Page 21 of Trick or Trouble
Doug turned a few shades of red.“She can’t get her stuff without me being there to make sure she doesn’t steal anything,” he blustered.
Logan wanted to punch the man.
“All I have there is my clothes and personal items,” Darcy replied, finally glaring at Doug.“I never moved in.Guess that was a good thing.”
“You sure you don’t want to press charges?You’re going to have a nasty bruise there, maybe even a black eye,” Officer Benedictine pointed out.
“I didn’t hit her,” Doug protested.“I would never intentionally hurt Darcy.I love her.”
Darcy eyed Doug for a few seconds, then shook her head.“No, he’s right, he didn’t intend to hurt me.He’s never hit me or been violent towards me, and we’ve been dating for several months.I won’t hold a grudge against him for this.”She briefly touched her forehead, her trembling fingers coming away with blood on them.
“He still shouldn’t have forced his way in here,” Benedictine insisted.“You are well within your rights to have him thrown in jail.Maybe it will cool him off.”
Darcy appealed to Doug.“Will you leave me alone now, Doug?I told you we are over, and I know you didn’t intend to hurt me.However, I am bleeding because of you.Can you let it go at that and leave me alone?”
All the bluster seemed to hiss out of Doug like a pricked balloon.Disappointment hung on him like a death cloak.“Are you sure, Darcy?I’m sorry, I didn’t intend to hurt you, and I didn’t mean what I said about stealing.And I’m also sorry I didn’t come to pick you up last night.”He stepped forward and held his palms up in a pleading manner.Can we try again?I promise to do better next time,” he begged.“I do want to marry you; I thought we had an understanding.”
Logan held his breath.This was where women usually gave in and went back to their abusive partners.He caught Benedictine’s eye over Darcy’s head.He could see that same knowledge in his eyes as well.
Darcy stood her ground and firmly shook her head.“No, Doug.I should have broken it off a long time ago.I knew we weren’t suited for the long haul, not with the way you felt about my job.But that’s on me.I’ve been unhappy with our situation for a long time, and I’ve just put off the final break-up.I’m sure there’s someone out there for you, it just isn’t me,” she finished quietly.“All I want is to get my stuff.”
Benedictine coughed slightly, clearly surprised.“Well...if you want your things, can we escort you both to his apartment after the medic checks you, and get this over with?”
Darcy frowned.“You called an ambulance?I’m not going to the hospital in an ambulance.”
“You don’t have to go in the ambulance, I’ll take you if the medic says you need to go,” Logan said.“But you do need to be checked out; that’s a nasty lump on your head.How are you feeling?Any dizziness or pain?”
“It’s sore and throbbing, but I don’t feel dizzy.”
He nodded.“It looks like your eyes are dilating properly, but there is always a risk of concussion.Better to be cleared by the medic, then you can go get your stuff.”
Darcy looked up at him.“You’ll come with me?”
Logan’s heart swelled.“Of course I’ll come with you.”He’d been planning on it anyway, but she’d surprised him with her request.
“Okay, I can do that.”
Officer Benedictine turned to Doug with a stern demeanor.“I need to remind you that charges can be pressed against you for assault, even without Darcy’s permission, if we choose to do so.Officer Ralston here will take pictures of Darcy’s forehead to go in the files along with this call.Any further actions against her today or in the future will result in your imprisonment.Is that clear?”
Doug’s face went pale.“Yes...yes...I understand.”
“You’re lucky, you know,” he went on.“Your ex-girlfriend here is a class act.Most people are not above being vengeful, and with all this evidence, she could have made your life miserable.I highly suggest you follow her lead and let her go without recriminations in the future.”
Doug’s face flushed red, and then he sighed.“Okay, I understand.”
Logan didn’t know if Doug would be able to let Darcy go that easily, but the officer was correct; Darcy was a class act.She was kind and sensitive towards others' needs, but hadn’t received the same consideration back—no wonder she’d become so untrusting and prickly.
Despite her take-no-prisoners attitude, he was sure Darcy had a submissive nature.She’d just been trusting her heart with the wrong men.Hopefully, she would learn to trust him, but given his occupation, it might take a little longer for the relationship to develop.However, he was determined to win her trust, no matter how long it took.
***
DARCY TOOK ONE BITEof the chicken cacciatore that Logan had set in front of her and knew she had met her match.The heavenly smells in Holly’s kitchen had her stomach rumbling long before dinner was ready.The smell of garlic and buttery toasted French bread, combined with the flavorful herbs and veggies that surrounded the tender chicken breasts, was to die for.
Her mother was going to love him.She hadn’t liked Conrad, or any of her other shorter relationships, including Doug, she reflected.
“Oh...this is so good,” she moaned.“Do you have Italian blood?”
Logan grinned at her over his own plate.“I don’t think so, but then I don’t really know for sure.I just know what I like.”
