“Pookie bear,” he murmured the nickname that had always made her grit her teeth, even when she’d fancied herself in love with him. “I love you. I was only with Charmaine so I could be assured a partner position. I did it for you, love, for our future.”
Mary’s stomach rolled in disgust. “Everything you do is for you, Blake. Now I suggest you get out of here before my father returns and throws you out.”
Blake’s smile tightened as he glanced over her. His gaze was possessive and made her uneasy. “You’re the one I want, Mary. Always have been. I worked too hard to get you to let you go easily.”
Mary swallowed and had to back up a step. Blake had never seemed threatening before, just cocky and condescending.
“You’re successful, gorgeous, well-spoken, and the perfect complement to my epic good looks.” He brushed a hand through his hair and Mary would’ve thought he was joking, but he was all too serious and revolting. “Your background is impeccable. The media will eat up the successful woman with the islander slash Native American mix you have going on. You know how they love the minority angle.”
She glared at him. Now her ancestry was some ploy to bring him popularity? What an insensitive, pathetic idiot. Did he have any clue how hard she’d worked to be successful, sometimes in spite of her darker skin, and here he was using it as a publicity point? Jerk!
“With you as my wife, I’m going to go places. The right social circles, more money, maybe political office.” He smirked at her. “I know you love me, and you’ll be thrilled with all I can provide for both of us.”
He stroked a hand down her cheek. She flinched away from his touch. Blake grabbed her face and held it tightly. “You will love me,” he demanded.
Mary yanked her face free and slapped him across the jaw. Her hand stung, but she had the satisfaction of his head snapping to the side.
She dodged around him and put her back to the kitchen entry, so he couldn’t back her into a corner again. “You said your little spiel, now you listen to me. I will never be with you again. You’ve betrayed me for the last time. I despise you. Get out of here and never bug me again.”
His jaw had a red mark on it but the tight clasp of his lips and the fury radiating from his blue eyes gave her a lurch of terror. She believed Blake to be a pompous windbag, but she wouldn’t have believed him capable of physically hurting someone, until now.
Standing her ground only through sheer grit, she raised a challenging eyebrow at him. Blake’s eyes narrowed, but then he seemed to shake himself. He smiled and when his voice came it was all silk, “I can see I’m going about this all wrong, love. You broke my heart when you left me over a silly misunderstanding.”
Him cheating on her repeatedly was now a silly misunderstanding?
“I’m going to stay close by …” He smirked and pointed to the north. “Really close by. Did you know your neighbors rented out their house as a VRBO? Isn’t that perfect? We’ll have time to get over any hurdles to being together as you see that I’m so committed to you I would take a leave of absence from work and stay here, simply to show how I love you.”
Mary’s mouth was probably hanging open. Blake would leave Boston, his beloved Boston? He would leave his job at a prestigious firm, that he put twelve to fourteen hours a day into six days a week, and rent a small house in her valley just to try to convince her to get back with him? Something smelled rotten here. He had plenty of women chasing him, as evidenced by all the friends and associates who had come forward and told her he was cheating on her. He was probably only fighting for her because of his competitive nature. He hated to lose.
He walked close and she was afraid he was going to touch her again, but he simply said in a low tone, “I love you, and you’ll never be rid of me.” He gave her a significant look then said brightly. “See you in the morning, neighbor.” He strode out of the living area, through the foyer, and slammed the door behind him.
Mary deflated against the wall. You’ll never be rid of me. Was it an idle threat or was Blake really that determined to have her as his trophy wife? Or maybe he needed the bonus money her business could provide to reach the social status he longed for or some stupid political office or yacht or golf club. He made plenty of money and sleeping his way into a partner position would assure him even more.
Who knew what his motivation was? She should face it head on, but he wouldn’t listen. He’d never listened to her, to anybody. The pompous idiot. Rushing up the stairs to her room, she slammed and locked the door. Blake Herman had no control over her. Not anymore.
