Bound to the Past (Starville Series Book 1) (16 page)

He shrugged. “It does. Which is why I need your help.”

Suspicion filled her eyes again. “What kind of help?”

“Well, I heard you and I were together for quite a while, so I was hoping that you might be willing to tell me something about myself—what kind of person I used to be, what was going through my mind ten years ago. If you think I would be capable of killing a man.”

She winced. “I-I wouldnʼt know about that.”

“Really.”

Averting her gaze, she gave a quick look around. “Jack, Iʼm sorry. I know you donʼt remember anything about your past, and I understand your wanting to know what happened. But I canʼt help you. The truth is, yes, you and I were together for a while and had plenty of really good sex―but thatʼs about it. Outside of bed, I hardly knew you at all.”

Jackʼs eyes narrowed. She was lying. He knew it; he
felt
it in his gut. Taking a deep breath, he straightened and took a step forward, struggling to keep calm despite his frustration. “Fine. Tell me about J.T., then.”

Charlene stiffened again. “What about him?”

“Tell me what you know about the night he was murdered.”

He knew heʼd hit a sore spot when he heard her gasp. “W-why would I know anything about that night?”

“Maybe because you suddenly look very pale, sweetheart.”

“Thatʼs because youʼre scaring me.”

Jack scoffed a sarcastic laugh. “By doing what? Asking questions?”

“I donʼt like your tone. And even less do I like the implications in your questions.”

“Bullshit.”

Charlene started to leave then, but he snatched her arm. Fear flickered in her eyes, and it only made him more certain that she was keeping something from him. “Why donʼt you answer me? It shouldnʼt be a problem if you have nothing to hide.”

“I already told the police everything I know about that night.” Her voice shook as she tried to jerk her arm free but failed miserably in her intent.

“Iʼm not the police.”

“Damn right, youʼre not! And I donʼt owe you any answers. Now, let me go!”

“Thatʼs enough!”

They both turned around at Hankʼs severe voice. Jack immediately released Charleneʼs arm and heard her sigh of relief. “Weʼre only talking, Hank.”

“Yeah, well, itʼs getting late, and Charlene needs to get to work,” the older man said, wrapping a protective arm around the girlʼs shoulders. A few seconds later, he opened the back door, and they both disappeared inside the diner.

Jack cursed under his breath.

***

It was dark by the time he pulled up in Saraʼs driveway and shut the motorcycle off. Heʼd been riding for hours, feeling the need to be alone with his thoughts, and before he knew it, the sun had been long gone.

Inside the house, everything was even darker and quieter than outside, until he noticed the dim stream of light coming from under the denʼs closed door. Jack knocked lightly, but when nobody answered, he decided heʼd been patient enough tonight and pushed the door open without ceremony. Sara was sitting at her desk, completely absorbed in whatever she was typing on her computer. She must have taken a shower, because she was wearing only a white robe, and her hair was still damp and tied in a disordered bun at the top of her head. His frustration started to melt away. “Sara.”

As she turned to him with a start, Jack nearly grinned at the usual ginormous glasses she wore when she worked. She was a mess—in a sweet, adorable way. And the most beautiful sight heʼd ever laid his eyes on.

“Jack! God, you freaked me out!”

“Sorry. I knocked, but I guess you didnʼt hear me.”

“I must have been too focused.” She sighed and turned around to shut the computer down. Jack wondered what in the world she might be working on, since school hadnʼt even started yet.

“Trouble with inspiration?” he joked, following her out of the den and into the kitchen.

She stilled for a second. “Something like that.
Ohmygosh!
” She gasped, staring at him. “What happened to your face?”

He touched his sore cheekbone with his fingers. “I was hoping you wouldnʼt notice.”

“Yeah, right. Holy crap, Jack, your eye looks like itʼs about to pop out!” Sara pushed him down unceremoniously on a stool, opened the freezer, and pulled out some ice cubes. After wrapping them in a clean towel, she walked back to him and delicately pressed it against his eye.

Jack winced but didnʼt protest. The entire left side of his face felt as if it were on fire—but hell, it was well worth it if she took care of him like this.

“What happened?” she asked again in a murmur.

“It doesnʼt matter.”

Her brows knitted. “I beg to differ.”

“Itʼs a long story.”

“Good. I have plenty of time to hear it.”

Jack snorted. “Has anybody ever told you that youʼre a nag?”

