“We were never dating, but yes.” She nodded, reaching down and petting the dog’s head. “I told him thanks but no thanks and went about my business. Another week went by and he approached me again. Said this guy was a big deal in the political arena and that it would benefit me if I at least talked to him. Apparently, the guy had contacted him again. I tried to tell him that I wasn’t interested in politics the way he was, but he didn’t listen.” Amy took a deep breath. “A couple of days later, the man called me.”
I shifted my feet. I didn’t like this already.
“How’d he get your phone number?” Wolfe asked.
“I assume the guy in class gave it to him. There was a study group and I’d signed up. We had to put that information on the sign-up sheet so we could be contacted. My uncle had gotten me a cell phone, said he wanted me to have it in case I ever needed anything. You know, if my car broke down or something.”
Wolfe nodded, seemingly content with that answer.
“Turns out, I’d been introduced to this man at the party, but I didn’t remember anyone specifically. I’d been introduced to so many people that night, but I hadn’t tried to tie names with faces. The first time we talked, he described himself, and then I definitely remembered him. Good-looking man, distinguished, well-dressed, exuded power and authority. I think I was flattered that he was interested in me. Up to that point in my life, other than the few coffee shop visits with the guy in my class, I had never been on a date.”
“You never dated in high school?” Lynx sounded incredulous.
Everyone in town knew that the Caine cousins had been dating since a very early age. And by dating, I meant they were having sex.
“No. I was a straight-A student, and when I wasn’t studying, I was spending time with the few friends I had or with my parents. I was really close with them. When they died, I didn’t care about boys or dating … or anything really.” Amy looked at me. “This man who called me … he was and still is in law enforcement. But that’s all I’m gonna tell you.”
I gave her a brief nod, my teeth grinding together. I would find out more, in time.
“So, we talked on the phone for about a week, and then he asked if he could take me to dinner. I agreed, excited that he would want to take me out. Like I said, I’d never dated. I told my aunt and uncle what was going on. They were a little leery, but they didn’t try to stop me. Not at first.
“He took me out to a nice restaurant on a Saturday night, then brought me home, kissed me on my front porch. We started talking on the phone all the time, started going out frequently. For about three weeks, he took me out at least four times a week. Movies, dinner, bookstores, museums, the rodeo. He never tried to push for anything more than a kiss, and only when he took me home. I started spending a lot of time with him. After one of our dates, my uncle was at the door when he dropped me off. I could tell my uncle wasn’t happy, and after my date left, he questioned me.”
Amy paused, took a breath. She looked up, meeting each of our eyes quickly.
“The man I was dating was nineteen years older than me.”
Lynx gave a whistle, Wolfe growled, and I did my best not to come unglued. A fucking thirty-eight-year-old man had taken advantage of a naïve, grieving, nineteen-year-old girl. The fucker.
“I was still a teenager, although I didn’t feel like one,” Amy continued. “Not until then, anyway. When my uncle tried to interfere, I felt the need to rebel. I argued, told him that everything was fine. I was an adult and could make my own decisions. I also told him it wasn’t serious.” She glanced toward the door again. “But it was. Serious. He was already talking about marriage.” Her eyes dropped to her lap. “I thought he was in love with me. He’d wined and dined me, made me feel like I was something more than a kid, the way my aunt and uncle still saw me. He told me I was beautiful, made me feel like I was.”
I knew where this was headed and I only hoped I made it through the story without putting my fist through the wall.
Then again, as I glanced at the dangerous expression on Wolfe’s face, I might be spending my time trying to keep the man from going postal.
It was anyone’s guess who would lose it first, at this point.
Chapter Sixteen
Wolfe
Remaining in the chair was far more difficult than I was making it look, I hoped. Amy had hardly told US anything at this point, and already, I was vibrating with fury. What the fuck could an almost-forty-year-old man see in a teenage girl? They couldn’t’ve possibly had anything in common.
“My uncle … he … well, to put it kindly, he didn’t like him at all. Said he was far too old for me, that he was using me. My aunt didn’t say much, but I could tell she wasn’t supportive of me dating him, either. She tried to talk to me a few times, but I always went off on these dreamy tirades about how great he was. I know she wanted to see me happy, but she didn’t want me to get hurt. My uncle never held back. We started to argue all the time, until one day, he told me?—”
Amy stopped abruptly when the door opened.
Reagan stepped inside, her eyes instantly taking in the scene before her. I gave her a brief nod, then glanced at Amy. “Let me talk to her for a second.”
Amy gave a nod of agreement, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.
As I was walking over to Reagan, I heard Rhys say, “Amy, the same goes for Reagan. Like Lynx told you. Family.”
I glanced back in time to see Amy swallowing hard as she nodded.
“Is she okay?” Reagan’s expression was one of confusion and concern.
I gestured toward the door and Reagan preceded me outside.
