Baby Stetson (Love and Music in Texas #1) (16 page)

“Lucas, are you there? Hello? Look, I know you’re mad at me, but I wanted to explain things. I know I’ve put you in a horrible position. Come on, Lucas-”

Then the phone was snatched from her hands. Avery gasped, startled. She turned to face Lucas, who put the phone up to his ear and snapped, “I’ll call you back.” After he ended the call and tossed the phone to the bed, he shot Avery an angry look. His eyes narrowed, his lips set into a thin line. Shit. He was mad.

“I-. I don’t know what came over me. At first, I thought it was my phone. Then I just, I wasn’t thinking. I’m sorry, Lucas.”

The woman’s voice on the other end of that call echoed in Avery’s mind. Who was she? Why was Lucas mad at her? Oh, she should have never done that. Now it only confused Avery even more.

“Damn it, Avery,” Lucas said in a low voice. He sat at the edge of her bed, staring at the window with a faraway look.

“I’m sorry! I’m an idiot. I don’t know why I did it!” Avery sputtered. What next? What would Lucas do now?

Lucas sighed. “Avery. Stop.”

He looked up at her, a torn expression on his face. His eyes clouded over with frustration. But he reached for her hands and took them in his.

“I need to tell you something. I’ve been wanting to, anyway.”

A nervous knot formed in Avery’s belly. This wouldn’t be good, would it? She watched Lucas’s every move. A nerve ticked in his jaw. He seemed really wrought out by whatever it was. Like it would be hard to say, or something.

“I’m here to keep an eye on you. Kind of, anyway. You and Rodney.” Lucas never let his gaze waver away from Avery’s face. She gasped.

“What do you mean? Why?” Avery fought the urge to yell and scream. Bile rose in her throat.

“I represent someone that isn’t sure about Rodney’s intentions. So I was sent here.”

“So you and I- this- what we did-” Oh, how perfect for him. Avery played right into his plans. Just when she thought Lucas’s feelings were real. What a fool.

“Avery, no. Having feelings for you was never part of the plan. That’s why this makes it so much harder. I was just supposed to be here a few weeks, make sure you were okay, and go back to my life. But meeting you changed that. And then I didn’t know how to tell you-”

“Who are you representing, and why would they care about me or Rodney?” Avery’s anger began to build now. How could she be so stupid? Last night had been amazing, and then this bombshell today? Avery flew off the bed, needing to distance herself from Lucas.

That explained why he’d had so many reservations before. The night in his room, when he’d pushed her away. The kisses he’d started then bolted from. So what changed last night? “Ugh!” She wanted to throw something.

Lucas was by her side in a span of a heartbeat. He held her hands in his. Avery almost pushed away, but instead let his hands encircle her wrists. “Avery,” he whispered. Another look clouded his eyes.

“I have a right to know, Lucas. Who the hell are you?”

“Everything I’ve told you is true. I promise you.”

“And now you’re words are supposed to have any merit with me right now?”

Lucas lowered his head. “No, you’re right. But give me a chance to explain. Please?”

“Fine. Explain.” This better be good.

“Can we sit down? Something? Please?” Lucas motioned toward the bed.

“Oh that’s a good one. You want to go back to bed?” Now she was just hurtling words. Avery didn’t care. Her heart raced, her blood boiled. Just when she thought she could have something with Lucas-.

No. Just stop those thoughts right there.

“I just want to talk, Avery. I understand you’re angry. You have a right to be. This isn’t easy for me.”

“Fine. Let’s sit. Talk.” Lucas followed Avery as she perched at the edge of her bed. She folded her arms over her chest and waited. Lucas told her last night that she could trust him! How’s that for trust? Avery knew he had his secrets, but she had never imagined one had to do with her.

Lucas frowned. “Okay. I’m just going to say this straight up. But when I do, there’s no taking it back, and I need you to not run off angry. I need you to listen.” Lucas took her hand in his, but Avery snatched it away.

“I don’t need you holding me down. I’ll be right here, listening to every word. But right now, you’re stalling.” Avery clasped her hands in her lap. Her legs started to tremble.

Lucas sighed. “Okay. Here goes. I represent someone that knows your birth mother.”

“What?” Avery shot to her feet as if someone had kicked her off the bed. “You what? I can not believe I’m hearing this! Why would you not tell me that, Lucas, especially since you’ve been around me when I’ve talked to Rodney and wondered. You made love to me knowing this information. You- you- Oh my God, Lucas!”

