by Alexa Davis
“If I were you, I’d take comfort in the way we’re all connected. Reminds you that you’re not really alone, even when you feel that way.” I smiled at my friend, who had been one of those new acquaintances, had helped me get a job and let me lean on her until I felt steady on my feet. She was right. It was comforting, in a way, that everything in my life, and everyone, was linked somehow. Andrew had kept my world so tiny, I had been afraid of how lost I old be without him. Instead, I felt more a part of life, not adrift in it, but interwoven with the people around me. The most important of those people was out in the hills, out of cell phone range.
I thanked Shaunte and left her to manage the throng of kids on her front lawn. With any luck. Sam was home this time of day, and I could get the pictures and talk to the police before I returned to the ranch to fill everyone in. A sense of pride bubbled up in me. I had come a long way from the woman who huddled in her bed, wondering how to function alone. Sam’s truck was in his driveway, and my heart thumped a little. Tucker wouldn’t be happy that I was talking to him alone. But with Tucker along, I might lose the only witness that could say Carl was acting suspiciously. I’d already lost out on a real restraining order against him for lack of evidence. I wasn’t about to let him make my home feel unsafe, and get away with it on a technicality.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Tucker
When Pete rode out to tell me that Libby had gone back into town because something had happened at her house, I feared the worst. Rachel had managed to talk me down from my high-level threat alert, and convinced me that I had time to shower and change before I took off to help her. I wanted to hunt Carl down and kick his ass finally, but first, I needed to find Libby. I wasn’t technically her lawyer right now, but I’d aid her with the police or in getting through to whoever had taken over as her attorney.
I made the drive in record time. I was grateful for a lack of police on the old highway, for once. Even so, when I got to the gate, I had managed to sort what I knew into useful compartments, and reminded myself that I was here to listen to Libby, not rush in and possibly attack her neighbor again. Especially since I almost drove her right to him the last time I had. But it was too coincidental that he’d been watching her, and now she was dealing with an attempted break-in, the moment she left home for longer than usual.
Her car was in the driveway when I pulled up, but she didn’t answer the door, making my pulse pick up and my throat go dry. I was about to start peeking in windows myself, when I heard my name called out behind me. I spun around, to see Libby and her amorous neighbor, waving to me from his front porch.
“Come here, Tucker. You need to hear this!” She called out from across the street. I forced my hands out of fists and took a deep breath to calm down, and quick-stepped across to join her. “You remember Sam, right?” She said, in a cheerful voice. I glanced at her, and her look warned me to behave myself.
“Yes, I do. Sorry about the last time we met, I thought you were, well… a bit of a stalker.” I said, trying to sound amiable.
“Well, you’re gonna find me a lot more understanding of that, now,” he replied. There was no edge to his voice, and I saw genuine worry in his face. “It was poker night at my house, and we got a little rambunctious last night. So, I went to my front window, just to see if anybody was, you know, out on their front porches, or maybe if the security guys were headed our way. Instead, I see this chunky guy looking in windows across the street at Miss Libby’s house,” he explained, and handed me his phone. “Then he started trying to open them, and I called security.”
I looked at the picture on the screen and my jaw dropped. I shot Libby a questioning look, and she nodded her head and shrugged her shoulders. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Carl Jameson, in a track suit, acting like a third-rate burglar.
“He’s gone off the deep end. What the hell was he trying to do?” I asked aloud.
“I don’t know for sure, but he showed up at the school and at my house, within days of Kristy coming to stay with me. Tucker, I don’t think this is about me, or your feud with him, or court.” I groaned.
“Did you know why Sara and I broke off our engagement, way back when?” She nodded.
“Sara cheated on you.”
“Yes, with Carl. Not only that, but she stayed with him for a long time. Until a literal near-death experience of someone she loved gave her the strength to break free.”
“Oh. Oh, my God. Poor Kristy. How does a man who looks like that get women to feel so obligated to him?” I looked from her to Sam.
