Provoked (Forbidden Crush #2)

Chapter 20

20

If Rose was skeptical of my plan to rescue Justin, Aiden was downright derisive. But unlike Justin, he held back his opinion. It just showed up on his face. I realized then that I actually prefer Justin’s way of expressing his disapproval. At least you know where you stand and aren’t second-guessing the subtle meaning behind the degree an eyebrow is arched. Rose hugs me tight as I put my bags back into the rental car. It took some finagling, but I managed to convince the rental company that I could return the car in Seattle instead of Vancouver. It was too hard to find a flight that would connect across Canada and into New York.

It took some serious digging and a few of the skills I picked up from hanging out with Fred for two years to locate my destination. In the end, I went back to the college days he shared with my dad. Since I have that old photo (or rather I had as it’s back in Montana) I was able to dig through some old school archives that are now online to find the name of the town at least. If, for some reason, his family doesn’t share his last name, I’m fucked.

As it is, it takes all day to reach Justin’s home town of Swan’s Forge. I have to remind myself sternly that I’m wealthy now when my brain balks at the outrageous price of a rental car in New York. “Highway robbery,” I mutter under my breath while I sign the forms.

But all that is forgotten as I drive down the quaint country lanes passing through one small town after the next with little bandstands and civil war memorials that all look distressingly the same, as if a monument salesman with a particularly good pitch had come through the region a hundred years prior.

Swan’s Forge boasts one cute bed-and-breakfast and one long low motel that’s white with blue doors. No big surprise that the sign is a large white swan. I try the bed-and-breakfast. Unfortunately, they’re full up, which shouldn’t come as a huge surprise given they only have four rooms. The round woman who informs me of this apologetically also presses a giant apple muffin into my hands.

I nibble on it as I drive back to the motel at the edge of town along the highway. I sigh and brush the crumbs off me as I get out in front of the small office at the end. I eye the row of blue doors dubiously. There are one or two vehicles parked in front, but none of them look particularly upscale. Not that I’m judging, but what you can’t assume is that anyone with the means hasn’t opted for something better in the next town or beyond.

Fifteen minutes later, I’m sure they’ve moved on. Even with no one sitting on them, there’s a noticeable dip in each of the two double beds. Everything appears clean but worn. And even when the fittings were brand new, they were clearly the cheapest available, so the wear hasn’t been kind. Still, I’m here for Justin, not a vacation. My only real option for dinner is to cross the highway to the fast food burger place on the other side. The town is so small there’s apparently no need for either lights or a crosswalk. I dutifully and cautiously look both ways before jogging across the pavement. But I feel a little silly because not a single vehicle appears in either direction while I do that. At least I didn’t drive…

There’s also no line at the burger place, so in no time I’m back in my room laying out my meal on the crisp white paper bag I’ve carefully opened on top of the bedspread. I turn on the grainy old style TV and settle in to watch the local news.

They make only one brief mention of Justin’s predicament, and they don’t mention him by name. Just referring to him as a ‘high-powered attorney’. The general chin wagging of the announcer implies that this is the kind of trouble you get in the big city and aren’t you glad you don’t live there? I roll my eyes but it makes me hopeful that maybe there’s a chance of at least a luke-warm reception when I go introduce myself to his family tomorrow. I’ll have to ask around in town first to find out where they all live, but I doubt that will prove too difficult.

I munch the last of my extra serving of fries and consider Justin’s rather terse text message and my even briefer reply. He’d kill me if he knew what I was about to do. Hence my not wanting to talk to him. He’d get it out of me before I even noticed I was talking. But I hate to see him worried. I know he is. He’s probably gone sullen and broody. If I don’t resolve this quickly, he’s going to sink back into the cold, reserved prison he built for himself.

Wadding the greasy wrappers into the small trashcan in the corner of the room, I head into the bathroom to brush my teeth. The fluorescent lights flicker alarmingly but eventually settle into a rather stark white glow. The bruises under my eyes from the long day shout back at me from the small mirror. I guess I’d better go to bed and get some sleep. I brush my teeth and wash my face before returning to the main room and eyeing the dips in the bed dubiously, trying to ascertain which one is worse. They look about even. Gingerly, I pull back the covers on the bed nearest the door and lie down. My body tilts toward the center. Frowning, I get up and repeat the procedure on the other bed. If anything, it’s worse.

