Her Last Love (Small Town Hearts Trilogy #1) (10 page)

“You are a fucking tease. We’ve been going out for months, and I’ve had to watch you sashay around, just out of reach. Do you know what it's like for a man to have to watch and wait and want?" He gave her a rough shake, and Lynn could feel the bruises start to gather where his fingers dug in on her biceps. "Well, I’m going to get what I’ve waited for. But I’m going to teach you a little lesson first.”  

Before Lynn could react, he had clamped his strong grip around her throat, and slammed her back into the nearby wall. Bright light burst behind her eyes, and the impact took the headache to new levels. She could feel the pressure building in her face as his thumb pressed on her windpipe, could hear as what little air she could breathe wheezed past the obstruction. In desperation, Lynn tried to twist away, pushed at his chest, pulled at his arm in an attempt to break free. When that failed, she went for his face. She aimed for his eyes, but missed her mark. Strong nails clawed their way down his cheek, and blood bloomed in the scratches. He howled in pain and anger as he threw her to the floor, and put a hand to his face. When his hand came away smeared with blood, his temper rose another notch, and he glared at Lynn. 

“You bitch.” Jason wiped his bloody hand on the front of his shirt, stared down at her. “You’re going to pay for that.” He started towards her again. Despite the fact that her throat burned and her head throbbed, she started to scream as loud as she could. Hoping, praying that someone close by would hear and come to her aid. 

As soon as Jason got within reach, her survival instinct overtook her training. She began to kick and swing her fists, anything to hold him off until help arrived. But Jason found the opening he needed in her attack, and punched her in the face, followed by several more to her midsection. Paralyzed by pain, Lynn could do little more than try to block the blows he rained down on her. She screamed again, calling for someone, anyone, to help her. Time seemed to stand still as she continued to be battered and beaten. 

“Shut the hell up!” Now straddling her, he grabbed her by the hair, lifted her head off the floor, and viciously slammed it back again with so much force that Lynn nearly blacked out. Groaning, she continued to try to fight him off, but her strength was waning, and she was having trouble staying conscious. Her vision was blurred, and her left eye was rapidly swelling shut. 

“Now, I’m going to have what’s mine.” She felt her shirt rip as he grabbed the hem with both hands and yanked. Lynn summoned all the strength she had left in her body to make another attempt to fend him off.   

Suddenly, he was gone. The weight he'd had on her midsection was lifted, and though she was still terrified, she was also confused. It all became more clear when Lynn could hear the grunts of men struggling, the sounds of bone repeatedly meeting flesh. A loud thud, a rasping noise, and then all sounds stopped. When the footsteps that echoed through the apartment got closer, Lynn scrambled to get away, trying to crawl to hide from this new intruder. 

“Lynn, honey, it’s Mitchell from across the hall. It’s okay, you’re safe now.” Lynn could feel him rather than see him at her side. 

“He’s gone?” This came as a whisper from a raw throat. 

“Close. Unconscious.” Mitchell reached out, pulled the ragged edges of her shirt together to cover her, before he gently lifted her up to cradle her in his arms. “I’ve called it in, and I’ve got the flexi-cuffs on him. He’s not going anywhere but to jail.” 

“Thank you. Thank you so much for coming.” Tears clogged her abused throat before streaming down a battered face. Relief flooded her in swift waves, just as her vision began to gray at the edges. “I think I’m going to pass out now.” With that, the room dimmed, then went black as she slumped into her neighbor’s arms. 

* * *  

Still sleeping, Lynn curled into a protective ball and whimpered, before the nightmare faded, and she finally fell into a dreamless slumber. 

7

October in rural western Kentucky meant many things; bonfires on cool nights, corn mazes, and all things pumpkin. But October also meant the return of the annual Fall Carnival, with its many food vendors, rides, and games, all placed in an area that spanned several city blocks. 

It had been a good while since Lynn had been to one, and when Carter had discovered just how long it had been, he insisted that they go. They'd been out a few times since the bonfire at Bethany's house, with the argument they'd had afterwards now behind them. As both Lynn and Carter both had an affinity for classic cars, they'd gone to a charity car show. Another evening had found them sitting across from each other at a table for two in a cozy little Italian restaurant, nibbling on pasta and bread while talking about anything that came to mind. And today, they were going to the carnival. 

Lynn was looking forward to going this year. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't just a little giddy at the prospect of getting to act like a kid for awhile. She was also anticipating the time with Carter, the hand-holding as they walked the street from game to game. The snuggling together in a seat on the Ferris wheel, stealing kisses when it reached the top and looked out over the fairgrounds.  

Snapped out of her fantasy by the ringing of her phone, Lynn found the handset and hit the button to answer. 

"Hello?" 

"Hey, Lynn. It's me." Carter's agitated voice came across the line, and with it, her plans fizzled. "Sorry to do this last minute, but I'm afraid I have to cancel our date." 

"What happened? Is everything okay?" 

"Yeah. It's just... Hillary got called into work, and she was supposed to have the boys tonight. And my mom can't keep them, because she's got plans, so I'm stuck. I'm sorry." 

