You Only (Cameron Farms Book 1) (15 page)

“Give me a ride home. I want to talk to you about something.” He spoke softly against her hair.

“So, Mr. and Mrs. Benton, do you need a ride?” Hale waived her keys at her friends. “I’ve got plenty of room.”

Izzy shook his head negatively. “I’m good to drive.”

“Can you drop me off in the morning, to get my car?” Jasmine looked up at the parking spot where she left her car. “It should be fine.”

“I’ll give the manager a call when we get home to let them know we’ll collect your car in the morning.” Izzy wrapped his arm around his wife, hugging her to his side.

Hale didn’t hesitate. “I’m parked over there so this is good-bye.” She pointed to the far corner of the lot. “I’ll take Finn with me to make sure that I don’t get mugged.” She shifted out of Finn’s hold to hug Jasmine and reached up to pull Izzy’s head down for a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you for a fun night.”

“Thanks guys for dinner.” Finn said as he pulled Hale back to his side, wrapping his arm around her, and started to her SUV.

After they got in, Hale started the engine and backed out of the parking space. “So, what is it that you need to talk about?” Her curiosity was killing her.

She glanced to check his expression. The console lighting and streetlights weren’t bright, but Finn was sprawled in the seat. His hands were resting open on his thighs. He acted like his minion hadn’t just taken a few cheap shots at her this afternoon. “I wanted to explain why I couldn’t make the meeting today. I was on a conference call about the national convention and it ran long.”

That seemed like a good reason to her.

“I wanted to be there to support you.”

“I did wonder if by sending Matt, you were making a statement.” She shrugged one shoulder. She was fishing for more information but tried to appear only mildly interested in his answer.

“He was supposed to explain and express my apologies. From your tone, I take it he forgot to do all of that.”

“Cecily started the meeting the moment he explained that you weren’t coming, so Matt didn’t get a chance.” Nor did he try to add that little detail, and there had been plenty of time at the end of the meeting. She continued. “It was short and to the point. Matt shared that you would have preferred that the public have the opportunity to comment on my hiring, but that was overruled by Cecily.”

“He said what?” She heard the anger in Finn’s tone.

Not sure what had set him off, she continued cautiously. “Uh, that you wanted to open the floor to the public to discuss my employment at the next City Council Meeting.”

“Fuck that son of a bitch. What I told him was that it would be good for people to hear about your background and credentials, but I wanted your hire approved today.” He was fuming at Matt. “Jesus, you must think that I’m a real jerk.” He ran his hand through his hair.

Oh God, what to say. “I was sort of confused.” She played it safe.

He turned his body toward her. “Honey, I’m sorry, that isn’t what I intended. God damn it, that shithead.”

Now things were starting to make sense. “I get the impression that Matt isn’t a big fan of mine.” She turned into the alley that ran behind his house.

“He has no reason not to like you and that wasn’t my directive. Jesus, I can’t believe that Moe hasn’t tracked me down to yell at me.” They both knew that Moe would, eventually.

“Ah, now I see why you wanted me to drive you home. I’m here in case you need protecting from Moe.” She teased him as she pulled into the parking area behind his house. After putting the SUV in park, she unhooked her seatbelt so that she could turn her body to his. “I appreciate you explaining why you couldn’t be there and all, but I’m fine.”

He gently gripped her chin, she stilled. “Hale, I wanted to be there for you.” He paused as she licked her dry lips. “I know you might be feeling a little skittish, but I won’t do anything to hurt you.”

She could feel her chest rise and fall with each breath as she thought about what he said. There were so many ways to read that.

“Something’s here between us. I know you feel it. You have to.” He let go of her chin and slid his hand into her hair at the back of her head.

“I don’t know, Finn,” she whispered.

“Shush.” He pulled her closer and kissed her. She kissed him back, running her hands from his pecs to his shoulders. It was slow and deep, he acted like they had all night. When he slowly pulled back and loosened his grip on her hair, he asked, “Want to come in for a while?”

