Count on Me (Petal, Georgia) (37 page)

She smiled up at him. “Wow.”

The deep lines of anger faded into a surprised—but pleased—smile. “I was inspired.”

Shep sighed. “Can you two just not with all that? Jeez. You’re worse than tenth graders.”

“I’m sorry to be such a trial.” Caroline winked, happy to be with both of them. “So you coming with us to have burgers and possibly a fight that ends with Grandmother having to pick you up from jail? I can pay your bail, but she’s your legal guardian.”

“Wouldn’t miss it.”

She hadn’t told either of them what Garrett had said to Polly, and it lay heavy on her mind as they had a relatively trouble-free dinner. Their server had asked after her, saying she’d heard about all the attacks. She’d received several smiles and a few waves.

Of course she also got a few dark looks, and she couldn’t stop wondering if they’d heard from Garrett or his gossip and thought she’d actually be capable of faking all the horrible stuff that had happened to her.

“You okay?” Royal asked her quietly when Shep headed to the bathroom. “I know this is a tense time, but you seem preoccupied, or more preoccupied than usual. People have seemed pretty okay tonight, did I miss something?”

“No, everyone is fine. I just…I had lunch with Anne today. I think I forgot to say that. But anyway, it was fine so get that look off your face. Jeez. Polly came in right before we left, and she told me about this rumor Garrett is spreading. I don’t know if I should tell Shep, and I’m paranoid and wondering if people believe what he’s been saying. Oh and I may actually connect with the evidence that could clear my father’s name and send the real killer of my mother to prison. It’s a little overwhelming in my head right now.”

“I know. I shouldn’t have suggested dinner out. I just don’t want you to hide. Fuck that asshole trying to make you hide in shame for something
happening
to you.”

“No, it was good. I should be out and about. I should be hanging out with my brother. I should be sitting with you in a back booth pretending I didn’t see you steal those rings from my plate.”

“As for telling Shep—because you will of course tell
me
on the way home—will it affect him somehow? Will he hear it eventually because all gossip gets around, it’s impossible to avoid it? And when he does, will it hurt him that you didn’t tell him first?”

“Garrett is telling people I faked all this stuff to happen to me to make it look like my father is innocent.”

“He what? I told him. I warned him what would happen if he kept this up.”

Jesus.

“Okay. Whoa. While it would be incredibly satisfying to let you punch him, it’s a little busy just now. Also, if you punch him it involves you yet again in this bullshit.”

Shep came back out and took a look at the two of them as he slid into the booth across from them. “What?”

So she told them both the whole story, and at the end she held up both hands. “Shep, you have to go back home and you’ll be seeing Garrett and that’s why I told you.” Royal’s point about how he’d hear it eventually anyway was spot on. But she didn’t want any more of this to spill over into anyone else’s life if she could help it.

“Yeah I’m going to see him. I’m going to see him and then I’m going to punch him.”

“Well I’m so glad I told you then.” She leaned over the table. “Enrique Shepard Mendoza, be smart. You have a bright future ahead of you. Don’t screw it up by getting into some dick-measuring contest with a man with no dick and no spine. You got me? Our revenge for this is proving Dad innocent and putting Mom’s killer away. Garrett doesn’t matter. Not in the big picture.”

“How can Mindy and Grandma let him do the stuff he does?”

“Oh, honey, I don’t know what to tell you. I was raised by our mom. She taught me to respect myself and demand a partner who respected me too. But Mom didn’t raise Mindy. Not for long enough to make an impact. Abigail Lassiter raised her. And look, she didn’t have to. They stepped in and did what they were supposed to, I never fault them for that. But her vision of marriage and relationships is distinctly old school. I want you to understand something really important. Abigail Lassiter has her own opinions. No one tells her how to think. If she wanted to shut Garrett down, she could. She’s the true alpha there. Just keep your head down. Finish school. Spread your wings and go off to college.”

