Maybe it was time to move on.
I didn’t realize I was crying until my cheeks stung from the cold. I lifted my hands to wipe them just as the back door opened and Wyatt came out.
“What are you doin’ out here?” he asked gently.
“I needed a breather,” I said, still looking up at the sky.
“What happened with Bingham?”
“Any other man would have turned caveman when that happened. Max sure did,” I said in an accusatory tone. “But you stayed in your seat.” I swiveled my head to look at him, not sure why I was attacking him, other than I was just plain pissed. And overwhelmed. And frightened.
To his credit, he didn’t look ruffled. “I was watchin’,” he said evenly, “but you were holdin’ your own. You’re no shrinkin’ violet, Carly Moore, and you sure as hell don’t need a man to fight your battles for you. Now tell me why you’re out here, because I doubt you’re moping over Todd Bingham.”
Wyatt had a knack for seeing through my walls, which only served to remind me there was so much I didn’t know about him. I turned away to look back up at the sky. “Max thinks I’m a domestic violence victim, on the run from an abusive boyfriend. He wanted to know why I was standin’ up to Bingham, and I slipped up and told him I wasn’t backin’ down from men like him again.” I shook my head and released a bitter laugh. “Guess I’m not a good candidate for the CIA.”
“You’re doin’ the best you can in a very bad situation,” he said, moving next to me and placing his back against the wall, his hands pressed behind him. “Why are you really out here?”
“I keep slippin’ up. I’m scared that maybe Drum’s too small to hide in and I need to go to a bigger city.”
He stood up straighter, then said in surprise, “You’re thinkin’ about runnin’ again.”
“I don’t know,” I said, “but I’m worried I’ve made myself too visible. Especially after my name and those blurry photos ran in the local paper a few weeks back. When you’re on the run, you’re supposed to fade into the background. I’m definitely not doin’ that here.”
“I doubt you’re capable of hidin’ in the background,” he said softly.
“I hid in the background for thirty-one years. I just seem to be incapable of doing it here.” But to be fair, I was a different person here. Leaving my name and my past behind had allowed me to become the person I’d always wanted to be—the person who’d always hidden inside the shell of Caroline Blakely. “Part of the reason I decided to stay was because you said we’d work together to bring our fathers down, but I can’t do squat to help if you don’t tell me anything.” I turned my head to face him. “What happened between you and your dad?”
Frustration filled his eyes. “Carly…”
I was a fool. Wyatt wasn’t going to tell me anything.
I pushed away from the wall with a long sigh. Would I always be fool enough to fall for lines from good-looking men? “I need to get back to work.”
He rushed to block the doorway. “Carly, wait. Why are you pushin’ me away?”
I shook my head, amazed at his gall. “Are you serious? You’re the one pushin’ me away, Wyatt. You know everything about my life, and you’ve shared next to nothing with me!”
His chest puffed out. “That’s not true! Besides, I guessed your secret. You didn’t voluntarily share it.”
“Yet I suspect if I guessed yours, you wouldn’t admit to it.”
“I’ve told you things.”
My eyes narrowed, my anger rising. “Sure, you’ve told me plenty of inconsequential things, but you have yet to tell me anything of importance. I thought we were supposed to be in this together.”
His jaw set and I could see a war waging in his eyes, even in the dimly lit parking lot. “I’m tryin’ to protect you.”
“Bull. Shit,” I snapped, poking him in the chest. “I’m not sure who you’re really protectin’, but it sure as hell isn’t me.” Then I stormed past him into the bar, so pissed I could kick something.
The men were all watching me when I returned, not that I was surprised. I’d had my run-in with Bingham, then Max had dragged me to the back. They all probably thought I’d gone off to sulk after being reprimanded. What burned is they weren’t wrong, but it made me look weak, something I couldn’t afford in this town.
Maybe it really was time to move on.
Chapter Five
Wyatt left soon after that. Part of me was hurt that he’d taken off without saying goodbye. Then I reminded myself he probably thought I didn’t want to talk to him. He was right, which only proved I was a hot mess over that man.
What was I doing starting a relationship with everything else going on with my life?
Bingham smirked every time I served his table, as though he thought he’d won the upper hand, but I tolerated his condescension with a smart-ass smile. He left before the game ended, keeping his gaze on Lula, who avoided him like he was a cat ready to pounce on her.
Lula had something Bingham wanted. But what? Had she left town because of him?
Things slowed down enough that Max went back to his office, leaving Ruth behind the bar. I was getting a fourth refill for a man who looked like he had no business driving home when Ruth pinned me with her scrutinizing gaze. “What the hell happened with Bingham?”
“He tried to intimidate me, and I made sure he knew it wouldn’t work.”
She shook her head, her lips pursed. “Just because you got away from his clutches last time, doesn’t mean you’re safe, girl. Just leave that man be.”
“I’ll leave him be when he does the same for me.” I lowered my voice. “Did he have something goin’ on with Lula?”
Her eyebrows shot up. “What?” But then she shrugged. “Actually, I don’t know. The whole time she’s been here, she’s never once shared who she’s sleepin’ with.”
“How long has she worked here?”
“About a year and a half.”
I frowned. “Bingham was watching her like a hawk tonight, and she was downright nervous. Max blew it off, but something’s goin’ on.”
“I’d tell you to ask her, but she’s buttoned up tighter than a drum about her personal life. She’s friendly and definitely a sweetheart once you get past all the irresponsibility, but she rarely shares anything of any depth.”
“But neither do I,” I countered.
“You’ve been here all of a month,” Ruth said with a groan. “And you share a hell of a lot more than she does. I know you’re slowly changin’ Hank’s diet—the fact that he’s falling for it floors me. I know you’re still takin’ care of his wound and takin’ him to his doctor’s appointments. I know what you bought when you went to Target in Greeneville last week. And I know you’re dating Wyatt Drummond, and the two of you had an argument that sent him packin’.” She leaned closer. “Yeah, I know you have a past you don’t talk about, but I don’t give a shit about any of that. We’ve all got our secrets, but you’re sharing your real life with me. The here and now, just like I’m sharing mine with you. Even the stuff I don’t share with anyone else. She shares nothin’.”