Chapter Fourteen

Fluffy snowflakes peppered the ground coating it white as they stowed away the groceries for Thanksgiving Dinner. It looked like they had enough food to feed the county and still have leftovers. The weeks had flown by quickly, Halloween had disappeared about as fast as the trick-or-treat candy and tomorrow was Thanksgiving. Soon it would be Christmas. Raine was glad the time had flown. Now only four days remained until she had her freedom then she was going to pin back that infuriating man’s ears and he’d be the one running to her! Just thinking of his stupid remark sent her blood pressure soaring.

She eyed the twenty-pound turkey on the counter. “Think we went a little overboard?”

“What gave you that idea?” Cora was unloading a grocery bag. “How about inviting Inez and her family to dinner? Heaven knows there’s plenty of food, and we do owe her our deepest thanks for directing us here. Without her who knows where we’d be right now.”

“That’s a great idea.” For sure, if not for Inez they wouldn’t be living yards from the orneriest man she’d ever met. Almost a month had past and he still gave her fits because he believed she still loved Addison. If he only knew!

“And I think we should invite Jess, too,” Cora added innocently; well aware of the emotional war waging between them since Halloween. She could guess what transpired that night and in her opinion both were acting like idiots.

“I doubt he’ll want to join us.” Raine shot her a discouraging frown. The last thing she wanted was to look at that insufferable man across the table. Ever since Halloween she was never sure which Jess Harper she was dealing with—the one who kissed her senseless or the downright rude cranky-pants one.

It was those rude times he’d see her, shake his head in disgust and stomp off muttering under his breath that she wanted to brain him. And it didn’t make any difference where it happened, either. They’d literally bumped into each other in the grocery store. Turning to apologize, he saw who it was, scorched her with a scathing glare and huffed off leaving his cart full of groceries in the middle of the aisle. Later she’d seen him unloading bags of groceries from that big black truck of his. Obviously, he’d shopped someplace else.

Then there were the times he’d be oh-so-sweet, catching her off-guard and kissing her passionately before she had a chance to say no. Those were the times she’d reconsider telling him the truth then he’d make her mad all over again, so she kept her mouth shut.

“Oh, he’ll come,” Cora said confidently. “There’s not a man alive who could turn down a home-cooked meal.”

“Then you’ve just met your first one. There’s no way he’ll come for Thanksgiving dinner. Haven’t you noticed he’s avoiding us like the plague?”

“Not us, just you. And not all the time, I might add, or was that lip-lock you two were in the other day a new type of avoidance?” Cora smirked. “I’ve seen quite a bit of him and he hasn’t kissed me that way. Shoot! Just about every time I’m outside he makes time to visit, always asking if we need anything. Oh! And he really enjoyed that apple pie you made him.”

The rat! The low-down dirty rat! Now she wished she’d put something extra in that pie besides the sugar and cinnamon. Still, a warm glow filled her that he’d liked her homemade apple pie.

“Fine! Invite him! But don’t blame me if he’s a no-show.” Head in the refrigerator, she missed the bound-and-determined look on Cora’s face.

“He’ll come, all right.” Come hell, high-water, or ten feet of snow, tomorrow that man will be sitting at that table. Looking out the window at the falling flakes, Cora thought the ten feet of snow a good possibility. She called Inez but the invitation was declined, Inez explaining it was a family tradition that all the females, young and not so young, spent the weekend shopping while the men watched football.

“Let’s go shopping tomorrow, too.” Raine suggested upon hearing Inez’s plans.

“Fine with me,” Cora said, dialing Jess’s number.

Raine half-hoped he’d say no. Maybe he had dinner plans with a girlfriend, given how often he left in the early evening and didn’t return until late at night. Not that she was spying on him. But the idea of Jess on a date, holding another woman in his arms, kissing her, making love to her, set her temper to flaring. It was she he should be holding, kissing, making love to, and as soon as she was free she’d get the man’s proper attention, even if she had to hit him over the head with her brand new cast-iron skillet! Infuriating as he could be, she still wanted him.

