Dawson's Fall (Welcome to Covendale #5) (4 page)

Her brother glared at her. “Yeah, well I don’t think they got the memo,” he said. “The big one is in Dad’s face.”

She looked—and saw Jonah Dawson looming over her father, with Mark and the younger one, Gage, right behind him.

“I swear to God, I’ll…” Jason stopped himself with effort, then pivoted and strode toward the fight. Aubrey rushed after him, already reaching for her phone.

She only hoped the sheriff’s office was responding a little faster these days, or someone was about to get hurt.

* * * *

Mark wasted no time when he got back to the pool table. “Party’s over. Let’s go.”

“What the—” Gage let out a sharp sigh. “Jonah, I told you to take the stick out of his ass before we left the house.”

“We’re leaving, Gage.” He pointed to the banner. “That’s the Monroes.”

“So what? Last I checked, they don’t own the bar.”

“Shut up,” Jonah said. Then he looked at Mark. “You serious?”

He nodded. “The daughter’s back.”

“Great.” Frowning, Jonah started to gather the pool cues. “All right,” he said. “Time to go, boys.”

“Seriously? I am so not leaving.” Gage folded his arms and leaned on the table. “You guys go if you want to, but I call bullshit. We’ve got every right to be here.”

“Like it or not, you’re coming with us,” Jonah said. “Don’t argue.”

“I can’t believe you two are just going to pick up and leave.”

“
You.
”

The guttural voice was right behind Mark. He turned fast, and found himself facing Roger Monroe himself. At least the man didn’t have a gun on him this time. But he looked ready to take a swing—which somehow seemed just as bad, because it wasn’t like Mark could defend himself. Unless he wanted to start calling a prison cell home.

“You Dawsons have a lot of nerve showing up here.” Monroe’s eyes were wide enough to show white all the way around. “Especially you. Think I’m going to let you anywhere near my daughter, you bastard?” His voice rose until he screamed the last few words.

Suddenly Jonah was between them, staring the older man down. “We don’t want any trouble, Monroe,” he said calmly. “Just take it easy.”

“Get the hell out of here, you bunch of animals.”

Mark grabbed Gage by the arm just as he tensed to lunge. “Don’t do it,” he said in low tones. “Who’s going to end up behind bars if you do? You know it won’t be him.”

“Did you hear what he called us?”

“Yes.” He’d heard it before, and worse, but Gage didn’t know that. Neither of the younger ones knew what happened that night—and he’d never told Jonah why the man came after him in the first place. They’d had other things to deal with.

“We were just leaving.” Jonah’s voice had a cold edge to it. “But right now, you’re in the way.”

Mark recognized the threat in his brother’s tone and knew he wouldn’t hesitate to follow through if Monroe didn’t back off. He also knew the older man wasn’t going to move. So he stepped around Jonah to deal with it.

And walked directly into Jason Monroe’s fist.

“Don’t!” Even as the taste of blood filled his mouth, he reached back and snagged Jonah’s wrist. He couldn’t physically stop his older brother if Jonah really wanted to keep going, but he hoped to make him pause a minute. Just long enough to get out of here. “Gage, I mean it,” he called, knowing how ready he was to hit something. “Outside.
Now.
”

As his brothers and Reese filed past behind him, he caught Jason trying for another blow. He managed to get an arm up and block it. “You really want to do this?” he said tightly. “Because I don’t see your friends around to get in my way this time.”

“Mark, stop it!”

Aubrey’s voice hurt a hell of a lot more than his aching jaw. She came up beside Jason, and he glared at her as he lowered his arm. “You want
me
to stop.”

“I called the sheriff,” she said in trembling tones.

“Of course you did.” He could barely get the words out. “Well, when he gets here, you make sure to send him after the real bad guy,” he said. “You know. The one who didn’t touch any of you.”

He spat blood on the floor, and walked out after his brothers.

Mark didn’t dare breathe until he got outside. If he did, he was going to lose it. He’d never been so furious in his life. It was bad enough this had happened before—Jason attacking, and Aubrey telling
him
to stop.

It was even worse that he’d actually done it. Again.

He headed over to where they’d parked, hands stuffed in his pockets. Jonah was the only one there. He must’ve sent Gage home with Reese to keep him from going back in there, before their hotheaded little brother could get himself arrested. It was a good call.