God, she wanted to. “I’d better head home. Miller’s alone and I’ve been gone since three.”

“Another night?” He didn’t wait for her answer as he unhooked his seatbelt and reached for the door latch.

“Finn.” She sounded a little out of breath. “Kiss me again, please?”

He did.

A few days later, as Finn was unloading the dry cleaning from his car, he caught a glimpse of Izzy crossing the alley. “Hey man.”

“Need some help?” Izzy jogged over and took the hangers from his hand.

“Thanks, I had to get a couple of things before I leave town tomorrow.”

Izzy followed Finn into his kitchen. He looked around for a place to hang the clothes. Finn dropped his plastic bags on his counter, took the hangers from Izzy, and hung them on the handle to his cabinet above his microwave.

“Dad’s coming over in a few for dinner, want to come?”

“Sure, sounds good.” One of the perks of living so close to the Bentons was that they fed him often.

“Nothing too fancy, just burgers.”

“Burgers are always good, plus I don’t have any plans.” Finn wanted to ask but held back.

“We invited Hale. She’s been buried in those books. Jazz said it was time for her to get out of her house.” Izzy answered his unspoken question.

“Seems like she’s really into the project.” They had done some texting, but he had not seen her since the night they kissed in her SUV.

“Yeah, she’s a perfectionist and you know she can’t do anything but exemplary work on this project.” He thought for a second that Izzy would elaborate on that thought, but his friend stayed silent.

“I’ll be over in a few to help.” He wanted to grab a shower before he saw Hale.

Izzy had started a fire in the family room’s fireplace. The kids had disappeared as soon as they had finished eating. Now the adults had gathered inside.

“So, Finn, how long will you be gone this time?” Moe asked as he sat back in the recliner.

“I fly out tomorrow and won’t be back until next Sunday, so just over a week.” Finn was in the huge wing chair opposite the recliner.

“San Diego, right?” Jasmine had curled up into one corner of the sofa opposite Izzy.

“Yes, it should be great weather. I’m taking my golf clubs and I hope I get to play a little.”

“I hope that you told Matt that he shouldn’t get too comfortable while covering for you.” Moe gave Finn a pointed look.

“Problem, Dad?” Izzy asked.

“Moe.” Hale sounded like she was cautioning the elder man. She sat on the floor next to his chair and reached up to pat the man’s hand resting on the leather arm closest to her.

“I didn’t like how he treated Hale the other day. Cecily wasn’t happy either.” Moe stared at Finn as he answered his son.

Hale had been quiet during the meal and had admitted that she’d been working late into the night.

“I talked to Hale and apologized for not being able to attend.” Finn hoped that Moe would be appeased with his answer.

“Moe, it’s OK. There was a miscommunication and Finn explained everything.” Hale looked uncomfortable as they talked about her.

“I hope that you and Matt are clear on what a good deal you got, when Hale agreed to take over that job.” Moe pointed his finger in Finn’s direction, a sure sign that he was angry.

“I do and we are very lucky that you could help us.” Finn watched Hale duck her head as if she was embarrassed.

Jasmine smiled at Hale. “I stopped by yesterday on my way back from Jackson, and she answered the door in a T-shirt, and pajama bottoms. Said she had ‘worked until three in the morning’, and it looked like she went right back to it. The town definitely got a bargain.”

Finn could hear the pride Jasmine’s her voice as she bragged about her friend.

“She wants to do a good job.” Izzy added as if Hale wasn’t in the room.

“Hale has some time,” Finn said. He switched his attention to Hale. “You don’t need to be burning the midnight oil.” Finn wanted to make clear that he wasn’t asking her to work long hours.

“You don’t get it.” Izzy looked at Finn.

“What don’t I get?” Finn knew his tone was sharp.

“Guys.” Hale raised her voice.

“Every job that Hale has covered since she came back has had her total attention. She feels like she can’t make any mistakes.” Izzy spoke with authority.

“Um, we don’t need to talk about—” Hale tried to tell them but Finn talked over her.

