thank you for that.”

  “In fact, if you’re done here, can we give you a ride home?” Dana offered. “We’re headed that way.”

  “That’s okay, I’ll ride with Grant.” Jenny stepped back and shifted her gaze to his. “If you’re going back to Wayside, that is.”