Page 76 of Welcome Home, Cowboy
“I’m not.” She stepped inside, but stood close to the door. If things got out of hand, she’d grab the knob and run.
He faced her. “No? You want your job back then? Well, I’ve already replaced you. I had your replacement lined up before you even disappeared.” He seemed to enjoy relaying this information. Looking back, he’d enjoyed hurting her ever since he started using drugs. It was sick.Hewas sick, which made her sad. Once upon a time he’d been a really sweet guy.
“No.” She shook her head again. “I don’t want to work for you, Daren. I came to explain why I left.”
“You did that in your letter.” He folded his oversized arms at his chest. How had she ever found his muscles attractive? “And the truth is I was ready to end things with you anyway. I was going to be the one to do the breaking up,” he told her. His upper lip twitched with a satisfied smile.
“I’m glad you weren’t too upset,” she said.
“Upset?” He laughed. “I was glad. I threw a party after reading that damn note.” His voice was getting loud the way it did when he got angry. Her spine stiffened and she raised her chin. She might’ve left this house in the dark, too afraid to face him, but she wasn’t afraid anymore. She’d moved back to Seaside and was making her way on her own. By her own terms. Daren was wrong. People did appreciate yoga. Lawson appreciated it. And she’d helped a handful of Marines. Now, she was even going to manage a health and wellness center—if she could get Daren to give her a good reference.
“Good, Daren. I’m glad you’re happy. I’m happy, too. I moved back home. I have a job.” Or two. “And I’ve been offered an excellent opportunity.”
His expression was hard as he stared at her. “Why do I care?”
“You probably don’t. But as my former employer I need—”
“Oh. I get it. You need something from me.” His smile broadened on his angular face. “Is that it? You came crawling back here, pretending to be sorry about being the bitch you are so you could get a few nice words from me?” He laughed dryly. “Well, forget that, princess. If someone calls asking about you, I’m going to tell them the truth.”
Her own anger flared now. How dare he talk to her like that? “Which is that I’m the best worker you ever had?” she asked, stepping toward him. “I showed up early and worked late. I’m honest, reliable, and good with customers.”
“Yeah, right. Well, you’re also a bitch.”
Julie stiffened as memories of her life here with Daren scrolled through her mind. Why had she stayed? Why had she let him treat her the way he did? Because she believed him. Because she fell in love with him, and he slowly became someone different. But she’d still loved and trusted him. Not anymore. “I wonder”—she raised a finger to her chin thoughtfully—“how will your faithful customers react when they find out you’ve been doing steroids? That those muscles plastered to your body aren’t from all your hard work like you claim.” She took another step closer to him, very aware that while his hard muscles were a result of pills, they were no less destructive.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“They’d probably cancel their memberships and go to Fitness Universe across town. Heck, you might lose so much business that you have to close your gym.” She tsked, enjoying this a little too much. “All I have to do is call the local news station or, better yet, I can call the police. The news will like the story far better if it includes a mug shot of you, a weasel of a man who sells steroids to clientele under the table.”
Daren’s face had gone sheet white. His upper lip twitched. That’s right. She was no longer his doormat and if he wanted to play dirty, she’d play, too.
“Fine,” he said, shoving his hands on his narrow hips. “Fine. I’ll tell your caller that you’re great, a prized employee. Now get the fuck out of my house. You don’t belong here anymore,” he spat.
And he was right. She didn’t belong here. She belonged in Seaside, with Lawson.
Smiling, and shaking a little bit, she headed toward his front door, and slammed it behind her.
—
Lawson wiped the sweat from his brow and looked at Griffin. “Thanks for helping, man.”
Griffin had stripped down to a white undershirt, showing off his tattooed arms. He glanced back at the window where several women, half of them over seventy, had stood for the last two hours that they’d been working. “Looks like our audience is gone.”
“All but one.” Lawson pointed at Val Hunt. She was innocently lingering by the back door. Caught in the act, she disappeared while Griffin laughed.
“Now if we’re done, I’m going to go back home and shower, then continue with my day,” Griffin said.
“You sure you don’t want to go inside and talk to Val? She’s cute.”
“And she’s the daughter of the preacher at Seaside Chapel. Not my type,” Griffin said.
Lawson nodded. “Run while you can. First Micah. Now I’m crazy about Julie. It’s in the air around here. Watch out.”
Griff’s brow line lowered. “Are you saying that love is in the air?” He shook his head. “Don’t let anyone else hear you talking like that, bro.” He laughed and slapped a hand across Lawson’s back. “Later.”
Lawson looked for Allison on the way out. He wanted to tell her that the job was complete, but she wasn’t at the front desk anymore. Just as well. He was anxious to call Julie and make sure she was okay. Stepping outside, he glanced around the parking lot for Mel before heading toward his truck. The coast was clear. Pressing a button on his phone, he dialed Julie’s number and waited, feeling pangs of excitement and worry duke it out inside his chest until he heard her serene voice.
“Hello?”
