Chapter Ten

Monday mornings were always tough, but waking up on her hallway floor with a crick in her neck and the mother of all headaches reminded Maggie that they didn’t come much worse.

She groaned as she stood up slowly, stretching the kinks from her back, using the wall for support. She was surprised to have fallen asleep, given that Robert had left her lights on, and she wondered whether she had actually passed out instead.

She went to the bedroom and flicked on the lamp, glad that it was still quite dark outside. As she plunked herself on the side of her bed, she glanced over to the dressing-table mirror and gasped. The left side of her face was bright red and a purple bruise was already beginning to swell over her cheekbone, giving the appearance of a black eye. Damn. She could hardly go to work looking like this.

Stripping off her clothes, she climbed into the shower. As usual, the water wasn’t very hot, but she felt much fresher after a good wash, and she examined the bruises on the rest of her body while she was waiting for the conditioner to tame her unruly hair. She must have fallen quite hard onto the floor when he’d pushed her in through the front door, as she had what appeared to be carpet burns on her stomach where her top had ridden up. There was also a large bruise appearing on her chin, and her arms and legs were riddled with purple marks. Robert Rossington had sure done some damage.

Angry tears flooded her face, which she turned up to the streaming water. She winced as the coldness hit her bruises and quickly finished her hair before stepping out then wrapping herself in a large towel. Her body longed for the huge, soft, fluffy towels she used to have when she was with Robert, as her sore skin was chafed by the rough, threadbare ones she had only just managed to afford.

She stared at her tired, swollen face in the mirror and felt like crying all over again. How had she come to this?

“Okay, Maggie. There’s only one thing to do,” she told herself. “You’ve got to pull yourself up by the bootstraps and get on with it.” It was a conversation she’d had quite a few times over the past couple of years, and it never seemed to get any easier. Usually it was an unpaid bill that got her down, but this was the lowest she had ever gotten. Not only was she broke, she was also in danger. She knew she hadn’t seen the last of Robert Rossington.

She applied a thick layer of concealer to her cheek before covering her face in foundation. It didn’t really hide the bruising, but it made her feel a bit more confident about her look. Then she applied the rest of her makeup, a touch heavier than she usually wore, but she wanted to balance her look as much as she could.

It was nearly ten o’clock by the time she arrived at the café. She had walked quickly enough but turned around each time she’d heard someone behind her, half-expecting to see Robert again. She had never opened so late in the day, and somewhere in the back of her mind had worried that a long line would have formed around the café, with hungry diners waiting impatiently for her to appear and feed them. She smiled to herself when she saw that the street was, in fact, deserted.

She busied herself with her usual routine as she baked some fresh rolls. The smell of baking bread and hot coffee cheered her. The café was quiet for most of the day, leaving Maggie time to dwell on recent events.

The whole situation with Aiden would have been so much easier if only Robert hadn’t been there to witness her mortification. Even though she was still sore at the young guy for not making it clear that he was hiring her, not dating her, it might have all blown over had Robert not been involved. Now things were so much harder, and with Robert becoming violent with her, it seemed they couldn’t get much worse.

“Just a coffee, please, Miss.”

A customer invaded her thoughts, and she twitched as she came back to Earth. It was an older guy who she’d seen in here before.

“Coming right up.” She smiled at him and watched him balk when he saw her face.

A couple of her regulars had looked a little shocked today, though none of them had said anything and she was thankful for that.

He took a seat over by the window, and Maggie went back to idly polishing glasses. Not long after that, she heard the door open again, and she looked over to see who it was. Her stomach churned when she saw it was Aiden, and he didn’t look happy.

“Maggie?” His face went white when he caught sight of her, and he stared at her across the counter.

She felt sick, and her heart thumped wildly as she struggled for something to say.

“Aiden.” She kept her cool.

“What happened? Who did this?” His voice was hoarse with shock.

She quickly looked around the café. The older man was the only other customer now, but it would still be embarrassing if he overheard them. She shook her head.