“People are getting used to her being back. I haven’t noticed much gossip.” Finn looked around the room. Jasmine was giving him the evil eye. What was he missing?

“Finn, you don’t understand.” Jasmine stated matter of factly.

“Then explain it to me.” His tone was terse, as he tamped down his anger. He hated that there could be another part of Hale that he didn’t fathom.

“She feels that she has to do an exemplary job on every project. It’s her way to make up for the damage, she thinks she’s caused.” Izzy calmly stated.

For a moment everyone was silent, stunned that Izzy had dropped that bombshell on Finn in front of Hale.

Hale jumped to her feet with surprising speed. “Stop.”

Finn glared at Izzy. “What do you mean?” Jesus, did everyone know Hale better than he did?

“Please don’t talk about this tonight,” she begged.

“Somebody needs to tell me what he’s talking about.” Finn’s voice rose as he stood.

“I’m asking you all to not go into this tonight.” She turned to Izzy and then Moe.

“Somebody start talking.” He ordered his friends.

Hale flinched at his tone.

“What’s so important that she’s begging you to not tell?” He stared at Hale. She dropped her eyes and he knew that he would get his answer.

“Finn.” Hale’s voice cracked. He didn’t let her finish as he moved swiftly to her, grabbing her wrist then dragging her though the kitchen and out the back door.

He slammed the back door and turned to her. “What the fuck did he mean?”

She didn’t answer and wouldn’t meet his eyes, not a good sign.

“Babe, talk to me. I’m getting ideas and I need to hear this from you.” He tried to soften his tone. Whatever this was about, it was torturing her.

She continued looking down and started shaking her head.

“Now, Hale,” he demanded. “What is going on with you?”

“He’s right.” He could barely hear her voice.

“What do you mean? What’s he right about?” He ran his hand through his hair.

“It’s like I have to do a lot. You know, to make up for everything.” She finished and slowly looked at him.

“Honey, I don’t understand.” She looked so vulnerable. He wanted to pull her into his arms.

“I let everybody down when I left. People expected a lot from me and I ran away. I hurt you and everybody remembers that.” She looked like a deer caught in a car’s headlight, frozen in place but ready to run.

“Hale, honey, that was a long time ago.” He started to assure her.

“People don’t forgive, they don’t forget.” She told him bitterly. “They watch and they judge. Then, when you think they’ve forgotten, they make you pay.”

“Who’s doing this?” Then it hit him, he’d seen those women throwing the past in her face right here in this backyard during her birthday party.

“It’s happened my whole life, Finn.” She moved abruptly, walking to the picnic table and dropping onto the bench. “When I was little, Lydia would lock me in my room and ignore me for days. She’d punish me for something that happened weeks earlier or even things she made up. I never knew what she was going to do. But I was never safe.”

Over the years, he’d heard bits and pieces about Hale’s mother. He knew about the attempted murder and suicide, but Hale had never wanted to talk about her. He didn’t push her to learn more.

“My friends didn’t want to come over because you never knew how Lydia would be. One minute she would seem sweet and playful then she could be screaming or worse.” Hale’s voice trailed off.

“I thought you and Jasmine were friends since birth? Didn’t she stay at your house?”

“She would come over to play only if Poppy stayed the entire time. Then, after they saw Lydia get mad at me one time, I could go to their house, but Jasmine wasn’t allowed to come over any more.” Hale was rocking back and forth in place.

He already knew the answer was going to be bad, but he needed to know. “What happened that was so bad that Poppy would make that rule?”

She closed her eyes, squeezing them tightly. God, it hurt to watch. He could feel her pain. “It was summertime. I think I was six or seven, and Poppy and Jasmine had come for a visit. Jasmine and I had been playing in my room and it was nearing time for her to leave. We were having so much fun. I think we were playing dress-up. Anyway, we came up with the idea that I should go home with Jazz and spend the night. You know, to continue the fun.” She looked up at him, searching his face.