Aggie had done nothing to encourage her attacker. She’d worked her shift at the hotel, walked home the same way she had every night, and was aware of not taking shaded paths away from other night traffic.
None of that had mattered when she’d been grabbed and pulled into the park and assaulted.
She couldn’t burden Liam with her past. She wouldn’t do it. It wasn’t fair. She was broken now and it was something he couldn’t fix, no matter what she’d thought last night.
No one recovers from an assault like that. Sex with Liam had been a blissful break from reality that she would never forget. But it had also been a mistake and now she had to live with it.
Aggie tiptoed out of the bedroom, picked up her shoes and purse from by the front door where she’d dropped them last night, and snuck out of the house. She ran down the driveway before stopping to put on her sandals. By the time she got down to the village, she breathed easier. With any luck, Liam would sleep soundly for another few hours without even knowing she was gone.
“Didn’t expect to see you out and about this early.”
She jumped at the voice and turned to face her father’s best friend. “Bradley. What’re you doing up so early? I thought you’d be sleeping in after going head-to-head with Dad last night.”
He laughed. “Not possible with this little guy.” He indicated the small dog pulling on the leash. “Wants his walk and I’m not one to deny him. Besides, I needed to clear my head.”
She avoided looking at him, mortified to be caught sneaking home in her bridesmaid’s dress, shoes in her hand. Instead she focused on the waves coming in on the shore. “It was a good wedding.”
“It was. My, that young Liam can sing, can’t he?”
She gave him a smile, knowing there was more to come. Bradley was like that. Gave everyone advice whether they wanted it or not. Goodness knows he’d tried with her for long enough. Maybe it was time she took it.
“I’ve never seen your father so happy as he was yesterday. Drew married to the love of his life, and you and young Liam finally telling the world about your feelings for each other. Made us old men proud.”
“There are no feelings, Bradley. It was a wedding, and people get emotional.”
“But here you are coming home the morning after.”
She shook her head. There was no point arguing with him.
“I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with that, Aggie. You’re both adults and it’s time you let someone love you.” They crossed the road together.
“It’s not like that.” He wasn’t going to let this go; she could see it now.
“No?” He walked a few more steps. “Ever since you came home, you’ve cut yourself off from everyone, family included. You bought the bakery so you could keep your relationships surface level with everyone. I understood that was the case when you settled in and didn’t make any attempts to mix with the community like you used to do. I know you’ve been hiding, even if I don’t know why, Aggie. It hurts me to see you so sad. Finally someone’s gotten through to you and you want to deny yourself that first hint of happiness? I think it’s a mistake.”
“It wasn’t what you think.”
“What was it then? That’s if you don’t mind sharing with an old man who worries about you.
Typical Bradley—he was like a dog with a bone. It was what made him a good psychologist even if it annoyed the crap out of her when she was the one he was digging at. “You’ll only keep at me until I tell you anyway. I’ve seen you in action, Bradley, and goodness knows you’ve dropped enough hints since I’ve been home about having a little chat when I’m ready. You won’t stop until I spill my guts to you, will you?”
He gave her an open-mouthed look. “Girl, you wound me. I only have your best interests at heart. You know that. I’m not the town gossip trying to drain you of every little bit of information I can get to share. Anything you tell me will be kept in the strictest of confidence.” He huffed his displeasure.
Now she felt bad. She was treating him terribly and he didn’t deserve it. He’d always been there for the Hope family, ever since she’d known him. “Sorry. I know you’re only trying to help.”
He stared at her and obviously found her regretful enough. “You’re forgiven. Talk to me while we walk.”
She had nothing to lose, not now. “You have to promise not to mention this to anyone. And I mean anyone. It’ll kill Dad.”
He pretended to zip his lips and Aggie proceeded to tell him about the night of her attack. “It was one night in Seattle. I was walking home after my shift at the pub as I always did.” Her throat closed over and the panic churned in her gut. Aggie took a calming breath. “I… I was on my own and… hell, do I really need to put it all into words?”
He paused staring at her with a frown between his eyes. “I think it would be better if you did. I don’t want to assume anything and it might help you purge whatever it is out of your mind. The more you talk about some things, the less power those memories have over you. Try it. I don’t mind if it takes you all morning.”
That was the last thing Aggie wanted. Rip it off like a bandage. Don’t let it drag on. She folded her arms across her chest, hoping for some sort of divine intervention where she didn’t have to say the words out loud.
Bradley smiled. “You’re stronger than you think, dear girl. Don’t let it control your life any longer.”
“I was raped. He dragged me into the bushes and raped me and there was nobody to save