But Jonah looked like he wasn’t finished fighting, either.

“You okay?” he rumbled when Mark reached him.

“Fine,” he said. “But she called Tanner, so we need to move.”

“Something you want to tell me?”

“No.”

“Mark…I heard what Monroe said.”

“So did the whole damned bar.” He had to physically hold himself back from taking a swing at Jonah. “What are you trying to say?”

Jonah stared at him for a long moment. Finally, he said, “Nothing. Let’s go.”

As Mark got in the car, he thought there wasn’t anywhere he could go that was far enough away from Aubrey Monroe.

Chapter 3

It was almost noon before Aubrey convinced herself to go to the address Mrs. Vanderbright had given her. After last night, she wanted nothing more than to put this town in her rearview mirror forever.

But she had to admit, she’d feel a lot better doing that with fifty grand in her pocket.

At the bar, she’d insisted on talking to the sheriff alone, since she’d been the one to call. Her father and brother weren’t thrilled about that. But she wasn’t going to send the law after Mark—after all, Jason had hit him first. And he didn’t even hit back.

Staying in Covendale would be hell, just knowing Mark was around somewhere. With all the tension between their families, it was going to take several lifetimes to put it behind them. Still, she’d decided to stick to the original plan. Avoid him, do the job, and then get out. She could make a fresh start somewhere else.

She found the place easily enough. The site was at the edge of town, on a gorgeous lot with a wide expanse of lawn and plenty of old trees. They’d already erected the frame, and she could see the house would be incredible. Of course, the front yard wasn’t in the best shape right now, but that happened during construction. Once it was landscaped, it would be perfect.

She parked behind a dark blue sedan at the curb and got out, studying the scene for a moment. A small silver trailer sat near the sidewalk, and there was a folding table with four chairs on the grass next to it. That must be the onsite office. On the whole, the place wasn’t exactly crawling with workers. She could see one figure on a ladder working near the roof, and another way back in the frame.

Maybe they used a skeleton crew on the weekends. It was a fairly hot day, so not many people would want to work outside in this. Even for overtime.

She headed for the trailer, and stopped when a pile of two-by-fours started emerging from behind it. Soon the man carrying them was visible—shirtless and heavily muscled, tanned skin glowing with sweat. He was looking toward the house, and she didn’t want to startle him. So she waited.

He carried the lumber to an oversized wheelbarrow and loaded it in, then grabbed a t-shirt that was draped over one of the handles and mopped the back of his neck. Without turning, he stretched his arms over his head. Aubrey tried not to notice the way his muscles rippled, even though she was practically drooling.

She decided it had been way too long since her last experience with sexual gratification, and she probably needed a cold shower.

Finally, the man turned her way. She actually opened her mouth to say hello—and felt the friendly smile on her face freeze as Mark Dawson’s green eyes drilled into her.

“What the
hell
are you doing here?” He threw the shirt on the ground and stalked toward her, and she backed away fast. His lip was bruised where Jason had hit him, so that wicked sneer he was sporting must’ve hurt. “This is private property,” he said, stopping scant feet from her. “If you’re looking to get some more kicks in, you’ll have to catch me in public.”

“Oh, God,” she said. “You work for the company.”

“Excuse me?”

“The crew. The contractors Mrs. Vanderbright hired,” she stammered. “You work for them.”

“Look, sweetheart. I don’t know what you’ve got to do with Mrs. V., but I don’t work for anybody.” His sneer deepened, and he pointed angrily at the trailer. “I am the goddamned company. And you’re on my job site, so leave.”

Aubrey followed his gesture, and finally noticed the small words stenciled on the front of the trailer.
Dawson Construction.

“No.” She shook her head and took another step back, feeling like she’d just swallowed a mouthful of sludge. This was absolutely not happening. “You can’t be the contractor,” she said. “Mrs. Vanderbright hired a crew. She told me.”

“That would be my brothers,” he said. “
My
crew. So whatever you think you’re doing—”

“She hired me,” Aubrey said. “Last night. I’m an interior designer, and she hired me to work with her…with the crew.”

Mark went very still. “What?”

