Read Online Forever Hers by Ednah Walters - Free Book Online

be tie into it. The problem was he couldn’t imagine this particular woman breaking the law. She was direct and honest to a fault. On the other hand, her weakness was her daughter. What if she was on the run because of Raelynn? Maybe the husband got custody and she disagreed with the court’s ruling. He’d seen enough cases of abuse, where one parent was denied custody and took matters into her or his hands. Could this be the real reason his aunt had sent him to Sandpoint? To help Amy?

    ***

    Amy could feel Eddie’s eyes on her. Humiliation upon humiliation had turned her into a bitch and she was taking out her frustration on poor Eddie. At one time, she’d had more allowance than she knew what to do with it. Wasted it away on parties and her friends. Now, she pinched pennies and could hardly afford to buy her daughter treats. She couldn’t even charge anything because she didn’t have a credit card. Fear of Nolan tracing it back to her had been more important.
    What good did that do to her? Zilch. He still found them.
    Amy shuddered and searched the parking lot again. A glimpse of a man at the end of the aisle was all she had. Same tan cargo pants, navy-blue shirt under a black leather jacket and a red baseball hat, Nolan’s signature outfit when off duty. She had rushed outside praying she had been mistaken.
    By the time she’d reached the entrance, the man was gone, yet the prickly feeling of being watched persisted. She hated these mind games Nolan played. Why couldn’t he just act like a man and approach her?
    “Mommy?”
    Amy tensed and turned to face her daughter. She’d been afraid to ask Raelynn what she’d seen… if she’d seen Nolan too. “Yes, sweetie.”
    “Is Mr. Eddie going to fix our car?”
    “No, sweetie, but he’s calling someone who will do it.”
    “Did Nolan break it?”
    Dread knotted Amy’s stomach. He had done it a few times back in Virginia. “Why do you say that, honey?”
    “I saw him,” she whispered.
    Ice fingers crawled up Amy’s spine.   “Where?”
    “In the store. He waved.”
    That sniveling sack of shit. Amy reached out and caressed Raelynn’s cheek. Her skin was no longer clammy and her shaking had subsided. That was the last time he screwed with her child. Amy was done running. He wanted a piece of her, he’d have to come and get it, but on her terms. She didn’t know what she’d do, but she would think of something. It was time to fight back.
    “Is he coming to get us?” Raelynn asked just as the door open and Eddie joined them. “I don’t want to go back.” She shoved the thumb in her mouth.
    “No, sweetie. I will never, ever let that happen. I promise.” She patted her soft cheek then turned to face Eddie.
    He didn’t ask questions or push for an explanation, which was just as well. She wasn’t ready to answer them. Interestingly enough, she felt safe with him even though she knew she shouldn’t. She couldn’t afford to lower her guard or depend on anyone. Nolan was her battle and the less anyone knew the better.
    “I’m sorry for being snappy,” Amy said. “My daughter is not used to strangers and every time she freezes, it…it just kills me.”
    If he bought her explanation, it didn’t show. “That’s okay. The tow guy will be here in ten minutes.”
    “That’s fast,” she said. “Where are they towing it to?”
    “The guy mentioned Jack’s Auto.”
    Amy groaned.
    “Is that a problem?”
    It could be. “Not really. When I arrived here, I had a broken tail light and went to Jack’s Auto to have it fixed.”
    Eddie’s eyes narrowed. “They were not nice to you?”
    “No, no, that’s not it. They were very nice and friendly. Maybe too friendly.”
    “Someone hit on you?”
    “Not in a bad way.” Two guys had asked her out. She hoped they did that to all the women who stopped by their shop and didn’t remember her. It would be hard to explain to Eddie she was Amy Kincaid and Jessica Franklin—the names on her fake I.D.