"Okay," Lynn replied, perplexed. "I don't see this as a problem." 

"What do you mean?" 

"I mean, we'll take them with us." 

"Really?" Carter sounded surprised. "You'd do that?" 

"Carter, it's not a big deal. We're talking about the carnival, not a 5-star restaurant or a heavy metal concert. We'll take them, and we'll all have fun." 

"You're sure? You don't realize what you'll be in for." 

"I'm sure." Lynn laughed. "Pick me up at six, as planned. I'll see you and the boys then." 

"Well, okay, we'll see you in about a half hour then." 

"See you soon." Lynn hung up the phone and spent a moment just staring at it. As she made her way to her bedroom to finish getting ready, she realized she was about to meet Carter's kids.  

His boys were the two most important people in his life, she thought as she sat down to put on her makeup. What if they didn't like her? What if they decided that she shouldn't be there because their dad should be with their mom? Lynn closed her eyes and fought off the nerves. It's not a huge deal, she told herself. They're kids, and you're good with kids. She took a deep breath, she lifted her lashes to study herself in the mirror. She was a little pale, a little wide-eyed, but otherwise she looked normal. Lynn took this as a good sign as she applied her makeup with quick hands and ran her brush through her hair. 

She was just gathering her purse when she heard the knock at the door. Lynn draped the long strap across her body, took a breath and went to answer. Carter stood on the other side of the door, flanked by two adorable little boys. An older boy of about seven was a solemn looking child with reddish hair, bright blue eyes, and a sprinkling of freckles across his nose and cheeks; the younger of the two, a brown haired five year old pistol with blue eyes to match his brother's, stood grinning, showing off a missing tooth. 

"Hi, guys, come on inside," Lynn smiled at the boys, and then up at Carter. Though he smiled, his eyes told her he was just as nervous as she was, and that relaxed her more than anything. After she closed the door behind them, she turned to see all three standing in a silent group in the middle of her living room. 

"Well, you're a quiet bunch," she joked. "Carter, aren't you going to introduce me to your friends?" 

"Oh, um." Carter cleared his throat, and laid a hand on the older boy's head. "This is Nathan, and this goober here is Logan," he said, placing his other hand on another head, tilting it back to smile into a giggling face. 

"I'm Lynn." She gave a little wave. "Nice to meet you." 

Both boys stood next to their father, not saying anything. Logan continued to grin, but Nathan stood looking down between his feet. The uneasy silence was awkward. 

"Boy, I’m glad you guys are going with us tonight," Lynn said with feeling. "I hate going to eat sushi alone."

This got their attention. Nathan looked up at her, puzzled, while his little brother giggled. 

"No, we're not going to eat shushi." He stopped, suddenly puzzled, and looked up at his father. "Dad, what's shushi?" 

"Sushi," Carter enunciated, laughing. "It's raw fish wrapped up in rice and stuff." 

"Ew, gross. No, Miss Lynn," he said, looking back to her and shaking his head. "We're not doing that! We're going to the carnival!" 

"The carnival!" She feigned surprise. "Are you sure?" 

"Uh-huh. Dad said so." 

"Well then it must be true. And a relief! The carnival is so much better than sushi." She looked over at his brother, who still studied her. "What do you say, Nathan? Wanna go to the carnival?" 

Nathan, not having spoken yet, simply bobbed his head in agreement. Lynn looked at  Carter, who mouthed the words 'he's shy', telling Lynn it wasn't because of her that Nathan wasn't talking. She smiled at Nathan and was rewarded with a small smile in return. 

"All right, let's head out of here. Those funnel cakes won’t eat themselves!" Carter herded the kids out the door, leaving Lynn to lock up behind him. 

The ride to the fairgrounds was uneventful. Lynn had chatted with Carter and listened to the boys rapidly whisper to each other in the backseat. She caught her name in there a couple of times, making her smile. 

After he pulled into one of the crowded parking lots, Carter    cruised around, searching for an empty spot. He found one, but it meant a hike to the gate to enter the fair. Once they got there, they bought their bracelets and entered a world of bright colors, loud noises, and delicious smells.  

The boys stood, wide-eyed, taking in all the excitement and fun around them. 

“So.” Carter looked around and grinned like a little boy. “Where do we want to go first?” 

The kids looked at each other, then at the grown-ups, not sure how to answer. 

“Well, do we want to do games or rides first?” Lynn asked. 

“Rides!” Logan piped up with a bounce.  

“Okay! I know just the one. Let's go!" Without thinking, she reached for Logan's small hand and led the group towards one of her favorite rides. They stood in line, watching the colorful teacups spin around and around and hearing the excited squeals of the riders. 

"What do you think?" she asked the kids. "Can you handle it?" 

By now, the boys were grinning from ear to ear, and Lynn could feel the excitement vibrating off of them both. She looked over at Carter, who was now visibly relaxed and at ease. They exchanged a glance that told each other they were right to bring the boys and smiled. 

