Back To Me (20 page)

25

Heather

              Billy’s mind was made up and I knew there was no changing it.
He was so stubborn!
He wouldn’t give an inch, he didn’t know the meaning of compromise, and reasoning with him was out of the question.

             
I knew it!
I knew he’d been keeping something from me. He thought I’d been asleep, and I had been for a short time, but I had awakened when he started squeezing the life out of me. I also knew he hadn’t slept. He wasn’t fooling anyone, but at least when I asked him, he dropped the charade. That was something, I supposed.

             
Tom.
There was always something about the man that I didn’t like. He’d stared at me, like he was looking
through
me. He was so intimidating, making it apparent he didn’t feel that I belonged at Billy’s bedside. He must have been relieved when I left that day and never came back. Now to find out there might be a reason to question his motives sent shivers down my spine. I knew what the agency men were capable of. They were well educated and they were above the law, and some of them were even trained assassins. The more I thought about it, the more I feared Tom; even more so than Raul.

              “Angel, please talk to me,” Billy whispered through the guest bedroom door.

              “There’s nothing to talk about,” I replied. “Your mind’s made up, right?”

              Billy didn’t wait for me to let him in and I hadn’t thought to lock the door. The next thing I knew he was barging in. Well, I guess it is
his house
.

              “There’s lots to talk about,” he huffed. “Like what do you think you’re doing?”

              “What do you mean?”

              “What. Do. You. Think. You’re. Doing?” Billy enunciated each word.

              “I’m staying in the guest room,” I replied, defiantly.

              “No, you’re not,” he argued. “You’re staying with me, in my bed, just like we’ve been doing for the past few days. You’re going to quit being mad over something I haven’t even done. No one’s leaving you, and it might not ever even come to that.
But
,” he stressed, “if it ever does, don’t think for one second that I will hesitate if it means saving you. You got it?”

              I wanted so badly to argue with him, but Billy had now moved closer,
much closer
, and his lips were right in line with mine as he spoke. His eyes bore into my soul, captivating me and rendering me speechless. He had a way of doing that and he knew it.
Damn him!

              “Good. Glad we cleared that up. Now, we need to go the store. Get dressed.” He slapped me on the ass and left the room.
What the hell just happened?

26

Billy

              I knew Heather was scared; mad at my antics and disappointed that I’d lied to her. But mostly I knew she was disappointed in me; admitting that I’d go back in even though I’d sworn that I was out for good. But how in the hell could she expect me to sit on the sidelines and do nothing when her very life was in danger? It just wasn’t going to happen. And she could be stubborn all she wanted. She could throw a tantrum, or rant and rave, but it wasn’t going to change my mind.
No way in hell
.

              I used our brief time apart to reach out to Blake. Heather was out of ear shot, temporarily, and I had to take advantage of that. I had promised not to lie to her and I wouldn’t, but I had to know more before I could go to her.

              “What about Tom?” I asked, skipping over the pleasantries.

              Blake let out a huff. “Shit, man! You’re gonna get my ass killed!”

              “You’ll live,” I deadpanned. “Now on to my reason for calling. What’s really going on, Blake? And don’t bullshit me. I don’t have time for that!”

              “Can you meet me tomorrow at noon? Our usual place? Come alone,” he ordered.

              “Yeah, I’ll be there and you’d better have some answers!” I disconnected the call and then quickly regained control of my breathing. Heather didn’t need to see me upset and I didn’t want to be. I wanted to be able to spend time
with her
, and not let the gloomy reality that hung in the air get the better of us.

              I’d given Heather a good hour before finding her in her room, still reeling from our argument earlier. No doubt I affected her physically, and I knew how to end this once and for all. Seduction always did the trick, and I certainly wasn’t above it.

              I moved in closer, bending my knees so that we were eye level and our lips were almost touching. My warm breath hit her skin and I felt her shutter beneath my touch.
I had her
, hook, line and sinker.

              “You’re staying with me, in my bed, just like we’ve been doing for the past few days. You’re going to quit being mad over something I haven’t even done. No one’s leaving you, and it might not ever even come to that.”

              My voice was firm, but barely above a whisper. Calm, cool, and collected I delivered my words in such a way that she couldn’t possibly take them as an order. We all knew how well that had worked out.
No.
Heather handled things better if she thought they were her idea.

