“I just wanted to be close by in case you needed me,” Hank said in an attempt to defend his actions. “Isn’t that right, Thomas?”
Thomas clenched his jaw tight. Hank was covering, but Thomas had promised himself he wouldn’t deceive his brother. Not by omission or by lying to himself, either.
He gripped the napkin in his lap. “I came to keep an eye on him.” Thomas jerked his thumb toward Hank. “But to be even more truthful, I also feel like I have a vested interest in whether you two end up together.” The admission didn’t come easily, but Thomas was pleased with himself for making it.
“Why?” Clara asked, clearly appalled. “I wouldn’t date you even if Edward were foolish enough to end things between us.” She placed her hand on Edward’s shoulder. “Not ever.”
Thomas admired her spunk and unnecessary defense of his brother. He should have realized the potential for misunderstanding. “What I meant was that if Edward could work toward a resolution with you, maybe you will make peace with me next.” He steeled himself for his brother’s verbal punch, but to Thomas’s shock and relief, Edward’s face seemed to soften.
“Why is nobody dealing with the fact that that crazy Perkins lady escaped?” Hank blurted out.
“Oh, Goddess, help us,” Clara said, turning her attention heavenward. “Some men just don’t have the sense she gave a goat.”
Clara was right and Thomas groaned. Leave it to Hank to break a potential peace by mentioning the Perkins family.
Hank raised his hands in a gesture of defeat. “Don’t everyone get your knickers in a twist. It’s an honest question, but I realize I shouldn’t have asked.”
Thomas turned his gaze to Edward, awaiting his volatile reaction.
Edward drew a deep breath. “It’s fine. The Perkins lady has nothing to do with me.”
Thomas had never been so relieved.
“Are you nuts?” Hank blurted out.
“He means, are…” Thomas started to rephrase Hank’s words, then realized he couldn’t. “I don’t know what he means. But…are you sure that’s how you feel?” he asked Edward.
After all, his reaction was quite a turnaround from the past.
“No,” he admitted. “No, I’m not sure. But it’s what I’m working toward feeling. And repeating that mantra day and night is keeping me calm. So I’d appreciate it if you would help me on that mission. And if you can’t, then stay away.” Edward squared his shoulders, challenging his brothers.
Thomas wanted to applaud.
Clara smiled. In fact, she beamed, radiating pride and happiness in Edward.
Thomas didn’t blame her.
“Now if you don’t mind, we’d like to get back to our date,” Edward said.
Thomas nodded.
Hank did the same.
Thomas waited until after Clara and Edward were out of hearing distance.
“Amazing,” Hank said before Thomas could speak.
“Agreed.” He looked around for the waitress and signaled for a check. “Now do you want to go find out what happened with Elizabeth Perkins and how Lauren and Jason are holding up?”
Hank nodded, a big smile on his face. “I thought you’d never ask!”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
LAUREN STARED OUT the window overlooking the lawn in the front of the house. The sun had set a long time ago but the police car parked out front kept vigil.
In case her sister showed up.
And Jason had insisted on staying over for protection. In case her sister showed up.
As if Lauren needed protection from her own sister. She may have misjudged Beth’s deviousness and mental state, but she’d never accept the fact that her sister could hurt her.
But Lauren knew better than to argue with the men who insisted she needed watchdogs. The little lady needed protection, the old cop had said. Lauren bristled at the memory.
“Are you going to watch the police car all night?” Jason asked, coming up behind her.
“It’s not like I’m going to get any sleep.” She continued to stare out into the dark night. The car was barely visible, but she knew it was there.
“I’m sure we could find something more interesting on TV.”
She shook her head.
“Do you want to talk?” Jason placed a hand on her shoulder, his strong touch meant to reassure her.
But how could anything calm her now? His musky scent aroused her, but she wasn’t in the mood for sex or conversation. She still needed to process her sister’s escape. The charade. The lies.
She exhaled, her warm breath fogging the window in front of her. “No. I just need time to think.” About how she’d been so easily deceived.
She tried to reassure herself that she wasn’t alone. The doctors had been fooled, as well.
Jason removed his hand and, despite not wanting the attachment to him, she felt the loss.
“I just want you to know, I am sorry. I didn’t want to be right about your sister.”
She inclined her head. “I know. And you’ve been a gracious winner.” She couldn’t bring herself to look him in the eyes and see the pity there.
“There are no winners in this situation.” Without warning, he gripped her arm and turned her around. “And I don’t take any pleasure in your pain.”
She believed his words. She just couldn’t deal with anything beyond the fact that her sister, the sister she’d sold her car to protect, was an escaped felon.
“Did the prison say when Beth’s doctor would call you?” Jason asked.
They’d heard about the escape from the institution but not any details about how she’d managed the feat. Lauren only knew it involved fire. Her sister’s weapon of choice.
“Lauren?”
Jason’s voice brought her back to the present and she shook her head. “The prison says he’s tied up with the police.”
A loud knock sounded at the front door. Since receiving the news, they’d locked the doors.
Lauren wasn’t in the mood to answer. “Would you mind?” She waved toward the entryway.
“Of course not.” He headed for the front door.
No sooner had the creaky hinges sounded, indicating he’d opened the door for their visitors, than she heard familiar male voices.
“We came as soon as we heard the news,” Jason’s father said, his tone kind and concerned.
“I can’t believe the loony-toon arsonist escaped!” Hank wasn’t as compassionate.
Lauren cringed at the description. But she was forced to admit it was on target. Her crazy sister had set fire to The Wave last year and apparently she’d set another one today to facilitate her escape.
Nausea rose in Lauren’s throat.
“Uncle Hank, if you’re going to talk like that in this house, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.” Jason defended her honor.
At this point, Lauren wasn’t sure she deserved to be defended. She’d talked to her sister for hours and never once detected something was off.
She straightened her shoulders and headed to the entryway to greet the men. “Jason, he has every right to be upset. Everyone does.”
Jason shot her a grateful look. “Lauren’s being generous. Now you do the same for her.”
Lauren smiled. “Well. I see you decided to come into this house after all. What changed?”
Thomas flushed, his cheeks turning red.
Nothing seemed to embarrass Hank. “We wanted to see how Jason was doing. Imagine if your crazy sister
