Beth Andrews - A Not-So-Perfect Past

Yeah, Mr. Erickson had jumped in real quick. Nina’s father hadn’t wanted the town’s most dangerous citizen anywhere near his precious daughter.

Dillon’s shoulders tensed as he remembered how Nina had brushed off his offer to help. An offer he never should’ve made. She had enough people around to help her. He wasn’t going to lose any sleep over her.

Allie polished a beer glass, her eyes narrowed in concentration. He didn’t bother pointing out that water spots weren’t going to keep her clientele from drinking their booze. “Joe Roberts called me before you got here. Wanted to get my opinion on what was going to happen to Kyle.”

“Are you putting your lawyer shingle back out?”

Regret flickered across her face but was quickly gone. “Hardly. I’m a business owner now.”

Allie had been a successful defense attorney with a high-class law firm in New York City before returning to Serenity Springs last year. The few times he’d asked what had happened to send her back to her hometown, she either changed the subject, evaded his question or went into some long, boring dissertation about the legal system. His least favorite subject.

If her ability to talk for thirty minutes straight and not say a damn thing was anything to go by, she must’ve been a hell of a lawyer.

“So why’d they call you?” he asked.

“My mom is friends with Karen’s mom and she told them to call me.”

“Sounds like legal work to me.”

Having wiped each and every spot off the glass, she set it down and picked up another one. “Only work I’m doing is figuring out how to keep a bartender longer than two months.”

“Smart choice.”

He was glad she wasn’t going to allow herself to be dragged back into trying to save people. Talk about a thankless—and futile—endeavor. He’d spent the first half of his life trying to save his mother from her addictions and Kelsey from abuse—and her own rebelliousness. And it hadn’t helped any of them.

He’d almost stepped back into that bottomless pit again when he’d offered Nina help last night. Luckily her lack of backbone had come to his rescue.

“I don’t know,” Allie said, holding the glass up to the light before putting it away. “After talking to Jack—”

“If you’re not working the case, why talk to your brother about it?”

“I wanted to get a feel for what’s going on. Kyle’s in big trouble. It’s a shame. He was doing so well with Joe and Karen.”

“He stole from them.”

“I know, but he was upset and he’s only fifteen. Poor kid’s been in the system most of his life. He’s had it tough.”

Dillon shifted and hooked his foot on the rung of the stool. Fought to keep the bitterness from his voice. “Lots of people have it tough.”

His own childhood—if you could call it that—had hardly been ideal. His father died from an overdose when Dillon was four and his mother spent most of her time drowning her sorrows in vodka.

But he’d survived. He’d sucked it up and taken care of his mom and Kelsey. And even though there had never been enough money, he’d never resorted to stealing. He’d made sure Kelsey hadn’t, either.

Until she’d stopped listening to him.

He frowned as he realized there were more than a few similarities between his sister and Kyle. When Dillon helped Kyle out of the SUV last night, he’d seen defiance in the kid’s expression, the to-hell-with-the-world-I-don’t-need-anyone attitude. But he’d also seen the kid’s fear.

All of which he’d seen plenty of times in Kelsey growing up.

Compassion warred with his hard-earned good sense. Even after all that happened to him, his protective instincts still drew him to those in need.

Like the kid. And Nina Carlson.

“Kyle will be punished, that’s for sure,” Allie said. “He’ll probably be sentenced to juvenile hall.”

“Is that what you told his foster parents?”

“I told them the truth. And advised that it wouldn’t hurt to have Kyle try to make amends somehow. If he’s lucky and gets Judge Williams, showing remorse will go a long way toward a lenient sentence.”

Did that really work? When Kelsey got busted for shoplifting or underage drinking, she never made amends. Just got into more trouble. Trouble he’d then do his damnedest to get her out of.

He rolled his head side to side but his neck muscles remained tight. He hoped for Kyle’s sake, Allie’s idea worked. Being locked up changed a person. He’d hate to see that happen to a kid.

He drummed his fingers on the bar before slapping it lightly with his palm. Not his problem. Even if it was, he was in no position to help.

“Allie, we need to talk.”

She didn’t take her eyes off of the stubborn spot she was trying to rub out. “I thought men hated to talk.”

“We do.” She set the glass down and looked at him expectantly. He scratched his jaw. Between his late night and wanting to get this conversation over with, he hadn’t taken the time to shave. “Listen, this…thing between us—”

She tossed the towel on the bar. “I knew this would happen.”

“What?”

She pushed up the sleeves of her dark green sweater. “This.” She gestured between them. “Us working together every day. It got to be too much for you. The tension. The attraction. And now, you’ve fallen for me. Why must I be so irresistible?” she asked the heavens. She squeezed his arm. “It’ll never work out between us. You have to see that. I’m not what you need.”

What a smart-ass. God, he was going to miss her. “What I need is for you to swallow your ego and be serious for a minute.”

“Why?” She leaned on her elbows, her face in her hands. “You’re being serious enough for both of us.”

“Allie…” He slid to his feet. “I’m leaving.”

She swatted him on the arm as she straightened. “Don’t be such a drama queen. I’ll stop. I promise I’ll be good.”

“No. I mean I’m leaving Serenity Springs.”

“What?” Her smile disappeared. “But why?”

“It’s time I moved on. And now that I’ve been evicted—”

“Nina evicted you? No way.”

He nodded. “She said she wanted to expand. I figure she’d just been biding her time after buying the building to kick me out. Can’t say I blame her for not wanting a murderer living above her place of business.”

Allie’s eyes flashed. “She can’t refuse to rent to you because you were in prison. We’ll take her to court. I can’t believe she would pull something like this. And to think, she used to be so…so nice.”

“Put away your law degree. We’re not taking anyone to court for anything. And Nina hasn’t changed. She told me—very nicely—that I was evicted. It’s no big deal.”

He didn’t want Allie and her high ideals to go after Nina. The ex-lawyer would smash the cupcake into crumbs.

He hadn’t been lying when he’d said Nina was nice. Too nice. And she’d seemed so…lost last night. Fragile. She’d acted as if she wanted to take charge, but just didn’t know how or what to do first.

Allie hurried out from behind the bar. “But what about the rest of the work here?”

“There is no more work here. And after the false accusation of Shannon’s murder, Serenity Springs just isn’t the place for me.”

“It could be,” she said softly. “You could have a second chance. And if you need a place to stay, why not move in upstairs—”

“No.” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “I’m leaving after the wedding. I’ll get my tools out of here today.”

She crossed her arms. “But I don’t want you to go.” She pouted. “I’ll miss you.”

He smiled. “Last week you told me I was a bigger pain in your ass than your brother.”