Jolie was just climbing out of the shower when she heard someone knock on her front door. She was tempted to ignore it. It was nearly midnight, after all, and Corbin would be calling soon. But then she heard her name. It was faint and masculine.
Dad? Keith?
As she tied her robe around her waist, she walked quickly to the front door and peeked through the peep hole. She rolled her eyes when she saw who was standing on her porch.
“Go away, Gavin.”
“I wanna talk to you.”
“I have nothing to say to you.”
“Just . . . let me in. I want to apol . . . apologize.”
Is he drunk?
“Go home, Gavin. Or I’ll call my brother!”
“You do that. Jolie. You . . . call the sheriff. You always need a man to bail you out of trouble. Your dad. Your brother. Corbin James. What a pathet . . . pathetic woman you are.”
“Kiss my—”
Suddenly the door flew open, and Gavin staggered in, holding a silver key.
“Stupid woman. Leaving an . . . extra key under the mat. Don’t you know? That’s the first place a thief looks?”
Gavin grinned and stumbled toward her, reeking of booze.
Jolie had never been afraid of Gavin. She might hate him, but she’d never feared him.
Until now.
“I know it was Corbin.”
“What was Corbin?”
“I don’t know how he did it. Unless he’s gone from snorting cocaine to selling it. How’d he do it, Jolie? How . . . how did he save you from foreclosure?”
So that’s why he’s pissed. He can’t get his greedy hands on my bookstore.
“That’s none of your business. Now get the hell out of my house!”
Gavin’s eyes flashed with an emotion so primal it made her stomach lurch. Suddenly, she was pinned against the wall. He pressed his body against hers as he wrapped one hand around her waist and one around her neck. The smell of alcohol nearly gagged her as tears stung her eyes.
“Gavin,” she whispered. “Please . . . you’re hurting me. Let’s . . . let’s talk.”
She resisted the urge to scream as the hand around her throat slid between the fabric of her robe.
“I’m done talking, Jolie. What’s the point? All you do is say no. No, you won’t go out with me. No, you won’t sleep with me. No, you won’t sell me the bookstore. All you ever say is no. Maybe it’s time I stop asking and just start taking what I want.”
Her heart thundered in her chest, but she was too afraid to fight. Too afraid to scream. Too afraid to think.
Give him what he wants.
“You can have the bookstore, Gavin. Make me an offer.”
He laughed—a low, menacing laugh that sent shivers up her spine.
“I don’t give a shit about your precious bookstore. I never wanted it. You said no. Nobody says no to me. It became a game to me. Because I knew. I knew if I could get your bookstore, I could get you. That’s what I really wanted. And now I have you.”
Tears trickled down her face as Gavin trailed his nose against her cheek. Self-preservation finally kicked in, and she started to struggle, but he was just too big, and he was holding her too tight.
“Get your hands off her!”
The booming voice was just the distraction she needed. Gavin turned his head toward the door, and Jolie quickly lifted her leg and kneed him in the groin as hard as she could. With a guttural groan that was music to her ears, Gavin collapsed to the floor.
“Jolie, are you okay?”
She rushed into Ben’s arms.
“How did you know?” she whispered, hugging him tight. “How . . .”
“Corbin. Corbin knew. I don’t know how. He was in a total panic because you wouldn’t answer your phone. My brother . . . he really loves you, Jolie. He loves you so much.”
The tears came then—hot, angry, and filled with relief—as she buried her face against his chest.
“You bitch . . .” Gavin said with an agonized moan.
Jolie wiped her eyes and stared at the man slumped on her living room floor.
“What did you say?” Ben’s eyes blazed as he stalked over to Gavin’s body and swiftly kicked him in the ribs. “You asshole. If you ever touch her again, I swear I’ll kill you. Do you hear me? I should do it anyway. If I don’t kill you, Corbin will. Mark my words. You’re a dead man.”
Ben kicked him again, and again, until Jolie screamed.
“Stop! Please stop. I’m calling the police.”
She ran to the bedroom and grabbed her phone, scrolling through her contacts until she found Keith’s number. She groaned when she heard his voice mail.
