Stay with Me [Brook Hollow 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) Read online

  Brook Hollow 2

  Stay with Me

  Mia Sanders came to Brook Hollow, Missouri for the chance at a fresh start away from the pain of her old life in New York. Brook Hollow gave her the opportunity to make better decisions. Falling in love with a cranky sheriff who had everything against love was probably not her best decision.

  Sheriff Abel Ramirez was dedicated to his job and his family. His long hours as sheriff kept away the loneliness of his bad decisions in the past. In his book, love was just a myth some people fell for, but not him. He was way too smart to do that again. Until he met Mia. Fighting his feelings for the mysterious newcomer was his hardest job so far.

  Mia Sanders and Abel Ramirez both have been burned by love. Can they overcome their past and give in to a love that will heal them both? Or will they let the bitterness of past heartaches ruin everything wonderful they could have?

  Genre: Contemporary

  Length: 43,831 words

  STAY WITH ME

  Brook Hollow 2

  Lee Rose

  

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  STAY WITH ME

  Copyright © 2017 by Lee Rose

  ISBN: 978-1-64010-692-5

  First Publication: October 2017

  Cover design by Harris Channing

  All art and logo copyright © 2017 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

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  PUBLISHER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  I have always loved reading, especially romances. I believe in a happy ending and that love does indeed conquer all. Now I love writing romance stories just as much. When not writing I spend my time with family and friends. I enjoy hearing from my fans and can look me up on Facebook.

  For all titles by Lee Rose, please visit

  www.bookstrand.com/lee-rose

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  About the Author

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Landmarks

  Cover

  STAY WITH ME

  Brook Hollow 2

  LEE ROSE

  Copyright © 2017

  Prologue

  Mia Sanders banged on her friend’s door as hard as she could. Her chest hurt so bad, making it hard to breathe. Her head was throbbing and made it hard for her to focus on finding safety. Blood dripped down her face but at least it didn’t get in her eyes. She was so cold her teeth were chattering. She had run out of her apartment so fast and had not bothered to grab a coat. It was mid-September but the night air was cold and frigid, indicating winter was arriving early this year.

  “Please be home. Please.” She cried desperately while continuing to bang on the door of her friend’s apartment. She saw a light in the window. Gwen had to be home. She had nowhere else to go.

  Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the door opened. The brightness of the interior lights blinded Mia. She put her hand up as a shield and squinted her eyes. “Gwen. Thank God.”

  “Mia?” Gwen Henderson, her longtime best friend, gasped loudly. Mia practically fell at Gwen’s feet. Gwen caught her and dragged Mia to the couch. Mia heard the door close and the lock click in place. She finally felt safe for the first time tonight. She let the warmth seep into her cold body. Mia had run the three blocks to her friend’s home.

  “I might get blood on it,” Mia protested, still breathing heavy and trying hard to not pass out. She could see the spots forming in front of her eyes already.

  “Who cares?” Gwen muttered angrily. “Did that asshole do this to you again? I swear, Mia, he is dead.”

  “Who is dead?” The male voice came from the kitchen area, but Mia had her eyes closed. She recognized Gwen’s boyfriend’s voice, Mitch Lewis. Mitch was a nice, normal caring man who adored Gwen. “We talked about this, babe. No killing,” he joked.

  Mia knew the moment he saw the injuries on her face. He cursed, using the words she wanted to use. Brenda, her longtime foster mother, however, had always taught her that ladies did not use profanity. Even if Brenda was no longer around, Mia hesitated using such bad language.

  “Shit. Who did this?” Mitch snapped through gritted teeth.

  “Frank, the asshole,” Gwen answered for Mia. Mia felt a wet cloth touch her forehead and flinched. She grabbed it and held it to her forehead. She opened her eyes and looked up at Gwen. Gwen’s blue eyes were filled with tears, but her cheeks were red from anger. Her blonde hair was pinned on top of her head with strands escaping the headband.

  Mia sniffed, feeling embarrassed. She couldn’t even see surprise on her friend’s face. This happened much too often. Mia couldn’t hold Gwen’s gaze. She felt to blame for all of this, after all, she was dumb enough to pick the wrong guy to date. “I don’t know what else to do, Gwen. I have filed restraining orders and filled out police reports. His uncle just hides it, or helps him get away with anything he does wrong. I have used all my savings up moving to different apartments, but Frank always finds me.”

  Gwen sat next to Mia on the couch and grabbed her free hand and squeezed it. “This is ridiculous. Frank and his uncle have gone too far this time.”

  Frank’s uncle was a detective in a downtown New York precinct and always got Frank out of whatever trouble he got in to. Franks parents owned an insurance agency, and believed their son could do no wrong.

