Page 14 of First Chance

“I did. I was here a couple of years before he died. I felt like I knew him before I ever met him, though. Loch always talked highly of him before he got out of prison.”

“You and Lochlan were in prison, together?”

He looks at me thoughtfully, probably deciding how much he wants to tell me. “He was my cellmate for two years before he got out. I stayed in a couple more years, but we stayed in contact. He insisted I come work with him here.”

“Why haven’t you left?” He smiles slyly at my question. “I’m sorry, was that rude to ask?”

“No, it’s okay. I get it.” He shrugs. “I’ve got it good here. It’s given me a chance to get back on my feet and then some. Lochlan saved my life, though, and I haven’t had it in me to abandon ship, yet.” He looks somber after answering, staring off into the distance.

“Hayes, get back to fucking work,” Lochlan shouts from the other side of the porch. Hayes just smiles and jumps to his feet dramatically.

“Yeah, yeah. I guess I will. See you later, Jo. Don’t let the mean old bear boss you around,” he whispers loud enough for Lochlan to hear. The bear flips Hayes off as he walks away.

“I came out to get some fresh air. Hayes just happened to walk by,” I explain, even though Lochlan didn’t ask.

“It is a nice day.” He sits down in the rocking chair that Hayes abandoned. He motions, offering for me to sit down, but I wave him off.

“I’ve been sitting all day.”

He nods and continues looking out over the property.

“Hayes doesn’t seem afraid of you like some of the others.”

“They seem afraid of me?” He tilts his head, watching me closely.

“Well, yeah, kind of.”

“Good.” There’s a long pregnant pause. “Are you afraid of me, Jo?”

“Afraid, no. Intimidated, yes,” I answer honestly.

“Good.”

I roll my eyes at his response, and he smirks. “You must not be that intimidated,” he adds.

I don’t know why, but his amusement makes me blush. Ihave to turn away from him so he doesn’t notice. Miraculously, he starts speaking again unprovoked. “Hayes and I go back a long way. He has no reason to be afraid of me.”

“He mentioned that you were cellmates,” I admit cautiously.

“I had been in prison a long time already when he got locked up.” I hold my breath while he continues, urging his admission. “He was young, pissed off. Despite how different our situations were, I completely understood him. He’s the only person here with a violent background. I should have told you that from the beginning, in case you looked up his record, but I trust him.”

“What kind of violence?”

“He beat someone nearly to death.” A small gasp escapes me, but Lochlan continues. “It was a grown man, and he deserved it. He’s never hurt a woman, just like I haven’t.”

There it is.

The elephant in the room since the very first day I came here. Lochlan Dane’s notorious past.

18 years ago he was convicted of First-Degree Forcible Rape.

Chapter Six

Jo

“Ihad already been in prison for almost 8 years when I met Hayes. It took some heart-to-heart after he found out what I was in for to convince him that I was innocent. After a few days in the infirmary for both of us, he decided he could believe me.”

I’d be more concerned except Lochlan seems amused by their history. “And, what about him? Did he try to convince you that he was innocent, too?”

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