Gemma’s eyes widened. “The one who was murdered?”
“The same first-class son of a bitch. He was a cheat, a loser, and an abuser. But he had a fun-loving, charming side.”
“Well, you only get that last part from him. You’re definitely no cheat or loser. I can’t imagine you hurting anyone.”
He wouldn’t get into just what kind of abuser Hank was. “I’m a bastard.” It hit him then; that’s what he was.
Suddenly a plate floated down in front of him. Damn, he hadn’t even realized Mary Lou had come up. She set another plate in front of Gemma. “Honey, you’re no bastard. You’re the sweetest guy I know.” She gave him a wink.
Gemma said, “Pax was just quoting a line from a TV show.” She turned to Pax. “He said it more like ‘I’m a bastard,’ with a lot of emphasis on the last word.”
God, he loved her. “Yeah, you’re right.” He thanked Mary Lou once she’d filled their mugs before returning to the kitchen, then faced Gemma. “You are a-mazing. Last thing I need is folks speculating about my parentage.”
They tucked into their meals, and he enjoyed the normalcy of having breakfast with Gemma. Harley settled between them, looking as content as Pax felt.
“Have you told Raleigh? Because that makes him your half brother,” Gemma said as they finished a few minutes later.
“I know.” He picked up a piece of bacon and took a bite, then tossed the rest to Harley. “It explains why we get along so well. Hell, he’s more like a brother than Blake ever was. I haven’t told him. Didn’t seem like the right time when we were setting out all the bleacher parts. I think he’d be cool with it though.”
She surprised him by running her foot down his leg. “You’re a great man, no matter who sired you.”
“Thank you.” Pax’s smile faded as he thought about what they had to do next. “Let’s go scope out Lily.”
Chapter 15
Gemma and Pax sat in his truck across the street from the employee parking lot at the dealership a short while later. He turned toward her, his arm draped over the back of his seat. “Janey believes you.”
“What?”
“The night Blake came over and made a scene, and I took him to our parents’ when his wife wouldn’t let him in the house…when my father was taking him upstairs, I told my mama that I believed you. Janey was eavesdropping. She came in and announced that she believed you, too.”
It stunned her that this woman she hadn’t even met believed her. “Why? How?”
“I don’t know. Maybe she heard enough. Or maybe she was just taking my side. She is smart, though I hate that she’s involved.”
“How much does she know…well, about me? And my accusations?”
“I know my parents would never tell her or talk about it in front of her, but she’s always had a habit of sneaking around listening. Of course, she feels left out because we’re all trying to protect her.”
“I’m sure she’s heard an earful lately. Poor thing. That means a lot to me, that she said that.” Gemma was also glad that Pax had an ally in his family.
“I’d love for you to meet her. Here, I’ll show you some pictures she took.” He pulled out his phone, opened the Facebook app, and handed it to her.
Gemma scrolled through pictures of nature. “She took these? Wow, they’re good. Really good.”
“You would know. Maybe you could work with her, help her fine-tune her skills.”
“I would love that.” She kept scrolling, finding pictures of Janey. She had the signature Down syndrome features, but her ash-blond hair curled around a pretty face and an amazing smile. “I love her already.”
Pax had liked every picture Janey posted, encouraging and complimenting her. There were selfies of the two of them hamming it up. He wasn’t afraid of looking goofy. Oh, my God, I want this man in my life.
“Why are you tearing up?” he asked.
She blinked, not even realizing that her eyes were watery. “It’s just so sweet, the way you are with her. You’re so sweet. It’s unfair how your family uses her to control and punish you. It punishes her, too.”
He leaned in to kiss away the tear that had slipped down her cheek. “Don’t I know it. But someday I’m going to fix that.”
“I would love to meet her. Which will be difficult, all things considered.”
“I’m going to fix that, too.”
She handed him the phone back. “You have a Facebook message.”