Soon, their turn at the teacups came, and they were spinning themselves silly. It made Lynn smile bigger than she imagined possible to hear Nathan's laughter as the ride hit its fastest point. They staggered off the platform, each dizzily looking at the others and beaming.  

From there, they rode the pirate ship, a boat swinging from end to end up in the air to a point so high that stomachs dropped and screams of excitement echoed. Lynn, never a fan of heights, screamed the loudest, and the boys sitting between her and Carter howled with laughter. As they came off the ride, the grown-ups decided that there was time for one more ride before grabbing a bite to eat.

Nathan wanted to get on the Zipper, a ride in which people sat in pairs in an oval-shaped cage that would spin and flip the riders. Logan wasn’t tall enough to ride it yet, so Lynn and Carter decided to dived and conquer. Lynn would ride the carousel with Logan while Carter zipped it up with Nathan, and the group would meet back at the police station’s security tent when they finished.

Lynn grasped Logan's hand once again, the two made their way over to the carousel. She could feel the boy sneaking peeks at her as if he were trying to figure something out in his mind. 

"Ms. Lynn?"  

"Yes?" 

"Do we hafta ride the carousel?" he asked. "That carousel is for babies. It's not cool like the big ones." 

"Well," she began. "We don't have to, but I can't take you on anything else without your dad saying it's okay. I promised him I'd ride the carousel with you, if you wanted, and I try to keep my promises." 

"Okay." He sighed. "I guess we can ride. But can we sit on one of the benches instead?" 

"Sure thing, handsome." She smiled at him, her smile stretching wider when he smiled back at her. 

"When did you lose the tooth?" Lynn asked as they stepped in line for the carousel. 

"Last week! I got a whole dollar from the tooth fairy, and now I can stick my tongue through the hole! See?" He tilted his head up at her, the tip of his little pink tongue wiggling through the small gap in his front teeth. 

"Very cool!"  

"Yeah. Dad says I will grow bigger teeth. Maybe I'll get teeth like a T-rex! Do you think I can?" 

"Maybe." She laughed, ruffling his hair. "Guess we'll just have to wait and see." 

The line moved forward, and Logan pulled her along with it. They climbed up onto the carousel, and Lynn let the child pick the bench he wanted. They sat and snuggled in to wait for the ride to start. 

"Ms. Lynn?" 

"Yes, sir?" 

"I'm not a sir." Logan giggled a moment, then looked serious. "Can I ask you a question?" 

"Sure." 

"Are you my dad's girlfriend?" 

At that moment, the ride began to glide into its slow spin, and Lynn's mind spun with it. How to answer a question like that, and from a child, no less?  

"Well, Logan," she began. "To be honest, I don't know if I'm his girlfriend how you mean. I've known your dad a long time, and we're friends, but I’m not sure if I'm his girlfriend." 

Logan swung his feet, watching the reflective bit of his shoes flash as he did.  

"Logan?" 

"Yeah?" 

"Are you okay?" 

"Yeah." He sighed.  

"You don't sound like it. I may not be your dad's girlfriend, but you can talk to me. I'll be your friend." 

"It's just.... promise you won't tell dad?" 

"How about if I tell him we talked, and that maybe you guys need to talk too? That way if it's something important, he knows." 

Logan thought about it for minute, then nodded as he abruptly spat into his right hand, angled his body towards Lynn, and held out his hand. 

"Deal." 

Ah, the spit shake. Some things never went out of style with little boys. While she shook her head, she mirrored his gestures, and they shook hands. 

"You know this is gross, right?" Lynn asked as she reached for the small bottle of hand sanitizer in her bag and squirting it into both of their palms. 

"Yeah. But that's what makes it work!" Lynn laughed at his reasoning before prodding him to continue what he had started to say.  

"So, before that handshake, what were you going to say?" 

"Well." He chewed on his lip. "I asked if you were dad's girlfriend because...well, I kinda want you to be. Him and my mom don't live together anymore, and they always yell and argue. It's no fun. Don't tell my dad, but I like it better now that they have separate houses." At Lynn's nod, he continued. "Now my dad smiles a lot, and I think it's 'cause you're his girlfriend. Well, sorta. Anyway, me and Nathan talked about it in the truck, and we decided that it's okay if you're his girlfriend. We like you!" 

"Oh, honey. I like you too. But it has to be up to your dad because he has to consider you guys and what's best for you. Because he's the dad, and that's his job." 

"I know." Another great sigh as he looked at his feet again. 

"But I'll tell you this," she began, laying a hand on his shoulder. "No, I'll promise you this, so you can be sure I'm serious because I mean business with my promises. If I'm not your dad's girlfriend, that's okay. Because that means I have three friends in you, Nathan and your dad. And you guys have a friend in me. But if I ever do become your dad's girlfriend, I'll do my best to make him, and you guys, happy." 

Logan mulled this over for a minute, nodded, and snuggled into Lynn's side so that her arm was around his shoulders.  

"That's a good promise."  

Without a word, Lynn gave the child a squeeze and watched as the rest of the carnival blurred by during the remainder of the ride.