Never Let Me Go (Welcome To Redemption) (14 page)

“Answer me, dammit! What does that cop know?”

“H-He knows you were Dillon’s accomplice in the robbery at Hutch’s Friday!”

Jimmy let her go with a shove and shot to his feet. After pacing for a few seconds, he stopped and focused his anger on her. “How the hell could he know that? What the fuck aren’t you telling me, Hannah?”

That I’m the reason they suspect you!
Only she couldn’t very well admit that, not now. “They have Dillon in custody. I just assumed you knew.”

“They have him for the attack on that rich bitch back in February, not the robbery.” When she continued to stare in silent alarm, he repeated through clench teeth, “What the hell aren’t you telling me, Hannah?”

“Nothing, I swear! Jimmy, you have to leave. Chase will be back any minute.”

“Lying, cheating bitch,” he said in the most menacing growl she’d ever heard.

Suddenly, she had no trouble believing this man could have been Dillon’s accomplice in the attempted assault on Lindy. Her pulse kicked into overdrive as the realization she could be in actual danger sank in.

“The only way you could know they were looking at Dillon for the robbery is if Sheriff Dumbshit told you. And the only reason he’d share classified shit like that with you is if you’re sleeping with him.”

Jimmy struck like a coiled rattler, grabbing her by the hair again with one hand while cruelly grasping her breast with the other. Hannah bit her bottom lip, but somehow managed to hold his gaze.

“Go ahead, admit it. You’re fucking the cop. That’s the only reason he’d share that kind of info with you.”

“I’ve never slept with him, and that’s the truth. But not for a lack of trying,” she defiantly added, hoping he’d be so disgusted he’d let her go and get the hell out of her house.

Jimmy’s face twisted into a mask of pure disgust. “Fucking lying whore. No way he’d turn it down if you offered. I’ve seen the way he looks at you, the way he’s always looked at you. He even warned me away from you once. Bet you didn’t know that, did you?” Jimmy laughed. “Well, screw him. Or better yet, screw me.” With that, Jimmy brought his mouth down on hers and kissed her with brutal force.

Hannah tried to twist away, but he had her hair in such a tight grip she couldn’t break free. Instead, she brought her knee up and nailed him in the nuts.

Jimmy howled in agony, but didn’t let go of the death grip he had on her hair. “Stupid bitch, you’re gonna pay for that!”

Hannah brought her knee up again, but Jimmy was ready for her this time. He arched away, then slapped her hard in the face. Tears sprang to her eyes, and she continued to struggle to break free.

“Calm the hell down,” he snarled as he tried to pin her on the bed. “I don’t want to hurt you, dammit.”

“You already did!” she screamed, starting to lose steam. Then she remembered what almost happened to Lindy and continued to fight with everything she had.

“Dammit, Hannah. I was just trying to calm you down! I’m pissed about you and the cop, I admit it. But I love you, baby,” he insisted, his anger seeming to dissolve with each word. “I could never truly hurt you.”

He released his death grip on her hair at the exact moment she gave one last yank in an attempt to break free. She flew around, stumbled, and smacked her face on the corner of the nightstand.

“Oh my God, are you all right?” Jimmy dropped to his knees beside her and tried to get a look at the damage. “Here, let me see.”

“Get away from me!” Hannah shrieked, swinging at him in a futile gesture. She cupped her eye, and tears welled as her face went from numb to a hard, agonizing throb.

“I never meant to hurt you, baby! You know that, don’t you?” His tone grew panicked. “I just got so damn jealous when I heard the sheriff was staying with you and—”

The distinct roar of an engine stopped Jimmy mid-sentence. He scowled as he realized who must have returned. His expression flip-flopped between annoyance and concern as he held her gaze, indecision etched in his brow. The front door opened and then closed.

“Get out of here,” Hannah hissed under her breath. Not that she wanted to protect Jimmy, but she knew Chase would beat him to a bloody pulp if he walked into her bedroom right now, and the last thing she wanted was to have Chase sitting in a jail cell over a piece of shit like Jimmy. “Go!”

