Page 26 of Charmed by You

“I should have understood that it was worse than what shewas really saying.” She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter now. But I walkedin, and I saw her fighting him off. He slammed her head against the wall. Ithought she died. And I was so scared. I made a noise, and he looked in mydirection. I thought he’d seen me, so I ran. I ran so fast. I went to thecabana. I was going to hide there. But I realized he’d probably find me. So Ileft. But I took her diary because now I wanted to read it. I wanted to know ifshe’d written about what he’d done to her.”

“How did you get her diary?”

“She kept it hidden in the cabana. Said she was afraid he’d readher entries. I thought she was paranoid. Now I guess she wasn’t.”

“So you took it. Then what?”

“I ran down the service drive back to my car. I was sixteen.I’d just started driving. I left, and I went and told my father. I told him wehad to go to the police. That the diary had proof that Pruitt had been abusingher for a while. And I wanted the cops to arrest him.”

“What did the cops say?” Simon asked. “By the time they gotthere, Leslie had shot him, right?”

“We didn’t go. My dad told me I had to throw the diary awayand never say anything. Otherwise I might lose my job, and my dad wouldn’t doanything that might keep me from working in the business. He always said if Iever stopped working, we’d starve, because he was my manager, and that meantall we had was my income. And he said if I ever opened my mouth, everyone wouldlook at me and call me a liar, because Pruitt was well respected in theindustry.”

“Did you get rid of it?”

She shook her head. “No. I told him I did. But I lied. I’vekept it all this time. It’s all I have left of her.”

He took her hand. “Tell me the rest. Tell me about yourfather.”

It was clear she didn’t want to. She pulled her hand free,then hugged herself before speaking. “He told me that we couldn’t say anything.That I would be dragged through the press and that I would lose my job. That Icouldn’t say one thing that would sully Pruitt’s good name because the scandalmight mean they’d cancel Bright Eyes.”

She drew in a deep breath, then closed her eyes as ifgathering courage.

When she opened them again, her expression was fierce. “Mymother died when I was little, so I only had my dad. He never beat me, but hewas a controlling bastard and verbally abusive. I remember how my skin wouldfeel raw after he lost his temper just from the horrible things he would say.And I obeyed. Always. I think because I was always afraid there’d be a blowcoming one day. So I was always the good girl.” She swallowed, then blew out abreath. “But this time, I was going to disobey and suffer the consequences.”

“What do you mean?”

“That I was going to go to the police anyway. I was—I reallywas. But then the next morning, the news came out that he was dead, and Ifigured my dad couldn’t argue anymore. So I told him I was going. But then hesaid that I still couldn’t. Because once they learned that I was there, I wouldbe a suspect too. I believed him. I was scared. I was so scared.”

“Of course you were. Who wouldn’t be?”

“But there wasn’t anybody else there. I never sawanybody else. They must have come as I was leaving. I just never saw them.”

“Did you know that her mother was there?”

“No. Not until it came out that she was the one who shothim.” She exhaled a shaky breath. “I lost my friend that day. I just wanted toforget. I tried to forget, but I never did.”

He pulled her close and held her. “No. Of course you didn’t.”

“I’m sorry. I probably should have realized that was whatthe note was about. It’s the biggest scandal of my life. The one I pushed downthe hardest. Nothing else compares.”

“It’s okay. We know now. And it’s over.”

“So this is it,” she said. “This threat against me. It’sgone. I don’t need a bodyguard anymore.”

“No. I don’t think you do. It was pretty clear that you hadno idea what he was talking about. Plus, I don’t think he’s dangerous. He sentthat note as a stupid maneuver to try to get you to talk, but he would neverhave followed through.”

“I know. He’s an idiot. The world is full of idiots.”

“Yes. That’s true.” He twined his fingers with hers, wishingthey could stay like that, still and quiet and safe. After a moment, he releasedher, then started the car. “Come on. I’ll take you home.”

“And then you’ll go?”

He tensed inside. “Job’s done. You don’t need me to stay.”He managed to keep his voice level. To not let her hear the disappointment thatsurprised even him.

She turned to him then, her teeth grazing her lower lip.“What if I asked you to stay?”

“Why? Do you still need protection?”