He touched the little comment-box icon. “Speak of the angel, it’s from Janey Bear. She needs to talk but she can’t call or text me. She has to use the computer because Mama took away her phone. I’ll tell her we’ll come out this afternoon.” He glanced up at Gemma. “You ready to meet my little sister?”
“Yes!”
They settled back in waiting mode. “I don’t have the patience to be a private eye,” she said after twenty more minutes.
“Me, either. I understand most of their work is waiting. Watching. Peeing in jars.”
She wrinkled her nose. “That would definitely be difficult for a woman.” She watched people coming and going from the shiny new car dealership. “How did Blake come to own this place?”
“My grandfather started the business. Paxton Sullivan, for whom I was named. When Blake came back from college, with his knee all torn up, he needed a job. He tried out for the Sheriff’s Department, but he failed the physical, which I’m sure about killed his ego. Truth be told, I don’t think he was cut out to be a cop, either. We both worked here during high school. Blake started as a salesman, then became the manager. When Granddaddy Paxton died, he left Blake the dealership and me his bank account. I used that to buy my house.”
“You have your own home? Tell me about it.”
“It’s not far from the beach, in an older area of town. Nothing fancy, just a 1970s stilt house that’s perpetually covered in sand from the beach. I’ll show it to you.” He straightened. “There’s Lily.”
The woman was in her twenties, with a slight body and pale skin. Her expression looked tense as she headed to a car that probably wouldn’t even qualify for the used lot. They followed her as she drove to a daycare center, where she went inside. Pax and Gemma walked Harley as they waited for her to come out.
“I wonder if she has a child there,” Gemma said, coming up on her tiptoes to try to see over the wooden fence in the back. No luck. “Maybe she’s spending lunch with her kid. Did you see how happy she looked when she went inside?”
“Blake said she was a single mother.”
Forty minutes later, the door opened, and Lily walked out, that tense expression back on her face.
Pax nodded for Gemma to come with him as he approached Lily. She paused, her cheeks flushing when she recognized Pax.
“Hey, Lily. I wanted you to meet my friend, Gemma.”
Lily accepted Gemma’s handshake, but she was clearly confused about why they were there.
Pax said, “I don’t want you to be embarrassed about when I came by the dealership a few days ago. I’m not judging you, but I do want to make sure you’re a willing participant in the affair.” When she didn’t say anything, he prompted, “Are you?”
“Yes,” she finally pushed out.
“But? There is a but, right?” Gemma asked.
Lily was holding her breath, as she no doubt weighed her words. Finally, she released it. “I’m not the kind of woman who has sex with a married man. Or her boss. But…” She looked at Gemma. “When he offered me the position, he said he was looking for a secretary who would make him…very happy. ‘If you know what I mean,’ ” she imitated in a low drawl. “I’d had fourteen job interviews by then. I was either overqualified or underqualified. Blake offered me a generous salary. I was behind on child care and rent. So I took it. I knew it was wrong, that he was wrong for making that a condition, but I accepted knowing what the job duties were.” That last sentence she ground out with a self-hatred Gemma knew well. “I know what you’re thinking. I’m noth
ing more than a hooker.”
“I don’t think that. He bribed you,” Gemma said gently.
Lily closed her eyes and tilted her head back. “Well, I think it. I hate myself every morning when I walk in to work, and every afternoon when I leave.” Her voice lowered. “And every second in between. I’ve been looking for a new job, but no luck.”
“You’re not a hooker,” Gemma said. “Please don’t look at yourself that way.”
It seemed incongruous, talking about such subjects with the peal of children’s laughter floating on the wind from the playground.
“Did Blake know your financial situation before he offered you the job?” Pax asked.
“Yes, it all spilled out when I realized I didn’t have the qualifications he wanted.”
“Son of a bitch,” Pax said. “He took advantage. But he stopped pressuring you, right? After I came by?”
Her eyes shadowed. “No.”
