Page 8 of Bed of Thorns

“Hey, Sheila,” he said.

“Hi, Bill.” The sound of her voice alone indicated she’d fallen for his load of crap. I’d yet to burst her bubble, but I had every intention of doing so before she was caught in his lure.

“That’s William,” he muttered. “Hiya, Mercedes. I thought you might like to grab a glass of wine. I just happen to be free tonight.”

I glared into his eyes. He had a way of making his life sound so much more important than anyone else’s. I was finished with playing nice with him. I didn’t give a shit that my mother’s boyfriend and his father were good buddies. I tossed my purse into my car and slammed the door, moving directly in front of him. “I’m going to say this as nicely as it’s possible for me to say, Bill darling.” I knew how much he loathed being called Bill. “I have no intention of ever going on another date with you. Do you hear me this time? As in ever. Did I make myself clear enough this time, or do I need to hire a pilot to write it in the sky?”

He wasn’t the kind of man to tuck his tail between his legs. No, he was just the opposite. He narrowed his eyes as they sparked with venom. I could see the wheels turning in his mind. He wasn’t going to let this go forever. He’d try to find a way to get even. Well, I wasn’t the nice, quiet teenager I’d once been. My backbone was strong and solid. I’d been forced to age these last two years.

The asshole dared to crowd my space, trying to push me against the side of my car, but I stood my ground, offering a smile instead.

“That’s a shame, Mercedes. I thought we could at least be friends.” While his words didn’t seem threatening and wouldn’t to anyone standing nearby, I knew better.

He was drawing a line in the sand.

“No, we can’t. I suggest you run along. Maybe there’s enough daylight left that you can polish your Mercedes.”

His glare remained and I could swear I’d shocked Sheila by my statement. When he finally shook his head, I tilted mine. He might be a few inches taller, but I’d worn heels.

“Have it your way, but it’s a decision that I hope you don’t regret.”

“Why does that sound like a threat?” I asked, seething from his arrogance.

Laughing, he yanked his sunglasses from his coat pocket. “You don’t understand the way of the world, Mercedes. That’s a shame. You’re a smart girl, but you remain infatuated with the past.”

Infatuated. I knew exactly what he was referring to. Edmond. “Just get away from me, William.”

His hateful glare remained for a full minute. Then he smiled, the kind of expression that sent a chill down the length of my body. “Have a great evening, ladies.” As he walked away, I realized I was holding my breath.

“What are you doing?” Sheila whispered.

“I’m going to give you a piece of advice, Sheila. You’re relatively new to town. Stay away from William Villanova. He’s absolute poison.” When I finally looked in her direction, her eyes opened wide.

“Okay. Whatever you say, but one day you’re going to need to tell me why.”

“I will,” I managed. “Over a bottle or two of wine.”

I waited until he’d driven away before turning toward my vehicle. Then I noticed someone standing across the street from the entrance to the parking lot. He’d been there the day before as well, just staring at the building. For some reason, today I was troubled by it.

Sheila followed my gaze. “That’s creepy. He was there last week.”

“Was he?”

“Yep. You were just coming to work. I’m surprised you didn’t see him. Any idea who he is?”

In the back of mind, I hoped the person was someone special to me, but that was impossible. “None. I wouldn’t worry about it. Fernando Montego has a way of pissing a lot of people off.”

“You don’t like him very much either.”

I looked in her direction, trying to figure out how to answer. While I needed the job, I had yet to accept my mother’s six requests for dinner. She’d broken it off with the asshole for eighteen months. Now they were dating again, which turned my stomach. I shouldn’t talk since I’d accepted a position within his firm, but I didn’t have to be friendly to the man, just civil. “It’s not a matter of like, Sheila, and don’t worry about it. I’ll see you tomorrow.” When I tipped my head to where the mystery man had been standing, he’d disappeared, just like he’d done before.

As I started the engine, thoughts drifted into my brain, ugly ones. They’d kept me awake at night for as long as I could remember. Maybe I’d made a huge mistake returning to the little town. Or maybe a small part of me had wanted to be close to a man I didn’t even know and wouldn’t recognize.

Edmond.

He’d been the football captain, his prowess in high school filtering all the way down to junior high. There wasn’t a girl in school who didn’t know who Edmond Montego was. He was larger than life, a star player who’d been scouted by both several colleges and even the NFL. Every girl wanted to hook up with him and he’d been seen with several on his arm in yearbook photos and even the occasional human interest piece done by the local ragtag newspaper.

He was handsome, charismatic, yet always just this close to being the local bad boy, a phrase he’d exemplified by his careless attitude and verve for life.

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