“Keith. Call me.”
Jolie rushed back into the living room. “He didn’t answer.”
“Call the sheriff’s department,” Ben said. “Ask for Steve Sullivan.”
“Pathetic.” Gavin gasped. “Always needing a man to—”
This time, Ben kicked Gavin in the head, knocking him out cold.
“There. Maybe you’ll shut up now.” Ben’s eyes never left Gavin’s body as he murmured directions to Jolie. “Call the sheriff’s department. Ask for Steve. Then call Mom. Okay?”
With fumbling fingers, Jolie made the calls.
By the time Steve and his deputy arrived, Gavin was conscious again. Corbin’s mother and the paramedics arrived soon after.
“Oh my God, are you okay?” Maggie asked, rushing inside and wrapping Jolie in her arms. “What did he do? Is he dead? I hope he’s dead.”
Gavin groaned as the medics placed him on the gurney and carted him to the ambulance.
“No such luck,” Ben muttered.
Maggie pulled Jolie over to the couch. A female paramedic offered her a blanket, and Maggie draped it around her shoulders.
“You’re shivering.”
“Probably shock,” the medic said. “Jolie, my name’s Brooke. I’d like to check your blood pressure, okay?”
Jolie nodded. She was just thankful to be off her feet. She couldn’t stop shaking and her legs felt like jelly.
Maggie took her hand. “Are you okay? What did he do?”
“I’m okay. He just scared me.”
“Is that all he did?” Maggie asked, with tears in her eyes. There was no mistaking the meaning behind her question.
“Yes. That’s all. But if Ben hadn’t walked in . . .”
Her trembling became uncontrollable now.
“You’re okay,” Brooke whispered gently. “Your pulse is good, but your blood pressure is a little high.”
“Please don’t make me go to the hospital.”
Maggie and Brooke exchanged concerned looks.
“Please,” she murmured, tears trickling down her cheeks.
“I’ll take her home with me,” Maggie said.
The medic nodded just as Steve walked over.
“Jolie, is this a good time to take your statement?”
“No, she’s very upset. Can’t you see that?” Maggie snapped.
“Yes, ma’am. It’s just that the sooner I get her statement, the sooner she can get some rest. And the sooner I can put Gavin behind bars.”
“Let’s do it,” Jolie said, her trembling voice betraying her strong words.
Steve then took her statement while the other officer slapped cuffs around Ben’s wrists.
Maggie jumped off the couch. “What are you doing?”
“We have to take him in, Mrs. James.”
“But he was protecting me!” Jolie cried. “If he hadn’t walked in—”
“We know that,” Steve said softly. “It’s standard procedure. We’ll take care of him.”
Jolie couldn’t believe what was happening.
“No, this is bullshit! Where’s Keith?”
“The sheriff’s at a conference in Nashville. He’ll be back tomorrow.”
Jolie had completely forgotten that her brother was out of town.
“It’s okay,” Ben said softly. “I just beat the shit out of a man. There’s no way I’m not going to jail.”
“That’s ridiculous!” Maggie spat.
“I know, Mom, but it’s his job. Steve’s my friend. He’ll take care of me. I’ll probably need bail money, though, so call Kellie. Tell her to meet me at the police station. Then call Corbin, because he’s probably losing his mind.”
Overwhelmed with emotion, Jolie stood up so she could kiss Ben’s cheek.
“Thank you for taking care of me.”
“You’re family. I’ll always take care of you.”
She started to cry again just as her phone rang.
“I bet that’s my brother. Talk to him. Mom, call Kellie.”
Jolie watched through teary eyes as Steve escorted Ben to the patrol car.
“Call Kellie. I’ll take this in the bedroom.”
“Yell if you need anything.”
With her blanket wrapped around her shoulders, Jolie nodded and walked slowly to her room. She closed the door and sat down on the edge of her bed before answering the call.
“I’m okay.”
“That’s good because if you didn’t answer this time I was going to have to give him a sedative,” Karin said, the relief in her voice evident.
“You may have to anyway.”
