Page 74 of Second Chance Savior

“How about you read my messages from my ex, and I’ll finish making our lunch. Before I lose my willpower and jump you again.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

River

I wantedCharlie to jump me again. More than any damn thing in this world.

But I also had a job to do, and I’d been neglecting it. Protecting her meant finding out exactly what Jud Hale was up to. And determining, once and for all, whether he was working for Stillwater.

Charlie went back to constructing our lunch, while I opened her messages. Hale had sent almost a dozen yesterday, starting before the fundraiser at the botanic gardens. A couple of voicemails too. I had no idea if he’d sent more after Charlie had turned off her phone. But a man showing this much persistence wasn’t likely to stop.

What the hell are you up to, Hale?

“What did he say?” Charlie asked.

I read the messages first. “He wanted you to call him.Reallywanted you to call. Said it was urgent. 911, top priority. But he didn’t give any more specifics than that.” I checked the transcripts on the voicemail the phone had downloaded. Same story.

Then I pressed play on the second message, putting it on speaker.

“Charlotte, I’m serious. Please call me back. Or answer your phone or something. If you’re at the fundraiser, you need to leave. Just trust me. Get out of there and call me back.”

Charlie was leaning against the kitchen counter with a hand over her mouth. “He knew.”

“If he didn’t, it’s quite a coincidence.” But I didn’t believe that. I was convinced that Jud Hale had advance notice of the attack last night. The panic in his voice made that clear. He had known Charlie was in danger.

But he had also sounded terrified for her. He’d warned her to leave. Which suggested he was workingagainstStillwater’s interests. Unless it had been some kind of ruse to draw her out.

“If there’s a safe way for me to call Jud, I could ask what he meant. I can get the info out of him.”

I didn’t like the familiarity her statement implied. Which was ridiculous, because she’d dated the man for a couple of years. Of course they were familiar.

“We’ll consider it.” I kept my tone professional, though everything in me rebelled at the thought of letting Jud Hale near her, even via phone call. “For now, I’ll transfer Jud’s messages and the associated data from your phone over to my laptop and send it to Cerberus.”

I decided to share the info with the Protectors as well via our server. Maybe there were rumors going around Hartley about Jud that could be useful. Never underestimate the small-town gossip network.

Once I’d finished that task, I put away the Faraday cage and the equipment, clearing off the table so we could eat. Charlie brought a couple of plates over. Some kind of chicken salad with red peppers on crackers, and it was surprisingly delicious. Trace’s wife Scarlett had given me a collection of little spice jars for Christmas, and I’d brought them heresince I couldn’t imagine anything else to do with them. Charlie had put the seasonings to good use.

She took a few hungry bites of her lunch, then set it down, turning thoughtful. “I met Jud my first year in the General Assembly. I was representing a district in the Denver Metro. It was a series of lucky events that led to me running for that seat. A friendship I’d developed with the former incumbent while I was working for the nonprofit, and then I was living there and got to know the residents…” She trailed off, waving a hand. “Long story. Anyway, Jud came over and introduced himself. Told me he represented a district near my hometown. He knew the ins and outs of the state government and kind of took me under his wing.”

I frowned. “I bet he did.”

“Not likethat. Not at first. We’d known each other for two years before he asked me out. I said no. He was patient, though. Sent me flowers every Friday for months. He can be a charming guy, and I guess I’m susceptible to that.”

I huffed a laugh. “Charming like me?”

“Actually, Jud is nothing like you at all. Thank goodness.” She pushed her plate back. “Does it bother you to hear about this?”

I saw no point in lying. “Some.”

Jud had been with Charlie in countless ways I hadn’t. So had my brother. I’d been with plenty of other women myself, but they weren’t so prominent in my history. Probably because none of my girlfriends had made it past the three-month mark.

But it made me feel a sliver better that Jud had to woo her for so long. Charlie was a longterm relationship kind of woman. Maybe she’d had casual hookups or flings that I didn’t know about, but I didn’t think so. Charlie didn’t jump into intimacy impulsively.

Except with me.

Though I’d wanted her for eighteen years. If there was an award for patience, did I win?

“Did you fall in love with him?” I asked.

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