              After slapping her on the ass I left, high-fiving myself all the way back to my room. I wasn’t proud that I’d once again manipulated her into getting my way.
Oh no
. That had nothing to do with it. It was because of her reaction. The way her lips parted, silently begging me to kiss her. Our attraction for one another was inevitable and I was thrilled.
Soon
. Soon we’d be together, and there’d be nothing Raul, or Tom, or anyone else could do to tear us apart.

              I hadn’t yet mentioned my meeting with Blake tomorrow. He said to come alone and that couldn’t be good. He must know more than he’d let on in our previous conversations, and apparently I’d been justified in worrying last night.

              I had to find Heather some place to go that would be safe because there was no way in hell she was staying here at the house by herself. Especially after last night. I had an idea, but Heather was probably going to kill me for even having the thought.

              I dialed the number and waited, drumming my fingers on the dresser. I was a bundle of nerves, knowing I was probably about to get an ass-chewing from the other end of the line as well.

              “What is it, Billy? Thought you made yourself clear last night?”

              “Lauren, please don’t be that way. You know what you did was wrong on so many levels. Did I treat you that way when you came to town, dragging a shitload of trouble with you? Did any of us hold it against you?”

              She knew I was right, and I wasn’t about to take any lip disputing the facts. I’d bent over backwards to help her. We all had, and I didn’t appreciate her not extending the same courtesy to Heather. Lauren had never been as unkind as she was last night, and it was throwing me for a loop.

              “No, Billy. You’re right,” she relented. “I just don’t want you to get hurt, that’s all.”

              I chuckled. “That’s funny, Lauren, because the only person hurting me right now is you.”

              “I’m sorry, Billy. You know I’d never hurt you on purpose; not in a million years. What can I do to make it up to you?”

             
Yes!
“Actually that’s why I’m calling. You busy tomorrow?”

              “Um, no. I don’t think so. Nothing that can’t wait, anyways. What’s up?”

              “I’ve got somewhere to be at noon, but I don’t want to take Heather. Could you maybe call her up and invite her for lunch? Maybe use the excuse to mend fences, or something?”

              Lauren hesitated. “Are you going after this Raul guy, Billy? Because if you are then the answers a big, fat
no!
I won’t be a part of that and I won’t lie to Heather for you. No matter how I may feel about her, she deserves the truth!”

              “I know. I know,” I conceded. “And
no
, I’m not going after Raul, but I am meeting with Blake. I need to get the low-down before I tell Heather anything else. She’s already so worried and scared, and I don’t want to alarm her if there’s no cause. So, will you do it? For me,
please
?” I begged.

              “Fine! I’ll do it,” Lauren relented. “I’ll call her later this evening. Text me her number.”

              “You’re the best!” I exclaimed.

              “Yeah, yeah,” she deadpanned.

              “Is there something wrong, Lauren?” I just had to ask. Lauren didn’t act like herself, and it seemed to be more than just the situation with Heather.

              “I’m fine, Billy. Really,” she assured me.

              “If you’re sure….” I didn’t believe her one bit, but she’d tell me if and when she was ready. Besides, I had my own worries to deal with at the present.

              “I’m sure. I gotta go. I’ll call Heather tonight,” she promised.

              “Okay, bye,” I hung up and tossed my phone on the bed.

              “Who was that?” Heather startled me.

              “Um….that was Lauren,” I answered, honestly.

              “Everything alright?”

              “Yeah, angel. Everything’s fine,” I shrugged. “She wants to invite you to lunch tomorrow.”

              “Oh? Why exactly would she want to invite me to lunch? What’s changed in the last twenty-four hours to make her feel differently towards me?”

              Heather waited for my answer, and Lord knows I didn’t want to give it to her, but I was busted, and I had to come clean.

              “I’ve got to meet Blake at noon tomorrow and he said to come alone. I called Lauren to see if she might keep you company while I’m gone.” I squeezed my eyelids shut, waiting for the wrath that was sure to come.

              When the silence continued, I peeked. Heather was staring out the window, pretending to be interested in the scenery, but I knew better. I’d betrayed her…
again.
I went behind her back and not only that, I’d gone to Lauren
before
her. I’d screwed up big time and I knew it.

