Under Currents (13 page)

“Thought we had a deal.”

“I only agreed to attend the dance. Nothing more.”

Like a pressure cooker reaching its peak, Frank’s face steamed bright red. “I figured you knew meeting me was just the first step. The other should’ve been understood as a given.”

“And you should know, I’m not the kind of woman to spend the night at a motel with a man I’m not married to.”

“Then marry me. Hell, we can fly to Vegas tonight.”

“Frank, we’ve been through this. I’m not ready to bring another man into my life.”

Liar.

“You’ve kept me dangling for months now. I’m tired of you leading me on.”

“Then find someone else.”

“That’s not an option. We’re soul mates, Julie.”

Another disturbing thought.

A group of people squeezed by them and walked toward the exit. Not wanting to be alone with Frank in the parking lot, Julie planned to go out right behind them. “I’m leaving.” She grabbed her purse and tried to catch up with the group. She ran straight into someone entering. “Excuse me.”

“Sorry, about that,” replied Deputy Howard, the newest and youngest deputy. She doubted Frank had corrupted him yet. Hopefully, he wouldn’t.

“It was my fault,” Julie admitted.

“Hey, Frank.” The deputy turned his gaze back to Julie. “Your mother said we’d find you here. Just wanted you to know your business was vandalized again tonight.”

Julie sighed. “What did they do this time?”

“As far as I can tell, they damaged some canoes. I’m on my way back over there now. I thought you’d want to know.”

“Yes, thank you. I had better drive over and check it out for myself,” Julie told Deputy Howard.

“I’ll take you,” Frank offered.

“No, I’d rather take my car.”

“Sure,” he said, his brows furrowed. “I’ll be behind you.”

Julie wasn’t thrilled about her canoes being destroyed, but the news couldn’t have come at a better time.

While driving to her office, Julie’s vision blurred slightly, and she strained to see the road. At Boats and Floats, she stepped from her car and grasped the door handle for support. Why was she so lightheaded? Two drinks had always been her limit and usually made her a little giddy. But this was different.

Breathe deeply.

I should’ve eaten something.

At least now she wasn’t alone with Frank.
Thank goodness.

Julie entered her office and grabbed her desk for a moment to prevent falling. Once stable, she flicked on the main interior light switch and then flipped the switch for the exterior lights. Back outside, she studied the damaged canoes. “Obviously, he planned to destroy them all. What stopped him?”

“Some teenagers spotted a man doing it. When he saw them, he ran, and they called us. They said he left the scene in a white work van,” Deputy Howard said. "They described him as older with a white beard and hair."

She recalled Ally talking to Santa by the mailbox. Could this be the same bearded man? She glanced at the rafts on the far side of the lot. “Well at least he didn’t slash my new rafts.”

“Only your canoes,” Deputy Howard stated.

Frank spoke to the deputy. “Make some impressions of that tire track.”

Julie ground her teeth in
rage
over the damage. She would like to get her hands on the man who kept doing this.
Bastard
. But if she wanted to escape the
nightmare o
f a date Frank had arranged, she had to appear devastated rather than outraged.

She had to think of something sad, so she thought about the night Jeremy had been killed. She recalled when she sat Scott and Ally down and told them that their daddy wouldn’t be coming home. Soon tears surfaced, and she turned her teary gaze to Frank. “I want to go home. This has me so upset.”

Frank nodded. “I’ll follow you home.”

She held back the smile and continued to look disheartened. “That won’t be necessary.”

“It’s not up for discussion.”

Frank pulled in behind her in the driveway and quickly ran over to open her car door.

She left her car. "No need to walk me in. I'm fine."

"I insist."

On the porch, he leaned to kiss her, and she quickly turned and placed the key in the lock. The rumble of Caleb’s motorcycle drew Frank’s attention.

He glanced at his watch before glaring at Caleb. He yanked her wrist before she could open the door and whipped her around, facing him. A storm brewed in his eyes. “Maybe he’s the reason you said you needed to be home early.”

“Don’t be silly-eee,” she said, noticing her tongue felt heavy in her mouth while her words slurred.

What's happening?

Caleb rode his bike around back, never glancing their way. Soon the lights came on in his house.

