Touch Me (You & Me 2)

The male officer got in the car and drove away with Ben in the backseat. She stood there, staring and watching him being driven off to jail. Talia was beside her, wrapping her arms around her.

“It’s going to be okay. We’ll get this all worked out. There are plenty of witnesses who saw what happened. Tim attacked him, and you and me! It’ll be okay,” she promised.

Katherine stood back, shaking her head. “You don’t know Tim.”

“I know he is a vile, abusive man who belongs in prison. Ben is a good guy. Hell, he’s a damn superhero in my book after what he did in there.”

Katherine smiled. “He is a good man. He doesn’t deserve this. Tim is my problem. I brought him into Ben’s life and now look at what it’s costing him.”

“Talia! Katherine!” a male voice shouted.

Katherine turned to see the owner of the bakery coming out the front door. His face was red, and he looked like he would blow up.

“Oh shit,” Talia mumbled, walking towards where their boss was standing.

“In my office, now!” he shouted, flipping the sign on the door to ‘closed’ as he stomped back inside, walking around the mess on the floor.

As they passed through the kitchen, Katherine looked at the pastries on the floor and the overturned table in the center of the kitchen. There was blood on the floor from Tim’s nose. It gave her a little satisfaction to know the man had bled. It wasn’t enough though.

The women walked into the small office, and both remained standing while the chubby owner sat in his chair glaring up at them.

“What the hell is going on?” he seethed.

Katherine cleared her throat. “The man that came in and started the trouble is my husband, ex-husband, well not technically, but I left him, and he keeps following me.”

Talia put her hand on Katherine’s arm. “He tried to attack me first and then he went after Katherine. The other guy saved us.”

The owner shook his head. “This is your problem? Your mess? You brought your drama into my business?”

Katherine couldn’t answer. She looked down at her feet. “I’m sorry.”

“You’re fired. Get your crap and get out of here. I don’t ever want to see you in my bakery again—not even as a customer!”

“You can’t do that,” Talia protested.

Katherine grabbed her hand. “Don’t. It’ fine. I’ll go.”

Talia’s mouth dropped open. Katherine knew she needed the job. She couldn’t afford to get fired. It was a good job and there was no reason for both of them to end up jobless. She gave Talia a small smile before walking out of the office and heading for the back door where she had left her purse.

“Wait up, I’ll walk with you. You can’t go home,” Talia said.

Katherine paused halfway out the door. “I have to do something to get him out of this mess.”

“Don’t go home. You’re staying with me tonight. Even that cop said you should,” she insisted.

“I know. I will. I’m going to run home while he’s at the hospital and pack a bag. I’ll call you later. I’m so sorry about the mess I’m leaving you with. You know I would stay and clean up if he’d let me,” Katherine said, her voice full of shame.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll see you tonight. I’ll have a bottle of wine, maybe two. It isn’t like you have to get up for work tomorrow,” she said with a wink.

That made Katherine chuckle. “You’re right.”

“Be careful. Call me every hour and let me know you’re okay. I get off at six.”

Katherine nodded and headed out the door. The first thing she saw was Ben’s shiny red Audi in the back parking lot. Her heart clenched as she thought about what he’d done for her. She headed for the sidewalk and began the long walk to his office.

The walk would do her good. She had no idea how long it would be before he got a phone call. She had to talk to Rachel. Rachel would know what to do and would hopefully have a spare key to the car. The last thing she wanted was for the car to get towed or possibly damaged.

She was thankful for her sneakers and her recent return to the gym. She was able to speed walk to his office and made it in good time. The woman at the reception desk told her where Ben’s office was. She was nervous, ashamed and seriously embarrassed, but she had to tell Rachel what happened. When she stepped off the elevator, she was a little lost.