Selena's Savior [Appledale 4] (Siren Publishing Classic) Read online

  When he had spotted Selena walking with her head down and looking like the weight of the world was on her shoulders he had impulsively stopped and gave her a ride to work. It was true he figured she couldn’t be as sweet as she seemed. He told himself he kept an eye on her so he could catch her when she revealed her true colors.

  He knew deep inside she was nothing like her alcoholic mother, so why had he tried so hard to lump her into the same category as Della Mae? Was it because Selena was young and beautiful and so out of his league? She was slender but she had plenty of feminine curves. Her hair was long and the color of honey and looked just as silky. Her eyes reminded him of a clear blue sky. She seemed reserved but he sensed she had a passionate nature hidden inside of her. You would never tell from the loose-fitting clothes she always wore. It tempted him to want to look deeper but then the rational part of his brain would remind him he didn’t need the hassle of forming ties. He couldn’t even keep his family ties together. His mom and dad had disowned him when his younger brother died of an overdose. After that painful event he vowed to never let his heart get involved again. Emotions were dangerous and messy.

  She was friends with both Lacy and Stella and they always defended her when people tried to talk about her. Mostly it was the catty women who were jealous of her because she did attract the attention of a lot of the men in town, single and taken. But he had watched her closely and she ignored all the looks of flirtation men gave her. Instead she spent her days off with old Mr. Harris. He couldn’t remember seeing her at any social events the town held.

  “Hey, Harry. Buy me a drink?” said a feminine voice next to his ear. He turned and groaned inwardly. It was Denise. He had dated her a few times until he realized how clingy she was. He had backed off right away but she was persistent. Her dress was tight and short, leaving nothing to the imagination. Her short red hair was hanging loose yet all he could think about was hair the color of honey.

  “I’m leaving,” was his simple answer. He could feel a headache forming, at least it wouldn’t be a lie.

  “I can go home with you. It’s been a few months since we have been together.” She whined, trying to pout. Her hand caressed his shoulder and he had the urge to flick it off of him but he didn’t. “We were amazing together, Harry.”

  Harrison kept his voice even and patient. He had two dates with her and only one of those dates led to quick sex. “I don’t do relationships, Denise. I thought you understood but obviously I didn’t make it clear enough. And I don’t like being called Harry.”

  Denise’s eyes lost the soft, flirty look. They grew cold and angry. “You are a bastard, Harrison. I heard you were trying to flirt with Melissa but she knows what an asshole you are and rejected you. Now I am glad she did.”

  “I have never flirted with her, Denise.” Harrison rolled his eyes and it was the truth. The three women Lacy liked to call The Drama Queen Club was not something he wanted to involve himself with. “She comes on to me all the time but I have told her the same thing I told you.”

  Denise muttered under her breath and stomped away.

  Harrison paid his bill and left. This was not his day or night. He was better off at his apartment alone. He wondered what Selena was doing and if her mom was throwing one of her wild parties. He worried about her being there even though he knew it was not his concern. He would drive by just to ease his conscience, he told himself.

  Selena’s house was dark and her car was not there. He felt a little disappointed as he drove home alone.

  Chapter 2

  Selena pulled into the driveway late that night and groaned. All the lights in the house were on and the music was loud. She was surprised the neighbors had not called the police yet. God, could her life get any worse? Why did she stick around here? She could afford her own apartment but she felt guilty leaving her mom all alone. If Selena didn’t cook and insist that Della eat she probably wouldn’t. Della would never bother cleaning either. She knew she didn’t owe Della anything. Della had never put her daughter first. Some lingering hope that one day Della would change clung in her heart.

  Selena went inside and found her mom sitting on the couch passed out. Her head was tilted at an odd angle. Selena looked around and turned the radio off. No one else seemed to be around but obviously people had. Bottles and cans were everywhere even on the floor. Selena groaned with irritation.

  She shook her mom’s shoulders. “Della, wake up.”

