Chapter 2

I was sitting at my desk with my forehead on the desk. Since my car was struck by lightning on a stormy night, I saw visions of death. I had to touch the person for it to happen. And it only happened if that person would die within forty-eight hours. The groom was going to die.

The vision was not like anything I'd ever seen before. I mean, Marshall Westcott would be naked when he died. I winced at the sight. I wished it was something I could forget. Unfortunately, I didn't forget my visions. I wanted to put them out of my mind because they made me uncomfortable. I wasn't blind and I had noticed that the man was handsome. So were his friends. I rubbed my eyes with trembling fingers, then pressed my palm to my forehead as I relaxed back into my chair.

What was I going to do?

Stay calm.

Relax.

And think.

By the time there was a knock on the office door, followed by Jessop Hallen filling the doorway, I was relaxed. In fact, I was half asleep, not that I'd admit that to the man grinning from ear to ear. "Catching up on work, I see," Jessop drawled as he walked into the office. He shut the door behind him.

"I had a distraction."

"Is that what you call it?" He slumped into the visitors chair.

I narrowed my eyes. "What am I missing?"

"Bernie," he grinned, "told me four guys flirted with you."

A laugh came out of me. "You'll probably see them at the Roadhouse later."

He raised a brow. "You, too?"

"No," I snorted. "I'm surprised I haven't been banished."

"Yeah, well, my crotch is awfully glad you haven't been near a pool table again."

Heat flared in my cheeks. "That was an accident, and please can we not talk about it...ever again?"

Jessop chuckled. "Not a chance." He sat forward and put his hands on the desk. "So, what happened out there to make you hide in here?"

My eyes snapped to his. "You saw that?"

"I came downstairs and saw your face when you ran in here. I'm your friend, Talla—" he paused while he searched my eyes, "at least I'd like to think we are."

"We are friends, Jessop." I reached out and took his hands. "I just have a bad feeling, that's all."

I could tell him the truth. He'd understand. Maybe he'd think I was crazy. And if I had to be honest, I wasn't sure the groom had died under suspicious circumstances. There was no blood. He was just lying on the bed with... with...

"How's it going upstairs?"

"Nice change of subject." He sat back, eyes narrowed. "You can move in by the end of next week."

I gave a loud squeal of delight, ran around the desk and threw myself at Jessop.

He wrapped his arms around me. The momentum knocked Jessop off his chair. He cursed under his breath as he landed on his back. His arms gripped me tightly as I landed on top of him. I shook my head and raised my eyes to his. "You are a dangerous woman to be with, Tallulah." He groaned. "I can't get up until you do."

"Oh!" I struggled to get off him and ended up pressing my knee into a sensitive spot. "Oops. I'm sorry." I continued to scramble until I was on my feet. I stared down at the man as my cheeks burned. "Here, let me help you up." I offered my hand.

Jessop looked at it doubtfully, but then grinned. "Nice panties. I like pink."

"What? Oh, you, you, pig!" I quickly rounded my desk and crossed my arms over my chest.

The man burst out laughing and sat up before getting to his feet. "I'm not going to apologize, considering there was nowhere else to look with you standing over me like a fox."

I closed my eyes and took a few calming breaths, then glared at the man. "I'm sorry I knocked you off your chair."

"I'm not." He grinned. "Though I could have done without the knee to the nuts."

The door burst open. "What's all the racket..." Pen's voice trailed off as she caught sight of Jessop before her gaze flickered between the two of us. "Um, am I interrupting something?"

"No." I rolled my eyes and moved to pull my best friend, Penelope, into the office. She jumped when I took her arm. Whatever smile I had on my face instantly vanished. So did the one on Jessop's face. "Pen," I said quietly. I wrapped an arm around her back and led her to the chair Jessop was pulling up. She burst into tears.

"I'm going to kill that son of a bitch!" Jessop growled and stormed out of the office. I didn't follow, hoping Jessop would kill the asshole.

I carefully removed the dark glasses Pen wore and gasped. Tears began to fall. "It was bad, Talla. I thought it was over."

"You're not going back there, and I'm going to take pictures of what Aiden did to you and give them to the sheriff."

Pen grabbed my arm. "Don't do that."

"Pen, he needs to be punished."

"If I leave, he'll have my house." She cried harder, so I held her.

I always felt helpless after Pen's husband used his fists on her. For me, it was always a challenge with Aiden. I was afraid that if I upset him, he would take it out on Pen because he knew we were best friends. I struggled with Pen's insistence that she was fine. That Aidan wouldn't really hurt her. Not anymore.

"Pen," I said quietly, "I am your friend, and you are not going back to him. Please," I begged, on my knees in front of her with her hands in mine. "We'll get you a good lawyer. The house is in your name, right?"

My heart sank as she avoided my gaze.

"Oh, no, Pen. When did that change?"

"When we got married. He insisted."

"Okay, well, we'll work it out. You can move in with me until we kick him out," I said firmly.

"Can I really do that?" Pen asked, her voice small and soft.

"You, Penelope Bailey, can do anything you put your mind to."

"Gee Talla, I haven't been a Bailey for a few years." She winced. "I hurt all over."

"Can you stand? I'll take you to the hospital. I think you need to be seen there." I stood and helped Pen to her feet.

She whispered, "You don't think Jessop is going to hurt Aiden, do you?"

I didn't have to think. "Don't worry Pen, he'll bury the body, and no one will ever find it."

"What?" She hissed in horror.

"Just kidding." At least I thought I was. The way Jessop had taken off when he saw Pen told me that maybe I was only half joking.