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A kernel of hope began to bloom inside her until she reminded herself of the money that still sat in the safe back at Priceless and of the fact that Jeb probably still wanted it. While her ex certainly appeared to have dropped off the radar for now, who knew when he’d be back next or what his demands would be? How would Nolan react then? Would he be prepared to accept Raina with all her baggage?
“Mommy? Can we go outside now?”
JJ interrupted her jangled thoughts and Raina latched on to the chance to distract herself.
“Sure, honey,” she said, shoving the envelope and the still-wrapped box in a drawer in the sideboard. She’d deal with it later. Maybe. “Let’s get our coats on, okay?”
“Yippee!”
* * *
It was New Year’s Eve and Raina was still in a quandary about Nolan’s letter and the box that sat untouched in the drawer of her sideboard. She’d missed him this week. More because she’d known he was so far away. But he was back today and she’d alternately been filled with excitement and with a major case of the jitters.
“G’anddad’s here!” JJ announced from where he’d been watching at the front window for his grandfather to pick him up and take him back to the trailer park to see in the New Year.
“Go and get your bag then, JJ,” Raina suggested with a smile, turning away from the mirror where she’d been fussing with her hair for about the seventh time already that evening.
She went to the front door and opened it wide.
“You all right, girlie?” her dad asked, stomping his feet on the step before coming inside.
Raina welcomed her father with a huge hug and inhaled the special scents of his forbidden cigars and Old Spice.
“Yeah, Dad, I’m fine. Just glad to see you.”
Her father gave her a sharp look and a small nod. “I heard some interesting news today. About your young man.”
“My young...? You mean Nolan?”
“He’s why I’m sitting for you tonight, isn’t he?”
Raina felt the heat of a blush warm her cheeks and nodded. “Yes, he’s taking me out tonight. What did you hear?”
Please don’t let it be something bad, she wished with all her heart.
“Has to do with that no good piece of sh—”
“Dad! No swearing,” Raina interrupted, glancing toward JJ.
“Well, you know who I mean.”
“Jeb?”
“Who else?”
“What has Nolan got to do with Jeb?”
Her Dad gave her a sly smile. “Seems your young man arranged a meeting with the lowlife. Got him arrested and put away. Turns out he was wanted for third-degree felony over in New Mexico. Killed someone while driving under the influence and fled the scene, then jumped bail after that.”
“But...how...when?” Raina was at a loss for words. How on earth would Nolan have known who Jeb was, let alone arranged for him to be arrested?
“Happened the night after the pageant, apparently. According to my poker buddy at the sheriff’s office, Nolan offered him money to stay away from you, permanently. A goodly sum, so I’m told. That scumbag couldn’t resist, of course, but it turns out he was dealing with the wrong person. Nolan apparently used his contacts to find out a bit more about who he was dealing with, and took his information to Sheriff Battle, who was only too pleased to oblige and take that waste of space off the streets. Apparently he put up a bit of a fight.”
Did that explain the bruise on Nolan’s face? Hard on the heels of that question came the realization that Jeb was in jail. Relief warred with confusion in Raina’s mind.
“Anyways, doesn’t sound like Jeb’s going to be a problem for you again. You can thank your young man for that. I certainly plan to the next time I see him.” Her dad fixed her with a steely look. “And I will see him a next time, won’t I?”
“I... I don’t know, Dad. I’m not sure I’m ready.”
Her father harrumphed and pulled her into his arms for another hug. “You’ll know when you’re ready, my girlie. You’ll know in your heart.”
“But, Dad, we haven’t known each other long en—”
“Time isn’t what’s important here. What you gotta ask yourself is what would your life be like without him in it.”
Raina tipped her head to look up at her father. He’d had plenty of lady friends since her mom had left them, but never anyone who stuck around. “Is that what you asked yourself?”
