Cut Too Deep(16)

He reached down and grabbed her hand, hard enough to hurt. “Don’t ever think that. Everyone on this planet is important to someone.”

Not me, she wanted to say. The only person who gives a shit about me is the same person who wants to see me hurt, or even dead.

She pulled her hand out of his grasp, forcing herself away from him. “I don’t want you involved in this, do you hear me? If you don’t want me to get the next bus out of here, you need to promise to drop all the macho bullshit. You have no idea what this guy is like. Please, just fix my car and then let me get the hell out of here, okay?”

His eyes studied her face, as if trying to assess her expression for a tiny crack in her determination. But he sighed, obviously not finding one. “Okay,” he said, “but I’m not going to leave you on your own like this. Come with me to the garage and I’ll see what work I can get done on your car, and I’ll even chase down the parts. How does that sound?”

She smiled. “Sounds good, Ryker, thanks.”

“Come on then.” His arm was around her waist as he guided her toward his truck. She was grateful for the support. The events of that night and morning had left her drained.

But even as he walked her to his truck, she couldn’t shake the sensation of being watched. She told herself it was just the people from the café getting a little drama with their morning coffee and bagel, but still the banging from during the night haunted her. No, she was being silly. If he was here, he’d make himself known. Garrett was never one for extending the pleasure of hurting her. He didn’t have enough self control for that.

But a year in jail might have changed that, a warning voice spoke inside her head.

Jenna climbed into Ryker’s truck and settled herself in the passenger seat, while Ryker walked around to the driver’s side. Within a few minutes, they were driving through town, heading in the opposite direction they had the previous day.

They passed the high school and Jenna thought of Ryker’s brother.

“Mikey doesn’t mind missing a day of school?” she asked.

Ryker glanced at her. “Are you kidding? I think that’s why he acts up most of the time. He just doesn’t want to be there.”

“Can’t say I blame him,” she mused. “I hated high school.”

“Does anyone like high school?”

Jenna laughed. “You know, I had exactly the same conversation with Mikey yesterday.”

Ryker lifted his eyebrows. “You got him to speak?”

“Yeah, wasn’t much. But he did manage a few words.”

“Wow, he must really like you.”

It was her turn to lift her eyebrows. “You think?”

“The only thing Mikey talks to is the television screen when he’s gaming, and then it’s normally only to yell insults.”

“He seems okay with you,” she said, remembering the ribbing Mikey had given Ryker earlier after he had tracked her down.

Ryker’s face fell and his tone grew serious. “I’m the only person he’s got.”

Jenna wanted to put her arms around him and bury her face in his neck, kiss his skin, and stroke his hair, but instead she just gave an awkward smile and glanced out of the window. She couldn’t let herself grow attached to this man, though she feared her heart wouldn’t pay any attention to her on that front. As soon as her car was fixed, she’d be leaving Arlington, and Ryker, far behind.

Ryker pulled up at the garage and jumped out. Jenna climbed down from the passenger side and followed Ryker into the garage. The interior was shaded—a welcome respite from the increasing heat of the day.

“Where’s the guy who works for you?” she asked.

“Sam?”

“Yeah, Sam.”

“He’s probably on a call-out. He used to work for my dad, so I trust him to work his own hours. I don’t want him to feel like he has to answer to me.”

“You must be a good boss,” she said with a smile.

He shrugged. “I do the best I can.”

Ryker headed into the back of the garage and began to get some tools together. Her car still sat in the same position as it had yesterday. She felt strange seeing it here, as if she’d already mentally distanced herself from the vehicle.

“Make yourself at home,” Ryker called out. “There’s a coffee machine out back, and you can sit behind the counter, if you want.”

“Great, thanks.” She’d not managed to finish her coffee at the coffee shop. “You want some?”

“Sure.”

Ryker got to work as Jenna busied herself fixing the drinks. When they were done, she went over to where Ryker’s feet poked out from beneath her car, and placed the coffee mug near the wheel.