  Gwen tilted Mia’s face up to the light. She frowned at Mia’s swollen eye and the gash on her forehead. Gwen turned to her boyfriend. “Get my first aid kit from my closet.”

  Mitch nodded grimly and left the living room. Mia heard him rumbling around in Gwen’s bedroom.

  “Thank goodness you are a nurse, Gwen,” Mia whispered. Her whole side of her face hurt from Frank’s punches. Mia had broken things off with him six months ago when she realized Frank’s drug use was increasing. He promised her so many times he was going to quit soon. His behavior was becoming more and more violent. He had started pushing her and slapping her. Then he came home with a hickey on his neck and that was the last straw for her. Frank was spoiled and cruel. He refused to let Mia make a life without him. Mia cursed the day she met Frank DeMarco and fell for his smooth lies. He was handsome and s
uave, but his heart was as cold as ice. Why hadn’t she seen that sooner?

  Mitch returned with a large, white plastic case, handing it to Gwen. Mia kept her eyes closed as Gwen tended to her face injuries. The silence in the room was filled with tension. Mia breathed through her nose to calm her pulse rate back down to normal. Now that her adrenaline was fading she felt exhausted.

  “Where else?” Gwen sounded close to tears. Mia opened her eyes and looked at her friend. Frank had kicked her side repeatedly until she broke a beer bottle over his head. She had taken the opportunity to run out the door of her apartment, leaving him cursing and dazed. “My ribs hurt but they are not broken, Gwen. I can breathe.”

  Gwen nodded and closed the case. She set it on the floor and looked at Mia. “My dad has a sister in Brook Hollow, Missouri. I’ve talked to him about your situation. Becky is willing to take you in and give you a job. You can’t keep going through this.”

  Mia’s heart felt heavy and fear filled her up. She had lived her whole life in New York City. She had grown up in the foster care system and met Gwen in middle school. The two girls had become instant friends. Gwen’s parents had shown Mia love and care all of her life. Gwen was all Mia had. Traveling hundreds of miles to a strange town all alone did not appeal to Mia. Then again, neither did fearing for her life. She had changed her cellphone number so many times, but Frank always found out the number until Mia had thrown her phone away completely. She had moved and changed jobs several times, but Frank always managed to show up. Her savings account had dried up and she couldn’t break the lease and move again. Going to the police was also out of the question.

  “What if he finds me in Missouri, Gwen? I don’t want to cause trouble for your aunt,” Mia said, feeling frustrated and scared.

  Mitch handed Mia two small pills with a glass of water. “Just over the counter painkillers,” he assured her.

  Mia swallowed the pills and leaned her head back against the cushion of Gwen’s couch. Now that she was safe, tiredness took over. Her body was sore but she would live.

  “We’ll make up a fake last name. Becky knows what is going on and she offered her help,” Gwen said with determination. “One of these days Frank is going to kill you. I’m scared for you, Mia, so please do this for me. I’ll wait a few weeks then I will visit you.”

  “Promise?” Mia whispered, feeling her eyes get heavy. This seemed to be her only choice. She was out of ideas.

  “Promise,” Gwen stated firmly. Those were the last words she heard before blacking out from exhaustion.

  Chapter One

  “I had fun,” Mia admitted reluctantly.

  Her new friend and co-worker, Reva Kendell, laughed triumphantly. She arched her light brown eyebrow in a challenge. “I won’t say I told you so, but I did tell you so.”

  Mia rolled her eyes as they walked through the still full parking lot of Kramer’s Bar on the outskirts of the town of Brook Hollow. It wasn’t near closing time but both women were ready to call it a night. There were light poles scattered around the parking lot, making it bright enough for them to walk to their cars without fear. Every spot was taken by a vehicle. Kramer’s was a popular spot to hang out and unwind on Saturday night. There were bigger, fancier clubs twenty or so miles outside of town, but most people stuck around Brook Hollow.

  “I’m surprised you’re ready to call it a night. That cowboy you danced with all night is handsome,” Mia mentioned. Mia was starting to feel settled in Brook Hollow and liked it. It was a lot different from the big city and she had her doubts about adjusting to a small town of only a few thousand people. The last three weeks had been an eye opener but now she was comfortable here. New York and all its headaches seemed so far away. She missed Gwen but they talked once a week over the phone.

  The sound of their high heels clicked on the hard pavement of the parking lot. The bass of the loud music of the bar could still be heard, mixed with the sound of the crickets outdoor. It was warm for October but Mia wasn’t going to complain. Soon winter would be here, and along with winter came snow and freezing temperatures, something she dreaded every year.

  “He was, but I also know his reputation. He collects notches on his belt and brags about it.” Reva shrugged, flipping her long, straight golden blonde hair over her shoulder and away from her face. Her face was thin and heart shaped. “No thanks. I’m not that desperate.”

