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“What’s the point? For every one they stop, there will be ten more.”
“Because it just takes one person to take it too far.”
“Nobody has ever hurt me.”
“Just because you can’t see the wounds doesn’t mean they’re not there.”
“Fine, no one has ever hurt me physically. It’s all been childish bullshit.”
“I’d say vandalizing your property is far from childish bullshit. Before you arrived here, my best friend’s girl was dealing with a vandal. The ice cream shop at the beginning of town. It wasn’t childish bullshit. It was a message which eventually led to her being held at gunpoint.”
“I heard the story,” Harley said. “Allison Winters still talks about it on air.”
“Then you know, it might become serious. We won’t file a police report this time, but you have to promise me, if anything else happens, you will.”
Maybe Garrett was right. Maybe if she had done that back in Vegas, she wouldn’t have needed to hide out when she came to Willow Cove. She had yet to announce it on her own social media. Even her clients weren’t exactly sure what shop she was at. Just that she was on the other side of the country. Now that her cover was blown, there was no reason why she couldn’t make the big announcement.
What if by doing so, she didn’t just open the gates to her critics, but willingly invited them in? She could handle a cup of water to the face, but the thought of someone threatening her life… that terrified her.
If anything happened to Garrett, she’d never forgive herself, so if filing a police report was what needed to be done in order to protect everyone around her, she’d do it.
“I promise.”
Chapter 4
The door flew open, and Harley’s heart raced. Relief settled in her tense muscles when Reid, the local sheriff, walked in. She didn’t want to file a police report, but at least he wasn’t another crazed troll wielding a cup of water.
“Reid,” Garrett said. She and Garrett stood, and Garrett greeted the officer. “What can I do for you?”
“I was in the middle of helping Mrs. Carver change her flat when I heard you yelling after some woman on the boardwalk. Wanted to make sure everything was okay.” Reid glanced at Harley, his head tilting. “Not exactly swimming season just yet.”
Harley glanced at her saturated shirt and the wet strands of hair that clung to her chest.
“Some woman came in here, threw a cup of water in Harley’s face, and took off,” Garrett explained.
Harley was happy he left off the slut part of the story, but her relief was met with uncertainty. With Reid conveniently here, would Garrett insist she file a police report despite what they just discussed?
“Do you have any idea why she would do that?” Reid asked, turning his gaze to her. Heat unfurled in her chest, curling up her neck and into her cheeks. She swallowed against the lump that lodged itself in her windpipe. Telling Garrett the truth was one thing. Telling Reid, a virtual stranger who knew nothing of her true character, was something else entirely.
“I was just trying to figure that out.”
“Do you want me to write up a police report?”
“No!” Harley exclaimed, her hand shooting out as if she could stop the act with a simple gesture. Reid turned curious eyes to her, and she settled on the heels of her feet. “I mean, that’s not necessary. It was probably just some jealous troll. I have a big following on social media and some women don’t like my confidence.”
It wasn’t a total lie. There was more truth in that statement than she cared to admit. Even before everything had blown up in her face and crumbled around her, there were still people who were cruel to her simply because of who she was. And even though it was a complete, it’s you not me scenario, their comments still stung.
“Are you sure? That seems a little ridiculous,” Reid said.
Harley shrugged. In hindsight, it was ridiculous, as well as demeaning and infuriating, which is why she didn’t want to get law enforcement involved. She had no desire to see how far this little one-sided feud between her and the other woman would go. Today was water in the face, but who knew what tomorrow would bring if the other woman and her crazy mob of followers felt threatened.
Garret rested a hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently. The tension that snaked its way up her neck began to ease. “This is exactly why I don’t have social media, but really, it all seems to be a misunderstanding. No need to turn it into town fodder.”
The door flung open again, and Harley jumped back. Garrett and Reid both swung around. Reid sighed as Allison Winters, the local tv reporter, hurried in. She was dressed in a perfectly tailored pantsuit, the salmon-colored jacket unbuttoned and curving to her slight figure like it was painted on with absolute precision.
The last thing Harley needed was the woman who was still touting on about some hostage situation she’d been involved in a couple of months ago. Harley respected the women’s drive, but Harley also did not doubt that Allison could turn nothing into a major town story. The water incident was not about to become Allison’s new headline.
Garrett glanced at her as if he knew exactly what she was thinking, and gave an assuring nod.