“I’m supposed to work here.” She tried to swallow, but the rawness in her throat remained. “Until the house is finished.”

“No.”

“Hey, I didn’t know she’d hired you. I didn’t even know you were—I mean, that you had a construction company.” The initial shock was finally wearing off, and she could almost breathe again. “But I already agreed to do this, so I guess we’ll have to figure something out.”

“
No.
” Mark pulled a phone from his jeans pocket and started dialing.

“Um. What are you doing?”

“You are not working with us. Period.” He glared at her as he brought the phone to his ear. “So you might as well leave now. You’re fired.”

Okay, now she was getting a little angry. “You can’t fire me.”

“Watch me.” He turned his back on her. A moment later, he said, “Mrs. V.? Yes, it’s Mark Dawson. I’m fine. Listen, we have a—yes. She’s here.” He pivoted slowly, his jaw clenched hard. “No. We don’t need…I understand that. But the plans are already—”

He fell silent for a long moment. His expression hardened, and then he closed his eyes and put a hand to his forehead. “All right,” he said roughly. “Yes, we’re still on schedule. Right. See you Monday, then.”

Aubrey frowned. “What was that about?”

He shoved the phone in his pocket and whirled on her, eyes blazing. “Quit.”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me. I said quit.”

“
You
quit.”

“Sweetheart, you have no idea what you’re in for.” He moved toward her, but this time she stood her ground. “Maybe I can’t fire you,” he said in the coldest voice she’d ever heard. “But if you stick around, I’m going to make your life so miserable you’ll wish you were never born. So you’d better quit while you can.”

Every ounce of logic and sanity in her agreed that quitting was a really good idea, and she should do that right now and never look back. But this was her first client, and a whole lot of money—and she was getting the distinct impression that Mark Dawson was not just anti-Monroe, but anti-female. The way he kept calling her sweetheart in that twisted, patronizing tone set her teeth on edge.

No way was she going to let him get away with that.

“I’m not quitting,” she said. “I was hired for a job, and I’m going to do it.”

His eyes widened in shock. “You’re serious, aren’t you?” he said.

“Of course I am,” she shot back. “You did just talk to Mrs. V., didn’t you? And she told you she hired me.”

“Yes, but—” He cut himself off with a growl. “You’re really going to stay.”

“What did you think I meant by not quitting?”

“I thought you were screwing with me, or…proving a point, or some crap. All that stuff you privileged people do when you get paid for showing up at noon.” His shoulders fell. “Let me ask you something, sweetheart,” he said. “Are you insane?”

“Stop calling me sweetheart.”

“Whatever,” he ground out. “You’re not just nuts, you’re certifiable. Can you read?”

She snorted. “I’m not going to answer that.”

“Well, read this.” He marched over to the trailer and slapped the wall. “You see what that says? Dawson. And do you know what your name is?”

“Mark—”

“No. That’s my name.” He clenched a fist. “
Your
name is Monroe. And when your precious family finds out their little girl is slumming with the Dawsons—”

“They’re not going to find out.” She said it quickly, before she could even think about it. He’d actually sounded hurt. “I won’t tell them a thing, and I’ll ask Mrs. V. not to mention anything. They’ll never know.”

“Bullshit,” he spat.

“I’m serious.” Still reeling from the pain she’d felt behind his words, she moved toward him with caution. “Mark, I need this job. I’m sure you do, too. Please, let’s be professionals and work this out.” She drew a deep breath and let it out slowly. “And when the job’s done, I’ll leave town. For good.”

His eyes narrowed. “I don’t believe you.”

“I will. I’m getting paid enough to start my own firm, and that’s what I want to do,” she said. “Look…coming back was a mistake for me. I know that now, and I just want to earn my ride out of here. All right?”

“Fine.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Fine what?”

“Fine, stay. As long as you’re really going to leave for good when it’s over.”

“I am.” She managed to relax a little. Maybe she could make it through this, after all. At least he seemed the slightest bit cordial now. “Okay, so what should I do?”

He stared at her until she felt like squirming. Finally, he said, “Follow me.”

She walked behind him as he headed around the trailer to a door on the other side. He opened it and stepped back. “Here’s what you do,” he said. “Get in there…and stay the hell away from me.”