  Her mom moaned and slumped more to the side. Selena sighed and laid her straight on the couch. There were ashtrays filled with ashes everywhere. She covered her mom with the wool throw lying across the couch.

  Selena turned off the living-room light and headed toward her room. She had had dinner with Ed so she was not hungry. She yawned and tuned the kitchen light off on the way to her room. Tomorrow she would clean.

  She opened her bedroom door and screamed when she saw a man sitting on her bed. On her brand new comforter.

  “Dave? What are you doing in my room?” she said in a cold voice. Her mom had been dating him for the last three weeks. He had beady little eyes that gave her the creeps. He was only in his thirties but Della often dated younger men.

  He smiled and it made her feel afraid. She felt her body tense. “Della Mae passed out on me. After all the money I spent on this stupid party.”

  His words were slurring and he patted the bed. “It is time for me and you to get better acquainted. I might be your stepdaddy soon.”

  Selena rolled her eyes. Her mom dated many men but never took one seriously. She liked her freedom, she always told Selena. She took a step back, intending to go back out to the living room. Maybe if they were loud Della would wake up. “I’m not twelve, Dave. I don’t need a father figure in my life so please leave my room. I had a rough day at work.”

  He stood up and walked over to her and held on to her arms, preventing her from leaving. He caressed her cheek softly but all she felt was fear. She could see the look of lust in his eyes as he looked her up and down. His smile was cold and cruel and she could smell the liquor on his breath. His brown hair was messy and so were his clothes. “Don’t get an attitude with me, sweetheart. I like punishing the girls in my life.”

  “I am not your girl. My mom just started dating you a few weeks ago so how can you two be so serious?” She tried to stay calm so she wouldn’t antagonize him further. He had her backed up against the wall and that was not good.

  “She likes my money. It supports her bad habits and I lust after her daughter. Even trade-off don’t you think?” He laughed but she didn’t see anything funny about what he just said.

  She tried to pull away from his grip. If she could make her way back to the living room she could make a run for it out the front door. She was scared but she tried not to let it show. “No, it’s not. That’s just wrong. Now let me go.”

  He laughed and gripped her arms tighter. He shook her and she bit her lip to keep from crying out. “Make me. I am stronger than you, little girl. I like it rough too so if you want to fight me that’s fine. I find it exciting but either way you and I are about to become very close friends.”

  “You’re crazy. I am not some slut.” Her temper got the best of her and she yelled it out loud. His grip tightened until she winced in pain. She felt the tears roll down her cheek.

  He let go of one arm and fondled her breast. She stood still for a second as if she wasn’t going to fight him. When she saw his shoulders relax she kicked out and landed a kick on his knees and he fell to the floor. “You bitch.”

  Selena ran for it. Thank god her keys were in her jeans pocket. She ran out the door, forgetting her purse, and reached her car. She got in and locked the doors. Her hands were shaking and she felt like she wanted to throw up. She started the car just as Dave ran out the door yelling out her name. She reversed and squealed her tires, taking off and driving away.

  She drove down the street with no idea where to go. Ed had gone to sleep as soon as she left. She drove
around the empty town and headed out to Ed’s farm. She parked in his driveway behind his old pickup truck. His house was completely dark and she didn’t want to wake him up. She laid her head on the steering wheel and sobbed.

  How had her life come to this point? She always tried to be good and work and pay her bills. She didn’t party or go out with men so why did this happen to her? She was tired of being scared and alone. Mostly she was tired of trying to hang to the relationship she had with her mom. Della was selfish and cared about her next drink more than anything else. But if she severed her ties with Della she would be all alone. Sure, there were a few people in town that were nice to her like Stella and Lacy but she wasn’t close to them. She saw Ed on a regular basis but she didn’t tell him much about her home life. She was sure he guessed. When her grandfather had been alive he tried to get her to sever her ties with Della like he had. She hadn’t been strong enough to do it but maybe she needed to. So her choices of what to do all led to her being alone forever.

