Hailey's Truth (8 page)

Oh, great.
She closed her eyes as humiliation burned her cheeks. This just wasn’t her day. With as much dignity as she could muster, Hailey walked through the shallow end, up the stairs and grabbed her towel. She wrapped herself in the soft cotton, fighting the urge to shiver in the cool breeze.

“Your mask’s too tight.” Austin tossed the flipper on the nearest lounge chair as he continued to look at her.

She glanced up and back down at the brick inlay of the patio. How should she respond to his calm observation? Should she pretend this afternoon hadn’t happened? She reminded herself Austin was only trying to help, that he would never be intentionally cruel. But he’d said horrible things that weren’t true.
Your brother’s bad news.
Nothing good will come from having him back in your life,
played like a mantra in her head. “It didn’t feel too tight.”

“Trust me. I know what I’m talking about.”

Her eyes flew to his, fully aware of his double entendre. She wasn’t going there again today, especially not when her temples were starting to throb. “I’ll have to loosen the strap, then.” Her teeth started to chatter, partly from the cold, mostly from nerves. He would continue to insist that her brother was the symbol of everything she stood so firmly against—drugs, useless violence.

Her world was imploding around her—a good man, a person she trusted implicitly, told her what she couldn’t allow herself to believe, while her brother, a man she
wanted
to trust the same way, to believe in wholeheartedly, told her something different. Her stomach clenched from her mental tug-of-war.

Hailey pressed her fingers against her head.
No.
She couldn’t do this anymore today. She’d always believed herself strong enough to handle anything. For so many years, she’d had no choice. But this was too much right now. The possibilities were too disturbing. “I need to get dressed. I’m cold.”

“Okay,” was all he said as she walked away.

He’d hated seeing Hailey like that—eyes vulnerable and weary, body braced as if waiting for his next verbal attack. He despised knowing he’d caused her misery.

Austin cringed as he thought of how he’d handled things at the apartment. He couldn’t have screwed it up more if he’d tried. There were a hundred-and-one ways he could’ve presented Hailey with the facts.

He shook his head, muttered a curse. Had he really expected Hailey to respond any differently than she had? He’d more or less called Jeremy a loser, a druggie, and a gangster. True, Jeremy was all three, but Austin had totally screwed up nonetheless.

Austin scrubbed another asparagus shoot and placed it in the olive oil and herb marinade he’d prepared for the mix of vegetables he would grill later. He needed to make things right with Hailey, but wasn’t sure how to go about it. A simple apology wouldn’t get him out of this one.

He picked up a zucchini next, ran it under tepid water. Should he tell her he’d made a mistake? She didn’t believe him in any case. Austin shook his head, immediately dismissing the idea. He wasn’t a fan of lies. The fact of the matter was, everything he’d said was the truth. But how did he make someone see what they were determined to ignore?

He would start with an apology for hurting her, for his poor delivery of hard facts, and go from there.

“You’re still here.”

He glanced over his shoulder. Hailey stood at the island, hands braced and tense against the marble countertop, her face slightly pale.

“Yeah, I wanted to talk to you.”

“I’m not really in a talking mood. I have a headache.” She rubbed at her temple.

“I don’t like the way we left things. You and I are going to be spending a lot of time together over the next few months. We’re off to a rough start.”

“What do you mean?”

“Jackson and I have been assigned to Project Mexico.”

“Oh.” Hailey dropped her hand, walked to a cupboard, pulled a glass from the shelf, stood next to him as she filled it with water. Her peach blossom scent surrounded him, even after she’d gone back to stand behind her island barrier.

Austin shut off the tap and turned to face her. “I know I hurt you with the things I said this afternoon, and I’m sorry for it.”

“The content or the delivery?”

“The delivery.” As he stared at her, he could only be truthful. “I wish I could apologize for both, but then I’d be lying. I stand behind the information I shared with you.”

Austin debated whether to show her the pictures he’d taken, but what good would it do? He could tell by her steady, staring eyes and her stubbornly lifted chin that she still wasn’t willing to believe him. The pictures didn’t show Jeremy doing anything more than hanging around sketchy-looking characters and carrying a black duffel bag. He wasn’t technically doing anything wrong, according to the photographs. It was only implied. Until he had something absolutely solid, Hailey would dismiss what he said. She would find a way to see the innocence behind the truth. Her need to protect Jeremy was too ingrained.

“I don’t know what to say, Austin. You’ll believe as you choose, and I’ll believe in Jeremy. I owe him that at least.” Her voice strained and quiet, she sunk to the wooden barstool, resting her forehead against her fingers.

Hailey’s defeat undid him. Austin walked to her, hesitated before he took her hand clenched on the marble counter. He was always careful not to touch her. It made him feel things he knew he shouldn’t. “Let’s table this conversation. I came over to apologize and throw a couple of steaks on the grill.”

Her eyes filled and she closed them.

He’d never seen her cry before. “Hey,” he said gently, pulling her to her feet.

“Hey,” he said again when she wouldn’t look at him.

Hailey pressed her forehead against his chest, surprising him. She stood in silence, her hand limp in his, her other clenched at her side.

Sarah and Ethan had shared with Austin small snatches of Hailey’s rough upbringing. Who had she had all the years after her parents died? Hailey protected Jeremy, but who protected her? No one, he imagined.

