Be With Me (3 page)

“Let go!”

He looked into her eyes
and saw some strange vulnerability. “Not until you tell me what’s
wrong.”

“I don’t have to tell you
anything!” She shouted.

“Then I guess I won’t let
you go.” He laughed.

Before he knew what was
coming, Maggie swung her arm and connected her palm with his face.
The slap stung but he held fast to her other arm. He was livid, no
woman had ever struck him and this woman was treading very thin ice
already. He held onto her with more ferociousness and looked into
her weepy eyes.

“That’s you one free pass,
do it again and you will be eating through a straw for the rest of
your life.” He glared.

Just then he felt a hand
on his shoulder, pulling him away from the infuriating woman in
front of him.

“Hey bro, you need to cool
it.” Jake warned.

Tyler spun around and
glared at his brother. “Fuck you!”

“Look, either calm the
hell down or get the hell out of here. I don’t want you upsetting
Emily or Maisy.”

Tyler was seeing red, and
he knew Jake was just trying to help. He would never hit a woman
but in that instant he was thinking about going against his better
judgment. Maggie had taken the opportunity with him talking to his
brother to get the hell out of the situation. She started walking,
and Tyler knew she didn’t know where she was going. He started to
take off after her.

“Ty, just leave her alone
okay?”

“Look Jake she doesn’t
know where she is, and its several miles to any place around
here.”

“Fine, I’m going inside to
see my family, do what you want, you always do anyway.” Jake rolled
his eyes.

Tyler took the opportunity
to hop in his truck and go after Maggie. She had already made it
about a mile up the road when he came to her. Tyler rolled down the
window.

“Get in.”

“No!”

“Just get in the
truck.”

“I said no, what about
that do you not understand?”

Tyler hopped out of the
truck and stood in front of her. “Maybe both parts. I’m sorry I
overreacted, I’ve never been physically assaulted by a
female.”

“Physically assaulted?
Grow up.”

“You first.”

“Fuck off. I don’t need
this shit, I have a wonderful life back in Chicago, and the less
time I have to spend in this God awful state around you the
better.”

“Then by all means, take
off walking, don’t let me stop you from your important
life.”

Tyler went back to his
vehicle and climbed into the driver seat. He stared out the window
at the woman in front of him; she was a mystery to him in many
ways. She had a major chip in her shoulder about something, and for
some reason he wanted to get to the bottom of it. He waited for a
few minutes, and finally she got in the truck.

“Don’t take this as a sign
that I like you, because I don’t. I need to get my stuff and
continue what I came her for that’s it. And since my rental car is
in someone’s pasture, I need a ride.”

“Where do you need to
go?”

Tyler watched her face
darken, and it seemed that she had trouble getting the information
out.

“Do you know where the old
Wells ranch is?”

“Yeah sure do, it’s been
abandoned since Mrs. Wells died six months ago.”

“That’s where I need to
go.” She whispered.

“You’re Phillip Wells’
daughter?”

“Unfortunately
so.”

“Okay I’ll take you back
to my brother’s house to get your stuff and I’ll drive you out
there.”

“Thank you.”

“So that’s a pretty big
rock on your finger…engaged?” He said.

“Yes, getting married in a
few months.”

“You don’t seem happy
about it.”

“I am, I just…”

“Are not
happy?”

“Whatever…”

“Well if someone is happy
about getting married they usually glow or beam…some shit like
that.”

“I don’t have time for all
of that; besides what do you know about getting
married.”

“I was
married.”

“Oh. Are you divorced
now?”

“Nope. I went overseas,
and got the call that my wife and unborn child were killed in a car
accident.”

“Oh my God, I’m so
sorry.”

“Don’t be, it’s been a
long time ago.”

“But you still miss her?”
Maggie asked softly.

“Honestly I did, until I
found out she was cheating on me when I was overseas. Not even sure
the baby was mine.”

“Wow. That’s
rough.”

“I guess it could have
been rougher.” He smirked.

“Not sure how…” Maggie
stated.

“Yeah well I could have
been oblivious to the whole situation and raised a child that
wasn’t mine. That would have sucked major ass.”

“Yeah I guess
so…”

Why was he telling this
stranger all of his secrets? Things that he buried in the past were
coming to the surface, and he couldn’t figure out why.

“So, what’s your story
Maggie?”

She turned her head and
looked out the passenger window of the truck. “Not much to tell I
suppose. I grew up here, and moved to Chicago when I graduated high
school. I went to college there and work as a magazine editor
now.”

“Not really a story, more
like a bio…”

“Isn’t that what a story
is? Just a brief bio of one’s life?”

“If you say
so.”

This woman was
infuriating, Tyler wanted so bad to push her out of the vehicle but
thought against it. Something was up with her, she didn’t tell
anything about herself that he wouldn’t have been able to find on
Google, and she refused to look at him the entire time she
talked.

“So, what is your fiancée
like?” Tyler asked.

“Richard? He’s great. We
have the same goals in life, and we fit well.”

“You fit?”

“Of course, you know, we
mesh well together.”

“Sounds like a match made
in heaven then…” He rolled his eyes.

“You know….I am smart
enough to know when someone is being sarcastic.”

“Then I apologize for my
sarcasm. Just seems to me that when two people are getting ready to
spend their life together that there needs to be more than meshing
involved.”

“Yeah…like what?” She
questioned.

“Like passion, love… the
willingness to do anything and everything to make the other person
happy.”

“I think you read too many
romance novels, or watch the Lifetime channel to damn much. Real
life isn’t like that at all!”