“A bunch of people.”

“In vain, apparently.”

“Ja-ack!”

“All right, all right.” He couldnʼt help chuckling at her frustration. “As you know, I went to pick up my bike at the sheriffʼs office.”

“Did Max do this to you?”

Her eyes seemed to burn with anger as she asked that, and Jack shook his head, trying to hide the smug grin about to spread on his lips. “He wasnʼt there. Brent gave me the bike. But then I went for a ride, and before I knew it, I found myself in front of the diner.”

Her hand stopped in midair. “You…went to The Cove?”

“Yeah. I got something to drink and met both Hank and his wife. Nice folks. But then there was this guy―some Wayne. Letʼs just say he wasnʼt too excited to see me,” he explained with a shrug.

Sara grimaced. Good thing that dumbass wasnʼt there right now, because her hand was aching to land a good punch to his big, ugly nose! “Did you hurt him badly?” Much to her surprise, she saw Jack drop his gaze, looking utterly embarrassed. She could have sworn heʼd even blushed.

“I, uh, didnʼt really have time to react.”

She gaped at him for a few moments, then burst out laughing.

“Itʼs
not
funny,” Jack grunted, arms folded over his chest.

“Once again, I beg to differ.”

“He attacked me from behind! What was I supposed to do? I didnʼt see him until he hit me!” he insisted, his pride stung.

Sara tried hard to control the laughs but failed miserably. “Poor Jack. And youʼre supposed to be a brutal murderer?”

His eyes glittered in the kitchenʼs neon light. “Donʼt push your luck, sweetheart.”

“Oooh. Now Iʼm
really
frightened!” she said, still chuckling―but her smile faded the instant her gaze locked with his. She didnʼt know how or when it happened, but somehow the atmosphere had abruptly changed. The lighthearted sparkle in Jackʼs eyes had disappeared, and now he was staring into hers with so much intensity that her knees went weak. The sudden electricity between them stole her breath. The ice she was holding fell onto the floor, shattering in tiny little pieces―and thatʼs when she came back down to earth.

“Fine, you win. Youʼre a dangerous man,” she murmured with a weak smile, kneeling down to pick the chipped ice cubes off the floor.

Jack gave her a blank stare, a most confused look on his face. Then he shook his head and took in a deep breath. “I, uh, also met Charlene at The Cove.”

The ice chips slipped from her hands all over again, rolling through the kitchen. Sara mumbled a curse and lifted her gaze to him. “Did you talk to her?”

He crouched down on the floor and tossed some cubes into the sink. “I doubt ours could be defined as a conversation.”

She nearly choked on her own breath. What was that supposed to mean? Had they kissed or something? Had they had sex, resuming their relationship from where it had been interrupted? “W-what?”

“Never mind. Itʼs silly. I shouldnʼt even have brought it up.”

She huffed. “Just tell me what the heck happened!”

Jack raised a brow at her tone but nodded. “Fine. I asked Charlene if I could talk to her, and when she agreed, I took her outside. I told her I was trying to remember something about my past and hoped she could help me since we used to be―you know. But she said she couldnʼt help me, that all there used to be between us was lots of great sex.”

The slut!
Saraʼs stomach seemed to have caught fire, and she took a deep breath. “Go on.”

“I told her I hoped she could at least tell me where I was and what happened the night that J.T. was killed, and thatʼs when—” He shook his head. “She looked like a trapped animal, Sara. She was frightened.”

“Do you think she might be hiding something?”

“I donʼt know. Maybe Iʼm overthinking this. Hell, maybe Charlene was simply scared of
me!
” he added with a grimace.

Sara wished she could hug him, tell him that everything was going to be all right. “What else did she say?” she asked instead.

“Not much. All I know is that the instant I mentioned J.T.ʼs name, she became whiter than a ghost and started to gasp and stutter. Before I could ask her anything else, Hank rushed to save her from the big bad monster.”

Enough was enough.

On impulse, Sara pulled him into an embrace. “Iʼm so sorry.”

Jack stilled, obviously surprised by her spontaneous gesture. Sara was starting to chide herself for her impulsiveness when she felt his arms surround her waist. Tentatively at first, as if he were unsure of what to do. Then they tightened around her and pulled her closer, until she was practically crushed against his body. And, God, it felt good.

“Thank you.”

Sara forced a nod as he slowly pulled away. “Maybe you should talk to Brent and Nicky about this.”