The fireplace blazing, chores done and the snow coming down, Jess thought it a good time to kick back and watch an old western movie. Then his phone rang. It was the cabin’s line. Was it the pesky little blond calling to apologize? Nope! Not the pesky little blond. It was Cora with an invitation to Thanksgiving Dinner. Would he like to join them? Oh, yes indeed. Home-cooked meal aside, he wasn’t about to pass up a chance to be near that exasperating woman.

Hanging up, Cora smiled smugly. “See, I told you he’d come. Said he’d love to join us. He’s such a nice man.”

It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out he’d accepted and the ‘nice man’ part was up for debate. Crossing her eyes at Cora, she set about making Katy a cup of hot chocolate.

Jess settled back in the recliner. Spending the special day with Raine sounded wonderful, plus it was time to take the bull by the horns and make her admit she couldn’t love a man who beat her. Somehow it just didn’t fit into what he knew of her situation, but then again, he’d witnessed a lot of crazy things in his life. No matter, he was determined to get answers.

After a light dinner of grilled cheese and tomato soup, they spent the rest of the evening prepping for the next day. They baked cornbread and biscuits for the stuffing, chopped onions, celery, and baked the pumpkin and chocolate cream pies. From scraps of left over dough they made pie-crust strips sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. They were lightly browned and crusty when they sat down to enjoy them. Later with Katy and Cora in bed, Raine stepped outside. Gazing down at Jess’s cabin; she decided to tell him the truth.

The next afternoon she was basting the turkey when he knocked on the door, and her heart started dancing with giddy anticipation even as she looked at Cora and nodded toward the door. “You invited him, you let him.”

“Go let him in. It’s cold out there.” Cora scolded, grinning when Raine stuck her tongue out at her.

Taking a deep breath to quell the butterflies in her stomach, she opened the door. And stared. Snowflakes dusted his Sherpa-lined coat and clung to his hair. She’d have sworn something flared in his brown eyes, then it was gone.

“Happy Thanksgiving, Jess.” She said.

And, he ignored her. However, he didn’t miss the yearning she wasn’t quick enough to hide. Good! She still wanted him just as badly as he wanted her. Now he was glad he’d stuck by his decision to have dinner with them. , A couple of times he’d waffled.

“Happy Thanksgiving, Jess.” Cora welcomed him with a bright smile.

He kissed Cora’s cheek. “Thanks for inviting me.”

His back to her, Raine crossed her eyes and mimed a, “And a Happy Thanksgiving to you, too, Raine.” She shut the door with a firm hand.

Her miffed reflection in the oval mirror on the wall told him she was in a snit because he’d ignored her. Served her right, being upset went both ways. He’d had his share of bad moments over these last weeks, but upon waking this morning decided it was time to call a truce. Thinking long and hard, he could see his testy attitude wasn’t helping matters. Besides that, he’d decided he wanted more than memories of stolen kisses to keep him company. It was time to play nice.

Jess carried a bottle of white wine and the chocolate soda that Katy loved. He handed them to Cora. “It sure does smell good in here.” And, sniffed appreciatively then moved closer to Raine, his warmth wrapping round her like rays of sunshine. “And you look nice,” he leaned in, “smell good, too, like vanilla and cinnamon, makes me want to nibble on you.” He growled, his voice whiskey-rough, just loud enough for her alone. A whisper of breath tickled against her ear. “Happy Thanksgiving,” and he kissed her cheek, too.

Darn that man! He moved quicker than an F5 tornado and was smoother than a calm lake at midnight. His actions put flags of red pleasure blossoming in her cheeks. Careful or you’ll be drowning in that lake. Right now, he’s being nice, but when will it change?

“Hi, Mr. Jess!” Katy scrambled over the back of the sofa to fling herself into his arms. “You wan’na watch the parade wif’ me?”