Her brother’s expression darkened. “He’s not just insulting you with this. He’s insulting me too. And anyone else who knows the truth.”

She nodded at her brother. “Yep. But he’s irrelevant, and he’ll use you, me, whoever, to
be
relevant. He’s a small, weak man who thinks he’s far stronger and tougher than he is. He’ll get his. But
you
are relevant. Do you see? You have a future full of options. In the end, you’re worth ten of him. And he knows it. So fuck him. Unless he comes at you, just avoid him and do your thing.”

“I don’t know. Honestly I’m seriously pissed. She’s on my case about seeing you and hanging out with you. Wants to know what we talk about. I’d have told her if she hadn’t been so dictatorial about it. Garrett is at the house with Mindy. He now calls them Grandma and Grandpa. Grandpa is mad a lot. I think he and Grandma are fighting. I hate that Garrett comes into my house and is trying to poison them. I don’t like that he’d say that about you when you’re being terrorized.”

“It’s your life and your fists. I get that you’re mad. I do. I’m mad too. I’m just used to triage and to keeping my eye on the big picture. He’s nothing and no one.”

He didn’t make promises and she didn’t make him. He was nearly grown and would do what he wanted anyway.

“You know, it’s the fact that Garrett is irrelevant and nothing that makes me want to punch him most.” Royal had been pretty quiet on the way home but once he’d started to change his clothes, he began speaking.

She put lotion on her hands as she looked up from where she’d been reading something for work.

“See, I told him. I told him nearly two months ago that if he could not slow his tongue and quit bringing you up, he and I would have a problem. Then he started that shit at the Pumphouse and egged Benji on, and now he’s telling everyone that you’re a liar who faked attacks on herself to make it look like her dad was innocent. I have a big problem here, Caro.”

She blew out a breath.

“I told him. And he ran off after the thing at the Pumphouse. I need to make it my mission to bump into him so we can talk this out.”

“If you do that you could get arrested. He’s not worth that.”

“No. Caroline, I am respectful of what you need to do with this. I stand back even when my brain is screaming at me to duct tape you and keep you in bed until this guy is picked up. But I know you need to do it. And I know you make big allowances for how I feel about stuff as it is. I appreciate it. You don’t have to but you do anyway.”

“Because I love you.”

He smiled, bending down to kiss her. “Good. Another thing I appreciate. I love you too.”

“But you’re going to punch him anyway.”

He nodded. “Yes. More than once. I’m sorry my choices are hurting your feelings. But yes.”

“My feelings aren’t hurt. To be totally honest, I’m flattered and it makes me feel all giggly and tingly when you want to punch someone to protect or avenge me. But I hate it anyway because while I am absolutely sure you’re capable of winning with one arm tied behind your back, I don’t like anyone trying to hurt you. I don’t like a big fuss being made and everyone looking at me. More than they already do. You push and it opens you up to negative attention.” It mattered to him because he was deeply woven into Petal. Far more than she was, and she didn’t want him estranging himself from everything he’d ever known to avenge her.

But when she said that he just turned and sighed. “Caroline, do you think I’d want people in my life who’d think it was okay for a grown man to run over town and tell stories out of school about my woman? I have friends who are worthy of that friendship. I don’t care about anyone else other than you. Got me?”

She nodded, giving a wobbly smile. “I’ve cried a lot in the last few months. I’m a wimp.”

He rolled his eyes. “Oh yes, you’re such a wimp for crying three times in the midst of someone trying to kill you to shut you up, of being on the outs with your mom’s people, all this change in your life.”

“Are you mocking me?”

He took the files from her hands. “I’d rather fuck you. Carefully of course so we don’t pull your stitches.”

“Other than onion rings, this is the best offer I’ve had all night.”

He knelt on the floor between her thighs as he reached out to cup the back of her neck and pull her closer.

“Am I helping you work through some of your aggression?” she murmured into his mouth during their kiss.

He gripped her neck a little tighter. “You up for that?”

