Page 21 of Off-Limits Love
“Is that Dash?” Emi asked, her hands raising to cover her mouth before another squeal and giggle emerged.
“I believe it is,” Mak said, firmly yanking her arm from Brad’s pinching hold with a glare and a flash of pain. She’d have bruises, but they wouldn’t be the first from him and his grabby hold whenever he got angry.
She moved away from Brad and toward the porch, holding out her hand for Emi so she wouldn’t go racing toward the animals too fast. “Remember what I said about approaching Harriet? We have to go slow and give them time to get used to us, okay?”
Emi came down the stairs slowly and slipped her hand in Mak’s, smiling from ear to ear.
“What do we say for bringing Dash by to see you?”
“Thank you! He’s so cute.”
Mak felt both men staring at her, watching, but assessing each other at the same time. She swallowed hard as she led Emi toward the donkey now on the ground . Dash stood flicking his ears, nose twitching nonstop as he took a few curious steps.
Finn stayed with his horse, who shifted its big behind around which put it closer to Brad’s flashy car. Mak fought back a laugh as Brad’s nostrils flared and his face turned red, as though he was afraid the animal might decide to sit on it. Or worse.
A part of herreallywished the horse had to go to the bathroom right about now.
She knew she’d catch flak from Brad later for Finn showing up at the house in all his cowboy gorgeousness, but for now she’d take the visit as the much-needed distraction that it was, considering it got her away from her ex’s bruising hold.
“Can I pet him now?” Emi asked Finn. “I’ve been quiet.”
Finn nodded, and Emi slowly held out her hand, letting the curious donkey move to her instead of the other way around.
Emi giggled when the donkey nosed her fingers and then ducked its head to sniff her.
“He’s probably checking to see if you have any treats,” Mak said. “We’ll have to find out what he likes. Maybe make him something special.”
“I’m Makayla’s husband,” Brad said, holding out a hand toward Finn. “Brad Jensen. You look familiar. Did we— Wait a minute. You’re a Blackwell,” Brad said, snapping his fingers. “Yeah, we went to high school together.”
Mak caught her breath at Brad’s words. “Brad is my ex-husband,” she corrected with a lift of her chin and a pointed glare at Brad.
Brad’s face turned ruddier due to being corrected, and she noted his hands fisted. While he’d never actually hit her during their marriage, he had lifted his hand toward her a few times as though he would, verbally stating she’d do as he said or else. Intimidation and fear did a lot to a woman trying to navigate marriage when she wasn’t sure which direction to turn.
“That’s Finn,” Emi said in her sweet voice. “He lives over there.”
“Finn Blackwell, as I live and breathe,” Brad drawled slowly.
Brad suddenly shot Mak a gloating, knowing smile that curled her stomach into a tight knot. She knew that look. And if Brad had gone to school with Finn, the odds were, he knew about Finn’s speech problem.
“Been a while since high school. How’s it going?”
Finn’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t speak.
“Ahhh, still the same ol’ freak, eh?”
Mak gasped. “Brad.”
“All in good fun, Mak-y-baby. Finn and I go way back, don’t we—” Brad jutted his chin toward Finn a bit—“b-b-buddy?”
“Brad,stop. Finn, please don’t?—”
“Well, now, what’s going on out here,” Sam asked as he emerged from the house.
He’d had another rough night, and the bags under his eyes proved it. Sam needed to be resting. Not listening to the drama on his doorstep.
“Finn brought Dash to see us,” Emi said, turning to grin at Sam.
“So I see. Awful nice of Finn to bring him over, isn’t it?” His smile faded as he looked at her ex. “Brad.”