Chapter Five
Nick wondered who Mary’s friend was and why she’d gone from amazing and interested to upset and distant. Their night had started going so well. He thought they were going to reconnect, and then she got that phone call and everything changed. He went back to Gavin’s, returning as Jed and Cassie were struggling to get everyone to bed. He offered to read a Daniel Coleman book to Austin. They both got so into the well-written story an hour had passed, Nick’s throat was dry and his eyes scratchy before he finally admitted to Austin he couldn’t read any more. Austin complained for a second but settled down with the promise of a hike tomorrow and more story time tomorrow night.
Nick listened to Austin’s prayer, glad the kid still believed, even if he personally hadn’t been able to get back there, and then stood to leave.
“Hey, wait a minute,” Austin said. “You didn’t tell me about your hot date.”
Nick smiled but hated to admit, “I thought it was going well, but then she had to go meet a friend.”
“What? What kind of chick breaks off a date with my uncle to go meet a friend?”
Nick shrugged, feeling like a loser because he had definitely been ditched, but Mary had seemed so upset he didn’t think it was a personal insult. Whoever the friend was had upset her. “Somebody flew in from Boston, so she had to go be with them.”
Austin’s eyes narrowed. “What if it’s an old boyfriend or something? You better go fight him, Uncle Nick.”
Nick guffawed. “I’m not going to go fight somebody.” But his neck and shoulders were tight. An old boyfriend? He’d briefly imagined it was a male friend but had quickly dismissed that theory. The thought made his stomach drop and his fists ball. Would she have ditched him for another guy? That didn’t seem like Mary.
“You have to stand up for your girl,” Austin insisted. “Go get her, Uncle Nick. You know a woman like Mary only comes around once in a lifetime.”
Nick tried to laugh. “What would you know about that? You’ve got a hundred and twenty-six girlfriends.”
Austin smiled, but then he got very serious. “Yeah but Mary’s the only one you need.”
Nick lifted his eyebrows. His nephew was making this more serious than he was ready for. He still didn’t know what he was going to do with his life, and he was still working through the counseling sessions to help with the panic attacks and irritability that were a normal result of PTSD, but more importantly, trying to come to terms with the nightmare that could mess him up for days when he had it. He wasn’t ready or worthy of someone like Mary.
Yet Austin was right that someone as perfect as Mary only came around once in a lifetime. What if this was his chance to make something happen with her? He was trying to figure out his life. If it meant a chance with Mary, he’d do video chats with Joe every day, or find a counselor or therapy group close by. Heck, he’d work as a lumberjack in the backwoods of Alaska if that made her happy, but wait, then he wouldn’t be close to her.
“Get some rest, bud, and give me some time to think. We’ll talk about it more in the morning.”
“Okay, love you, Uncle Nick.”
“I love you.” He turned off his nephew’s light and shut the door softly. Leaning against it he thought, but only for a moment. Then he strode down the stairs and through the quiet living area. Jed and Cassie must still be getting their little ones to bed, or maybe, having some alone time. Nick hurried out into the garage and w
as soon racing down the hill toward town. Austin’s words had spurred him to action. All kinds of ideas and speeches were racing through his mind. Did he dare tell her he’d been interested in her since middle school? Would she think he was crazy, or could she possibly return the feelings that had just grown over the years?
He pulled up to her house and noticed the silver Audi was gone. That was good, especially if it had been an old boyfriend. The other car that had been in the driveway, a red Taurus, was gone too. Hopefully that wasn’t the car Mary was driving and she’d ditched him completely.
He rapped softly on the door. A few seconds later Chelsea ripped it open.
“Nick!” Her pretty face was filled with angst. “Help me with Mary. She won’t answer texts or phone calls or let me in her room.” She grabbed his hand and tugged him into the entryway. “Her boyfriend showed up. He’s such a pompous jerk.”
“Her b-boyfriend?” Nick questioned. His gut churned. Wouldn’t she have told him if she had a boyfriend?
“Ex,” Chelsea clarified.
That sounded better, but why was the guy coming here. “From Boston?”