She pulled back. “I’m not going to break.”

He must have understood because he grabbed her pajama shirt and spread it wide, a button flying off to the side.

Whoa.

“Yeah, I liked that too.” He kissed her again as he brushed his thumbs back and forth over her nipples before sliding down to push her pajama pants and her underwear from her legs.

“Perfect access.” He licked the back of her knee and then put her calf on his shoulder. “Scoot down a little, make sure you’re okay when you lean back.” He stroked up her thighs, and she moved quickly to find an angle that wouldn’t put pressure on her stitches.

And once she had, his mouth was on her, his tongue licking and swirling, fingers pressing up and inside. Sensation slowly filled her. Starting at her toes, it seemed to build and build until it engulfed her when she came way faster and far harder than she’d been expecting.

“There we go.” He kissed her belly and then got to his feet, helping Caroline to hers as well. “I think you need to bend over the bed. Arms above your head. I don’t have my belt to keep you in place so you’ll have to imagine it binding your wrists together.”

On slightly wobbly knees, she walked to the bed and did as he’d told her.

“This is the perfect reason to keep my bed this height.”

He put a step stool under her feet so it was more comfortable and lined up once he’d gotten a condom on.

“Christ. You’re so beautiful this way. All your curves.” He caressed her hips as he slowly thrust into her until he was seated fully. “Your hair is spread all over your back and shoulders. So pretty. Your skin, damn. You’re just swoops and swirls and curves. It does me in.”

She closed her eyes. He
saw
her. He looked at her and he saw beauty and worth and she felt it. Royal was not only exciting and sexy, he was her safe place.

“I love you,” she said right as he made her come again, reaching around her body as he continued to stroke deep and steady.

He groaned. “Feels so good when you come around my cock like this.” The hand he’d had at her hip tightened, his fingers digging into her flesh, holding her exactly how he wanted as he sped, keeping deep, and came.

He bent, brushed a kiss over her uninjured shoulder and bit. “Love you too.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

The drive over to Riverton was pleasant enough. It wasn’t overly far, and Joyce Marie lived in one of the more established subdivisions just about a mile from the courthouse. She drove down this stretch of road at least once every two weeks on her way into town.

They parked at the curb, and Caroline carried the box of doughnuts past the main house and up to Joyce Marie’s front door. Shane knocked and shortly thereafter the door opened to reveal a wildly barking dachshund and a very tall elderly woman with a crown of pale, white hair she’d braided down her back.

“Hello, Mrs. Petitbone? I’m Caroline Mendoza and this is Shane Chase. Shane is the chief of police in Petal. I believe you spoke with Ron Rogers yesterday?”

“Snickers, if you don’t hush up I’m going to lock you in the bedroom and then you won’t have any company.” The dog seemed rather unimpressed but he lowered his volume and gave his owner side eye. Joyce Marie turned her attention back to Caroline. “I see you brought a bakery box. What’s in it?”

“A dozen old-fashioned doughnuts from the Honey Bear. Freshly baked at six this morning.”

Joyce Marie nodded and then opened her screen door. “All right then. Come on in. You, big shoulders, just sit right there in the chair and look pretty while I talk to Caroline. You can eat doughnuts and drink some coffee though.”

Caroline hid her grin as Shane withheld a sigh. “Thank you, Mrs. Petitbone. We sure do appreciate your time.” He sat and she poured him some coffee and handed the cup his way.

“Milk and sugar right there. Plates for the doughnuts too.” Then she turned to Caroline. “Sit down. My goodness you have your daddy’s hair and eyes, but you sure do favor your mother. I used to go out to their diner every Sunday after church. Your father made such great roasted chicken. Funny the things we remember all these years later. So let me tell you the story. I’m sure you have a busy life. Mr. Rogers said you’re an attorney?”

Caroline nodded.

“Your parents would have been proud.”

“My father was still alive when I got my degree. He was very proud.”