Page 58 of Love Unbound
“I’m just wondering how long this can last,” he murmured innocently. “He’s leaving soon, right? I wouldn’t stick around longer than necessary, either.”
“How—”
“I mean, I just can’t help but wonder if maybe this cowboy is just using you,” he continued, cutting her off. He spread one hand across his chest in feigned worry. “He’s here, nothing else to do to pass the time. What better way to make a couple weeks pass than start a quick fling? It was easy enough, wasn’t it? You always were easy.”
Tears stung her eyes, and she opened her mouth to speak, but again he cut her off.
“And, I would hate to see you, you know,fall in lovewith someone that doesn’t reciprocate those feelings. You’vegotto wonder why none of your relationships have worked out, Jodi. There’s not too many guys that are going to be willing to deal with all that—” he waved vaguely toward her as a whole. “I told you before you left that you’d be hard pressed to find someone that’s going to put up with your shit.”
Jodi’s heart hammered in her chest, her eyes stinging with unshed tears.How? Howdid he know all of this,anyof this?She had only talked about this with Kit, at the store—
She gasped, her eyes flying to his. “You bugged my store.” Rage, pure, unfiltered rage, boiled through her veins.That’show he always knew everything, almost as it happened. “You bugged my store to spy on me!”
Josh merely smiled. “Prove it.”
“Get out!” Jodi screamed, her arms ramrod straight at her sides. She was shaking, her fury barely contained. “Leave!”
Josh laughed then, taking several steps backward toward the porch stairs. He grimaced sarcastically, which made her all the angrier. “Good luck keeping a man with that anger problem.”
Jodi picked up a heavy potted plant that sat next to the front door and chucked it at him. He laughed harder, as it missed him by several feet, shattering on the wooden slats of the porch. Shards of porcelain, soil, and flowers spilled everywhere.
He pranced down the stairs and slid into his car, waving insolently as he pulled away from the house.
Jodi fell to her knees on the porch, wretched sobs wracking her from the very depths of her soul. He had found her fears and used them against her. She would never be free of him. Of his manipulation. Of his abuse.
She cried until her throat was hoarse, her eyes swollen from the tears.
She called in to beg out of work for the evening, giving Tess an excuse about a bad migraine. Her friend assured it was okay, and that she hoped she felt better soon, before hanging up.
Jodi cleaned up the mess that she’d made with the plant, picking up the broken pieces of the pretty blue painted pot and sweeping the soil and flowers into a bowl until she could get a replacement.
She called her father, telling him everything, everything he didn’t already know, though much of it he did. The tampered locks, the missing tapes, the vandalized vehicle, the taps he asgood as admitted were hiding in the store. All of it was Josh. She had no doubt in her mind. Levi swore succinctly and promised he would take care of it.
She then curled up in the corner of the couch, pulling a thick, fuzzy blanket up around her chin, as a chill settled over her, despite the warm day. Her eyes were puffy and burned from her tears. She closed her eyes, her entire being utterly exhausted.
But still, her mind wouldn’t shut off. What if he was right? Shedidhave a lot of baggage. Why would anyone want to be with someone with so many issues?
She heard Free’s truck pull into the driveway a time later, but she didn’t have the motivation to move. When he came in through the door, he called her name, worry ringing in his voice. She was supposed to be at work. He found her seconds later on the couch, rounding it to come sit on the edge beside her.
“Jodi? Jodi, are you okay?” Free whispered. He pressed the back of his hand to her forehead. “Jodi, sweetheart, why aren’t you at work? Is something wrong?”
When she opened her eyes and finally looked up at him, she noted the alarm on his face with her bloodshot eyes and pale face. She nodded though. “I’m fine. Just a headache.”
But Free simply lifted her out of the corner of the couch, turning and sitting down, pulling her into his lap.
She curled into him, breathing in his now familiar scent. Fresh tears started and her lip trembled. How was she supposed to let him leave in a few days when she loved him so much?
Chapter 43
“Shane and Cassie will be home Saturday afternoon,” Free said, running his fingers through Jodi’s hair where her head lay on his chest. He wasn’t sure what was wrong, and Jodi wouldn’t tell him. He knew it wasn’t as simple as a headache. Her usually brilliant blue eyes were sad, her face lacking its typical glow. He’d gotten back from doing chores to find her on the couch, which had worried him. When he’d finally seen her, that worry had increased tenfold. Her fingers fisted into his shirt, but she didn’t say anything. “They want us to go out for drinks with them, to celebrate.”
Jodi nodded, just barely.
“Please tell me what’s wrong,” he whispered. “Have I done something to upset you?”
Jodi shook her head then. “No, of course not,” she whispered back, burying her face in his chest once more. “I’m sorry I’m not feeling like myself today.”
“Can I help?” he asked gently.
