Jake (A Redemption Romance #2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

probable. If he lived here now, though, he could have seen me anywhere.
    “Do you still have a restraining order? Aurora said you’d gone to the police; I assume they issued one.”
    Frustration coursed through my body all over again. “No, it wasn’t ever served. They didn’t catch him. After everything happened, he disappeared.”
    We talked for a little longer, then he finally left. Of course by then, my mind was racing with thoughts of Tim. I was still tired, but knew I’d never sleep, so I sat down and started watching season one of Project Runway. I made it half way through season two before I passed out on the couch.

Chapter 4
    Jake
    “What’s going on with Hope?” Luke’s question pulled me back to the present. The guys all met up at Bud’s, a local dive bar in Plano. The place was old, probably looked older than it actually was, but I didn’t remember a time when it wasn’t there.
    The wood sided exterior probably hadn’t been painted in fifteen years, there were remnants of some blue-gray paint clinging on for dear life along the edges of each board giving the place a sinister look. The inside was dark, as you’d expect, the bar long and clear of all clutter. Oak bar stools, matching the bar lined the entire expanse, save for a small area for the waitresses to stand.
    A myriad of wood tables dotted the room, all with high stools surrounding them. This wasn’t a place to come and watch the game or to bring a date, it was, however the perfect place to blend in and drink.
    The mix of people was the most interesting thing about the place. Of course, you’d find the standard bikers, old vets, young vets, bar flies and cranky old waitresses who wouldn’t take shit from anyone, but also a strange number of professional types and nicely dressed women frequented the place. The latter two always seem to be sitting alone, in a dark area of the room.
    Over the years, I’d watched these anomalies, wanting to know if they were coming to hook up with someone from the wild side or maybe participating in something illegal. Neither appeared to be the case. They rarely talked, didn’t order martinis or glasses of wine. They drank, almost exclusively, vodka or whiskey and only talked to the waitresses and bartenders.
    Tonight was quiet, a Wednesday night in Plano, Texas. Reed, Grant, Trent, Luke and I sat around two high-top tables, pushed together near the back of the large room. Everyone tried to get together once a week, though with our varying schedules, often times one or more of us wouldn’t be able to make it. It was important though, after Nolan’s suicide, we’d realized how much we needed each other’s support.
    Thinking about Luke’s question, I didn’t know how to answer. I’d barely spoken to Hope since Monday morning. She’d called yesterday to thank me for all the security upgrades to her house and offered to pay. I did my best not to get pissed at that and instead, tried to respect her strength and independence.
    “I have no idea. Why?” I was curious why Luke thought I would have some insight into the woman. I liked her, noticed her right away when we’d met, but aside from that one crazy night – one I’d love to repeat – there wasn’t much more between us. Sure, I was worried about her and the creepy as shit note on her porch and wanted to protect her, but she didn’t seem to want to let me do it. I’d love a hell of a lot more from her, but I didn’t think she was going to let me do that, either.
    Luke studied me for a long time, I could tell there was something he wanted to say, but he refrained.
    “What did she tell you about the note?” His question stunned me, had she said something to him about it? Did he know more about this fucked up mess than I did?
    “Not much, told me she was fine and didn’t know who it was from.”
    Luke’s lips tightened and forehead wrinkled in either concern or frustration. If I were to wager a guess, it would be frustration.
    “What do you