Rachael took a deep breath like she was about to plunge into a bottomless lake. “Daddy heard rumors, heard Hank say that Daddy couldn’t push him around.” Rachael looked away. “Other things.”
Jake carefully kept his face neutral even as his guts churned with anger. “Other things? Like hitting you? Is that why your dad beat the shit out of him?”
“No. Hank…hit me after.” Rachael grimaced.
Jake was even more confused.Careful now. “So, Daddy heard Hank’s shit-talk and he put Hank in his place, reminded him who was boss. That part makes sense. But then he promoted him?”
“Complicated, like I said.”
Very. “If Daddy won’t protect you, why don’t you go to the police?” Jake already knew the answer from the dossier he’d read a week ago, but it made sense to ask.
The tears Rachael tried to fight fell down her cheeks. “You think the sheriff would help me? You don’t know this town. He and Daddy are tight from way back. I go to him, I’d…it wouldn’t do any good.”
“There’s no one who would help you there?”
Rachael’s eyes lit just for a second, long enough to make Jake wonder and file it away to follow-up on it later. But then she shook her head and looked away. “I’m not worth the trouble.”
I think you are. “I never want to hear you say that again.”
Rachael’s gaze, full of surprise, snapped back to his. She tilted her head. “Why?”
Pull it back in, Jake.Stay professional. “No woman should ever say that.”
She gave him the faintest smile. It melted his heart.
Jake could barely stop himself from reaching out and gently stroking Rachael’s face, wiping away the last trace of tears. “So, back to Hank. Why would he do this, Rachael?”
She leaned forward as if wanting to be touched, then quickly pulled back. “Hank and I…we have some history but it’s...” Rachael shook her head.
“Over?”
“Yes. Completely.”
“Did you live with him? Was that what your fight was about a few minutes ago?”Careful. “I heard him say something about a book. Is he keeping your belongings?”
Rachael’s eyes widened and her posture went stiff. He’d hit a big, big nerve with that one, the biggest yet. What was this book?
“No, we never lived together. We weren’t dating, not really. I’m not dating anyone.”
Jake’s heart hammered at the admission. Rachael didn’t have a man in her life. He softened his gaze. “I’d be tempted to throw my hat into that ring.”
“It’s against company policy and rightly so.” Her voice turned crisp, chilly.
Shit. He’d pushed too far too fast and lost her. Time for damage control. Jake took a deep breath. Unfortunately, the manipulation would work extra-well because there were true feelings behind it.
“What does company policy have to say about making friends with fellow employees?”
She started to speak, to shake her head no, so he quickly put his hand up.
“What Hank did to you was wrong, but even though I’d love to punch his lights out for it, I need this job. I need a fresh start. So I’m not gonna cross him directly or break any rules.” Jake shook his head. “Look, I don’t do well on my own. I brood, I get bored, and that gets me in trouble because then I tend to hook up with the wrong people.”
Rachael pushed a lock of hair away from her face. “If that’s the case, you are certainly in the right town to hook up with the wrong people.”
Jake gave her his warmest smile. It wasn’t hard—she pulled them right out of him one after the other. “That’s not entirely true. I know that you’re decent. Better than decent. We could maybe keep each other out of trouble. What do you say?” He winked at her. “Deal?”
She wanted to say yes—he could feel it. Her eyes said so. Her lips parted. Then the wall went up. She pointed to a folder with his paperwork and a company policy manual.
“Take that with you. Here’s a key to your locker downstairs. You’ll find uniforms, hair nets, aprons, everything you need in the locker room. Ask Elena to show you to the conference room and get you set up with the training and safety videos. She’ll take a picture of you for your ID card. Hank’ll be by to show you around the floor after that.”
