“See?” He knew she liked it; she could tell by his satisfied expression. “It wouldn’t be all bad.”
She was far more afraid of it being good. The physical element was one thing—that was a big challenge. But it was falling in love that terrified her most. Not only had Jasper hurt her body, he’d broken her heart, betrayed her trust and destroyed her confidence.
She pulled her hand away while she still had the will to do so. “It’d be a mistake to even try,” she said. “Please, take me home.”
He studied her for several long seconds. She could tell he was conflicted, that there were so many things he wanted to say. The obstacles she faced were difficult for someone who’d never been through the same type of trauma to understand. But he didn’t attempt to argue with her; he started the truck.
Once they reached her bungalow, Evelyn almost jumped out before he could come to a complete stop.
“Thanks for dinner,” she mumbled.
He caught her arm, then let go right away as if he’d reacted out of instinct but wanted to show her that he would never be forceful with her. “Will you do me one favor?”
Tamping down all the useless desire he evoked, along with the frustration of feeling that desire and not being able to act on it, she swallowed around the lump in her throat. Tears seemed to be her only outlet, but she wanted to get away from him before she broke down, didn’t want him to see her cry. “What’s that?”
“Just give me a chance,” he said softly.
“Isn’t it a little premature for...for this?” she asked. “You barely know me.”
“I figure, in our situation, it’s especially important not to play games. I’m putting my heart out there, trying to make it easy for you. That’s why I’m telling you so soon. I’ll help you get through whatever your issues are. I just need you to try and trust again.”
“I’ll think about it,” she responded and fled.
Chapter 10
It wasn’t until Amarok heard the word “vandalism” that he realized Eric Bilichek, a plumber he’d known for years who sat a few seats down from him, and the stranger next to Eric, were talking about Hanover House. Then he couldn’t help but eavesdrop, just in case they said something about who had damaged the building. Amarok didn’t want to charge the Jennings boys, if they were even to blame. But if they committed the crime, and he had enough evidence to arrest them, he had to do so. He was the law around here, and the law couldn’t turn a blind eye no matter the reason he might personally want to.
“So who did it?” the stranger asked, holding his morning coffee loosely in his hands.
“No clue.” Eric shoved what was left of his breakfast away from him, so that Sandy Ledstetter, the only waitress currently working the bar at The Dinky Diner, could pick it up. “I wouldn’t turn the guy in even if I did,” Eric added with a humorless chuckle. “He just did what we’ve all been tempted to do—make our feelings known. But the fact that it happened just goes to show that you’re right. Folks here are worried, not sure we should’ve let Hanover House come to town.”
“Can’t blame ’em for being skeptical of a place like that,” the stranger said. “I mean, who is this chick—Evelyn Talbot? And what does she think she’s going to be able to do, anyway?”
Eric wiped his mouth and put his napkin on his plate. “She’s supposed to be a pretty good psychiatrist.”
“Doesn’t matter how good she is. Psychiatry in general is a joke—a pseudo-science. No one can figure out what other people are thinking—or control behavior. And having Hanover House here will change the whole community, bring in a lot of outside attention. Is that what folks here want? Did anyone even bother to ask?”
“Some asked, but there aren’t a lot of ways to earn a living in such an out-of-the-way place. I think most people decided it could be a blessing to those who need the work.”
“A blessing!” he scoffed in disbelief. “You want to know what I bet? I bet before long she’ll be pushing the government to expand, maybe even build other facilities here. There’s a place in Arizona that has seven prisons. Can you believe that? They have more inmates than citizens.” He shook his head. “Whoever let that happen was crazy.”
“One prison is plenty,” Eric responded. “We don’t want any more.”
“Then you’re going to have to make sure Dr. Talbot doesn’t get her way again. Fight her and everyone who stands behind her. If the people in the lower forty-eight can dump all their human garbage where they no longer have to smell it, they will. And if just one of those bastards ever gets loose”—the stranger whistled—“you and everyone else here will be totally fucked. It’ll be like shooting fish in a barrel!”
“Not necessarily. Most folks in these parts are armed,” Eric said. “I promise you—anyone who comes after me is going to get a bullet between the eyes.”