One Southern Cowboy - Jennifer Youngblood Page 0,48

and has been trying to talk me into it. Wesley offered to invest. He invited Shade and me to his estate in Florida so we could discuss the possibilities. It was supposed to be a combination work and leisure trip. One of Shade’s kids got sick at the last minute, so I had to go alone. My flight got in early.” A harsh laugh rose in Lemon’s throat. “How often does that happen? It was a first for me. Rather than calling Wesley to let him know, I drove out to his place.”

“You rented a car at the airport?” Jaxson asked.

She nodded. “Yeah, I wanted to have my own transportation. That way, I could come and go as I pleased. When I got to his house, there was a car parked in the circle driveway. I left my luggage in the trunk and went to the door. I heard voices, people arguing. I peered through the sidelights and saw Wesley and a dark-haired woman at the top of the staircase.” Her throat constricted as she coughed to clear it. “The woman was crying. Wesley was clutching her arm. I stood there, unsure what to do.” She took in a short breath before rushing on. “I placed my hand on the door handle. It was unlocked. I pushed the door open slightly. I caught the word pregnant. The girl was panicked, distraught. I can’t remember exactly what she said, but it was something about her loving him. She accused him of breaking her trust.” Lemon clenched her jaw. “I should’ve left right then and there, but my feet were frozen to the floor. She was a beautiful girl. So young. Sixteen or seventeen, maybe.

“The girl threatened to go to the press, to expose him.” Lemon’s eyes darted around the room as her hand encircled her neck. “Wesley has political aspirations.” She hesitated, dreading telling the rest, but knowing she had to get it all out. “Wesley started screaming, calling the girl horrible names. He was so vicious, heartless. He slapped her jaw. She lost her footing and fell down the stairs.” Her voice quivered, the horror of the event overtaking her. “That’s when Wesley realized I was there. That I’d seen the whole thing.”

“I had no idea,” Lexi said. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that.”

Lemon stared into the distance. “I got in the car and drove away as fast as I could. I just kept driving. Wesley kept calling my phone. I ignored it. Then, I received a call from a number I didn’t recognize. I answered. It was Wesley.” She swallowed hard. “He told me to come back so we could talk. He said that the girl, Jacklyn, was lying—that she was trying to pass her baby off as his. He said that her fall was an accident. He begged me to give him a chance to explain. He said I was the most important thing in the world to him, and that he couldn’t fathom the thought of losing me. When I refused to come back, he got belligerent. He said that if I didn’t come back that he’d take care of my mom like he did Braden. He said he had people who could do it at the snap of a finger. He told me that I could run but I couldn’t hide. He said he owned me. That I’d always be his.” Tears rose in her eyes, her words getting choked. “I was in such a state that I just kept driving. I should’ve called the police.” Regret clutched her stomach. “But I was too afraid.” She turned to Jaxson. “All I could think was to go home, maybe figure out a way to talk to you—get your advice.” She hesitated. “I know it sounds ridiculous, but I had nowhere else to go.

“It started raining cats and dogs. My tire went flat. I pulled over to the side of the road.” Emotion lodged a hard ball in Lemon’s throat. She coughed to force it back down. “As I was trying to figure out what to do, I got a call from the care center, telling me that my mom had fallen … that she was dead.” Her voice broke. “Two hours after Wesley made that threat, my mom was dead.” She rubbed a hand across her forehead. “I’m not sure what happened then. I have no memory of losing my purse or my phone, only of seeing your headlights.” Her blood ran cold as