Page 8 of Coming Home to You
As soon as I hit the dock, the group of guys stop what they’re doing and take me in.I’m used to it by now.I added the fishing charter portion of The Rockport Beach Inn when my dad died to bring in some extra cash.It took off and has been a great source of income, even if it sometimes means drunken guys ogle me.
“Hi, boys,” I say sweetly as I approach.I extend my hand to the first guy.“I’m Kelsey Walters, the owner of The Rockport Beach Inn.I just wanted to introduce myself and wish you a great day out on the water.”
I shake each one of their hands, and when I come to the last guy, he squeezes my hand a little harder and a jolt runs up my arm.Our eyes meet and he winks at me.
“And you are?”I ask.
“I’m Alex, but my friends call me Tucker.”As he says this he steps a little closer with a confident smile on his face.
“Oh really?”I say as my hand brushes along his well-defined arm.
“Yeah, but you can call me whatever you want.”
“How about you call me when you’re done here?”I ask and Alex nods.He reaches over and tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear.My skin warms up where his fingers just touched and I close the distance between us.My breasts are nearly touching his arm and I feel my face flush with heat as his hand moves to my hip.Alex leans in and places a quick kiss on my cheek.
“Sounds good.I’ll see you later,” he says before climbing aboard the boat with his buddies.
I start back towards the inn and I know every one of them is checking out my ass as I walk away.I don’t know what has gotten into me, but that dream has really boosted my need to get laid.
The day goes by in a blink and by the time night falls, I haven’t heard a word from Alex.Part of me is relieved because I have no interest in starting a relationship with a tourist.Jason was a tourist and look how well that worked out.I think my morning has messed with my head and made me crave just being close to someone.I miss that feeling, but I know deep down that no one can replace Beck.These other guys are just Band-Aids.
As I’m leaving the inn I get a text from Erin telling me she’s running late, but will be at my house in an hour.I’m relieved by her latency, since I haven’t had a moment to sit down.I arrive home, shower, put the lasagna in the oven and open a bottle of red wine before finally sitting down on the couch.Just as my ass hits the couch, Bella begins to whine at my feet, looking up at me with those adorable soulful eyes.
“You just went out,” I complain, but she still pushes me with her nose towards the back door.Reluctantly, I get up and open the back door as she darts out into the yard chasing a squirrel that seems to have been taunting her for the last week.Laughing at the simplicity of her and her entertainment, I trudge back into the living room.Hitting the couch once again, I exhale loudly hoping for a few minutes of quiet.I grab a magazine off the end table and begin catching up on all the celebrity gossip I missed over the last week.
I must have dozed off, because the next thing I know someone is knocking on my door.I roll my eyes and curse under my breath.
“Use your key, Erin!”I shout from my couch.She knocks again, harder this time.“Damn it, you lazy pain in the ass!”
I stomp over to the door making it extra loud so she realizes how annoyed I am with her.I swing open the door and flippantly greet her, but it’s not Erin.
I don’t even have an opportunity to scream or run before his hands are around my neck.Jason shoves me up against the wall as his hands constrict my breathing, squeezing tighter until I feel myself grow lightheaded.
For some reason, my thoughts immediately go to Beck.I remember Googling him this morning, seeing pictures of him, reading articles and finding out he was recently promoted to detective.He looked good in a suit—so handsome and professional and incredibly sexy.I was proud of him even if I can’t seem to forget that he left me.In this moment, I wonder if he’d be able to protect me from all of this.If I could have just given in and moved to Boston with him, none of this would be happening.
“You fucking whore!”he shouts and his grip loosens slightly.I suck in a ragged breath before he realizes he’s letting up.“I saw you with that guy on the dock today.How dare you press your fucking tits against him and flirt with him when you belong to me.You.Are.Mine,” he growls.
I have no idea how I’m going to get away from him.Bella’s outside and my fear is taking over, making me panic, making me think he just might kill me this time.
Tears begin streaming down my cheeks and my body goes lax.I can hear my heartbeat pulsing in my ears, beating hard and loud, but cutting through it is Erin’s harsh voice.
“Let go of her, you motherfucker.”Her voice is completely controlled and firm, but it does nothing to shake Jason’s confidence.I catch her eyes and she flashes me the handgun she carries with her everywhere she goes.Pressing the gun to the back of his head, she says, “I have a gun, dickhead, and I’m from the south.I know how to use it.”
Slowly Jason releases his hands from my neck and backs away from Erin and her shiny little pistol.His hands go up in a defensive position, but his repulsive smile still remains.How did I ever get involved with him in the first place?
Just as quickly as he arrived, he’s gone.And once again, I’m left reeling.I collapse in a heap with my head in my hands.Erin falls to her knees next to me, pulling me into her arms as I cry uncontrollably.
“I’m calling Finn,” she whispers and I nod my head.
Only minutes later, Finn and a few deputies have assembled outside my house and they take statements from Erin and me as they begin to search the area for Jason.The other officers leave with direct orders from Finn to find Jason and bring him into the station.
Finn lags behind following Erin and me into the house as I let Bella in from the backyard.She growls at Finn but once she realizes who it is, she sits neatly at my feet.
“Where was Cujo when all this was going down?”Finn asks, his tone condescending.
“Stop it!This isn’t her fault,” I retort back sharply.
“No, you’re right.You’re the one who got involved with this prick.What the hell were you thinking, Kelsey?”
