Safe With You (24 page)

Josh helped Leah down so she could visit the ladies room, and he slid onto the stool she had vacated.  I sipped my drink while Ford set a beer down in front of Josh.  I smiled at Ford again and was pleasantly surprised when he nodded his head at me.  No smile, but at least he was no longer scowling.  I was making progress.  Oh, wait.  I momentarily forgot they were Grady’s friends, and I suddenly became aware that Josh was studying me intently.

I glanced nervously at him as he took a swig of his beer.  He tipped the bottle toward me and
asked, “You’re Lana’s niece?”

“
Mmmm hmmm,” I replied, hoping he would stop there, but he didn’t.  “Are you Lana’s only niece?”  Shit.  He knew who I was.  Oh, well.  I might as well get this over with and just go home.  “Yes, I’m Lana’s only niece.  And, yes, I am
that
Lindsay.”  He frowned and opened his mouth to say something else, but Leah appeared between us and linked her arm through mine.  “Come on, guys.  Let’s go sit at a table and decide what we want to eat.”

“You ladies go ahead.  I need to make a quick call and then I’ll join you,” Josh said to us.  My legs were unsteady as I followed Lindsay to a table near the front of the pub.  I kept looking back to Josh as he dialed his phone and held it to his ear.  I knew who he was calling, and I could tell that he didn’t get through when he shoved his phone back in his pocket a moment later.  I also knew I should leave now, right this very second.  I should walk out the door, pack up my
shit and go back to the city.

But something held me here, made me sit down at the table.  Leah grabbed a menu for herself and dropped another one down in front of me.  I didn’t even bother opening it.  My appetite was nonexistent right now.  Josh and Ford were talking at the bar, and when Ford glanced in our direction I knew they were talking about me.  Leah rattled off some of her favorite things on the menu and started debating what she was craving tonight.

A moment later Leah was still talking, but I had no idea what she was saying.  The air around me had changed and all the breath left my lungs.  My focus was suddenly on the front door and who just walked through it.  I had caught only a quick glimpse of Grady my first day here as he drove away on his motorcycle, and I was surprised at how different he looked.  Now that he was standing only fifteen feet away from me I took in his black army boots, faded jeans hanging low on his hips, black t-shirt snug over his chest and arms.  Arms that were covered in tattoos.  He was tall and rangy and his dark blonde hair was down to his chin.  He looked downright dangerous, and my heart rate kicked into overdrive.

Since the day I decided to come back here I had wondered how he would react to seeing me again.  I had hoped for surprised excitement and had resigned myself to indifference.  After all it had been five years.  He could be married with kids by now.  But looking into his eyes now, I never expected the blatant and unadulterated rage I saw in them.  He looked all the more dangerous as he was over to us in three long strides, slamming his palms down on the table, making Leah jump.

“What are you doing here, Bambi?”  He growled at me, leaning down so he was only inches from my face.  He used to call me Bambi as a term of endearment, but the way he said it now made it sound like a nasty insult.  Leah recovered and shot him a dirty look, “Jesus, Grady!  What’s your problem?  And her name’s not Bambi, it’s…”  He cut her off midsentence, his voice raised, “I know what her name is, Leah.  I want to know what the fuck she’s doing here!”  Leah looked back and forth between us, catching on that we knew each other.  I could only sit there in shock and stare into his angry eyes as my own started to fill with tears.

“Calm down, man,” Josh warned as he grabbed Grady’s arm and pulled him forcibly over to the bar.  Grady’s eyes stayed on me until Josh shoved him onto a bar stool and stepped in front of him, holding him in place with h
is hands on Grady’s shoulders.

“Lindsay!  Oh my God.  Are you okay?  You’re shaking.  And crying,” Leah’s worried voice finally cut through the daze I was in, and I realized tears were streaming down my cheeks and I was trembling.  I wrapped my arms tightly over my chest and turned away from Grady.  “What the hell was that about?  Do you know Grady?”  Leah was still asking questions.  Question
s I didn’t know how to answer.

I stood up on shaky legs and grabbed my purse.  Leaning down to give Leah a quick hug, I said, “I knew Grady once.  I’m sure Josh can fill you in later, but I need to go.  I’m sorry, Leah.  I’ll see you at the office on Monday.”  I hurried out, not looking back, and hoping Leah would stil
l be speaking to me on Monday.

My breath was coming quickly and I was still shaking, so I stopped at the end of the block to lean against the building and try to calm down.  After several deep calming breaths I pushed off the building and kept walking.  Instead of going home I decided to walk the few blocks to the lake.  The sun was just beginning to set over the hills when I took off my sandals and sat down on the
soft sand of the public beach.

I hugged my knees to my chest and rested my chin on them.  How did I get here?  There was no denying that my feelings for Grady were every bit as strong today as they were five years ago.  Maybe even stronger now that I knew what it felt like to try to live without him.  I think part of me wanted to come back here to see if he still loved me, because God knows I still love him. 
So much.  But he hates me.  That was crystal clear from the way he had glared at me.  He doesn’t want me here.  He doesn’t want me at all.