“Thereʼs nothing to talk about.”

“Jack—”

“Theyʼre cops. Cops like the ones who threw me in jail ten years ago. Cops like Max Lacrod.”

“But theyʼre your friends!”

“No, theyʼre
yours
. I donʼt have any friends, Sara. I donʼt trust anybody.”

“You trust me,” she whispered, her heart sinking. Would he still trust her if he knew that she was hiding a secret from him?

“I do.” Jackʼs eyes met hers, and the sinking sensation increased. “But only because you make my brain go haywire.”

And now her poor heart skipped at least a beat or two. “Oh.”

“Yes,
oh
.” Jack shook his head with a rueful smile. “Look, Iʼd rather not talk about this to anyone until I find out if my impression about Charlene is correct.”

She inhaled deeply. “And how are you going to do that?”

“If you really must know, I intend to try and talk to her again, see if I can get something more out of her. I promise that if I still feel that sheʼs hiding something, Iʼll discuss the matter with Brent. Happy?”

“Ecstatic.”

Again, Jackʼs brow quirked at her reaction. “Is it me, or do you not sound enthusiastic at all?”

Sara nearly rolled her eyes. What did he expect, that sheʼd jump up and down with joy at the thought of him going to see Charlene again? His gorgeous ex-girlfriend who’d admittedly had
lots of great sex
with him? Of course, she had no right to feel jealous, either. She sighed. “Iʼm sorry. This is your decision to make, not mine. Your life is none of my business.”

He slanted her a surprised look. “Well, it kinda is―we do live under the same roof, you know,” he tried to joke, but she shook her head.

“That doesnʼt give me the right to interfere with your decisions or make you feel like you have to ask for my permission before you do something.”

“Good to know.”

That earned him a scowl, but she ignored the mirth in his eyes. “I mean it. I know that my overbearing attitude may be annoying sometimes…”

Jack cocked a brow. “Sometimes?”

“And Iʼm aware that I may come across a little bossy.”

“Well.”

“I hope you know, however, that I donʼt mean to tell you what you should or shouldnʼt do.”

“Wow. Whoʼd have thought?”

“Oh, quit it, Turner!”

He moved aside with a grin just as Saraʼs elbow jabbed his arm. “Just a little bossy, huh?”

Chapter 13

Friday night, Sara drove to Nickyʼs for their girlsʼ night, which they organized twice a month. Usually they would go to The Cove
,
but after what had happened the last time, they both decided to meet at Nickyʼs instead.

Sara couldnʼt have been more surprised when she rang her doorbell and a tall, brown-haired guy swung the door open. “Hi! You must be Sara.”

She eyed him with curiosity. His amber eyes were friendly and warm, and she liked him immediately. “In person. And you are―”

“David Meyer, the new vet. Angieʼs replacement,” he explained, motioning her to walk in.

“Oh, yes! Nice meeting you.”

“Hope you donʼt mind that Nicky invited me. Iʼm new in town, and apparently sheʼs taken me under her protective wing.”

“Actually, sheʼs talked so much about you that I couldnʼt wait to meet this infamous new vet.”

“Trust me, I donʼt even want to know what youʼve heard.” His dramatic snort made her burst out laughing. Nicky walked into the room with a few bottles of beer in her hands, and her smile widened as she spotted Sara. “Hey. Sorry, I didnʼt know you were already here.”

“Itʼs okay, Davidʼs been wonderful company.”

“Iʼm glad you guys are finally able to meet. We havenʼt had the chance to hang out much the last few days.” Nicky handed her a beer. “Howʼs Jack, by the way?”

“Better, I think. Itʼs hard to tell, since he never complains. I managed to convince him to get checked by Doc this afternoon.” Sara took a sip from her bottle. “So, David, howʼs it going at the clinic so far?” she asked with a smile. It was such a relief to be able to spend some time with someone who didnʼt know—and didnʼt care—about Jackʼs past.

“Very well, thanks. Angieʼs a super-professional doctor, and her passion for details has made it easy for me to familiarize myself with everything.”

“No kidding.” Nicky smirked. “She left him a list of instructions thatʼs at least―what, David? One hundred pages?”

“One hundred and ten, I believe.”

Sara chuckled. “Knowing Angie, Iʼm not surprised at all.”

“Are you and Jack going to the Fourth of July Fair?”