“Hey man, I’m sorry about the way we met. Libby and I have known each other a long time, and been through a lot together. I shouldn’t have assumed you were a problem.” He chuckled and looked me in the eye until it felt like a challenge.
“Well,” he said, “I wouldn’t have minded being a problem for you, but I sure don’t want people thinking I’m a weirdo. I was married, once. My wife got cancer, it was real sudden, and she was gone real, real quick. But we loved each other. I don’t tread on another man’s toes, if I know he belongs where he is.” I reached out and he shook my hand.
“Our friend Kristy, who married Libby’s ex-husband? She was made a widow after a couple of months,” I told him.
“We understand that kind of loss,” Libby added, holding my hand. “When did you lose your wife?”
“Almost two years ago,” his voice trailed off and he cleared his throat. “She was twenty-five. Too young for us to think about things like cancer, you know?”
“Andrew, my ex, he died almost a year ago, now. I’d appreciate it if you checked in on Kristy. She’s young, and very sweet, but I worry about her, and obviously, some things are hard for her to talk about with me.” Sam let out a low whistle.
“I bet,” he replied, and shook his phone at Libby.
“Oh, right.” She took hers out of her pocket, and he tapped it with his.
“There, now you have all the pictures I took of that Carl guy. I showed Matt, next door, and Becky and her husband on your side, just so we all knew, for the kids and all. So, if he comes back, we’ll call the police.”
“Thanks, Sam. I appreciate you looking out for us. Please, don’t be a stranger, and I really would love it if you came by and met Kristy too. She needs more friends, someone to talk to who doesn’t share the same bad memories from the other side of the fight.” He nodded and she gave him a hug. We shook hands again, and I walked her back to her front door.
“Have you gone inside yet? Made sure he didn’t get in, or take anything?”
“I was too scared. It was stupid, but part of me was afraid I’d find him in there, sitting on the couch, waiting for Kristy or me to show up.” She slid under my arm and put hers around my waist. “I was going to ask Sam to come back with me while I checked it out, but you saved me. I wasn’t much more comfortable with a near-stranger coming with me than I was doing it alone.”
I kissed the top of her head and tightened my grip on her shoulder. My stomach churned, the image of Carl, half-crazy and mean, lying in wait for her lodged in my mind’s eye. Even Andrew had hated him, at least until he’d no one left to turn to for validation. He’d repeatedly said that our colleague was a waste of skin, and a predator. Whatever Andrew had been, he’d been fiercely protective of Libby from what he thought were the dangers of the world, including men like Carl.
“Maybe we should go to the police first, and then they can come check the house out,” Libby offered as she stood with the key an inch from the deadbolt.
“I don’t think he’s in there, but I’m with you, no matter what. Let’s just check the place out, so we can have the relief of knowing for sure that everything’s okay here, and then I’ll go with you down to the shop and talk to the police. Have you called Snell and Wilmer?” She shook her head.
“I hadn’t gotten there yet.”
“No problem. I’ll just call it in to them, so they have a heads-up.” She agreed, and with a deep breath, she slid the k
ey to. I stepped past her into the house, and after she locked the door behind us, we looked around. Every window was still locked and nothing seemed out of place, and I watched relief spread across Libby’s face as we searched every room for signs of someone having been there.
“All clear?” I asked after she remade Olivia’s bed, smoothing down the covers and replacing the stuffed animals. She smiled and nodded.
“Yes, all clear. Am I a coward, for feeling violated, even though he didn’t get in? Maybe he wasn’t even trying to.”
“No,” I gasped. “He has absolutely violated your privacy. There is something wrong with him. You should be wary.” She threw her arms around my waist and put her head against my chest.
“I’m sorry you had to stop helping your brother to come down, but I’m glad you’re here,” she said, her voice muffled by my shirt.
“He’s the one who sent Pete out right away. I understood you not waiting, but I would’ve kicked my brother’s butt if he’d just let you go without telling me.” She let me go and laughed softly.
