“Sorry, Mark,” I tell him as Barrett pulls out a wallet and tosses a few bills onto the table.
When we’re walking out of the restaurant, I turn to look over my shoulder. Mark doesn’t say anything, but if looks could kill the two of us would be dead.
“You need to stay away from him,” Barrett grits out as he opens his truck door and helps me in. He mumbles something about needing side steps installed for me. My breath hitches as he grabs my waist and lifts me up.
“You don’t have to get a side step,” I say, clearing my throat. Jesus, he’s strong.
He turns to look at me, and his deep blue eyes rake over my body. His lips turn up at one corner, giving me a playful half-smile.
“Yeah, I do,” he says, leaning close to me.
He smells like mint and sunshine, and I lick my lips thinking about what it would be like to kiss him.
He closes his eyes for a moment and mutters something under his breath. He shakes his head then pulls back and shuts the truck door. I take a second to try and get my emotions under control.
I’m used to being shy around men at times, but with Barrett it’s not only about being shy. I actually care what he might be thinking about me. I don’t even know what just happened back there. All I know is that I really hope that counts as a full date because I’m not doing that again.
Barrett gets in on the other side off the truck and pulls away from the curb. I glance down and realize he was double parked. I peek over at him, and his hands are clenched on the steering wheel, his knuckles white.
“I take it you don’t like Mark?” I hedge. I only get a grunt as confirmation.
“Why do I need to stay away from him?” He glances over at me when he comes to a stoplight. “Wait. Why were you even at the restaurant? Did you know I was there?”
Chapter 5
Barrett
Dammit, I should have just waited until their date was over. But something about her is driving me crazy, and letting her be alone with Mark was not going to happen.
“How well do you know him?” I ask, not answering her question but asking one of my own.
She shrugs. “We work together on occasion. He’s based out of the county offices and I’m downtown at City Hall. He comes in sometimes and does inspections for us. I needed my house done, so I asked him for a favor.” She’s silent for a second and I can feel her gaze on me. “Why won’t you answer my questions?”
“Because I don’t want to scare you.”
“Jesus, what did he do?” This time there’s real fear in her voice.
“I’m the middle child with an older sister and a younger sister,” I say, trying to think of a way to ease into this. “My younger sister Steph and I went to high school with Mark. He’s two years younger than me,” I say, as I turn down her street. “He’s the same age as Steph.”
“Did he go out with her?”
“I think he knew while I was around he couldn’t get near her. But as soon as I graduated and went off to college, he took his chance.” I park on the street in front of her house because my truck is too big for the driveway. I don’t get out but unbuckle and turn to face her. “One night Steph called me crying saying that he hurt her. She begged me not to call the cops or tell our parents.”
“Oh god,” Ginny says and puts her hands over her mouth.
“I went and got her and took her to our older sister Lynn’s house. I waited until she fell asleep and then told Lynn to look after her. Then I went and found Mark.”
“What did you do?”
I shake my head and the anger still bubbles inside me. “Nothing. He knew what I’d do to him. His friends called the cops the second I pulled up. I fought them to get to Mark and I was the one taken to jail. Steph wouldn’t press charges because she was afraid he’d come after her. I couldn’t make her do it.”
It was one of the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, but Steph just wanted to forget it ever happened. She ended up graduating a year early to get away from him and then moved out of the state. It fucked with her for a long time, but she’s got a good husband now who would do anything to protect her. They’re raising their kids and she’s put it all behind her. But I’ll never forget.
“I don’t know if he’s done it since then or if he preys on people who won’t turn his ass in. But he’s not a good guy, Genevieve.” I look into her pretty green eyes and see the fear mixed with relief. “I’m sorry, I didn’t want to scare you, but I just needed you to know the truth about who he is. And why you should stay away.”