"And because you're a forgiving soul who believes the best about people, you did," he guessed.
"Foolishly, yes." She cringed, hitched in a deep breath, and finally got out the rest of the story on a long rush of air. "But of course, he didn't stop. I was too ashamed to tell my family what was happening. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore and I moved out of the apartment complex while he was out of town. But then he started stalking me. Endless phone calls. Showing up at my school and at my job."
His entire body flushed hot then cold. He didn't want to hear anymore, but he knew she needed to tell it.
Her voice grew softer. "One night as I was leaving evening classes, he cornered me in the parking lot. He told me he loved me. I told him it was over between us. We argued. He attacked me."
"No!" Ridge said hotly, hoarsely, her words hitting him solid as a blow.
Her nod was barely there, as if she had no energy for it. "He choked me. Said if he couldn't have me, he'd make sure no one else ever did. I thought I was going to die."
It killed him to think of her suffering like that. Ridge knotted his hands into crabapple fists.
"It was terrifying. If another student hadn't happened by when he did . . ." She trailed off again, brought a hand to her neck.
Thank God for that other student!
Ridge's fists were squeezed so tightly the veins on his knuckles bulged. If the man who'd hurt Kaia had been there, Ridge would have beaten him to a pulp.
"He dropped me and ran off. The other student took me to the police station and I got a restraining order against him. The cops went to arrest him, but he'd disappeared. Even so, I was too afraid to stay in College Station by myself. That's the real reason I took a break from vet school. Not because of the accident. But because of him. I needed to come home."
Ridge grunted. Anger pulsed through him with every beat of his heart. Not knowing what to say that wouldn't scare her or make things worse, he said nothing.
"With the help of my family and a counselor, I worked through the emotional baggage. I've put it behind me, and honestly, I hardly think about him anymore. But once in a while, like when you kissed the scar, the fear bubbles to the surface."
Simultaneously, they both blew out pent-up breaths. Ridge ached to draw her into his arms, to promise her no man would ever hurt her again, but her tense body language warned him off.
"Did the police ever catch him?"
"Yes," she said, her voice growing even heavier than before.
Relief loosened his muscles. Thank God the stalker had been apprehended. "Did he go to prison?"
"No." Her answer was matter-of-fact, to the point, but her shoulders drooped, and she crossed her arms over her chest. Pulling herself in, making her body small.
There was more to the story and it was hard for her to tell.
Ridge's gut clamped down. Had the justice system failed? Was the son-of-a-bitch still out there? Still threatening women? Still searching for Kaia?
"What happened?" Ridge heard outrage boil in his voice. Felt it like an electrical jolt. "Why isn't he rotting in a prison cell?"
She shook her head. Moistened her lips. Paused for a long time. Finally spoke. "He killed himself."
"Good. Saved me from having to track him down and do it for him," Ridge said fiercely, a kneejerk reaction.
But then he immediately felt a punch of guilt. As horrified as he was that Kaia had been through such an ordeal, the troubled man had committed suicide. Obviously, he'd been in great emotional pain and hadn't gotten the help he needed. Society had failed him.
She laughed, a strange, mirthless sound of relief, followed by a troubled noise of shame as she dropped her face into her hands. He touched her shoulder, felt her muscles bunch. He lowered his hand. Unsure if he was helping or making things worse.
Raising her head, she bravely met his eyes. "It was sad." Pity rearranged her face. "He was mentally ill. I'm glad I don't have to worry about him anymore, but what a tragic way for a life to end. I . . ." Her voice cracked. "He was nice to me at first. I had no idea he was so unhinged. I wish . . ."
Remorse.
He could see it on her. She was a good person. And a man had died. No matter how deranged he might have been, no matter how much he might have hurt her, the depth of Kaia's compassion triggered regret.
And Ridge loved her all the more for her kind-heartedness. The way she was able to step outside her own experiences and walk a mile in someone else's shoes.
"The police found him . . ." She had to pause again. He could tell how much the story was taking out of her. "Hanging from a tree in the park where we'd once picnicked, a suicide note in his car."
"Jesus, Kaia." Ridge pulled his palm down his face, a tumult of feelings knocking him every which way-anger for what had happened, sorrow for what she'd suffered, fear that there were plenty more trouble people out there, and distress that he hadn't been there for her when she'd needed him most. But how could he have known?