Page 21 of Grateful for You
I gave Mason a nod. “It’s okay.” I reached down, unhooking the mace he had given me from the carabiner around Athena’s neck and tucking it in my back pocket. I collected the other plates and lead the way into the kitchen, John following at my heels.
My heart slammed into my breastbone, and the blood rushing through my veins roared in my ears. I couldn’t let my adrenaline, my fear, get the best of me. Like a prowling predator, John would sense that—pounce and use it to his advantage.
I gently placed the plates in the sink. As I rinsed them, without looking behind me, I calmly and quietly said, “How’d you find me?”
The rumble of his voice behind me caused a cold chill to descend down my spine. “Our phone accounts are linked. It was easy to look up your location with the find my phone app.”
Dammit. I was in such a rush to get out of there, I missed something so obvious. “If you knew what was good for you, you’d leave. Now. Before Mason arrests you for putting this bruise on my face.”
“Piper. You’ve had some time to cool off. You… you’ve had your little romp with the small-town sheriff. It’s time to come home.”
I spun on my heels to face him. Of course that was what he thought. That I just needed to blow off steam. “No.”
A red, angry flush crept up his neck. “You’re being ridiculous. So you had a fling. I’ve had a few… now we’re even. You can come home, and we will get married—”
“You’re not listening, John. That’s not my home anymore. You are not my fiancé anymore. I don’t want your ring. I don’t want your money. I don’t want your abuse. I don’t wantyou.”
John took a step closer, and I hated how my heart lurched into my throat. My butt hit the edge of the sink, and I felt the pepper spray pressing against me in my pocket. He smiled wider, delighting in my fear. “You’ll regret that.”
“You wouldn’t dare hurt me,” I said, narrowing my eyes at him and forcing my breath to slow. “Not here. Not with so manywitnesses.”
His eyes flashed, and he glanced over his shoulder. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Piper.”
“Really?” I pushed my hair back, revealing the bruise on my face. “This doesn’t ring any bells?”
“That was an accident. I didn’t mean to… to…”
I laughed in his face. “How do you talk yourself out of this one? You can say you didn’t mean to grab me so hard, or you didn’t mean to hit me with something you threw. But did my faceaccidentallyconnect with your fist?”
He shook his head, and for the first time, I saw real, raw human emotion in his face. Tears filled his eyes. “I really am sorry about that. I’m not sure what came over me that night. Just… come home. We can work this out. Do you think you’re going to find someone who knows you like I do? Who’d take better care of you than I have?”
I dropped my voice to a whisper. “I already have found someone, John.” My heart squeezed at the thought of Mason and me together, building a life. Maybe it was premature. Maybe he and I would never progress past this weekend, but he opened my eyes to the sort of caring man that does exist in this world. And that’s who I deserved. “The truth is, I don’t actuallyneedanyone to take care of me. That’s your problem, John. You see me as this fragile little thing who can barely stand on her own two feet… but I’m so much stronger than that.”
He barked a laugh, and in a single blink, the contrite, tearful man was gone. “Trust me, Piper. I’ve never seen you as a ‘little’ anything.” He paused, waiting for my reaction. This was usually the moment I broke down in tears, crumbled before him. But I was different now. Stronger. And instead of shedding a tear, I smiled.
“I had no complaints from Mason last night.”
Anger flashed across his face, tightening the hard lines around his mouth and eyes. “Oh, yeah? Give him a few weeks with you. He’ll grow tired, just like everyone else you’ve been with.”
“Get out, John.” I shoved at his chest, pushing him out of my face. “You’re not welcome here.” I grabbed his coat, piled on a chair at the kitchen island and threw it at him. “You’re not welcome to stay for dessert. And you’re not welcome in my life ever again.”
John snorted, storming into the foyer, and I followed him. “No problem, babe. You were a charity case. You were for me, and I bet you are for him, too.” He shoved his arms into his coat. “You don’t want me chasing you anymore? Fucking fine. You’ll never hear from me again.”
I threw my hands into the air. “Praise God.” I opened the door for him, and as he stormed out into the snow, I called after him. “Thing is, John, youwillbe hearing from me… about my restraining order. Let’s see how successful a real estate agent you can be with that on public record.”
I didn’t give him a chance to respond, but simply slammed the door shut behind him.
I waited, listening for the sounds of his car door slamming, the engine starting, and the wheels on the gravel as he pulled out of the driveway before I exhaled. My knees were trembling from the adrenaline rush, and behind me, I heard footsteps that I knew instinctually were Mason’s.
I turned around, facing the man that I owed so much to. As much as I wished I could have done this on my own—and I would have eventually—there was no disputing I got there faster thanks to Mason. His support, his desire, his passion, his kindness… it all helped me realize my worth.
“I hope you don’t mind,” he said. “I was listening close by. I knew you wanted to handle that yourself, but just in case—”
“I’m glad you were listening.Better safe than sorry, right?” I said, grinning.
He returned my smile. “My thoughts exactly.”
He crossed to me, closing the space between us, and gathered me into his arms. There, with his strong biceps framing me on either side, I felt small; protected. “Are you okay?” he asked.