Austin freed her hand and wrapped his arms around her rigid back, loosely, absorbing the shock of her body against his as they mirrored their intimate stance from the pool floor. Hailey’s vulnerability affected him differently than the sexual punch last night, but no less potently, as she cautiously accepted the comfort he offered. Austin tightened his grip, pulling her more truly against him, holding on until she relaxed. As her body pressed against his, he moved his hands over her slender back. “I’m sorry, Hailey.”

The heat of her breath seeped through his shirt, warming his chest as her forehead stayed pressed there. Her arms came up and wrapped around his waist. She moved until her cheek rested against his heart.

He closed his eyes, playing his fingers through her soft, damp hair as his stomach tied itself in knots. Words escaped him as something changed. Knee-jerk desire turned to longing.

Moments later, Hailey eased back, staring into his eyes. He skimmed his knuckles against her cheek as her gaze darted to his mouth. She tilted her chin up, inviting him to make a move. The heated look passing between them kicked his heart into a gallop, but he resisted, stepping back, preventing himself from making a mistake.

Although he didn’t think of Hailey as a child like she’d accused, he did see her as Kylee’s nanny and Sarah and Ethan’s friend. Crossing the line into something more was bound to end badly. Long-term relationships couldn’t exist in his line of work. His dedication was to his job. He knew what Hailey sought, and it was nothing he would ever be able to give. “Are you okay?” He asked, taking another step back.

“Yeah.” She looked down and fiddled with her fingers before she hurried to the patio door, letting Bear and Reece inside.

Austin turned to the counter, needing something to do. He busied himself with the marinating vegetables. He cleared his throat in the awkward quiet. “I was going to grill up a couple of steaks, throw some veggies on too. If you’d rather, I’ll leave.”

“No, you can stay.” Hailey went to the cupboard, took plates from the shelf, pulled a drawer open, grabbing silverware. She set the table in silence.

Austin’s cell phone vibrated against his hip. He glanced at the readout and answered. “Casey.”

“It’s Phillips. I know it’s your day off, but I need a favor.”

Austin pulled the platter of steak from the fridge. “What is it?”

“Jerrod Riley decided he wants to spend the night on the town. We’re leaving from an early dinner out and are heading for Club LAX. I’m a little concerned about crowd control.”

“Do you need backup?”

“I wouldn’t turn down an extra hand.”

“When?”

“As soon as you can. The women were all over him. His songs are number one and two on the charts right now. He’s a hot commodity, and the crowds are treating him like one.”

Hunter wouldn’t ask for help if he didn’t need it. “I’ll be there.” Austin put his phone back and turned to Hailey. She was already gathering up the dishes.

“I’m sorry. We’ll have to take a rain check on the steaks. Hunter needs my help tonight. Jerrod Riley decided he wants to spend a night on the town.”

“Okay. I’ll see you around.”

Her voice was still strained, still too quiet. She looked so sad, so alone. Austin reached for his phone, tempted to call Hunter and tell him he couldn’t come after all, but changed his mind. That would be the first step down the wrong path. “I’m on duty for the next few days. Why don’t I give you a call next week. We’ll schedule a snorkel lesson. You have to be a solid snorkeler before we can move to free diving.”

“Okay, that’ll be fine.” She gave him a small smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

He stepped toward her again but didn’t touch her. If he did, he would break all the rules. “I really am sorry about today. And about dinner.”

She shrugged. “It’s over. I was planning to curl up with Bear and Reece and watch a movie on the big screen anyway.”

The idea was so cozy, so appealing. This was the first time he’d ever considered putting work on the backburner to eat a slab of steak and sit through a movie with a woman.

Not good.

Austin reassured himself it was only because he couldn’t stand to see anyone hurting. He felt himself losing his footing as he stared into Hailey’s sad honey eyes. In defense, he turned away. “I’ll see you around.”

“Yeah, see you.”

Austin walked down the hall, then pivoted back, remembering his cap on the counter. He stopped cold in the kitchen doorway.

Hailey leaned against the huge panel of glass, arms wrapped around herself, staring out at the city lights far in the distance. She was so small against the massive windows and view beyond.

Austin took another step forward as a tear tracked down her cheek. “Hailey?”

She whirled, dashing her hand over her face. “I—I—just leave me alone.” She backed toward the door, feeling for the knob as she went. When she found it, she fumbled, pulled, turned, and fled.

His instinct was to follow, but something told him Hailey was used to dealing with her tears, with her pain all by herself. Tonight he would let her go, would let her be as she’d asked, but that was going to change real soon.

Helpless rage chewed at Austin as he drove down the freeway on his way to help Hunter. Jaw clenched, shoulders tight, he dialed Ethan’s number and waited.

“Cooke.”

“It’s Austin. We have a problem.”

“What’s up?”

“Hailey.” He gripped the wheel tighter as he thought of her—small and alone by the big window. “She’s in bigger trouble than I initially thought. Jeremy
is
dealing drugs. He
is
mixed up with S-1, but more than that, he’s also in deep with the Mexican cartel—the Zulas. I captured footage of him shaking hands with Donte Rodriguez, the number two man in their organization. We need to get her out of here.”

The line stayed silent.

“Are you there?” he spat into the receiver.

“Yeah, I’m here. I’m trying to take it all in. Project Mexico doesn’t leave for another three weeks. There isn’t much we can do about that tactical problem.”

The urgency to do something left Austin restless. “We could send Hailey early. Send her on a vacation. That kid brother of hers is a fucking loose cannon. The organization knows Hailey exists. I heard them threaten him with her. She’s in trouble, Ethan.”

Ethan blew out a long breath. “Yeah, I know. Let me think about this tonight. We’ll come up with a game plan first thing in the morning.”