“Hi Katy-bug,” he used the endearment Raine and Cora called her, pressing his lips to her silky blond hair. “I’d love to watch the parade if Mommy and Cora don’t need my help.” Like he’d been doing it for years, he settled her on his hip.

Serious sapphire eyes met warm brown ones. “They don’t. They told me to stay out of the kitchen ’cause I might get burned. That means they don’t want you in there, either. You might get burned, too.”

Who could argue with the child’s logic? Out of the corner of his eye he saw Raine listening. “Is she right? You don’t need any help?” His gaze lingered on her mouth.

Shaking her head, the fire burning in his eyes turned her warm. “You might get burnt.”

Desire darkening his eyes, barely audible was his, “Too late.”

Catching his meaning, she blushed. Cora bit her cheek but a snicker slipped out, anyway. Who did those two think they were fooling? They had it bad for each other.

Jess held Katy on his lap as though he’d been doing it forever. She kept him entertained with a running monologue on all the cartoon characters. He wanted more moments like this, her on his lap, fireplace aglow and Raine at his side forever. This needed some serious thought.

Katy thought it’d be fun to float in the sky and some day she was going to do it. Impressed at her young intelligence, Jess didn’t doubt the little daredevil for a minute. He had a feeling most of the credit belonged to Raine. He’d never seen a more nurturing, patient mother than she was. And what kind of father would throw away this child’s love?

Stirring the bubbling gravy, Raine thought Jess and Katy made a beautiful picture and a lump of emotion thickened in her throat. She thought of Addison’s actions, of what he’d tossed away like trash and decided again to tell Jess the truth. As if picking up on Mommy’s thoughts, Katy asked Jess if he had any little kids.

He shook his head solemnly. “No. I don’t have any kids at all. I haven’t got to be a dad yet.”

She became studiously quiet but when she spoke again it wasn’t what any of them expected. “I have a daddy, Mr. Jess, but he had to go away so he couldn’t come on 'cation with us.” Both women shared a perplexed looked and stopped to listen. “I’m glad he couldn’t come ’cause Daddy’s mean. Sometimes he makes Mommy cry. I like it when Mommy doesn’t cry 'cause she has pretty blue eyes just like me and they get all red when she cries. Daddy couldn’t even come home when Mommy fell down and got hurt real bad and couldn’t open her eyes.”

Jess remained silent but his assessing eyes met Raine’s over the top of Katy’s head. Katy, unaware of the angry currents flowing through him, was on a roll and everything bottled up inside her little mind tumbled out as her mother stood listening helplessly.

“Daddy yelled at me and made me cry, too then he made me promise not to tell Mommy.”

“I’m sorry he made you cry, sweetheart,” Jess said gently, though fury pounded inside him that she’d been carrying the burden of these experiences on her tiny shoulders by a drugged-out excuse for a father. He wanted to ask what Addison had done, but tamped down the urge to prompt her. It was better she explain in her own good time.

Raine moved closer. All kinds of horrible thoughts flashed through her mind. What had Addison done to make Katy cry, then swear her to secrecy? If he’d laid a hand on her, God wouldn’t be able to help him. She’d catch the next plane back to Phoenix and shoot him—on purpose and right between the eyes. Her hands clenched into white-knuckled fists.

“Mommy had to go to the doctor and Daddy said I could stay with him. I really wanted to go with her, but I was 'fraid the doctor would give me a shot. We were playing outside and Daddy was pushing me on my swing then he said he had to go do something but would be right back, but he didn’t. He was gone a really long time, and I had to go potty really bad. He was in the bathroom, too,” Katy looked at her mother, “you know Mommy, the one in your old room, the one you used to sleep in before you started sleeping with me?” Raine nodded, feeling Jess’s eyes boring into her but she refused to look at him. “I ’prised’ Daddy and the powder he was playing in went everywhere. Daddy yelled at me and I didn’t do anything wrong. Daddy was playing in your powder, Mommy, not me.” Her bottom lip quivered and tears filled her eyes. “Then he told me he was sorry and said not to tell you. Daddy said you’d be mad at him.” Tears rolled down her cheeks. “I thought you’d be mad at me, too.”

