Page 27 of Bourbon and Lies

If I didn’t see the police cruiser parked down the block, I probably would have turned back inside, but I’m banking on the fact that there’s an officer just a scream away.

So I don’t hold back or cower. I lift my chin and square my shoulders. “Does this actually work for you? The sexual predatorrapist vibe? Because I’m fascinated to hear about your success rate.” I hold up a finger. “Forced customers don't count.”

A bark of laughter sounds from behind me. “Waz, if it wasn’t obvious by now, she’s out of your league,” Hadley says, grabbing my hand and pulling us toward her car just a few feet down from where we are.

His smile isn’t one that greets an old friend, rather one laced with annoyance. “Hadley, you need a reminder that we used to play together?”

She mimics the sound of throwing up. “We never played, Waz. You tried to fuck me, and we both know how that ended.” She tilts her head to the side. A nonverbal standoff that reads:keep talking, fucker.Let’s see who walks away with their ego intact.

His mouth kicks up like he’s got something funny to say, looking between the two of us. “You playing for the other team now?”

“Always been on the girls’ team, Waz.”

He ignores her. “Your daddy was looking for you today,” he says while his friend just quietly stands next to him, observing all of it. I can’t decide who is more of the stereotypical creep.

“Such a good guard dog. I’ll be sure he knows you were looking out. And verbally assaulting women outside of my business.” And with that, she slams the car door shut.

The engine roars to life, and she peels out of the parking lot. I’m not totally sure if it’s to make a point or if that’s just how she drives.

“While I love how you told him to fuck off, he’s dangerous, Laney.”

I rest my head back. “An ex?”

“He wishes.” She rolls down the windows and the warm air whips, so she has to yell over the sound. “My dad’s got a bunchof guys working for him. Waz handles a good portion of the business. He’s a shit-stirrer. Plain and simple.”

I pick at the cuticles of my nails, looking over at her driving like she doesn’t believe in brakes. “Thanks for the rescue.”

She smiles, flicking a glance at me from across the front seat. “Laney, you didn’t need any rescuing. I wish I could have caught everything you said, because there is nothing more beautiful than watching a guy like that get verbally spanked.”

It’s another time in just a few days when I feel strong. Less like a people-pleaser or someone to fall in line and more like someone I could start respecting again.

Chapter 14

Grant

My leg gets warmer,wetter. My hand holding her back is soaked in black. Blood gushes out so heavily that it doesn’t have time to turn red. “No. No. No.”

I jolt awake in my hammock. I must have dozed off just for a few minutes because the firepit still roars in front of me.

With a heavy breath, I drag my hands through my hair. I don’t have many dreams anymore about that night. Rarely are they full-on recollections, but sometimes, like just now, I’ll get a small reminder of what I lost. Fiona had bled out with an almost perfect incision that nicked her carotid artery. It seemed too clean for her killer, who was chock full of methamphetamines, to pull off. Between that and the torn-up skin along her side, it was meticulous.

When I look over, Julep is sprawled out on her patch of grass, belly up, tongue out. I let my attention linger on the guest cottage. The lights aren’t on, but someone’s living there now. Memories from that night pop up whenever I start to think aboutmoving my life forward. Maybe it’s my punishment for not being able to get to her in time. I had failed someone I loved; there was no do-over nor apology. I didn’t get there, and I couldn’t fix it. Early on, I needed therapy and to learn some coping tactics. Now, my therapy is my morning rides and making bourbon.

I didn’t want to factor in anything else. Anyone else.

When I saw Laney last, I couldn’t stay quiet in the stables any longer. I watched her explore the place soaking wet, her shirt molded to her skin. I was just fine minding my own business as she hummed down the main corridor. Until the crack of lightning. The way she screamed made the horses even more uneasy than the weather did.

And then I was beside her, my feet taking me there on their own, the urge to help her overwhelming. Being so close, sharing a vulnerable moment with her, I was seconds away from kissing her. She was having a panic attack one minute, and the next, I’m staring at her like a fucking creep.

The sound of Hadley’s obnoxious Camaro roars up our otherwise private road. I still don’t know how she has a license. She has one speed—too fast. From the back of my yard, I have an unwanted view of Laney shuffling out of her car and dancing up the front steps. I should go inside.

But I’m frozen in place. My new neighbor is impossible to ignore. Especially in a little black dress that might as well be categorized as body paint. I scrub my hand over my face.What is it about her?My dick is slapping me in the leg with the obvious answer.

After the stables, I felt too much. I talked myself down from plenty of panic attacks over the years. I didn’t care what she was doing there, or who she was in that moment, I didn’t want to see her scared or watch tears pool in those pretty eyes. I let her see me for a minute. Touched her skin and held her hand long enough to make sure she was okay. Then I said too much.

Laney waves at Hadley from the porch and then searches her bag for keys. She fumbles for a good few minutes before her head tilts back and she starts laughing. Throwing up her middle fingers high in the air, she says into the sky, “Fuck you, universe. Seriously. Fuck. You.”

Thathas me smiling. “Lock yourself out?” I shout from my hammock.

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