Reaching Rachel (10 page)

Hitting the button to dial his number, she threw the towel in the dirty bin and walked out of the gym to her car. Justin didn’t answer, so she headed home, putting it out of her mind. She couldn’t wait to relax after a long day.

Pulling into her driveway, she noticed Justin’s truck parked in guest parking. Furrowing her brow, she wondered how in the world he got into her house since she didn’t give him a key. Looking again at his truck, she knew he wasn’t in there, so the only other option was that he was in her house.

She stomped up the stairs, anger racing through her veins. She couldn’t help it—what the hell was he doing? Sticking her key in the lock, she almost screamed as an arm came around her from behind.

“There you are,” Justin’s voice appeared next to her ear. “It’s about damn time you got here. I’ve been waiting forever. I think it’s about time you get me a house key so I’m not stuck out here.”

Rachel narrowed her eyes at him as she faced him. Her hands were shaking from the scare he gave her. “I tried calling you back,” she answered. “I was at the gym.”

Justin looked her up and down. “I can see that. You should’ve told me where you were.”

Rachel opened her mouth, then shut it. She should’ve
what?
Told him where she was? Oh, hell no. Opening the door, she stepped in and turned on the lights, Justin on her heels. “Justin,” she started. “Why did you call me so many times?”

Justin pushed her back against the door, his breath hot on her face. “I wanted to know where my
girlfriend
was. And I needed you. Is that so wrong?”

She put her hands on his muscular chest, pushing slightly to give herself some space. “I went to the gym, Justin. I go there several times a week, and you know this. What did you need me for? Are you okay?” She stepped to the side to try to get around him, but he put his arm out to the side to stop her. She looked up at him quizzically, fighting the rising panic of him holding her and not letting her past.

“Where are you going?” Justin’s voice was cold, calculating. “I needed you. And when I need you, I want you to be there for me. I care about you, remember, Rachel? I know you have a hard time understanding that, but I worry about you and just want to be with you.” He lowered his arm and Rachel breathed in, stepping quickly around him so she had space.

She wasn’t quite sure how to answer Justin. He was telling her one thing, but showing her that side of him again. “I’m here now,” she said. “Is everything okay?”

Justin relaxed, a smile crossing his handsome face. He stepped forward again and pressed his lips to hers, and she let him. The warmth of his lips melted her a little and she also relaxed. “Baby,” he cooed against her lips. “I missed you. How about I take these clothes off of you and show you how much?”

Rachel’s body reacted to his words, as much as she hated that it did. Deepening the kiss, she let her body go into autopilot as her mind tried to sort out what exactly was going on here. She faintly registered Justin touching her, removing her clothing, and his soft grunts of approval. But all she could concentrate on was what exactly she had gotten herself into, and what she needed to do about it.

“Hmmm, that was so good,” Justin complimented, running his hand along her bare hip. Rachel smiled in agreement, her body still humming in satisfaction but her head still not in the game. “You’re an amazing lover, have I told you that?”

She smiled again, feeling like once again she was putting on a front with him. She thought she had gotten past this, but in an instant, that
feeling
was there again. Dissatisfaction. Urge to run, to shelter herself.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you since you distracted me so well when you finally showed up,” he began, making her stomach furl in anger again. “I lost my apartment today.”

Rachel sat up, looking at Justin. “What does that mean, you lost it?”

“Well, something about the landlord and foreclosure or something. I have no idea. All I know is that he told me I have until this weekend to get out. So, I figured, I would just come stay with you until I can find a new place.”

Rachel’s eyes widened in shock. “What? Here?” She couldn’t help it, she was incredulous. What was he smoking?

Justin laughed, tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear. “Yes, babe. I mean, what’s the big deal? We are together almost every night anyway, and you have plenty of room here. Plus, with me out of work for those few weeks healing, I’m hurting in the money department.”

Rachel stared at his face, wracking her brain for exactly what in the
hell
she was going to say to him. He was
not
living here. Not now, maybe not ever. She didn’t
do
that. “Justin, I don’t think that’s going to happen just yet. I mean, I don’t think we’ve been together long enough yet. It’s a huge step. I can help you find a different place, see what’s out there.”

His eyes met hers, and she saw something there that she wasn’t sure that she liked. “Rachel,” he said, his voice low. “I don’t have any money to go pay for another deposit, first and last, and all that. I don’t think it will kill you to let me stay here for a little bit, will it? I mean, I was here for most of the last month anyway, and you were fine with it then.”

She stood up, wrapping her robe around her body, and started pacing the room. “That was different, Justin. You were injured and I helped you. It was temporary. This is just too much,” she muttered to herself. “I can’t move you in here with me.”