Raine scooped Katy up from Jess’s arms. “Shush, baby.” A soothing hand smoothed up and down her back. “Katy-bug, I’m not mad. I’m just sorry Daddy made you cry.” She cuddled Katy closer. “It’s all right, baby girl. I promise, you didn’t do anything wrong. Daddy did. You were being a good girl doing what he told you. Daddy was wrong, not you, but from now on if you have anything, even a secret that makes you feel bad, you tell me. Okay?”

“Okay,” Katy wiped her eyes on her sleeve.

Cora quickly produced a tissue just before she wiped her runny nose on the same sleeve.

“Here, sweet-pea, use this instead of your sleeve.” Thoroughly ready to tear into Addison herself, Cora thought it time to lighten the mood. Any second she expected both Raine and Jess to explode, taking the roof off the cabin. “I don’t know about the rest of you but I’m starving. I think we should eat.”

Fire burned Jess’s belly and his appetite had disappeared but following Cora’s lead, he hid his angry emotions from Katy. “I’m starving, too! That turkey sure does smell good and I can’t wait to have some pumpkin pie and chocolate pie! How about you, Katy-bug? Do you like pumpkin and chocolate pie?”

She gave him a water giggle. “I love them. And I’m hungry, too.”

“Give us a couple minutes to finishing setting the table.” Raine said, wiping the remaining tears off Katy’s cheeks then kissing them. “Do you know how much I love you, pumpkin?”

“This much.” She spread her small arms out as wide as they would go.

“Oh! Much more than that! I love you as big as the whole wide world.” Raine snuggled closer.

“And I love you big as the wide world, Mommy.” She felt better, too. She didn’t like keeping secrets from Mommy. She crawled back on Jess’s lap and Raine saw his strong arm encircle her protectively.

Outwardly happy, inward Jess seethed as a thousand questions pounded in his head and only one person could provide the answers. He skewered her back with an angry glare, the truce idea forgotten. Never would he understand how she could still love a man who beat her, snorted coke in the same house as his child, and then blamed her for it blowing away.

They gathered round the dinner table laden with the golden, brown turkey and all the trimmings. Katy was back to her chatter-box self. Raine, however, was furious that Addison dared expose her to his addiction. How stupid was he to bring cocaine into their house? What if she’d thought it powdered sugar and ingested it? Her baby could have died. Clearly, he hadn’t cared about Katy’s safety. Drugs and alcohol controlled his life and this just proved it. He’d rather expose his daughter to harm than kick his habits.

And why hadn’t she known? She wasn’t oblivious to what went on inside her home. But she knew the answer—Addison was an expert at hiding things. Again, she berated herself for not having been stronger, for not standing up to him. But should-haves were like chasing raindrops, once they hit the ground they were gone. One thing was for damn sure, come trial time she’d be there front and center. That reminded her; Gordon needed this information as additional evidence.

After dinner Jess offered to help cleanup but they wouldn’t hear of it so he took Katy to build her first snowman. It meant a lot that she’d opened up to him. The ground was covered in several inches of thick fluffy snow and it clung to the cedar trees’ branches as though someone had sprayed them with whipped cream. Raine watched out the kitchen window as they worked diligently rolling snowballs to form the body. Katy resembled a little pink creampuff in her snowsuit, her face barely visible from the fur-edged hood.

Just as Jess hefted one rounded snowball onto another, her mischievous laughter rang out and she blasted him square in the face with a snowball. Raine’s astonishment matched the surprise on his face then he was laughing, his teeth flashing white, as he chased her around the yard. Katy’s high-pitched laughter echoed on the cold air. When she sprawled face down in the snow he immediately righted her, dusting the clinging snow off her. Instinctively, she knew Jess would make an excellent father. A wistful fantasy flitted through her head wishing to be his children’s mother. Sadly, it was only a pipe-dream.