Pax turned away and muttered words Gemma suspected were not very nice. Finally, he turned back again. “I told him to stop, and he said he would. But of course Blake does what the hell he wants to, when he feels like he’s in power. Lily, would you be willing to talk to an attorney about what he’s doing?”
Lily’s eyes widened. “God, no. I would look like…well, exactly what I think I am. I took the job knowing those were the terms. Who would understand that?”
“I understand,” Gemma said, feeling a thousand pounds settle into her heart. “Because he date-raped me seven years ago.”
“Lily, I bet you’re not the first woman who’s taken this job knowing that the fringe benefits are for Blake,” Pax said. “You won’t be the last. He takes advantage of women in weak positions because he’s controlled in every other aspect of his life. I’m not excusing him; I just want you to know that it’s not personal.”
“If he’s doing this to you, and he did that to me, then he’s probably done it a lot,” Gemma said. “We’re trying to find those victims so we can expose him. Maybe even prosecute him.”
“I’m sorry, I can’t help you. I don’t think we have a legal leg to stand on, in any case. I’m an adult and a willing participant.”
“You’re right,” Gemma said. “Blake’s defense lawyer would tear you apart.”
Pax was rubbing his mouth in thought. “What if we tore Blake’s reputation apart? If it got out that he really did push himself on women, maybe a recent victim would come forward. Someone who could make him pay.”
Gemma hoped there was a recent victim, but then realized how horrible that was. He’d probably become very careful after Gemma’s allegations. Like bribing, as opposed to forcing.
“I’m not sure I can help,” Lily said. “And I can’t afford to lose this job. Or get a rep for, say, filing sexual-harassment charges.” She checked her watch. “I’d better get back.” With downcast eyes, she headed to her car.
Gemma saw her reluctance with every step. “I can’t imagine how it must feel to go to work knowing you have to screw your boss. I’d say I would eat dirt and live in a tent first, but I don’t have a kid to look out for. Dammit, we have to expose him. For her, if nothing else.”
“I know.” Pax released a beleaguered sigh, staring off into the distance. “Let’s go see Janey.” He messaged her that they were on their way.
They drove toward the speedway, but turned off long before that. This was rural Chambliss, with large and thickly forested lots. Only about half of the properties on the street were developed, and they held large estate homes. He turned onto an asphalt road with a sign that announced that this was private property and warned against trespassing. They drove through unpopulated forest for a few minutes before the road forked. Pax kept going straight, but he pointed to the left.
“Our family’s home is that way. Granddad Paxton built it when he brought my grandmama here. They’re both gone now. They were good people. I don’t know what happened to the man who raised me.”
She could see the hurt of his father’s rejection and rested her hand on his back. “At least now you know that it wasn’t you. Wasn’t personal.”
“I suppose you’re right. I couldn’t help that I looked nothing like him. I hated football. Dad took us to the range. I was good at shooting, better than Blake. I think it was the first time he looked proud of me. But shooting a target—or, really, anything—wasn’t my thing. I liked fishing and racing.”
She rubbed his arm. “I’m glad you’re who you are.”
He gave her a smile as he headed toward a break in the trees where the road ended in a small parking area. To the left was a bay, bordered on the other side by more trees. A boat ramp and a dock stretched out over the water.
“This is Sullivan Bay,” Pax said, cutting the engine. “It eventually winds all the way out to the Gulf.”
Movement caught her eye, and Gemma saw a woman get to her feet at the end of the dock and wave with her entire body.
“Come on,” Pax said, opening his door. “Meet the other most important person in my life.”
Other most? Did that mean she ranked among the top two? Gemma opened her door as Pax came around. Janey, in shorts and a tank top, bounded up the dock, and Harley ran to meet her with the same exuberance. Janey stooped to hug him and receive dog kisses as Gemma and Pax met her midway.
Janey stood, her big smile beaming as she took in Gemma. “You must be Gemma.” She held out her hand.
“May I hug you instead?” Gemma asked, opening her arms. “I’ve heard so much about you, I feel like I know you.”
