Made For Loving You (Rescue My Heart Book 3) by Kait Nolan (i can read book club txt) 📕

do it anyway, so you’re damned well gonna stop by the station first. These two need tactical gear.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t do anything I’m gonna have to arrest you for.”

Ty’s mouth twitched. “Understood.”

With the stop by the Sheriff’s Department to pick up gear and Ty’s cruiser, it took longer than he wanted to get to Mel Jackson’s place. As soon as he pulled up, the front door opened, and a grizzled old guy in an ancient Army jacket edged out. Ty recognized him as one of the veterans who volunteered as security up at the courthouse.

“Mr. Jackson? I’m Deputy Brooks. We spoke about the dog.”

“He belongs to your little lady.” Mel’s sober tone made it clear he’d finally heard the news about Paisley’s disappearance.

“Yes.”

Nodding once, Mel opened the door again and Duke bulleted out, making straight for Ty, barking with none of his usual joy. The sound was deeper, more forceful. He stopped just out of arm’s reach and stamped his feet before wheeling and running a little ways back toward the woods. He stopped, offering another sharp bark and stomp.

Sebastian shut his truck door. “Is he doing what I think he’s doing?”

Sending up a prayer to whatever deity might be listening, Ty popped his trunk. “If there’s a God, he’s pulling a Lassie. Suit up.”

Chapter 15

Paisley was strapped back to the damned chair, this time with plastic cuffs. If she’d been able to move her arms, she could’ve broken free. Joel had taught her how to do that himself during the citizen’s police academy. But without some slack to build up momentum, she was stuck. She’d expected him to drug her again and haul her off to wherever he’d been planning. He hadn’t even tried. She realized he hadn’t come prepared for that. Wherever they were was remote, and he didn’t seem to have a vehicle nearby to just drive them out. He’d well and truly expected her to hike out with him like a good little rescued kidnapping victim.

Well, she’d screwed that, hadn’t she?

But as Joel continued to restlessly pace the church, tunneling his fingers through his hair and muttering, she wasn’t sure that was a good thing. He didn’t really want to hurt her. For all he’d manhandled her, he’d used only as much force as necessary to subdue her. If she had waited to make her move until they were somewhere less remote, when other people were around, or even until they were further into the woods where she might’ve found a handy branch or something, maybe she could have managed a true escape.

Too late now.

She hadn’t played into his narrative and now there was no going back.

His agitation made it clear he wasn’t great at thinking on his feet. He wanted to consider all the angles. How long until he figured out there was no getting out of this situation? He’d kidnapped her. Presumably, he was the one behind the harassment that had stolen her peace of mind. There wasn’t a chance in hell she’d let him just get away with that, which meant he couldn’t afford to let her walk away.

Paisley didn’t like any of the outcomes of that scenario.

Maybe if she got him talking about something else so he couldn’t actively consider what to do, it would buy more time. Duke was free. If Joel had noticed, he hadn’t let on, and she wasn’t going to point it out. Surely her incredibly social dog would find the nearest person, who’d notify someone. People would be looking for her by now. She just needed to give them a chance to get to her.

“This isn’t how things were supposed to turn out,” he muttered. “Not at all.”

“How were they supposed to turn out? How was all this supposed to work?” She let genuine curiosity rather than scorn fill her voice. The writer in her really wanted to know, and focusing on that helped keep the panic at bay.

His head shot up, his eyes full of frustrated misery. “We were supposed to get out of here. Successful rescue and proof that I can keep you safe. Then we’d head back to the safehouse in Nashville, so you’d finally spend the time you need with me to get to know me and see. You just needed time.”

“See what?”

“That we’re meant to be. I knew it almost from the first time I met you. You’re the first person who made me feel like somebody after the divorce. You treated me like I had value. Like I wasn’t a middle-aged loser, who’d peaked too soon, going nowhere in a cheap suit. Like I had something to offer. We were friends, you and I. And it was so clear we have the potential to be more.” He gently skimmed his fingers over her cheek, his expression soft.

Paisley fought not to flinch away from the touch.

“I needed that. I needed you. I got that you weren’t single when I asked you out after the academy. But once you were, you kept saying no.”

As the softness melted back into frustration, she swallowed. “I wasn’t in a place for a relationship. I told you that.”

“I know. So, I wanted to position myself to be there for you when you were.”

“I don’t understand.” Keep him talking. Play dumb. Get a confession.

“I just wanted to scare you a little,” he admitted. “It was way too easy to do. You really need to be more aware of your surroundings when you’re out in public.”

“You? The mugging was you?” She’d assumed he’d sent the packages, but she didn’t have to feign shock at this. She’d trusted him. Believed he had her best interests at heart.

The more fool me.

“You were supposed to turn to me. I’m the one who was there for you. I’m the one who cared. But it was business as usual after that. So, I had to get creative. Find something to nudge you back into my orbit.”

“So, you…what? Made up a fake crazy fan?”

“It was child’s play, really, after the stuff you talked about