They used tree branches for the snowman’s arms and chunks of burned wood as eyes and buttons and Raine supplied a carrot for its nose. “He needs a pipe, hat, and scarf. Come on Katy-bug, I’ve got just the thing.” Clasping her mitten-covered hand, they went down the hill to his cabin. Finding what he was looking for, they retraced their steps. Jess made a mental note to clear the stone path off. And ever in the back of his mind lingered Katy’s earlier revelations.

“It’s ‘the bestest’ snowman ever,” she declared when they were finished and insisted Raine take pictures of her and Jess posing with the snowman. Afterward, they enjoyed steaming cups of hot chocolate. Katy, hers cooled with milk and whipped cream, finished first and announced she wanted to watch a movie.

“Thank you for helping me, Mr. Jess.” She stood on tiptoes to kiss his cheek.

“You’re very welcome, sweetheart. I had fun, too, and we’ll have to build more.”

Covering her with a quilt, Raine knew Katy would be asleep before the movie ended. Re-joining them, Raine was barely in her seat before Jess opened his mouth.

“Your husband’s a real piece of work. He needs a real good wake-up call and I’d sure as hell like to give it to him.”

She started to tell him Addison was soon to be her ex-husband but something held her back.

“You’ve no idea.” Cora interjected. “That whole family’s a real piece of work. Why at the hos . . .” She broke off when Raine kicked her beneath the table. “Snobby as all get out, too.” She finished lamely, puzzled that Raine didn’t want him knowing the details of what had happened to her, especially given Katy had revealed so much already. Taking the hint, she took the conversation to the humorous side of the situation. “You’ve got to admit, aside from Katy catching him doing the dirty deed, it’s kind of funny.”

“Yeah, I can picture him getting ready to get a nose full of coke—Katy pops in—and he blows it all over the place.” Raine gave a derisive little chuckle.

“That baby was so relieved to finally unload her secret. It was dirty, him making her promise not to tell you. I know one thing; I’d loved to get my hands on him. I’d teach him a lesson he wouldn’t soon forget.” Cora’s eyes glinted with anger.

“We all share that sentiment. What worries me is there could be more she’s holding back. I’ve got to make sure that’s the only time he’s done something bad in her presence.” She was still kicking herself for not seeing what was right under her nose. God! Sometimes I wish that bullet had killed him. She thought she’d been thinking it until she heard a loud, “What!” and saw the shocked expression on Jess’s face.

“What bullet? Who got shot? Explain!” he demanded.

Hell no! She was in no mood to explain anything to anyone. “I’m not explaining anything.” She’d been thinking and it just slipped out. “Besides, Katy might overhear us.” Which was a lame excuse when a quick glance showed she’d already drifted off to sleep.

“Get your coat!” He scraped his chair back to tower over her.

“I’m not going anywhere.” She gritted mutinously.

“Oh, yes you are. When guns and bullets are involved I want to know what the hell is going on. Now get your coat.” He ordered again, this time through clenched teeth.

She wanted to argue, tell him it was none of his damn business. But it was. He was only thinking of their safety. Feeling like a kid in trouble she went to get her coat.

Face stormy, he watched her stalk away before turning to Cora. “What the hell all happened to her? I know she was knocked around by her husband but I’m realizing there’s a hell of a lot more than just the bare-bones facts she’s told me.” In fact, he was damn certain something very horrific had happened at the hands of her husband, something involving guns.

Fire burned in his gut that she could still care for the scumbag. Well, come hell or high water, it was time he got the story out of her.

“Get her to tell you all that’s gone on, then I’ll be happy to discuss it with you. And just so you know; it’s going to take a lot more than a few kisses and sweet-talk to get her to do what you want.” She gave him a pointed look.