              “Angel, it’s safer for you. That’s all I was thinking. I don’t want you here by yourself and Lauren is the only option I have!” I explained.

              “So you called Lauren? A woman who obviously despises me, because my being here doesn’t fit in with your plans? You want her to babysit me?”

              “Well, not babysit really, but just so you’re not alone. C’mon,” I pleaded, “it won’t be that bad. You might even enjoy yourself!” I tried to play it up, but it wasn’t working.

              “I think I’d be safer staying by myself than with Lauren, Billy. I mean, what can really happen to me here? In the light of day? No one is stupid enough to come at me in broad daylight!”

              She had a point. Raul was more likely to strike in the dark, but it wasn’t up for discussion.

              “Heather, it’s taken care of. Lauren will come pick you up. You can go to lunch, go shopping….”

              “No! You wait just a damn minute, Willis! You don’t get to make decisions for me, nor do you get to push me around! Either I’m going with you,
or
I’m staying here. That’s the
only
thing you get to decide!”

             
Well, hell. That hadn’t gone like I planned
.

              “Angel, please try to see my side. I have to go meet with Blake. If I didn’t, I’d be with you.
I’d rather be with you!
But I need to meet him; to find out everything he knows. If our suspicions are right, we need to know what’s coming at us from every angle. It’s too dangerous to discuss any of this over the phone, and he’s risking his life just by helping us!”

              “Where are you meeting him?” Heather questioned.

              “There’s a little abandoned café about an hour from here. It’s where we would meet up sometimes after I came back to Montana. It’s off the beaten path, a little hole in the wall. It’ll be safe.”

              “If it’s so safe,” she snapped, “then why can’t I go? I have just as much at stake as anyone else involved. Why shouldn’t I be the one to meet with Blake?”

              I chuckled at the absurdity.
Had she lost her ever-lovin’ mind
?! “I don’t think so, angel.”

              “You sexist pig!” she screamed. “You think because I’m a female I’m not tough? I’ve got news for you, Billy. I
am
tough! I’ve had to be! And I am capable of more than padding around barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen!”

             
Whoa!! What the hell?
The visual of her barefoot and pregnant in our kitchen was like a knife to my heart. She didn’t mean to let it slip, but it hurt just the same.

              “I know you’re tough, angel. You’re the toughest woman I know. You’re also the most important and most special, and I can’t chance something going wrong.” I brushed the hair from her face before running my hands up and down her bare arms.

              I leaned forward, lightly placing a kiss on her forehead. “You want to compromise? How about this? You can’t go with me, but you can stay here
if
you promise to text me
every fifteen minutes
that you’re alright.”

              “I promise,” she sniffled.

              “I mean it, angel.
Every. Fifteen. Minutes
. If you don’t, I’ll think something’s wrong and I’ll speed home, worrying that something has happened to you.”

              “I promise, Billy. Every fifteen minutes, just please, I don’t think I can spend the day with Lauren. I’m sorry if you’re disappointed in me.” Heather hung her head and sat on the edge of the bed.

              “I’m not disappointed in you. I
never
could feel that way towards you, angel. I understand how you feel and I don’t blame you one bit. But I hope with time you’ll grow to love Lauren. I think the two of you could become great friends.”

              Now it was Heather’s time to chuckle, which she did so loudly and for a long time.

              “Friends? Me and Lauren?” she chortled. “She
hates
me Billy. You saw how she reacted to me last night. She was the ring-leader of the whole thing!”

              “I know, angel, but….”

              “No, Billy. I’ll tolerate her for your sake. I’ll be nice and cordial so that you aren’t caught in the middle. But I’m telling you now, I’m never going to be anything to Lauren but dirt on the bottom of her shoe.”

              I frowned wondering if Heather might be right. I hated for it to go down like that, but I was hopeful that with time, both of them might change their opinion of the other.

              “Ok, angel,” I said, holding up my hands in surrender. “I’m not gonna push it anymore.”

              “Thank you. Now, we need to go get some food.”

              I agreed and we loaded up in the truck, heading to the only store in town. I dreaded running into Lila, knowing like everyone else that she was a trouble-maker. She’d tried really hard, but without success, to come between Luke and Lauren. After they married she’d left town and we hoped that was the last we would ever see of her. But she’d turned up a few months later, acting as if nothing had happened, and soon had her old job back at the grocery store.