“Did you call the cops? Do you know who it was?” He was clearly horrified as he walked around the counter and took hold of her arms.

“Aiden, I’m working.” She indicated the man by the window, keeping her voice low.

“Don’t worry about him. I’m more worried about you, darlin’. What in hell happened?” Aiden sounded a bit more frantic now, and she was surprised at just how concerned he was.

“Nothing happened. It’s all dealt with. I can’t talk about it,” she told him, feeling his body close to hers as he studied her face.

She looked away nervously. “Aiden, just leave it.”

“Like hell I will!” His voice was louder now, and she snapped her head around then stared at him in surprise.

“What?”

“Maggie, you must know how I feel about you. I’m so sorry about the other night, and I can explain. It was all a silly misunderstanding, but this is serious. I need to know who did it. Was it here? Did someone attack you on your way home?”

She shook her head.

“So, that’s not why you wouldn’t return my calls?” He stood behind her now as she picked up a dish towel and started to wipe over the counter.

She bit her lip nervously, hearing the hurt in his voice.

“Talk to me, Maggie,” he pleaded.

“Not here, Aiden. I told you. I’m at work.” She daren’t turn around to face him.

“Don’t mind me.” The older guy slowly stood and came over to them. “I just want to help. That’s all.”

Maggie frowned at him as he took a seat opposite her at the counter.

“Maggie, this is Frank Crowthorne. He’s a good friend of the family,” Aiden told her as he walked around her to sit next to his friend.

“Oh.” She nodded at Frank and managed a faint smile. He’d been in here a couple of times and had always been polite. “I didn’t know you two knew each other.”

“Frank’s an attorney,” Aiden said.

“Retired,” the older man added.

She felt unnerved. “So what makes you think I need some help?” She was indignant.

“Darlin’ have you looked in a mirror today?” Aiden quipped.

Anger quickly turned to despair, and she sighed. “All right. I got hit, okay? But as you can see, I’m fine now.”

“I’d beg to differ,” Frank told her kindly.

“Who was it?” Aiden was tenacious.

Maggie bit her lip. “I don’t want you to go after him.”

“I won’t.” Aiden shrugged.

She narrowed her eyes at him. That wasn’t the answer she had expected, although she was pleased he wasn’t going to wade in all guns blazing.

“Was it Rossington?” Frank asked slowly.

Maggie sighed, nodding.

Aiden’s face flamed for a second, and he took a deep breath before calming himself. She was grateful that he had such good self-control. She had been half-afraid he would fly right off the handle, but he was clearly more mature than she had given him credit for. Good.

A lump hit the pit of her stomach as she recalled the bastard’s threat.

“I have to stay away from you.” She stared over at Aiden and her heart melted when he gazed back at her with horror in his big blue eyes.

“I think that’s a good idea,” Frank interjected.

Aiden’s surprise matched her own, and they both frowned at the old man.

“In fact, I don’t think it’s a good idea that we’re all here together. Anyone could come in.” He got up, straightening his jacket.

“We can’t just leave Maggie here on her own.” Aiden looked mortified.

A cold shiver ran through Maggie, and she suddenly realized how much safer she felt with them here. Her eyes flitted to the window, and she shivered with vulnerability. She was a strong woman, though, and knew she couldn’t give in to Robert’s bullying. She had already traveled that route and had no intention of doing so again.

“I’ll be fine,” she told them, assuring herself as much as the guys. “There’s a panic button under the counter wired directly to the sheriff’s office, and I’ve got my cell.” She chewed her lip a little as she blushed, knowing that she really should have called Aiden earlier.

“All right. Oh, and, it might be better if you act like you don’t know me if you see me in public—or even in here.” Frank looked impressed at her determination.

“What about me?” Aiden asked, standing up. “Are you saying I should stay away from her?”

Frank sighed. “I’m afraid so,” he replied. “Just until we get this mess sorted out. Don’t give the fuckwad any excuse to hurt Maggie any more than he already has. If it looks like she’s complying with his wishes, it might be safer for her.”

Maggie felt sick.