Page 56 of Forbidden Secrets
She told him what happened and felt herself getting steamed all over again.“So now I have a meeting with the principal tomorrow afternoon.”
“Will the kid and his parent be there?”
She shook her head.“I asked for that, but maybe they think I’ll go off on the boy because the secretary said that’s not happening.I don’t even know if they’ll talk to his parents.They should because he needs therapy.”
Pancake returned, looking unhappy at not finding her bff.She commando crawled into the space between the loveseat and the coffee table before settling herself with a sigh.Melanie reached down to give the dog a good rub and Pancake stretched under her touch.“Hey there, Pancake, make yourself comfortable.”
“She likes it here.”He drummed his fingers on his knee.“You know the kid’s last name?I’ll find the parents and have a chat with them.”
“Really?You’d do that?Is that legal?”
“Yeah, really, and yes, it’s legal.”
“Wow, okay, but no, thank you.I’ll get Liam’s last name tomorrow, but I want to give the school a chance to deal with him.”Addy was lucky to have Gage solidly in her camp.
“Let me know if you change your mind.”
The quiet stretched between them, not uncomfortable, but…waiting.
She wondered what had brought him over and if he was thinking about kissing her because she really liked kissing him, and in that moment, it was all she could think about.His gaze snagged hers and her cheeks warmed.
Her phone chimed, breaking the moment.A glance at the screen had her groaning.“It’s Chase again.It’s the second time he’s texted this evening.”
“He bothering you?He’s one of the reasons I came over.What does he want?”
She set her mug on the coffee table.“He’s not bothering me.Tonight’s the first I’ve heard from him since that night at Easy Money and it’s been over a week.”She tapped the screen and gave an incredulous laugh when she read the messages.“Get this, in the first text he says he had a nice time when we got together.In the second he’s inviting me to his house so he can cook for me.”
“Oh hell no.”
Melanie tapped her lip with her forefinger.“I can’t see why he thought our evening was so great, but I want to talk with him again.That’ll be easier if we’re somewhere he feels comfortable.”
“Bad idea, Mel.He acted defensive when you brought up the night you were assaulted.That’s a signal he could be hiding something.”
“Which is all the more reason for me to try again.Maybe he has a suspicion about who attacked me.”
“Or maybe he’s the attacker.Not happening, sweetheart.”
She narrowed her eyes.“Don’t ‘sweetheart’ me, Gage Landry.I’m not reckless or careless.I agree going to Chase’s house isn’t smart.I don’t want to be alone with him.Plus, cooking for me smacks too much of romance and I’m not interested in him that way.”
“Damn straight you’re not,” he growled.
“I’ll suggest we meet for coffee at the bakery,” she decided, ignoring his comment.“It’s a comfortable space and it’ll give me another chance to learn what he knows.”Her gaze locked on his.“Why do you two dislike each other so much?”
“Besides him being a pretentious dick, Shane and I intervened when he hit his wife.They’d been out to dinner at Easy Money.Asshole was drunk.”
“He hit her?In public?”
“Yeah, and that’s why I consider him the most likely suspect from your list.”His eyes glittered with intensity.“You’re right not to trust him.”
“Is this what you came to tell me?You could have texted me.”
He gave a humorless laugh.“There’s not much I’ll put in a text.Bradford reacted strongly when you brought up the assault.He mostly held it in, but he was angry.I want you safe and that means being careful in your dealings with him.”
“Okay.”She couldn’t argue with his logic.Her thumbs flew across her phone screen as she typed out a response.She held it up and leaned toward Gage, angling the phone so he could see the screen.“See?I suggested we meet at Three Sisters Bakery at one on Friday so we can talk.It shouldn’t be crowded then.Hopefully, he can take a late lunch.”He nodded and she hit send.
“Someone from our group should be there.Not with you, but at a table where they can keep an eye on things,” Gage said.“Bradford and I irritate the hell out of each other so it’s better if it’s not me.”
“What did he mean about you playing ranch hand?”