Frank stared toward Caleb’s house for a moment before looking back at Julie. “How about next weekend?”

“I don’t want to date you.” She kept one hand on the porch’s decorative post for support. “Jeremy was my soul mate. You’ll never be able to replace him.”

“Give me a chance.”

“You had your chance.” She had to get inside and try to make it to bed. Sleep it off. “I’m not giving you another one.”

He stormed from the porch and jumped in his car. She'd been too honest with him. Hopefully, he wouldn’t take it out on Caleb.

When she entered the house, her mother seemed surprised to see her. “Thought you and Frank had a big night ahead of you. What happened?”

“I don’t have any plans with Frank. I don’t like him.” Julie’s head swam, and she staggered slightly.

I feel sick.

“How much did you have to drink?”

“Just two drinks, but I drank them on an empty stomach. I’ll be fine once I’m in bed. Thanks for watching the kids.”

“They slept the entire time.”

“I’ll drop them off in the morning on my way to the shop.” Stars danced before Julie, and she thought she was about to pass out. Once her mother had gone, she changed into a huge T-shirt and brushed her teeth, clinging to the sink for stability. As she closed the medicine cabinet, she remembered she hadn’t locked the front door. She staggered down the hall in the dark, bracing her arms against the walls.

Before she reached the door, it opened. She recognized the silhouette in her doorway. “Get out of my house!” she willed herself to say. “Now.”

“You left the door unlocked. Maybe you were expecting McGregor instead of me.” He closed the door, locking it, then walked over and turned on the lamp. “Let me help you to the couch. You don’t look like you’re feeling well. Nothing worse than a woman who can’t hold her liquor.”

“Frank, get out. Nooow.” Each word took so much effort. She wanted to say more, but her mind was all mush. All she wanted to do was close her eyes and sleep.

He lifted her in his arms and carried her to the full-length sofa and lowered her to it. “This isn’t the Motor Court Inn, but it’ll do.”

“I’ll call the poliicceee,” she said, sounding like someone who’d had too much Novocain.

He laughed. “Go ahead. Call them. They won’t come.”

When she tried to sit up, she couldn’t move. The room spun, as her body grew heavy like a corpse wrapped in chains. What was wrong with her? She’d been intoxicated before but never like this. Then she noticed the vile grin on Frank’s face.

“Thought you might need a little something to make you more agreeable.”

“You druuggggged me?” Her words knotted in her mouth, as she remembered not taking a drink from him. So how’d he pull it off?

I’d like to strangle this bastard, but my arms and legs feel like rubber.

Hell, Gumby had more control over his body than she did.

Frank grinned like a cat that’d caught a mouse. “I want you to remember this. After I pleasure you, you’ll see what you’ve been missing. Hell, woman, you’ll be begging for it.” Frank stood beside the sofa, gazing down at her. “Damn, my grandmother sleeps in sexier clothes than that.”

It totally surprised her to hear him mention his grandmother. Hard to think of someone like Frank ever being someone’s grandchild. It was easier to think of him forming in some dark place like a fungus. “Leaveee my nouse oww."

Damn, I can’t even get the words out right.

He'll rape me. Do something now!

Julie eyed the TV remote lying on the sofa beside her hand. She closed her eyes and ordered her body to cooperate. Her thumb pressed against the power button and turned on the television. Then she managed to press the volume button, until the sound blasted loud enough to wake the dead.

“Now that was stupid. Think your kids will stop me? I don’t care if they watch. Educate them young is my philosophy.” He unbuckled his belt and unzipped his jeans.

Scott stood in the doorway, rubbing his sleepy eyes.

She struggled mentally to find her voice. “Callll Grandpapaaa.”

With a scowl masking his face, Frank glared at Scott. “You get your little ass back in bed before I beat it,” he said. “You call anyone, and I’ll hurt you and your mother. Understand?”

Scott’s mouth dropped open, and his eyes widened. He turned and ran back toward his bedroom.

“So much for that strategy.” Frank let his jeans puddle around his feet. He tried to pull them over his shoes but couldn’t. “Damn it.”

He had to pull his jeans back up and remove his boots first, buying her more time.

Scott. Scott. Scott. Call for help.

