Page 15 of Shattered
"I know."
Eli Jackson scared me.
But not in a dangerous way, it was more like he knew I was hiding something. There was always suspicion in his gaze, and he was the only person in Willow Creek who hadn't attempted to make me feel at home. He'd also made no secret of the fact that he didn't trust me.
When Chase had just hired me, Eli had come charging in asking his brother how he could hire some random stranger without knowing anything about them or doing a background check. Sheriff Jackson had said that I could be a dangerous psychopath for all they knew. He'd said all of that and more right in front of me.
"Well, at least he is soft on the eyes. Like all the Jackson men." Lizzy picked up my discarded food and began picking at it. "Maybe there's something in that creek at their parents' farm, because honestly, how the hell can three men be that good looking?"
Nodding my head, I hummed in agreement. Lizzy wasn't wrong; all three men were esthetically blessed. With their tall and lean bodies, dark eyes and even darker hair, they stole attention wherever they went. But Logan, he stole the whole damn show. Where his brothers were more conservative, Logan was loud. He wasn't ashamed to show off his colorful ink, every strand of hair didn't need to be in place, and his shirt didn't have to be tucked in all the time.
I actually envied his rebellious nature. The trouble I'd landed in when I'd first met Drew wasn't because I was being defiant, it had been because I was hungry and the owner of the restaurant had had a stone in place of a heart. When my parents died, I jumped from foster home to foster home, but none of them wanted a teenager.
I was hurting because I'd lost my family and wasn't given the time to deal with my feelings. So yeah, I might have been brooding a bit, but I never caused anyone any trouble, and still, no one had been willing to keep me. Running away possibly wasn't the smartest thing to do, but I couldn't take feeling unwanted.
"Earth to Harper."
Hearing my name, I blinked a couple of times and when my eyes regained focus, I saw Lizzy snapping her fingers in front of my face.
"Where did you just go?"
"Nowhere," As much as I cared for Lizzy I didn't want her knowing about my past, I didn't want anyone to know. So, I did what I did best: deflected. "Well? Who are you sleeping with?"
Lizzy smiled a smile that had me thinking I wasn't going to like what was about to come out of her mouth. "I'll tell you, but you have to do something for me first."
I knew what she was going to say, yet, I still asked, "What?"
"Take one night off from your life. Go out with Logan or better yet, stay in with him. Let him blow your mind. It'll be good for you."
I felt the irritation rush through my veins. "Let it go," I bit out.
Lizzy looked like she was about to argue, but the chiming bell saved me from that. I'd just made a friend, and I didn't want to fight with her, but if she kept pushing this, we were definitely going to have words.
Chase looked about as stormy as I felt, stalking through the office with a deep frown marring his forehead.
"I'd better get going," this coming from Lizzy next to me. In the time it took me to look at her, Chase had disappeared down the hall and closed himself off in his office.
"Okay," I said to Lizzy. "Thanks for lunch."
"No problem," Lizzy stood and squeezed my arm. "I'll pick you and Flynn up later?"
"Please."
Once I was alone again, I heaved out a sigh. Maybe I was being absolutely ridiculous. If everyone in this town was right about Logan, he would be open to nothing more than meaningless sex. The thing was, I didn't think I could keep it meaningless. These things that he made me feel scared me. And If I was to share my body with him, who knew what it'd do to me.
The one thing I knew for sure was that I didn't want to find out.
The sound of the phone ringing prevented me from not heading too far into my own mind. Maybe for the best. Reaching to my right, I grabbed the receiver and pressed it against my ear.
"WC Veterinary Clinic, how can I help?"
"Hey, sugar."
Straight away my stupid heart kick-started at the sound of his voice and his ridiculous endearment. For the life of me, I didn't know why the man called me that, I didn't want to ask either.
"You still there?"
"Yes, I'm here. Are you looking for Chase?"