Jess flushed ruddy red. Damn! The woman didn’t mince words. At least he was saved from responding by Raine’s mutinous return, still scowling, plainly not wanting to go. Well, that was too damned bad. Things were going on, had gone on, that he needed to know about. Pronto! He practically shoved her out the door while Raine shot a pleading look at Cora, who only shrugged her shoulders, knowing it was time they talked.

Taking the lane fronting the cabins, for a time they walked in hostile silence. The newly fallen snow lay brilliantly white against the golden glow of the early evening sun. Here and there red-headed cardinals, blue jays, and other birds she couldn’t name gathered beneath the snow-tipped evergreens. So beautiful, yet Addison’s intrusion cast a pall over it. Would she ever be totally free of him? Jess expected explanations, especially after that remark about the shooting. But she didn’t want to rehash those awful moments with him, especially on this day. She was just grateful to be alive, to celebrate with the people she cared about, and that included him. Somehow, he’d stolen into her heart in too short a time and she really couldn’t let him be there, at least not until she was free. Unfortunately, her heart hadn’t cooperated from the get-go; she’d lost it to him at first sight.

Their footsteps crunching through the unbroken snow echoed in the cold air. The quiet peacefulness should have soothed the acid raging in Jess but it didn’t. Instead it grew thicker. Veering off, he headed deeper into the woods. In the distance was a fenced corral attached to a red and white painted stable. Approaching it, he put two fingers between his lips and gave a shrill whistle. Immediately two horses—one a sleek midnight black, the other a burnished chestnut, emerged. Their smooth coats gleamed in the fading sunlight. Both horses waited eagerly at the corral, nickering softly at his soothing voice.

“How are my girls, today? Did you think I’d forgotten you?” They nickered again as if answering. From his pocket, Jess withdrew a bag of sugar cubes he carried for them. Anxious for the sweet treat, their velvety-smooth noses poked between the wooden slats, their lips flaring back in a wide grin. Jess fed each a cube then dropped some of the small white squares into Raine’s hand.

“They’re beautiful, Jess.” She and Katy periodically brought them sugar cubes and had become friends with the gentle ladies. The nibbling of their big velvety lips tickled the palm of her hand. She gently stroked each horse’s head and spoke softly to them.

“These ladies are spoiled worse than babies.” It was the first time he’d spoken since ushering her out of the cabin and it irritated her. He was the one who’d insisted they talk.

As though reading her mind he looked at her expectantly, one dark brow arched so high it disappeared in his hairline. “You’re the one who wanted to talk,” she glared at him, “so talk!” Rubbing her hands on her jeans, she turned her back and stared into the surrounding woods.

“No,” he drawled, “you’re the one who mentioned someone getting shot, that someone being your husband. In my book that means I deserve an explanation, especially since you’re living on my property. If you’ll recall, I said I wanted no trouble and if he finds you here it will definitely mean trouble. I have to prepare to keep you safe.”

Raine turned her head, staring into his angry eyes. “There’s nothing to prepare for. Addison’s in jail awaiting trial.” Then she turned away again.

Her dismissal aggravated him. No way in hell was she ignoring him. Wrapping a hand around her arm he roughly spun her to face him. “Lis . . .”

Not prepared for the hand that grabbed her arm, for an instant she reeled back in time and with a sharp cry threw her arms up to protect her face then mortified, quickly dropped them. Oh my God! This wasn’t Addison. This was Jess and no matter what, he’d never hit her.

Shocked to the core, his face turned gray as he let go; speechless, he stared at her frightened pallor. Had she really thought he’d strike her? The very idea fueled not only his temper and made him sick, it cut a wide swath of hurt deep inside him.