I return to the first bed and strip all the bedclothes off before remaking it on the diagonal. It may be odd, but now only my butt is in the dip and that’s surprisingly comfortable. I yawn and wonder if I should share this tip online somewhere…

I go to sleep reliving the feeling of Justin’s arms around me, his hands touching me intimately, but with such gentleness I know that deep down inside he has real feelings. I just need to make things safe enough for him to express them.

Despite my creativity in bed making, I wake in the early dawn, undeniably bleary eyed. My lower back is screaming at the maltreatment and I’m considering relocating after I test the waters with the first of Justin’s family.

After getting dressed, I decide to drive into the center of town. I’ll get breakfast in whatever appears to be the most popular hangout and ask if anyone knows any of the Wildes.

The diner I locate on the corner opposite the fire station wouldn’t normally attract my attention, but there’s no denying the bustle of people coming and going through the simple steel and glass door. The green vinyl booth is still warm from the previous occupant when I slide in. Instantly I feel guilty for taking up the space when I see a family of four waiting by the cash register. But they’re quickly seated and I remind myself that I won’t be lingering, presuming I can obtain some information quickly.

When a middle-aged woman swings by with a coffeepot and a pencil tucked behind her ear, I steel my nerve. “Do you know anyone named Wilde around here?” I ask hesitantly .

She spears me with a look. “Why do you want to know?”

I pause, not sure what I can safely say. She gives me a knowing and disapproving look. “What can I get you?”

“Um, tea and toast?” Suddenly I’m not very hungry. When she turns away, I spot the thin yellow phonebook on the counter. Of course! There’s bound to be at least one Wilde in the phone book, right? I can simply call and ask their relation to Justin, assuming I can figure out how and where to do that discreetly.

I gulp my toast when it comes and ignore the frown the woman who delivers it gives me. She’s younger than the one who took my order, but not by much.

“You the one asking about the Wildes?” she asks abruptly when she clears my empty plate away.

“Yes.”

“Why? You don’t look like the reporters that swept through town last week. Or are you one of those internet busybody types?”

I stare at her, bemused. Reporters? Here? Oh dear.

“No.” I shake my head emphatically. “I’m the wife.” I hold up my left hand, although what that proves is beyond me. However, her eyes widen in shock. “Holy fuck,” she breathes out. “Shit. Don’t move, I’ll be right back.”

I nod, but I swear she doesn’t see it. Does she think I’m going to rush off without paying? I could have given her cash. It won’t be much. Not when all I had was toast and a mug of tea.

The waitress swings back with a fresh cup of tea that I never asked for. “Dina will be here in about five minutes. I went to school with her.”

I blink. “Um… who’s Dina and who are you?”

She stares and then sort of shakes herself. “Oh! She said he never came home, but I hadn’t realized he never talked either. Dina is his little sister and I’m Tanya. Best not to say any names around here. Too many people listening for a fresh bit of gossip. Not the locals you understand…” Tanya pauses as if uncomfortable. “I’ll send Dina over just as soon as she arrives.”

I think I spot her before she even enters the diner. A woman in her early thirties with dark hair and Justin’s eyes bustles out of a silver car. Nothing fancy, pure middle of the road America. Her eyes scan the restaurant anxiously and briefly meet mine. Her shoulders stiffen and then relax.

A minute later, I’m studying the face of someone that I could have picked out of the crowd as being a relative of Justin’s. Dina stares at me too. I think she doesn’t quite know what to say.

“I’m here to introduce myself and I’m hoping to get some help.”

She blinks. “With what?” There’s nothing but curiosity in her voice.

I grimace and steel my nerve. “You know that saying about fighting fire with fire?”

She opens her mouth to say something and then thinks better of it. “Look, I know we’re strangers, but I don’t think we should talk here. Do you want to come to my parents’ house? We can gather the troops there throughout the day if it becomes necessary.”

I nod enthusiastically, not quite believing I found the heart of his family so quickly and efficiently. “Please. I can follow you. I have a car.”

She gives a quick nod and pauses while I settle the bill. Dina blows a friendly kiss to Tanya and then ushers me out to the sidewalk. “Just on the outskirts of town. If you lose me for some reason, just stop and I’ll circle back.”

Grateful, I nod and slide behind the wheel of the rental. I suck in a deep breath, not quite believing I’m about to meet all of Justin’s family. His family.