“Why? What’s wrong?”
“Let me talk to him, please.”
Jolie pulled the blanket tighter around her.
“What happened?”
“Corbin, I’m okay.”
“Tell me what happened.”
Taking a deep breath, Jolie told him every detail of the single most frightening moment of her life. By the time she was finished, she was bawling.
And so was he.
“I’m coming home.”
“No. I’m okay, honestly.”
Corbin barked instructions to Karin, telling her to get him on the first flight out of Little Rock.
“Corbin, stop. I’m fine. We’ll see each other next week.”
“You’ll see me tomorrow.”
“You have a concert tomorrow night.”
“I don’t care! I’m coming home. And then I’m going to kill Gavin Massey.”
“He didn’t hurt me.”
“He touched you. He scared you. He’s a dead man.”
“Ben beat the crap out of him.”
“Good.”
“Your brother’s sitting in a jail cell.”
“Worth it.”
She sighed tiredly. “Your mom’s here. I’m going home with her. Please, Corbin.”
“I need to see you. I need to hold you . . .”
His voice broke, and it only caused Jolie to cry harder.
“I need that, too. But you have concert dates.”
“Karin will work it out. I’m coming home.”
Jolie didn’t have the strength to argue anymore. She wanted to shower. She wanted to sleep.
Suddenly, she heard her father’s voice in the living room.
“Dad’s here. I should go.”
“Tell me you’re okay. I need to hear it, one more time.”
“I’m okay. I love you.”
“I love you, too. Have Mom call me when you guys get home.”
She promised she would.
“Jolie?” Maggie called from outside the door. “Your dad’s here.”
“I’ll be right out.”
But she didn’t walk right out. Instead, she walked to her bathroom, untied her robe, and tossed it into the wastebasket. Then, she turned on the water, as hot as she could stand it, and she climbed into the shower. The scent of Corbin’s body wash flooded her senses as she scrubbed every inch of her body.
And then she cried.
“Drink this,” Maggie said softly.
Jolie took the tea and sipped it gratefully. She couldn’t remember when she’d been so tired. Emotionally. Mentally. Physically. Complete and total exhaustion.
At least she’d stopped shivering.
Jolie glanced at her father sitting by her side on the sofa. When she had finally emerged from her scalding shower, she’d been thankful to find her father’s open arms waiting for her. They weren’t the arms she craved, but nevertheless, she felt safe, protected, and loved. Thomas hadn’t said much on the drive over to the James’ house, but he’d been on the phone a lot. With Keith, she assumed.
“Dad, you can go home. I’m just going to sleep anyway.”
“I’m not leaving.”
“Thomas, I’ve already put fresh sheets on the bed in Ben’s old bedroom. You’re more than welcome to stay, of course.”
“Thank you.”
Her dad’s phone rang again, and he excused himself to take the call outside.
“He’s so pissed,” Jolie whispered.
“Of course he is,” Samuel replied softly. “I think I’ll check on him. Be right back.”
“And I’d like to check your blood pressure,” Maggie said, sitting down beside her. “Then maybe you can try to sleep.”
Jolie sighed. Sleep sounded so nice.
“Do you really think Corbin’s coming home?”
“Oh, I think that’s a safe assumption.”
“He shouldn’t. He has commitments.”
“None of them are more important than his commitment to you.”
Jolie closed her eyes and took deep, cleansing breaths while Maggie took her blood pressure.
“Much better,” Maggie said approvingly.
“What about Ben?”
“Ben will be fine. Don’t worry.”
“But I am worried.”
“Don’t be. Steve’s a good man. So is your brother. They’ll take care of him. Kellie’s down there now.”
“Where are the twins?”
“At home, snug as bugs in their beds. Kellie’s sister is with them.”
“Good.” Jolie yawned. Now that she was finally warm, all she could think about was sleep. “I think I’ll head upstairs.”
“Of course. I’ll help you up the stairs.”
“I can walk, Maggie.”
“Humor me.”