  Selena waited until daylight to knock on Ed’s door. He was surprised to see Selena standing there with red eyes and the same wrinkled clothes.

  “What’s wrong, honey?” When he enfolded her in his arms she burst into tears. She had cried most of the night in the car in between dozing off. Ed made some coffee and sat her down at the kitchen table. Her story came pouring out of her and Ed looked angry. He wanted her to call the sheriff but she insisted she needed to talk to her mom first. Surely her mom did not know Dave wanted her. Della Mae was vain and she would never date anyone who didn’t do as she wished.

  She didn’t want to go to work but she knew she had to. She was going to be late again but there was nothing she could do about that.

  Chapter 3

  Selena was glad her red eyes had diminished by lunchtime. Luckily she had extra clothes in her locker at work. She had gone in before Holly and Tracy and changed her uniform.

  She sat in a booth today feeling like she didn’t want to talk to anyone. She felt scared but she didn’t know who she could confide in. She had no close friends.

  Stella brought her a menu and a cup of coffee. She gave Selena a concerned look. “Are you okay, Selena? You look a little pale today.”

  “Maybe I am coming down with something,” Selena answered, hoping Stella couldn’t tell she was lying. She hated lying. Most people in this town thought badly of her already.

  She was afraid of telling Stella and Lacy what happened. They liked her right now. What if they accused her of leading Dave on? “I’ll just have the special, Stella. Is Lacy here today? I wanted to ask her a question.”

  “She’s in the back. I’ll go get her.” Stella walked away and went into the kitchen.

  Lacy came and sat across from her a few minutes later. “Hi, Selena.”

  “I was wondering if there were any openings in that self-defense class your husband teaches and how much it costs?” Selena got to the point. Her head was pounding and she didn’t even feel like eating.

  “Oh yes, they are free and of course there are openings.” Lacy smiled but one look at Selena’s expression and she reached across the table and grabbed her hand. “Is something wrong? Is someone bothering you?”

  Selena wanted so badly to confide in Lacy. Lacy was one of the few people in this town that was nice to her but her husband was also the sheriff. Although Ed wanted her to file an official complaint she didn’t want to go that far. She was going to talk to her mom first. Selena tried to smile but she knew it was not a good effort by the way Lacy looked at her suspiciously.

  “No. Nothing like that. I just wanted to take a few classes. I was thinking of maybe leaving town and exploring a different place. A girl should know how to defend herself right?”

  Lacy relaxed her shoulders and nodded. “Of course. Where you going? I’ll miss you but you’re young still so I get the need to wander.”

  “It’s just a fleeting thought right now. I have nothing definite in mind. I just want to go somewhere where I am not lumped into the same category as my mom.”

  Lacy looked sad for a minute. “I know, Selena. You are a wonderful person and a lot of us know that. The few that can’t see that don’t are just fools with their head stuck up their asses.”

  “Well there comes one of them fools now,” Selena whispered. Lacy tuned to look behind her and frowned. “Harrison? He better not be giving you a hard time still. I have told him over and over you were nothing like Della.”

  “Thanks, Lacy. You and Stella are really nice to me.” Selena smiled a little sadly. Stella came to her table with her food and overheard her last remark.

  “Of course we are. I consider you a friend, Selena. I don’t just let anybody watch Lily.” Stella mentioned her two year old daughter who Selena often babysat when Stella needed a date night with her husband, Stanley.

  “I love that little stinker.” Selena laughed. “She bats those dark eyes at me and I am mush.”

  Lacy laughed and looked at Stella with triumph. “See? I am not the only one under her spell.”

  She turned to Selena. “I had Lily at my house and she wanted ice cream so being the nice auntie I gave it to her. Stella said I messed up some feeding schedule.”

  Stella tried to frown at Lacy but she couldn’t. Instead she sighed. “She gets everyone with those big dark eyes of hers. When she gets older she is going to give me gray hair.”

