“I’m here,and I’m not going anywhere.”
Lainey sure as hell wanted to believe that, but her trust column was still painfully short. It hurt to tell Finn how she’d been fooled by love and trusted a man. And it sure wasn’t the first time. Different man. Different setting. Same crushing outcome.
Truth was, she’d learned young not to lean on promises. Her father made plenty of them. The last was when he left for a job in Atlanta when she was ten. Said he’d call. Said he loved her. She never saw him again. Just a couple of cards a year. Signed but no message.
“Are you okay?”
She was jolted out of her negative thoughts by Finn, who was still sitting across from her and had a concerned look on his face.
She nodded too quickly. “Yes. Of course. This is just a lot to take in.”
“It is,” he agreed. “But you’re safe.” Finn looked at his watch and pushed up from the chair. “I’m sorry I have to leave. When I get more information, I’ll let you know.”
Her throat tightened. “Okay,” she said softly, forcing herself to look up at him. “Thank you.”
Finn’s gaze softened. “Oh, Lainey, you never have to thank me.”
With that, he turned and left, leaving Lainey to gather her thoughts.
All she wanted to do was redevelop this project, make it something beautiful. It had always been her passion, and she was fortunate to get into a great school. She studied hard and took on extra projects, all the while tending to a baby and working during her vacations. Now it felt like everything was going down the drain. Fast.
She shook herself. Wallowing in self-pity got nothing done.
By the end of the day, she was beat. She addressed two minor issues at the site—a plumbing delay and a materials mix-up, ordinary things that happen. She managed to finish the last of her reports. Her shoulders ached. Her head hurt.
Now she was looking forward to going home and spending time with Luke. Hmmm. Maybe they’d make pizza together. It was his favorite. She could have a glass of wine or two. Then they could watch a movie before he had to go to bed.
Decision made, she mentally went over what she needed, just some pre-made pizza dough and pepperoni. She had the sauce and cheese.
Lainey waved goodbye to Gus, who was locking up the site trailer, and headed to the grocery store. On a whim, she called and asked Tara if she wanted to stay for dinner. But she had other plans. Fine by Lainey. It would be just her and Luke.
The grocery store didn’t take long. She grabbed the bag, popped the trunk, slid it in, and climbed into the driver’s seat.
She had just started the engine when…
Bang. Bang. Bang.
A knock on her window scared the bejesus out of her, and she jumped. Her heart thundered in her chest.
Lainey turned. An older woman with short white hair stood by the driver’s side, giving her a finger wave.
Lainey rolled down the window a few inches. “Yes?”
“Hi. I’m sorry, honey. I didn’t mean to scare you,” the woman said. “But you have a flat tire. Front passenger side.”
Crap.
This couldn’t be how her day was going to end. Lainey stepped out to look, and sure enough, the front tire was flatter than a pancake.
Perfect. Just perfect.
“Thank you,” she said to the woman, who gave her a small wave before walking away.
How had she missed that? Did she pick up a nail at the construction site? Wouldn’t be unheard of. Or had someone deliberately slashed her tire?
She texted Tara that she’d be a little late, crossed her fingers that it was okay, then called Triple A. Luckily a truck was in the area and she wouldn’t have to wait too long.
Still, as she sat in her car, the back of her neck prickled. Maybe it was adrenaline from being startled. Or maybe it was something else.