The two walked hand-in-hand up the stairs. Jolie didn’t even ask. She just walked straight into Corbin’s room and pulled back the covers. After slipping off her shoes, she climbed under the blanket.
“There,” Maggie said, tucking her in. “Try to sleep, sweetheart.”
“Thank you, Maggie. For everything.”
Maggie leaned down and kissed her forehead. She was almost to the door when Jolie called her name again.
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“Will you take care of my dad?”
She smiled. “Of course. Call me if you need anything.”
Jolie closed her eyes and prayed for sleep.
The next day, Jolie was awakened by the sunlight streaming through the window in Corbin’s room. She groaned and tried to pull the blanket over her head.
“Please don’t hide your face. I’ve missed it so much.”
Jolie’s eyes snapped open. She blinked rapidly, and when his handsome face finally came into focus, she couldn’t do anything but cry. Because he was there. He was really there. Just like he said he would be.
“Shh,” Corbin whispered, grabbing her hand and pulling it close to his lips. “Don’t cry. Everything’s okay.”
“You’re here.”
“I’m here.”
“What time is it? When did you get here?”
“It’s around noon. I got here early this morning. I couldn’t get a flight so I drove all night.”
“You drove from Little Rock?”
“Well, Karin drove. She wouldn’t let me.”
“What about your shows? What about—”
“I’m just the opening act. The shows will go on without me. I am exactly where I need to be.”
“That’s not true.”
“It is true. Here with you. That’s where I should be.”
“No, I mean you shouldn’t be sitting in that chair. You should be in bed, with me.”
Corbin looked conflicted.
“I . . . want to be. I just didn’t know. I mean, I just didn’t know if you’d . . . want that.”
Jolie understood. But, instead of remembering the details of the night before, she slid over and pulled back the blanket.
“I want your arms around me. Please?”
She didn’t have to ask twice. Within seconds, Corbin was out of his shoes and in the bed, wrapping his arms around her. He held her so tight she could barely breathe, but that was fine with her. As much as she loved her father, and as much as she loved Corbin’s parents, this was what she needed. These arms. This man.
Jolie buried her face against his chest and cried until she was sure she was all cried out.
When she finally lifted her face to his, she saw tears streaming down his cheeks.
“I’m okay,” she whispered.
“There’s a bruise,” he said gently, trailing his finger along her neck.
“Bruises fade. I’m okay.”
Corbin closed his eyes. “When I think about what could’ve happened. When I think about what he could have done—”
“Don’t think. Just hold me.”
“I can do that.”
In the sanctuary of his bedroom, they laid together for what seemed like hours. After a while, Corbin finally whispered the words he wanted to say. What he needed to say.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t here.”
“But you were. You’re the one who called Ben. How did you know?”
Jolie listened quietly as he told her about his panic attack.
“I just knew something was wrong. And then you didn’t answer your phone.”
Jolie smiled softly and placed her hand on his cheek.
“Hundreds of miles away, and your heart was still connected to mine.”
“Hmm. Pretty words. I might steal them for a song.”
“Ooh. Would I get co-writing credits?”
Corbin grinned.
“How’s Ben?” she asked.
“He’s home. Gavin’s still in the hospital. That asshole wanted to press charges.”
“Against Ben? You can’t be serious.”
Corbin nodded. “He was . . . persuaded not to try.”
“Do I want to know how he was persuaded?”
“Probably not. Let’s just say the sheriff was very convincing.”
Jolie could only imagine how convincing a brother with a badge could be.
“Are you hungry?” Corbin asked.
“I am, actually.”
“Mom will be thrilled to hear that. She’s been wanting to feed us all morning. I told her I’d eat when you did.”
“Then let’s go eat.”
The two of them climbed out of bed and changed into fresh clothes. Jolie stood in front of the mirror, pulling her hair into a ponytail, when Corbin walked up behind her. Their mutual smiles reflected in the glass. It felt good to smile.
“Sweetheart, I have to ask . . . did you really knee him in the balls?”
Jolie laughed. It felt good to laugh, too.
“I really did.”
With a chuckle, Corbin wrapped his arms around her waist.
“That’s my girl.”