Before she knew it, Justin was standing in front of her, towering over her. “What is your problem? Why are you being such a bitch? I’m not good enough for you? Seriously, Rachel! What do I have to do? I’m asking for your help and all you can think about is how much I’ll cramp your style?” He walked away, pacing the room. She watched him, her body tense. She wasn’t sure what was happening here, but she needed to try to get rid of him. She thought back to last month, the romantic, wonderful things he had said and done when he took her to the beach, and the promise he made her. Where was that guy now?

“Justin,” she intentionally made her voice low so she could try to calm him. “I’m sorry. I just wasn’t expecting you to say that. I just—I’m not ready for that, okay? If you need to stay here for a couple days, that’s fine. But I don’t think I’m in a place where I want to take that next step. You’re wonderful, and have been great to me. I just—it’s just …”

“Let me rephrase for you,” Justin spoke between gritted teeth. “I. Am. Staying. Here. Got it?”

Tears filled Rachel’s eyes as he spoke. She felt herself spiraling out of control, losing it. What was he doing? How could she possibly get rid of him?

When she didn’t answer, he came closer, his stance scaring her. “Do you understand, Rachel? I’ve done nothing but be there for you, and this is how you repay me? I take you on a romantic weekend and tell you how much you mean to me, I want to spend time with you, I tell you how much I care about you, and you practically throw me out of your house when I need somewhere to stay?”

Willing her tears to go away so she didn’t seem weak, she stood up straight, looking him dead in the eyes. “I think you are being unreasonable, Justin. I’ve told you that I will try to be in a relationship. I was glad to be here to help you when you needed me. But I’m not ready for this. Not at all. I—I think you should go for now.”

Before she could even wait for his response, she felt a blinding pain and she fell to the floor, not knowing what just happened. Blinking her eyes rapidly, she saw the carpet next to her. Her face pounded. Did he—hit her? And where was he now? She tried to move her head but the pain shot through her like an arrow, so she squeezed her eyes shut instead.

Next thing she knew, she was back on her feet but not because she stood up. Justin must’ve picked her up. She tried to focus on him, to fight back, but her head was pounding so loud it sounded like the ocean in her ears. “You will learn,” he hissed in her face. As his face came into focus, she saw venom in his eyes. “You need to learn when to shut the fuck up. This is one of those times. So you are going to say to me, of course you can stay here, Justin. Of course.”

Every cell in Rachel’s body screamed at her, told her to get away, to save herself. But even though she knew she was in a situation she was not winning in, she couldn’t let him think he could rule her. “Screw you. How dare you touch me again. Get the
fuck
out of my house.”

“Wrong answer,” Justin snarled, throwing her onto her bed.
Please no,
she thought.
God, I can’t survive it
. He towered over her, his breath coming in shallow spurts. “I can’t believe how dumb you are. Is it really more important, you being an independent, self-absorbed woman? Stupid, stupid woman.” Then the last thing she remembered was watching his fist fly towards her face, then, it was just black.

Justin looked at Rachel, laying silently on the bed. She was passed out, knocked out, or asleep. Whichever it was, it was good for him. Once again, she had pushed him to the limits and he reacted. She was such an idiotic woman. If only she would’ve listened to him, they could’ve been making love right now. It didn’t help that he had had to leave his apartment abruptly, and his job would probably be next. What was he going to do now? He wasn’t ready yet, he didn’t have everything in place. Now he was going to have to accelerate his plan, and that meant breaking Rachel faster than she was really willing to bend. Tonight should’ve been a good start towards that.

He reached out and touched her face, swollen now from his angry fists. Those would bruise. But, when she woke up he would fill her room with flowers and love notes, and she would take him back. One, because she would have no choice, but also because she would want to. She would want him. And she would listen to him and stay home with him for the next few days, until her bruises had faded and could be covered by makeup and he was sure that he was in the clear.

Kayley snuggled into Ben’s chest as the news played on their TV. The kids were all asleep, and it was her favorite time of day, when it was just them. He ran his fingers through her long blonde hair, relaxing her into almost being asleep.

“Our town made the national scene today when it was mentioned that we may be harboring a fugitive,” the news reporter said. Kayley blinked open her eyes, focusing on the screen as they flashed a picture. “This man’s name is Mark Stevenson. He’s wanted in Alabama for a whole array of charges, but the most serious ones are attempted murder of a police officer
and
of a young woman, who is reported to still be in a coma. He is considered armed and very dangerous. A tip called in to the national hotline said that he was seen in our area. If you see this man, or anyone that looks like him, please call 1-800-STOP-CRIME.”

The picture popped up on the screen, a handsome man with dark hair and dark eyes. “That’s crazy,” Kayley whispered. “He’s a psycho.” Right before the picture blinked off the screen, a shiver of recognition flashed through her. “Ben?”

“Yeah, baby,” he murmured, caressing her back.