He cast one last look of indecision her way before hopping to his feet, leaping over her bed, and shimmying out her window.

Hannah climbed gingerly to her feet and hurried into the hallway, quietly closing the door behind her as Chase called out, “Hannah, you still in the tub? I need to talk to you.”

Crap, she’d left the water running! She raced into the bathroom as quietly as possible and shut the door with a soft click. Reluctantly, she took a glance in the mirror, barely holding back a gasp when she saw the damage. Her eye had already turned three shades of purple; it looked like someone had popped her a good one. She considered telling Chase the truth, but worried he’d lose it and go hunt Jimmy down himself. And God only knew how that confrontation would play out.

More than likely with Jimmy in a full body cast, and Chase losing his badge.

Possibly even doing prison time.

Her heart started its frantic pace again. No way could she let that happen. Chase, no doubt, already had an APB out on Jimmy; the best thing to do would be to let nature take its course. Knowing Chase’s dogged tenacity, Jimmy would be in police custody within the hour.

Hannah wet a washcloth with cold water and pressed it to her eye. With a deep breath, she opened the door and stepped into the hall. Chase was just on his way up.

“There you are, Listen, I…What happened?” He rushed up the stairs and reached out as if to touch her face.

Hannah tried for a self-conscious eye roll. “I ran into my bedroom to grab my book, tripped on the rug, and did a face plant into the nightstand.”

“Here, let me see.” She removed the washcloth and could tell by the slight widening of his eyes that she had a doozy of a shiner.

But of course, he said, “It’s not so bad. Don’t suppose you have a steak lying around?”

She smiled, which hurt a little bit, causing her to wince. “No. But I have a bag of frozen peas. Will that do?”

“It’ll do perfectly. Why don’t you go down to the living room and lie on the couch while I grab the peas.”

Chase met her at the couch with the bag of frozen vegetables, and Hannah lied down while he wrapped it in a towel and carefully placed it over her eye. “I’m going to go change my clothes,” he told her. “You just relax, all right?”

He returned less than five minutes later dressed in faded Levis, a black pocket-tee that stretch tautly over his broad chest, and his big feet bare. He had her scoot over so he could sit beside her, and then surprised her by gently placing her head on his lap. Hannah gazed up in wonder as he brushed some hair from her forehead and proceeded to stroke her face.

“You must think I’m a complete klutz,” she murmured, feeling a little uncomfortable with his tender ministrations. Since she’d just lied to the man’s face, she didn’t exactly feel worthy of such tender loving care.

“I
know
you’re a complete klutz,” he teased. “But I happen to think you’re incredibly beautiful as well, so it sort of evens things out.”

“Chase—”

“Hannah…I love you.”

Whoa!
Hannah thought, channeling Joey Russo from that 90s show Blossom. “Uh…I love you, too. You’ve always been very special to me. You know that.”

“Yeah, but that’s not what I meant.” He swallowed hard, holding her gaze. “I’m
in love
with you, Dimples. I have been for so long it should be a crime. But I can’t fight it anymore. Or hide it. I know you’re attracted to me, and I’ve thought about this a lot over the last few days. Hell, I’ve thought about nothing else.” He took a deep breath before continuing. “If you don’t feel the same—”

“I love you, too. I’m
in
love with you, too,” she hurriedly added, her pulse thrumming happily through her veins. “I have been since the third grade when you carried me home from the park after I fell off my bike.” She reached up to caress his face. “You’ve always taken care of me, haven’t you?”

Chase closed his eyes for a moment, as if trying to get himself under control. He opened them and smiled. “Third grade? I think that was probably hero worship.”

She gave her head an emphatic shake. “Nope. I fell so hard for you I can’t believe you didn’t know it. Every time you came over, I thought up a new reason to be near you. I never had a single boyfriend in school because the only boy I wanted was you. I even held out hope you’d ask me to my senior prom, but you never did.”

“Of course not. Drew would have never allowed me to take you. I was twenty-four and already a cop by then. It would have been highly inappropriate. Though, believe me, I wanted to beat the shit out of that twerp who came to pick you up.”