“Avery, I’m bound by contract. I could get in serious trouble for even talking about this right now. And trust me, I’ve been fighting it. I didn’t want to get involved with you, at least not without you knowing who I am. I can’t stand that I had to hold that in. I didn’t plan on what happened with us. You have to believe me.” Lucas practically pleaded.

“I don’t have to do anything,” Avery growled. She ran a hand through her hair, trying to decide what to do, what to say next. “Do you know who she is? My mother? Have you met her?”

Lucas hesitated.

Was he going to lie again?

“I’ve met her. I don’t know her that well.”

“Damn you, Lucas. I guess it’s a good thing you’ll probably be on your way soon, and I can forget you, right? Or how long do you plan on staying here to spy? Does Rodney know who you are?” She fired off each question, each one like she was spitting fire. How dare he!
How dare he!
And how stupid was she, coming on to him like she had without ever knowing honestly who the man was? Forget temptation, forget urges and desire, she should have thought with her head instead of anything else. Then maybe she could think with better judgment.

“He has no idea who I am.”

“I can’t believe you. Trust you? You keep saying that,” Avery muttered bitterly. Ha! Trust him! What other secrets was he hiding? Was his name even Lucas? Fury consumed her. She let herself get too close to another man. Avery palmed her face in her hands and tried to gather herself.

“Avery- something tells me you aren’t safe. That’s why I’m here. Not to hurt you. I went and did a damn good job of that, didn’t I?” Lucas stood, catching one of her wrists and pulled her to him. Avery struggled, but then gave in, sobs erupting from her body. She cried into his shoulder. With her free hand she punched Lucas’s chest, until he caught that arm too. “I’m sorry, Avery. I really am.” She said nothing. What more could she say? Avery let out her frustration through her tears against Lucas. “Go ahead and cry. Let it out. I’m so sorry, Avery.”

He could sooth her with his voice, with his touch, but Avery no longer felt right. She pulled away from him like he was on fire and glared at him through blurred vision. She shook her head. “What do you mean, I’m not safe?”

She wasn’t safe from Lucas, or her conflicting feelings, that’s for sure. But that couldn’t have been what Lucas referred to.

“I don’t have much information other than some concerns now, from your birth mother, that you aren’t safe.”

“That’s crazy. Why wouldn’t I be safe? Other than falling into bed with a man that isn’t honest?”

“Low blow, Avery.” Lucas reeled back as if he’d been slapped.

“It’s not any worse than what you’ve just admitted, Lucas. I’m just speaking the truth.”

“Just be careful. That’s all I’m asking.”

“Right now, you’re the last person I should be taking that advice from, unless you’re warning me about yourself. I can’t imagine I’d be in any danger from Rodney. Why don’t you just go back and tell my birth mother that I’m fine! I don’t need to be looked after,” Avery shot back. Lucas’s eyes narrowed and he looked away, but not before Avery saw the hurt flash in his eyes. She’d hit him where it counted. Right now, she didn’t care. Let him be hurt. He should have thought of that before letting things go this far before being honest. Contract, bah! Shouldn’t it state in a contract not to have sex with the woman he had to keep an eye on? He went and broke that rule, but he wouldn’t tell Avery what she needed to know? Seems like the lines were crossed and yet he wouldn’t even tell Avery anything more.

“You don’t mean that.”

“What would you know about what I mean, Lucas? It’s all a game to you. Double crossing. Lying. You used me. I’ve heard what you had to say, and I didn’t run off. But right now, I need to go see how my mom is doing. You need to go.”

Without a word, Lucas gathered his clothes, quickly got dressed and stuffed his phone in his pocket. “This isn’t over, Avery. I hate that I hurt you, but I came here to do something, and I intend to see it through. I didn’t use you, despite what you think. I feel more for you than I ever imagined I could.” Lucas watched her for a moment before turning away and leaving the room. She waited until she heard the sound of the front door closing before heaving a sigh, sinking to the floor in tears.

******

Lucas stormed back to his room. He was so riled up. A run might help relieve the stress. But before that, he needed to make a phone call. This morning didn’t turn out at all like he’d thought. He wasn’t even that upset at Avery for answering his phone. Should he have been? Maybe, but that was so low on the list it didn’t matter. What mattered was that he’d let his feelings get in the way of his job.