  “The next class is this Thursday at six p.m. Meet me at the community hall,” Lacy said getting out of the booth. “I am so excited and you can meet my friend Liz. You’ll like her, Selena.”

  Stella shook her head in sympathy. “You poor thing. She has you working out now too?”

  “I want to.” Selena laughed. “I am curious about the classes and want to try it out. I’ll probably be a total klutz.”

  “It really isn’t so bad, you’ll see,” Lacy said encouragingly.

  Stella and Lacy got back to work and Selena stared out the window while eating her lunch. Being able to defend herself against Dave and assholes like him was something she should have learned long ago. She avoided her mom’s men like the plague but one like Dave usually found his way to her, only Dave was the scariest so far. He had a certain look in his eyes that scared her.

  * * * *

  Harrison spotted Selena sitting by the window right away. She had been laughing and talking with Lacy and Stella and he was tempted to go over there and join the conversation but he kept walking and sat down alone instead. Gabe was on his way to meet him for lunch. He had to admit if only to himself that he was attracted to Selena Monroe, always had been. Only he had hidden it behind suspicion and animosity.

  “Harrison.” Lacy greeted him with her usual friendly grin. “Do you want today’s special? It’s meatloaf.”

  He nodded and looked up at his boss’s wife. He had gotten to know her well in the last year he lived here and he admired her strong personality. She hadn’t had it easy in her former life but her husband, his boss, doted on her and spoiled her rotten.

  “Sure, sounds good. Gabe is on his way too,” he told her.

  She sat down across from him and he was surprised. She leaned over to him and spoke softly. “I thought you were going to stop giving Selena Monroe a hard time. She is nothing like Della Mae.”

  “I finally realized that, Lacy,” he admitted, feeling a little ashamed it had taken him so long to come to that realization. “I saw her walking to work yesterday and I gave her a ride. I told her she was nothing like her mom. She looked at me like I was an alien taking over someone’s body. I hadn’t realized how hard of a time I was giving her. She is so reserved and that made me wonder if she was hiding something.”

  Lacy let out a loud sigh, her shoulders slumping. “I feel bad for her. She looked so sad today. Why can’t people see how sweet she really is? She spends her free time with Ed and that alone deserves a medal.”

  Harrison agreed with that statement. The man was cranky but with Selena he was as soft as a teddy bear.
r />   “She picks up groceries for Mrs. Johnson when I get too busy here at the diner and she refuses to take money for it.” Mrs. Johnson was Lacy’s friend and favorite customer. Lacy took her to her doctor appointments and did whatever she could for the elderly lady.

  “I didn’t know that,” he admitted. Had he become so cynical and so suspicious that he couldn’t even tell what people were genuinely nice? Maybe he needed to stop and take a look at his own attitude.

  “She never announces all the nice things she does,” Lacy told him. “She is coming to self-defense classes with me so please try not to scare her off. I really like her, Harrison, and I get the feeling she really needs some friends. She looks so lonely and it reminds me of how I used to feel before I moved here. It makes me so sad.”

  Harrison hated to see Lacy so upset. He reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “I’ll behave, Lacy. I promise.”

  “So I surprise my wife for lunch and this is what I find,” Ryan said from behind them.

  Lacy laughed and jumped up to hug him. He knew she adored him. “I love this surprise.”

  “Geez, you two act like you haven’t seen each other in a long time,” Harrison muttered.

  Gabe laughed and pulled out a chair. Ryan kissed his wife’s lips lightly. “It’s been hours, right, darlin’?”

  Lacy nodded as he sat down. “Ally made meatloaf today.”

  Gabe rubbed his hands together. “Count me in. I missed breakfast this morning because I overslept again.”

  “Is John Luke still up all night?” Ryan asked his friend. Gabe and his wife Karissa had a three-month-old son who liked to stay awake all night and make his parents stay up with him.

  “Yes.” Gabe sighed. “My mom will be here in two days to help. How can such a tiny little human being exhaust two grown adults?”