“I believe you.” I grinned at her. “You go ahead and take the kitchen to make your call. I think you might even find a snack and something to drink in the fridge. I still feel like I need to be able to see out the front window, so I’ll call the police from in here, and ask if we even need to go down to talk to them.”
I poured myself a glass of sweet tea while I sat on hold, waiting for them to figure out who was handling Libby’s case while I was on my paid leave. When Cynthia finally picked up, I grinned so hard my face hurt, glad Libby couldn’t see me from her couch.
“I’m glad you’re okay, Tucker. The fight between you and Mr. Jameson has been in the number one gossip slot the whole time I’ve been back,” she scoffed. “In fact, I overheard that you both have your hearings coming up, they’re just waiting to find out what time slot you got, to call you.” I felt a vise unclench from my shoulders as she spoke.
“Well, I’m certainly glad it’s gonna be over soon. I can’t wait to get back to, uh… less back-breaking work,” I laughed.
“Well, I’ll get Mr. Holden on the line,” she offered. I agreed and she put me on hold. Less than five minutes later, I was reinstated on a limited basis, and asked to be back in the office the next day for the partners meeting. The investigation was done, and even though I needed to give them my testimony in court, there was no reason for me to be out of the loop completely, since as far as the firm was concerned, I had done my due diligence. But I still couldn’t handle any of my case load until after I had testified.
The thought of being the one to answer questions on the stand was daunting. I’d given depositions, but never on the stand. There was a solemnity to taking the stand. It was a procedure I’d always had a great deal of respect for, and never thought I would find myself taking part in, from the other side of the questions.
Libby came into the kitchen while I sat, thinking about Carl, and how much of this fight I could’ve avoided if I hadn’t put up with so much for so long. I’d put my loyalty to my firm above my own happiness, and in the end, it hadn’t gotten me anything but more trouble and headache.
“I get to go back to work tomorrow,” I announced, and she clapped for me. “On a very restricted basis, security-wise, until after I testify, but that should be in the next day or so, as well.” I leaned back in the high back barstool and clasped my fingers behind my head. “You know, this means that holds on any of our court cases, including yours, will be lifted and the judge can give her decision. It will all be over, Libby.” She bit her lip, and I could see the sheen of tears under her dark lashes.
“Thank you, Tuck,” She sniffed. I slid of the stool and went to her. Tears soaked my shirt as I held her to me, her arms wrapped around my waist. “I’m not really crying, I’m just happy to move on.” I laughed and pulled away from her to see the dark blotches on the fabric, then held her tighter.
“I’m so sorry that my fight with my old coworker, put you in such a bind.”
“I thought about that,” she admitted, and a lot of other factors that led me, or us, to where we are now.” She stood back, and took my hands in hers, swinging them gently. “I’m really grateful for everything that put us here, together, right now. From Andrew pitching me out into the world without a life raft, to you leaving the old firm, to Kristy coming to stay with us.” She put my hands behind her back and reached up to draw my face down to her for a kiss. I kissed her chastely at first, then deeper as she parted her lips for me.
She was soft and alluring, and her sweet taste invited more of me in, so I delved into her mouth, exploring the wet heat of her mouth the way I wanted to taste her elsewhere. She moaned, and I pressed her against me, so she could feel how affected I was by her. Her hand slid between us, and I pulled away.
“I’m not saying I don’t want to, but I made a point that I wasn’t just around for that,” I reminded her, while my body screamed at me to shut up and take whatever she offered me.
“So, no sex?” She asked, raising an eyebrow at me.
“Surely, we can go a little while without and still like each other, I mean, we did it for years.”