That wasn’t something he ever intended on. Hell, he hadn’t really felt anything before. Meeting Avery changed that. He should have just come clean then, when he realized that he actually cared for her. Now everything turned into a complete fucking mess. She would probably never forgive him again, and then how would he keep her safe? But the questions was, safe from what? If he didn’t have all the answers, how could he do anything?

That’s why he needed to make that phone call. Avery wasn’t the only person he needed to come clean with. Somehow, he had to fix this. All of it. Then find a way to a new start. No more of this shitty life, keeping secrets, doing things to make other people’s lives better when in all honesty, it wouldn’t be. They would go on and still make their mistakes. Lucas just wouldn’t be there to clean it up any longer.

Then maybe his conscience would be clean and he would be free. Live the kind of life he wanted. Strike out on his own. But what would he do? He’d been tagging around so long that being literally on his own would be a strange new event.

But it’s one he wanted. So very badly.

Then maybe he could find a way to regain Avery’s trust. He had to at least give it a shot.

Lucas pushed the speed dial until someone answered.

“What was that all about this morning, Lucas? Was that her? Avery?”

Lucas swallowed hard. “Yeah, it was.”

“You did NOT tell her, did you? Damn you, Lucas!”

“I didn’t tell her everything, okay? And I’ll tell you, I fucking hate it. I like her. A lot. And things went further than I expected.”

“Oh, Lucas. You think with your dick way too much,” the caller chided, clicking her tongue. “Can’t you just do the job I need you to do?”

“You didn’t even give me clear instructions about why I’m here. Now you say something about keep her safe. Safe from who?” Lucas stared at his rugged reflection in the mirror.

“I don’t trust
him
, Lucas.”

“Trust who? Her father? Why can’t you take care of this on your own, instead of dragging me in it? I knew one day this would come back to bite me in the ass.” Sure enough, that day had come.

“Well, how did I know you were going to fall in the sack with her? I don’t pay you to get laid, Lucas!”

“What’s it going to take for you to just leave me alone? Can I give you the money back for this, go on my way, and be done?” Lucas roared. “If you always hide behind me, how will you learn to take care of your own problems? I’ve done enough to repay you for everything.”

A sigh. “You want to be done, Lucas? Fine. You go. Do your thing. I can make your life a living hell. And if anything, I mean anything happens because you’re being an idiot, you’ll have no one to blame but yourself. If you claim to care about Avery, then you should think long and hard about what you’re doing.”

Then there was nothing.

What? She hung up on him? That was a first. Usually he was the one to end the call.

Whatever.

Lucas found his running shorts and changed into them. A run would calm him down, give him time to think. Burn off the pent up energy that made his body quake.

As he left the room, images of Avery and the night before filled his mind. With each thought, he upped his pace. He passed the inn and took the route near the highway.

“Keep her safe.”

“I got this text...”

“You’re not supposed to think with your dick!”

The sound of squealing tires startled Lucas out of his thoughts. He looked up and noticed a dark sedan barreling right for him. He couldn’t make the face of the driver out very well, but Lucas didn’t have time to think. That car was going to hit him if he didn’t change his course. To the right was a fence, and to the left, the highway, filled with cars heading away at a high speed. If he took his chances just right, he could jump that fence in just a few leaps. He had to do something. That car was gaining speed and didn’t appear to be stopping.

Keep her safe? Well what about me?

Why would someone try to run him over? During the day, of all times?

Or his instincts were wrong and he’d look like a fool for nothing. Wouldn’t be the first time.

But with the area isolated enough, and a wall dividing the road and the highway, it could easily be done. But who? Why?

The engine revved high. Lucas took to the fence and climbed it quickly, jumping down from it safely on the other side. He lost his footing and collapsed, his ankle throbbing in pain. The car rolled on, even faster.

Something wasn’t right.

That car
had
been heading toward him. It wasn’t his imagination.

Lucas got to his feet and tested his ankle. He cringed and swore when he started to walk. Stabbing pain shot up right up that leg with each step. Fuck. Hopefully, it wasn’t broken. No, if it were broken, he wouldn’t be walking on it at all. Lucas weaved through the trees, hobbling along. He’d gone about a mile away from the inn. If he could just make it back, get some ice, he would be okay.