“Janey gives bear hugs,” Pax warned. “That’s why I call her Janey Bear.”
“I’m game,” Gemma said.
Janey stepped into her arms, giving her a big, squishy hug. Gemma returned it, loving the open affection. A few seconds later, Janey stepped back and gave Pax the same kind of hug. His eyes closed as he savored it, and Gemma wondered just how much affection he’d gotten as a kid. Damn, it made her want to lavish enough on him to make up for it.
They parted, and Janey took in Gemma again. “She’s so pretty, Pax. I can see why you were smiling.”
Pax pointed to his eyes and the corner of his mouth. “Here and here. You saw it before I did.”
“You’re pretty, too,” Gemma said. “I love your pictures. I’m a professional photographer. Maybe we can go on an outing together sometime.”
Janey clapped her hands. “I’d love that!”
“Is everything all right?” Pax asked. “You didn’t put a bunch of happy faces after your message.”
Janey’s smile faded. “I’m good at keeping secrets.”
“Yeah,” he said, drawing out the word. “Our secrets. Like me teaching you to fish or drive.”
“There’s a secret I had to keep, even from you. I’m sorry, Pax.”
Gemma’s stomach tightened as she imagined the worst kinds of secrets.
“Don’t be sorry, sweetheart,” Pax said, placing his hand on her shoulder. “You can tell me now.”
“You won’t be mad at me, will you?”
“I promise, I won’t.”
“About four years ago, right after Blake came back from college, I was mad at Mama for yelling at me for letting you teach me to fish, so I sneaked out here to do it alone. I saw Blake in his car, with a girl. She was crying really hard, saying he’d hurt her. She was talking slushy, like Mama does when she has too much wine. I ran up to the car because I thought she needed help. Blake said I misunderstood, and he was mad at me. He said I had to keep it a secret, or he would tell Mama and Daddy about me sneaking out.”
Pax’s blood chilled. “Do you know who the girl was?”
She shook her head. “I couldn’t see her, ’cause she was on the other side of the car, and it was dark. That’s why I believe you, Gemma. When I heard Pax tell Mama what happened to you, I understood what Blake was doing. Because I could tell she wasn’t wearing a shirt. I didn’t know then, but I know about the birds and the bees now.”
Pax met Gemma’s gaz
e. Blake had assaulted a woman after he returned from college. After Gemma. If only they knew who the girl was. It was still beyond the statute of limitations, but if enough women came forward Blake would have to admit to his crimes. At the least, it would cast doubt on his innocence. And give credibility to Gemma’s claims.
Pax took his sister’s hands in his. “Janey, thank you for telling me. You were very brave.”
“I’ll tell anyone, Pax. Gemma was brave. I will be, too.”
He kissed her on the forehead, and it nearly melted Gemma’s heart. Pax was a good man. A tender man. A man worthy of her love.
“I’d better get back to the house,” Janey said. “You know how Mama gets.”
“I do. But I’m going to work on that next, ’kay?” He chucked Janey’s chin.
To Gemma’s surprise, Janey hugged her again. “Bye, Gemma. I hope I see you again.”
“You will.” Gemma understood the love in Pax’s eyes for this pure, bighearted soul. She felt it, too.
As she and Pax were driving back up the driveway, she said, “She’s a beautiful soul. You’re lucky to have her in your life.”
“I know. I recognize the beautiful souls in this world. That’s why I was drawn to you, Gemma. You have that same light.”
“I know what you mean. I thought I was drawn to you that first night we met because you were reckless and a rebel like me. But now I know I saw something much deeper than that.”
He pressed his mouth to hers, lingering for several seconds. “Fate. She might be a tricky bitch sometimes, but she knows what she’s doing.”
He held her hand as he drove, and they fell into the kind of silence that usually only people who’d been together for a long time could hold comfortably.
“Do you want to visit your dad?” Pax asked.
“Together?”
“No, we’re going to walk in separately, pretend we don’t know each other—of course together.”
Falling Hard Page 23