“Well, yes, but I was almost always thinking about it. I wanted you, even when I wasn’t allowed to have you. I had this fantasy of you and I together, and you didn’t care how I hung the dish towels up, or if I chose to eat steak instead of salad,” she laughed. The smile melted off her sweet face, and she wrapped her arms around my neck and I hugged her hard enough to pick her up off the floor. “The reality has turned out better than the fantasy. Apparently, my imagination needed a little, um, re-education about how some things worked.” I coughed and hugged her tighter, secretly glad I’d given her something she had never had. If things went the way I planned, I’d be doing that a lot more frequently in the future.
Chapter Thirty
Libby
I hadn’t expected everything to go back to rainbows between Tucker and me with my apology, but I had hoped it would. Even though I couldn’t tempt him out of his clothes, he had come to help me. That was what had to matter. But sitting across from him at dinner after agreeing to leave my car behind and go back to the ranch with him, I wished we’d chosen to eat in. He hadn’t bothered to shave, and the rough stubble on his face made him look even more the part of the cowboy in a movie. He was rugged only as much as it made him masculine, pretty at the edges with long eyelashes. His soft, pouting lips made women, or at least this woman, melt every time he spoke or smiled.
“Libby, are you there?” He asked as I stared, and my face instantly colored.
“Yes. I’m sorry, I was… um, thinking. Were you talking to me?” He chook his head and I exhaled in relief.
“You looked so far away. You must have been thinking something good, though. You have the prettiest smile on the planet.” My face started to get hot from the blood that rushed to it.
“Thanks,” I chuckled. “I appreciate all the reasons I have to use it.” He met my eyes, and his hand reached out across the table. I took it, and my smile threatened to turn to tears, even though I felt so happy that my heart wanted to burst free of its bony cage.
“I love you, Elizabeth Grace Peele.” He held my hand tighter, and my bottom lip slid between my teeth as I tried to control my emotions.
“I love you, too, Tucker James Hargrave,” I giggled. “I can’t believe you remembered my middle name.”
“There isn’t a lot about you I have forgotten, Libby, even from the day we met.” He glanced at his watch. “I’d better get you up to the ranch. I have to get back home, so Kennedy and I can get back to our routine in the morning.”
“You aren’t staying the night?” He shook his head.
“No, I’ll have a better day if I just come back. Don’t worry, I’m still going to get you ladies home, I only have to go in to the office to sign the documents for the hearing.” I shuddered.
“Ugh. Hearing. Is it going to be as bad as it sounds, like a real trial?”
“God, no!” he laughed and pressed my fingers reassuringly. “It looks like a trial, I guess, if you’re watching the Committee ask questions, but, I’m not going to get fired, or disbarred for my responses, because I’ve done nothing wrong. Even if I had.”
“Like Mr. Jameson?”
“Well, fortunately for him, that’s not for me to decide. But even he is entitled to due process,” he reminded me.
“You really love the law, don’t you?”
“The law is what defines us as humans. It keeps people safe, helps us to protect those who can’t help themselves, and stands between persecutors and their victims when it’s applied properly. The law is the greatest achievement of mankind, aside from medicine. In my not-so-humble opinion, of course.” I laughed.
“Would you have become a doctor?”
“I’m not smart enough to feel confident in holding someone’s life in my hand quite that literally.” He let go of my hand and picked up his beer. “To the end of trials, of any kind.”
“Oh, yes. Hear! Hear!” I laughed. “I am ready for some peaceful quiet… chaos of starting a new business,” I giggled. “Because even hard good things are easier than bad things of any difficulty.” Tucker’s decision to drive me all the way back to the ranch just to turn around and head back into Austin troubled me. He was justified by picking up Kennedy, but it seemed like a lot for very little payout.
“What’s up? You look worried. Everything is going to be okay, no matter what gets decided tomorrow, and once tomorrow is done, your case can go forward. I don’t have to remind you, that you’re ending that on a particularly high note.”
“Do you think Olivia would be okay out on the ranch without me? I mean, I don’t feel comfortable leaving her with Kristy, but she offered to watch her so you and I could spend some time together. You could always spend the night with me, then go back tomorrow, after your meeting.” He shook his head.