Forgotten Past

Arlo was arrested this morning, finally. My tip off led them right to the warehouse that his father used for storage. I was the only other person who knew where it was. They have to know it was me. My dad got me a different car, and a new bank account and put my savings in it for me while I packed my belongings. I didn't have much that didn't belong to Arlo or that Arlo didn't buy, so it didn't take long. I'm leaving him, and this town in the dust and never looking back. I don't want a life of crime and lies and with a man who doesn't respect me or love me the way I deserve. I was a pawn in his game to gain control of his father's business. To show that he was a responsible family man. He wanted children. I couldn't bring a child into this life, not on purpose anyway. Arlo would come looking for me when he finally got out. If his father finds out I tipped the police off, he would send people to kill me. I had to get as far from here as possible. I trashed my cell phone and got a new one before telling my dad goodbye and climbing into my new car. My dad is a lawyer here and has a reputable business built. He can't just run off and leave. He will visit and once Arlo and his father are locked up, I can visit him. My dad told me to get in the car and drive until the feeling of impending doom faded. I drove for days. Stopping only to eat and sleep a few hours. Until I blew a tire. I was in some small town with a gas station and a small grocery store. When I got out to examine my tire, I didn't feel like I was being watched anymore. I felt safe, like this little town would be a perfect place to set up a new life for myself. I walked back a few miles to the little gas station I passed. A nice older gentleman with a thick southern drawl greeted me at the door. "Morning ma'am." He smiled a genuine smile as he spoke. "Good morning sir, I got a flat tire a few miles up the road. Is there someone around here that could help me with that?" The old man chuckled and yelled in the back for someone, "Jax!" He turned to me. "Don't worry, hun Jax will get you all fixed up and on your way." I smiled at the man. "Actually is there a hotel or motel around here somewhere? I am thinking about staying here for a while." The man grinned and wrote down an address to the Country Inn. "This here is a bed and breakfast. Best breakfast this side of the Mississippi. Dixie runs the joint. She will fix you up nice. Tell her that Bill sent ya." I took the paper as the man yelled for Jax again. "Jax!" Where is that boy? I heard him mumble under his breath. My phone buzzed, my dad was wondering if I had found someone to fix the tire. I looked down to respond and heard the old man talking to someone. "Jax, this young lady got herself a flat tire a few miles up the road. Go and change it for her. Bring it back here and we will get her a new tire put on." Jax didn't answer but he must have nodded because the old man sounded pleased. "Go on with Jax and show him where your car is ma'am." Still answering my dad's message, I agreed. I wandered outside to stand by the door and wait for Jax to bring his truck around. When the truck pulled up in front of me, I looked up from my phone. I was breathless. Jax was the most gorgeous man I had ever laid eyes on. Tall, dark hair, crystal blue eyes, and built like those people you read about in romance novels. Gorgeous! I stared for way longer than I should have. I don't even know how long it was to be honest. I lost track of time, of space, of myself. "Im Jax" he said with his cute southern accent. I couldn't speak. I tried, I really did. I opened my mouth and no sound came out. What the heck was wrong with me? I have lived in the city for god's sake. I have seen gorgeous men before. I finally stifled a sound. "Kaylee." I said louder than I wanted to. Lowering my voice, I tried again. "My name is Kaylee and it is nice to meet you." Jax smiled and offered me a hand to help me up into the truck. I took his hand and climbed in before he closed the door and made his way to the driver's seat. I quickly sent a message to my dad and let him know that this is where I would be staying for the time being. "Where ya from?" Jax questioned as we drove the short distance to my car. "Nowhere that I will ever be going back to, that's for sure." I huffed. Jax chuckled, "so that means your staying here then?" He looked hopeful. "For now," I said with a small smile. "Good." His smile was amazing. Like pure sunlight shining in my face. God, that sounded like the dumbest metaphor I have ever heard. The man was gorgeous. Like making you use corny pick-up lines gorgeous. I didn't know how to act or what to say. Like a school girl with her first crush. I had to stop this. I just left my husband. I haven't even divorced yet. Granted, I had checked out of that relationship almost the day it started, but legally I was still married. So, whatever my brain/body was trying to accomplish with this gorgeous, gorgeous man? Wasn't happening.