“Good God woman! I’m not going to hit you.” He raked a hand through his hair. “Dammit, Raine, I’ve never harmed a woman and I’m not about to start now and I damn well refuse to be lumped in the same category as your husband.” Oh yes, there was a hell of a lot more to her story and the defensive reaction was proof, and he was going to find out and he didn’t care how mad she got. However, he stepped back giving her some space. “Obviously, he’s a real piece of work but no man goes on trial just for roughing up his wife. So, tell me what he’s being tried for.”

The hurt impacting his dark eyes tore at her heart more than his anger. She hadn’t meant to react that way. It was a reflex action; one Addison could take all the credit for. How many times had she thrown an arm up to protect her face from his vicious slaps? There were too many to count. And Jess was wrong. She didn’t lump him in the same mold as Addison. Jess was a good man, a kind man, a man who would never hurt her.

“I’m sorry. I reacted out of instinct. I know you would never hit me. I may not have known you very long but that’s one thing I’m sure of.” She started to touch his arm but dropped her hand when he stared at it as though it were a snake about to strike. She flinched at his rejection.

Seeing it, satisfaction coursed through him. He was being churlish in not accepting her sincere apology but her defensive reaction left him raw and insulted. When he spoke, his tone was hard as nails, his eyes frosty and forbidding.

“I don’t want your damned apology. Let me repeat myself. Just tell me what he did to wind up being shot and in jail. You’re living here, that means I have a right to know what I’m dealing with in order to protect you!”

The rebuffed apology acted as a slap in the face making her angry and fed up with his attitude. So, he wanted to know all the sordid details? Well, fine! Blue eyes glittering, she spat. “You want to know what happened, what was so god-awful bad? I’ll tell you! My husband tried to kill me. He was in a mad rage, had a gun, and was going to shoot me. We struggled, it went off and he shot himself instead.” As if happening right then, once again she saw Addison pointing the gun at her. “He even told the police I shot him but when they tested the gun for fingerprints the only ones on it were his. That’s why he’s in jail. He couldn’t beat me to death, so he was going to finish the job by shooting me.”

She refused to tell him of being stripped naked, tied down and whipped unmercifully. That feeling of being totally helpless, under someone’s sadistic control, haunted her constantly. No one knew that a night rarely passed without nightmares plaguing her sleep. Visions of Addison, a belt in one hand, a gun in the other, would jerk her into sweat-laden, heart-pounding reality.

“What makes you so sure he’s still in jail? You’re obviously on the run from him. Scared spit-less, I’d say, and no way of knowing just how far behind you he is.”

“Oh, that’s where you’re wrong, Mr. Harper.” She said sarcastically. “I know everything because I have people keeping me informed. Addison was arrested as soon as the fingerprints came back and no bail was granted. And for what it’s worth there’s a restraining order against him. I have separate phones, one for him and one for everyone else. So far, he’s made no attempts and it’s been almost three months. Obviously, I’m doing everything in my power to keep all of us safe. All. Of. Us.” Each word was emphasized with a sharp stab of her finger in his chest. “I don’t need your protection. You can shove it where the sun doesn’t shine!” His jaws clenched in angry reaction but he didn’t say a word. “And just so you know, I’ll do anything to protect my daughter from her father. Including another gunfight if that’s what it takes. But you don’t have to worry about any trouble. We’ll be long gone from here by then.”

Despite what she said, something nagged him raw and he didn’t stand back on asking, either. “Tell me something. If things were so bad between you two, why did you stay with him all this time, put up with him beating you? If you’ll do anything to keep Katy safe, then why didn’t you leave the bastard sooner? Or do you love that sick son-of-a bitch so much you’ll put him before your child and go back to him?” The questions had been slamming around inside his head. How could she feel anything but hatred for the bastard? He wasn’t trying to be judgmental but it came out that way.

