Page 45 of The Marine's Homecoming

"I'm saying the council is taking over final logistics," I say, keeping my voice level. "It's standard procedure as we move into the execution phase. Your help getting us to this point has been essential, Mr. Dorsey."

"But I have ongoing commitments tied to this event," he says, and there's an edge creeping into his tone. "Equipment that'salready been purchased and is en route. You can't just sever those arrangements two weeks before?—"

"Mr. Dorsey," Evelyn cuts in, "I think what Hannah is saying is that the heavy lifting is done, and you've done a remarkable job of it." Her genuine warmth takes over, but Dorsey's face keeps twisting in anger. "The council taking the reins from here isn't a reflection on your work. It's a reflection of how well you did it."

Councilman Ray Perkins leans into his microphone. "Mr. Dorsey, I just want to echo what the mayor said. Folks like you are what make small towns work. We're lucky to have you, and I hope you know your contributions won't be forgotten."

"Hear, hear," says Councilwoman Debra Langley from the far end of the table.

Dorsey opens his mouth to say something else, and I watch him scan the room. Every face in the gallery is turned toward him with gratitude and warmth. The entire room is thanking him, and he knows there's no way to fight this without looking like the one person in the room who isn't gracious about it.

"I appreciate that," Dorsey says, and he eases back into his chair slowly. But the anger knit into his forehead is obvious. "I just want to make sure the transition goes smoothly. I'd hate for any of my efforts to go to waste."

"They won't," I say, and I hold his gaze firmly. "I'll make sure of it." Every ounce of effort he's put into smuggling things into this town will definitely not go to waste. It can all be used as evidence to his crimes and I fully intend to use it. Luke and I are going to take this jerk down.

"Well, then," Evelyn says brightly, clapping her hands together. "I think we can all agree this festival is in wonderful hands.Thank you, Mr. Dorsey, truly. And thank you, Hannah, for your leadership on this. Now, the last item on the agenda…"

Evelyn wraps up the meeting with a reminder about the volunteer sign-up for festival setup crews and a note about parking logistics for the event weekend. People start filing out, chatting and gathering their things, and I take my time organizing my folder and pushing my chair back because I don't want to walk out at the same time as Mr. Dorsey.

I wait until most of the crowd has dispersed before I even move. By the time I grab my bag and head for the door, the building is mostly empty. I push through the front entrance and dig in my bag for my keys as I walk down the steps, but before I can even get to my car, Mr. Dorsey has fallen in step with me.

"That was quite a performance in there, Hannah," he says in a threatening tone. I'm not shocked at all but it does make me scared. With Luke's warnings rumbling around in my head, I ease my car key between my first and second fingers in a tight fist, preparing to fight like hell if this man lays a hand on me.

"Mr. Dorsey, I?—"

"You cut me out." He steps in my way and I stop walking. We're between two parked cars at the dark end of the lot, and no one is around. "I'm not just some contractor who finished a job."

This is terrifying. I should've left when everyone else did. I wasn't even thinking. "Your role in the festival planning has been completed," I say, trying to keep my voice even, but my heart is hammering. "The council 's taking over final logistics. It's a standard restructuring, Mr. Dorsey. It's not personal."

"Don't insult me," he snarls, finally letting me see his true colors in all of this. "I've invested a great deal in this event, Hannah,and I don't appreciate having my access revoked by a woman who couldn't even manage the planning without my help."

My back hits the door of my car and I realize I've been stepping backward without meaning to. He's standing over me close enough that I feel boxed in. This definitely isn't the way a gentleman treats a lady at all. It's intimidating and if there were people here to witness it, they'd chase him off. My God, I think I’m going to throw up or piss myself. Or both.

"I need you to step back, Mr. Dorsey," I say, but it's almost a whisper. God, I'm scared, and I need help, but my eyes dart around frantically, seeing no one.

"I need you to reconsider your decision," he says, and he leans so I have to press myself flat against the car to keep distance between us. "Because the people I work with don't take kindly to having their plans disrupted. And believe me when I tell you, Hannah, this is much bigger than your little festival."

"She asked you to step back." Luke's voice cuts across the parking lot, and Dorsey straightens like someone pulled a string at the top of his spine. I look past him and see Luke stalking toward us from the sidewalk. I don't know why he showed up or how he knew I needed him, but I'm so thankful he's here.

"Mr. Maddox," Dorsey says, turning to face him, "this is a private conversation."

"It doesn't look like a conversation to me." Luke's eyes are dark and his jaw is set. Relief floods me as I slip between Dorsey and the car and walk over to him. "The lady asked you nicely to back off and I'm here to make sure you do that."

Dorsey's jaw clenches and his eyes narrow on Luke, sizing him up. I bet a million bucks in a fair fight, Luke would win. I've feltthose rigid muscles under his skin. I know the power locked up inside that body. Dorsey wouldn't stand a chance.

"I think there's been a misunderstanding," Dorsey says as he takes a step back and adjusts his jacket. "Hannah and I were just discussing the festival transition. Things got a little heated, that's all."

"Things seem to get heated around you a lot." Luke takes my hand and pulls me closer, then nudges me behind his back. "You need to walk away before you say something that you'll regret. Now."

Dorsey holds Luke's gaze for a long second. I don’t like the way they're staring each other down. My instinct is to pull my phone out and call the police, but Dorsey smooths his tie and produces that saccharine smile that has never once reached his eyes.

"Of course," he says. "My apologies, Hannah. I didn't mean to overstep."

He turns and walks across the parking lot toward his car, where he climbs in and pulls away without looking back. I finally sag against the car, trembling. God only knows what that bastard would’ve done had Luke not shown up.

Then Luke pulls me against his chest and holds me tightly without even asking if it's okay. His heart is strangely calm, not the erratic, wild beat mine is performing. And I feel safe here, pressed to his body as my nerves unravel and make me shiver like it's below zero.

"You okay?" he asks.