“You’ve put me off long enough, darlin’.” This time he stepped out of the jeans, leaving them on the floor. He left his boxers on.

He straddled over her, one knee on the sofa while his other foot remained on the floor, supporting him. He leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers, forcing her mouth open with his tongue. She gagged.

How can I stop him?

She bit his lower lip—hard.

He laughed. “Now, honey. That turns me the hell on.”

Julie tried to call out for help but couldn’t. She willed her body to move, but nothing happened. Only muffled grunts rose from her throat.

“See, I knew you’d enjoy it once you relaxed.”

Oh God, the shithead thinks I like this.

Frank raised her T-shirt over her breasts, then held her hands stretched above her head while he admired her body. He started lowering himself over her. “I’ve been waiting a long time to get between your legs.”

Julie’s heart beat with a heavy fast thud.

Had Scott returned to bed?

“Shit. Damn cramp.” Frank hopped up and rubbed his calve. He stared at her. “This couch isn’t gonna work. We’ll use your bed.”

Thank God for charlie horses.

He leaned to lift her. But from this position, lifting her wasn’t so easy. He grunted as he tried to move her. “I can’t get a grip on you.”

Even if Scott called her parents, they might not arrive in time to stop Frank. Darkness engulfed her mind for a moment until a loud sound snapped her awake.

Then she realized someone had slammed the backdoor open.

“Motherfuc—” Frank cursed as he glanced behind him.

“Help meeee,” she managed to squeak out in a mousy little voice.

Before she knew it, someone with Hulk-like strength jerked Frank from the sofa. The cool air skimmed over her exposed skin.

“Get your pants back on and get out,” Caleb ordered, his baritone voice threatening. He snatched a throw blanket from a chair and draped it over Julie.

“Lover boy comes to your rescue.” Frank grabbed his pants and pulled them on. He stepped into his shoes, then slid his hand in his jean pocket and whipped out a small pistol. “You’ll be sorry, McGregor. You’ll regret you stuck your nose in my business.”

Scott bravely stepped in front of Caleb. “You no good coward. You get out of my house. And don’t you ever touch my mom again.”

Caleb rested a hand on Scott’s shoulder. “You go to your room, now.”

“But Caleb, he’ll shoot you.”

“Then he’ll be the one in jail and your mother will be safe.” Caleb glared at Frank. “You drugged her.”

“She owes me this. Thought it was time she put out. Unless you’ve been tapping the honey pot.”

Scott appeared confused.

Good. Maybe there was a little bit of his innocence left.

“Julie’s a lady. And I haven’t let myself forget that. Apparently, you have.”

“You’re a filthy ex-con. Maybe you had someone special in jail. Were you someone’s bitch?”

Caleb’s brows lowered into a dangerous frown. “You bastard. You might get away with bullying helpless women, but I won’t be bullied. Not by you or anyone.”

The front door opened, and her parents stormed into her den. Frank kept the gun aimed at Caleb.

Her father pointed his twelve gauge shotgun at Frank. “Put that gun away and get out of my daughter’s house.”

Chapter Eight

Humiliation swelled inside Julie. She wanted to cry but couldn't. It upset her that Scott had witnessed the little bit he had, but she was thankful Ally hadn’t woken up. Was her son aware of what Frank had in mind? Hopefully not.

Frank glared at her father for a moment before returning his gaze back to Caleb. “It’d be doing the town a favor if you let me shoot McGregor’s sorry ass. Think how happy that would make Noreen and Bob.”

“Just leave now, Frank,” her mother said, sheer disappointment revealed on her face. “To think I wanted her to marry you.”

Profanity spewed from Frank’s mouth like hot lava as he stampeded from the house, slamming the front door hard enough to shake the glass in the windows.

Caleb lowered to his knees beside the sofa. His warm gaze expressed a degree of tenderness. “Jules, did he hurt you?”

She knew what he was asking.

“Nooo.” She tried to raise her head but couldn’t. “But heee wo-uld’ve.” Her voice sounded like her mouth was stuffed with cotton. Her gaze cut to her parents who watched Caleb closely. It was clear they hadn’t casually stopped by. “Hooow’d yoooo know?”

“Scott called me,” her father said.

“After I called Grandpa, I crawled out my window and ran next door,” Scott explained.