Page 72 of Breathe Me In

Hayne’s attention was glued to his phone. He’d told me he was waiting for a call from work and that’s why he’d chosen this place, since his office was right next door. I knew from our chat over coffee he was a medical-supplies salesman. I didn’t mind if he had to take a call, as it would give me a little time to be alone with my thoughts. The case looped in my head, and I found myself picturing the murder board. Did Maggie or Shelly sit in a place like this with a date while their killer watched them? I wondered how long he might have stalked them.

“So, what’s your deal with Stone?”

Wow, that brought me back with a jerk. I reached for my water to buy myself some time to think of a good answer. “What do you mean?”

He tilted his head and studied me. I felt my cheeks go hot. “I’d have to be blind not to see you have feelings for the guy.” He sat back.

“I think what you might be seeing is just the strange bond we share. I know you’ve heard the story.” I huffed and bit my lip. “Things like that can warp you. I’m sure you can get that, of all people—you’ve shared your PTSD stories with me. You and Ronnie have a strong bond because of it.”

“We do, but I don’t have feelings for him.”

“Okay, then here’s a question.” I looked away, then decided to flip the tables on him. “If you think I have feelings for Brad—”

“I do.” He smirked.

I shot him a look to tread carefully. “Are you having dinner with me as friends, or are you toying with Brad to upset him by taking his partner out for a date?”

“Stone can use a little competition. I’ve seen women fall at his feet just because he’s good looking and the fact he wears a badge.”

“So you do have an ulterior motive.”

“I saw the way he looked at you. So, yeah, at first it was to get under his skin,” he said and sipped his beer, “but you’re an attractive woman and I thought maybe you getting to know me, you’ll see that I’m not as bad as Stone and Kennedy make me out to be.”

“At least you’re finally being honest.” But I wasn’t about to let my guard down. Brad and Kennedy were wary of Hayne, and I knew to take that into consideration.

“I just want a fighting chance here.”

“I’m here, aren’t I?”

“You are, and I’m happy you’re here.” He smiled, then picked up his menu. “Let’s order, shall we?”

Chapter Thirteen

Brad

I could barely see as I drove home. My mind kept going over the fact that Sherry had shown up at the rink the one time in over a decade that Bree came. Then Hayne had taken Bree out on a date. I was furious with Hayne. He had a bad reputation with women for a reason.

I was more than happy when I turned into my driveway. I locked the car and dragged myself inside the house. My plan was to hit the shower and then bed, but once inside, instead of heading to bed, I stood in the center of the living room for a moment, then dropped into a chair. I sat there and let my head spin. My knuckles were sore from the two fights I’d gotten involved in at the rink. I was always up for a good fight, but when Dillan Overbeck had started to make comments about Bree leaving with Hayne, I had lost it.

I glanced to the photo of Sophia on the coffee table. That young woman would have had an entire life ahead of her. If only she had made safer choices. Frustration flared, and I snatched up the file to review it again.

I must have dropped off to sleep, because I jerked awake in a sweat, and my eyes went to the drawer across the room. I tossed the file onto the floor next to me, got up, and walked over, then forced myself to open it. There, tucked in a napkin at the back, was the small piece of barbed wire that I had found in Bree’s truck. I studied it once again in the light. The tiny bits of red on the tips were odd. For the life of me, I couldn’t imagine why she had it. I’d taken it to Wes to get it checked out, and it was just red paint. He couldn’t find anything else on it. I wondered if someone had played a cruel joke on her.

“Fuck!”

Ginger jumped, startled by my outburst.

“Sorry, girl.” I patted her head. “I need to deal with something.”

I grabbed my shoes and keys and headed out into the chilly night.

I got to Bree’s cabin within ten minutes with no traffic. I parked and hopped out. Her place looked empty, but I knocked at her door. I immediately got annoyed at the thought of her staying overnight at Hayne’s. I knew she wasn’t mine, yet, but I wasn’t giving up. That weasel sure as hell wasn’t good enough for her. Where the hell were they?

Ronnie had mentioned he didn’t like the way Hayne treated women, in spite of their friendship. He schmoozed, got what he wanted, then chucked them.

I heard a car and stepped into the shadows. I wasn’t sure I wanted to witness their goodbyes. It’d better just be a goodbye.

Hayne went around and opened the door for her and went in for a kiss. I saw Bree turn her head at the last minute, and he caught her cheek.