And Raine took it that way. “Why? Why didn’t I leave sooner?” How dare he sit in judgment of her! “I’ll tell you why!” An ache of guilt so strong struck her, nearly doubling her over. Didn’t he know she lived with recriminations every day for not leaving sooner? Still, she defended herself. “Because he threatened that if I ever left him again he’d hunt me down, take Katy away, and I’d never see her again. I tried leaving once. It didn’t work.” Scorn filled her voice. “It’s so easy for someone who’s never been in my shoes to question why I didn’t leave sooner. And I know that sounds lame but that’s just how it is. Don’t you think I feel guilty? Especially after finding out he snorted coke while she was with him.” Her voice shook with anger. “Had I realized it I’d have left before that last night turned so violent. Protecting Katy is my priority and Addison’s threats don’t scare me anymore. Love him or no, if I have to go back and have another showdown with him I will, but I’ll have my baby and he’ll never get to her. As for you . . .” Suddenly out of steam and emotionally battered, she had to get away from him. Without another word, she struck off at a fast clip.

Jess remained motionless, conflicted in everything she kept saying about her husband. Then he went after her. This time when he gripped her arm she made no defensive moves. Instead, she found herself locked tight against his chest. She wanted to resist even as her traitorous arms stole round his waist. She didn’t want to fight anymore. She laid her head against his chest. She wasn’t the needy type but she needed his strength, his faith, his safeness. She wanted everything with him, could love him forever, if only he would let her.

He still puzzled the contradictions that weren’t meshing. There was more than what she was telling but for now he’d have to be satisfied. Gently putting her away, he gazed into the wet blue pools of her eyes then lowered his head. The moment his lips touched hers he was lost. He loved this woman so much he never wanted to let her go.

It was like a sledgehammer slammed into his chest. Holy hell! He really was in love with her! What happened to his love-and-leave-them motto? Yet hadn’t he been thinking in terms of the future? Hell, he hadn’t even dated her and he was so sappy in love he wanted to kick up his heels and howl at the moon yet in the next second feeling like a semi-tractor free-falling off a mountain—the crash-landing could be deadly. Space! He needed space. He had some serious thinking do. After years of protecting his bachelorhood this was the last thing he expected.

With the direction his emotions were headed he’d be marching down the aisle before dark. It was insane to pursue a woman nearly half his age, and with a kid to-boot. And a husband that was sure to hunt her down, a husband, that despite his evilness, she professed to still love. It was re-con time! Abruptly, he jerked away.

Raine opened her mouth to confess at the same time Jess jerked away. Something had suddenly changed him and his rejection spoke volumes, his shuttered looked confirmed her suspicions—she had too much baggage to take on. Flirt and tease? That he could do. Have a casual affair? Absolutely! But a relationship that came with baggage? No way. And she’d been foolish to entertain the fantasy. Numb, she walked away swallowing back a sob and praying the physical ache in her heart didn’t knock her to her knees. He’d cut and run and she hadn’t even told him everything, nor showed him the photos of how badly Addison had beaten her. Falling for Jess had been stupid, the lesson tough, but from here on out she was staying as far away from the man as possible.

Returning home, for the next hour Jess shoveled snow while analyzing his feelings, and the whole time wanting to race to her and spill his heart out. His sudden coolness coming on the heels of their kiss had to hurt. No doubt she believed him disgusted learning what had gone on. He was disgusted, but more outraged that she could still love the bastard. But something else ate at his soul. He’d fallen in love with a married woman. And that wasn’t right. But maybe it wasn’t love but pure old lust. Yeah, right, the irritating voice in his head jeered.

The physical work didn’t help. He still yearned go to her, to love her, claim not just her body but her heart, too, and it ripped him apart that she still loved the man she was also hell-bent on keeping behind bars. And that was a piece of the puzzle that didn’t mesh.

Had Jess been thinking clearer he’d have realized she was lying. Instead, he vowed to do his damnedest to stay away, no matter what methods it took. Banking the fire, he slammed out of the house. She might not be in the same building but she was on the same property and he needed more space to think. Pulling onto the snow-covered road, Jess had no clue where he was going, only that he had to put distance between them before he did something really stupid. Like tell her he’d fallen in love with her.