“You’re always so by-the-damn-book, Sheriff.” She playfully narrowed her good eye. “Not one of your better qualities let me tell you. Besides, he was the only guy who asked me, and I didn’t want to go to my prom alone. Talk about humiliating.”

His expression grew tender as he shifted to lie back against the arm of the couch, careful not to jostle her. The man was as caring and considerate as they came, and Hannah was never more grateful for that fact than right now.

“I can guarantee that every kid in school wanted to ask, but were either too afraid or figured a pretty girl like you already had a date.”

“Whatever,” she demurred, though his sweet words lit a fire to her already stoked desire.

Chase leaned down and kissed her. A soft, gentle press of his lips against hers. He pulled back a few inches and gazed at her mouth, as if waging an inner battle with himself. Sensing Mr. Honorable was about to end the kiss there, Hannah tossed the bag of peas aside, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pulled him back down.

A low chuckle emanated from Chase. The kiss started out soft, exploring, but as his fingers traced the curve of her good cheek, trailed a fiery path down the column of her throat, the kiss deepened into something hungry and carnal. If the hard ridge pressing into her back was any indication, Chase wanted her, and Hannah needed this amazing man more than she’d ever needed anything in her life.

She swung her legs down and moved to straddle his chest. Chase lightly touched her face and frowned when she winced.

“You need to lie back down with an ice pack. We—”

“I’m fine,” she assured him, leaning in for another kiss. “What I
need
is you. Chase, you’re going to have to get over it sooner or later. And for the record, there’s no way in hell I’m waiting for later.”

“What?” He leaned his head back against the couch and gazed up at her as if lost and confused.

She’d have been tempted to laugh if sexual frustration hadn’t been riding her. “Drew. You’re still holding back, and we both know it’s because of my brother.” She leaned in for another quick peck. “You’re a good man, Chase, and Drew knows it. He’ll be happy for us; deep down, you know he will.”

Chase swallowed hard, indecision etching his face. She knew exactly how much he wanted her—the stiff proof wedged between them. With an impish smile, Hannah wiggled against his straining erection.

“Ah, hell, Dimples, when did you start fighting dirty?”

“For you, I’ll fight as dirty as I have to.” Taking advantage of his momentary weakness, she leaned in for another kiss.

It took Chase only a couple of seconds before he crushed her in his arms with a rumble of surrender. Hannah needed no coaxing as he deepened the kiss, meeting the rasp of his tongue stroke for stroke as she dissolved into his heat. Her pulse roared in her ears as her need reached a fevered pitch, and she plastered herself against his broad chest in silent entreaty.

Chase’s hands trailed a fiery path down her back, gripping her backside. Their mouths tangled with intensified hunger, their tongues moving in greedy rhythm. Hannah had desired this man for so long it seemed incredible that she was finally going to know what it felt like to have him deep inside her.

She reached down and tugged the hem of his shirt from his jeans. Chase lifted his arms as she yanked it over his head, his hands going immediately to her own shirt. He unbuttoned it with infinite slowness, as if unwrapping a much anticipated gift. Hannah stroked the solid planes of his muscular chest, reveling in its masculine width and strength. Chase Lowell was easily the sexiest man alive—and he was hers.

He spread her shirt open and gazed at her in reverent awe. Much too impatient for his tender handling, she swept his hands away, whipped off her shirt and reached back to unclasp her bra. She shimmied it off and tossed it onto their growing pile of discarded clothing. Chase’s eyes darkened as he cupped both her breasts. Knowing this amazing man liked what he saw was as heady a feeling as she’d ever experienced. With a moan of pleasure, Hannah let her head fall as her nipples pebbled in anticipation.

“You’re so beautiful, Dimples,” he whispered as his thumbs drew over her aching peaks. “I’ve wanted you for so long.”

Hannah met his heavy-lidded gaze with a teasing lift of her brow. “So, why are we still half dressed?”

He let out a low, pained chuckle, his eyes raking over every inch of her with wicked intent. “I’ve waited this long to have you; I’d like to take my time.”