“And what do you know
about real life?”

“Probably a lot more than
you do.” She smirked.

“Then we will agree to
disagree…”

What sort of life did this
woman lead? She was diluted in the fact that a happy marriage and
life was just as simple as finding someone with common interests.
Tyler knew it was more than that by a long shot. Even when he was
married to Tammy there was more than just coexisting. He loved
Tammy in his own ways, but in the end it just wasn’t enough to make
her happy.

Tyler drove through town
and headed east. The remainder of the ride was fairly silent, much
to his liking. Maggie sat quietly in her seat and stared forward,
looking nervous as hell.

“Something wrong?” Tyler
spoke up.

“Why would there be
something wrong?”

“You keep wringing your
hands. Nervous about something?”

“Of course not. I’m
fine.”

Something was definitely
wrong with this woman; people that were “fine” didn’t act like
someone that had a bomb strapped to their chest.

When he turned onto the
gravel road that led to the Well’s home, Maggie became more
agitated. She couldn’t sit still in her seat, and proceeded to
twist the large engagement ring on her finger. Tyler began to feel
bad for her, but why should he? She was nothing to him, just some
stranger that tried to run him off the highway, and slapped him in
the face. The sooner he dropped her sorry ass off, the
better.

Five

What the hell was wrong
with me? I couldn’t sit still during the rest of the ride, and I
felt like I could throw up at any time. The things in my past
wafted over me like a blanket of dread. I didn’t want to be back
there, I wanted to run as fast as I could and never look back.
That’s what I thought I had done when I graduated high school; I
never pictured myself coming back here and facing the things that I
feared the most.

“Here we are.” Tyler
interrupted.

My head shot up and fear
filled my body. The house looked unchanged from what I remembered
as a teenager. The paint was still chipped, and the shutters were
half falling off. The landscape was barren and looked like a fire
had torn through the bushes and flower beds. The swing on the front
porch was still hanging and a slight breeze set it in motion making
it look like a ghost was using it. The thought made chills dance
along my spine.

I slowly reached for the
handle to let myself out of the truck. I felt a hand on my left arm
and jumped.

“Whoa, chill out. Are you
sure you’re okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Tyler
said.

“I…I’m okay.”

“I’ll get your bags for
you.” He offered.

“Thanks.”

I removed myself from the
vehicle and set my feet down on the property. A shiver overtook my
body and at that moment I felt like I had just set foot in the pits
of hell. So many memories flooded back and I felt my knees go weak.
Before I slumped to the ground I felt strong arms envelop my waist,
pulling me back up. My back was settled against a rock hard chest,
and I could feel Tyler’s breath in my hair. He was warm…no, he was
blazing against me. I felt safe, secure, and had to admit that I
was a little more than turned on.

“Thank you.” I
breathed.

His arms wound around and
pulled me to face him. I looked up into gorgeous blue eyes and
found myself lost. My breathing accelerated and my pulse kicked
into warp speed. This man was beautiful, and my body was reacting
in a way that made me afraid. I watched him lick his lips, and I
wanted that tongue on me, and in me. My mouth went painfully dry,
so I darted out my tongue to wet my lips.

Before I knew what was
happening, I closed my eyes and felt his warm moist lips touch
mine. There wasn’t urgency to his actions; it was more of an
exploration. He was testing me, and I wanted to pass the test with
flying colors. I opened my lips, letting his exploration continue,
and then our tongues began a dance of erotic seduction. My skin
came alive, and I felt like I’d been struck by the sweetest bolt of
lightning from the heavens. His taste was exquisite, all male, and
so damn yummy that I couldn’t get enough even if I tried. Tyler
threaded his hands into my hair, and pulled at my scalp, the action
sent a shiver of awareness between my thighs, and made me gasp. I’d
never been so turned on in my life, or wanted someone with this
much ferocity.

I was letting my body take
over, and just when I thought I could come undone just from the
touch of this man’s lips…he suddenly pulled away. His eyes were
filled with regret.

“I’m so sorry…I didn’t…”
He whispered.

“Don’t. Okay, it was as
much my fault as it was yours. Don’t play martyr on this
please.”

“I just…damn.”

“Thanks for the ride
Tyler.” I said sarcastically.

I grabbed my bags and
headed up the stairs to my hell on earth.

“Maggie wait…”

“Listen Tyler, I’m
engaged. It was nothing, just a momentary lapse in
judgment.”

The look on his face told
me that wasn’t the description he had in mind for what transpired,
and truthfully it wasn’t mine either. I wanted him, and he wanted
me but I couldn't be unfaithful. I didn’t have it in me to hurt
Richard like that. As good as it felt to be in Tyler’s arms; it was
for the best that we go our separate ways.

“If you need anything,
here’s my number.” He laid a scrap of paper on a wooden post to the
porch. “Again Maggie, I’m sorry.”

I watched him turn, and
climb into his truck. I felt lost again when I saw him drive away.
Somehow I felt safe when he was there, but the dread was beginning
to overtake me once again. The horrors and demons of my childhood
were lurking just through the doorway, and I was powerless to stop
the invasion.

When I pressed the key
into the lock of the door, my stomach began to churn and my heart
rate went from a soft flutter to a knocking thud against my chest.
I felt truly alone at that moment, secluded from the outside world
and trapped in a place that felt as if it could burn me alive. I
had told myself that I put the past where it should be, and that
was where it was buried, but I suddenly knew better. The past was
creeping up on me like the sunrise over the horizon, and I was
powerless to put a halt to it all.