  “I hear you, girlfriend.” Mia giggled lightly. The night air lifted her own short blonde curls off of her shoulder. Mia had no interest in ever getting entangled in another relationship. Frank had made her life a living hell. She was good with being single. “Who needs all that drama? I like being single.”

  “I enjoy it, too, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have my eyes on the lookout for Mr. Right.” Reva giggled, reaching her small black sports car. Reva had her keys in hand. She turned to Mia. “I work tomorrow afternoon. How about you?”

  Mia shook her head and yawned. “No, and I am glad. Becky gave me tomorrow off. I plan on sleeping the day away. Maybe doing some laundry, but we’ll see if I even do that.”

  Becky Wilson, Gwen’s aunt, owned a popular coffee shop right in the middle of the town’s business district. Mia liked her new job now that she had the hang of all the fancy machines being used. Mia had been a bartender and a part-time waitress back in New York City, but never a barista. At first, she burned her fingers too many times, but with patience, she finally got the hang of it.

  Becky was so sweet and even let Mia stay in a small cottage behind her bigger house. It had all worked out well and Mia had been able to relax for the first time in months. Becky even allowed Mia to use her last name of Wilson. That took some getting used to.

  Mia headed to her own small white car parked a few rows down after waving good-bye to Reva.

  Mia yawned again. One good thing about dancing the night away was she would sleep well tonight. She still worried at times about Frank finding her. She checked her windows and doors nightly. Mitch had been keeping an eye on Frank, and assured her he had no clue where Mia was. Still, fear lingered in Mia’s mind.

  She had her car keys handy to open her door. She was so focused on putting her key into the lock that she never saw or noticed the dark shadow behind her. Before she could blink a hand was over her mouth, making it hard for her to breathe. Oh God, had Frank found her?

  Mia sank her teeth into the hand over her mouth and let out a scream worthy of an Oscar. A feeling of panic overwhelmed her and she was afraid to turn around and face whoever it was. She heard her keys hit the pavement and her purse hit the ground next. Her only hope was that Reva had not pulled away yet and heard Mia’s loud scream.

  “Quit struggling. I just want your purse.” Mia didn’t recognize the voice with the country twang. It sure wasn’t Frank. He had a heavy Italian and New York accent. Her knees went weak with relief. She’d seen enough detective movies in her lifetime. What was she supposed to do besides not panic? It was too late for that. She was scared shitless right now.

  Mia kicked her foot back and hit the man’s leg with her heel. She heard him yelp in pain and felt a small moment of triumph. “Son of a bitch,” he muttered, letting her go.

  Mia took advantage of his moment of complaining and elbowed him in the stomach for good measure. He lost his balance, knocking her to the ground. She felt the concrete scrape her knees and she whimpered with pain. A few seconds later she heard Reva’s voice yell out loud. “I called the police, asshole, and the bouncers are coming.”

  Mia stayed on the ground and let out a breath of relief. She looked up but the figure was already halfway across the parking lot in a full run. All she saw was a black blur.

  “Oh God, Mia. I was so scared when I heard you scream!” Reva cried, grabbing Mia’s arm and helping her stand up. Reva winced at the sight of Mia’s scraped knees.

  “Me, too.” Mia’s voice was shaky and she felt tears overflow from her eyes and streak down her cheeks.

  Seconds later, one of th
e bouncers from the bar was standing in front of her. “Mario is chasing the asshole. Hope he gets him.”

  “Are you hurt?” he asked, sounding concerned. Mia wiped her eyes so she could see. She recognized him from the bar. Reva was also crying and hanging tightly to Mia’s arm.

  “It could have been much worse. I was scared as hell though,” Mia whispered, ignoring the sting in her knees. Her injuries could have been much worse. “He wanted my purse.”

  “I was smoking a cigarette when I heard you scream,” he answered, shaking his head at her injured knees. Her dress ended above her knees. He took Mia to the curb and sat her down. Mia willingly sat down since her knees felt like they were going to give out at any moment. How embarrassing that would be if she just keeled over now that it was all over.

  “Your knees are bleeding,” he observed. “I can call for an ambulance.”

  Mia was still breathing heavily but she shook her head. She’d had worse injuries from Frank. “It’s just a scrape from hitting the pavement. I’ll clean it up at home.”

  Sirens and red and blue flashing lights invaded the parking lot. Great, now people from the bar would come out and investigate, asking questions. Here she was in this small town trying to keep a low profile. She did not need the hassle of making a police report. Now she was scared for a different reason. Frank’s uncle could easily get on the internet and find her. She should’ve changed her first name, too. Mia was not a common name. Becky told people Mia was her ex-husband’s niece. Becky’s ex, Donald, was working out of the country and wouldn’t care. He never came back to the States to visit. Becky told Mia he had no contact with his few family members.