“Yeah, a smooth-looking, wealthy, polished liar who thinks he owns the world.” Chelsea made a noise of disgust in her throat. “What Mary ever saw in him is beyond me.”
Nick’s smile hurt. He wasn’t smooth or polished, especially with the ugly scarring on his face and the right side of his upper body. A tough guy, who was everybody’s friend, that was more him. If Mary was drawn to wealthy, smooth, and polished, Nick was in trouble. Nick had enough money to live comfortably, to help some people out, but he wouldn’t be buying his own jet in this lifetime. He didn’t care to, unless it could secure him a chance with Mary.
Chelsea pulled him up the stairs, and then down the hallway. He let her because he wanted to get to Mary, but he was questioning that now. She might want her polished ex back, not a washed-up soldier like Nick. Chelsea stopped by Mary’s old bedroom door.
“Talk to her Nick, tell her that you love her and demand she open that door and kiss you.” She smiled and nodded at the door.
Nick arched an eyebrow. That you love her? Even though it was true, could he admit it out loud? “Um, can I have some privacy?”
“Oh, sure!” Chelsea winked broadly. “I get it.” She hurried away and into a bedroom down the hall, shutting the door behind her.
Nick rapped his knuckles on the door. “Mary?”
He waited, hoping she’d open up when she heard his voice, but a few seconds passed and he didn’t get quite that lucky.
He leaned closer to the door, bravely took Chelsea, and Austin’s, advice and spoke loud enough that she would hear him. “Mary … I came home from the Army a mess. I’m working through it, and I think I’m going to be okay, someday. If you’re interested,” he swallowed hard, scared and more vulnerable than he’d ever been. “I think having someone like you in my life could make all the difference. Someone I could focus on and love. You’re like a light to me.” He paused, waiting, hoping she’d open the door. This was awkward, talking to the wooden door and not even sure if she could hear him or if she wanted to. Yet at the same time it was almost easier to bare his soul and not have to look her straight in the eye or see that she wasn’t interested. He could put it all out there, and then let her decide.
So crazily enough, he continued. It was more therapeutic than any session with Joe had been. “See, the thing is, I’ve been in love with you for years. You’re incredible, and it was always you for me. I promised Gavin I’d wait until we were old enough to make a smart decision. I’ve waited long enough.”
Nick’s eyes were fixed on the door handle, hoping it would turn, that the door would crack, and he could see on her face that she understood, and hopefully felt the same.
“Mary?” He let out a groan of frustration. “Please answer. I know now I shouldn’t have waited all these years to tell you. I think you’re amazing. I’ve always wanted to date you. I might be uncertain about everything else in my life except for my family … and you.” He thumped his fist on the door when there was no response. “Mary, please. Give me a chance. Please.”
He heard a throat clear behind him. Spinning, he saw Chelsea standing there. He hadn’t heard her leave her room. “Can I try again?” she asked.
Nick’s face burned. It was awkward enough to talk to a closed door hoping the woman you wanted to see was waiting there, but now her sister had heard him bare his soul.
“Sure,” he muttered.
Chelsea leaned in close. “Mary, this jerk guy has nothing on you.”
Nick reared back. Jerk guy? He thought Chelsea liked him.
“Nick’s the one for you. Don’t let Blake hurt you for one more second. Mary? This is stupid. You’re going to talk to us.”
Oh, Blake was the silver Audi. The pompous ex.
Chelsea gave Nick a cunning look and brandished a key. “I’m done waiting for her to talk back.” Nick smiled, though concern for how Mary would react to his brave words churned in his gut. Soon he’d know. Did Mary want to be with him or did he need to give up on the dream of being with her?
Chelsea swung the door open. “Mary?” She stepped into the dark room and threw the light switch on. “Mary?”
Nick looked around. No one was there.
Chelsea kept calling for her, checking the closet and under the bed.
“She’s gone,” Nick said what neither of them wanted to admit. It slammed into him so hard. He’d taken a risk, revealed his true feelings … to a door. He would’ve laughed if he wasn’t so close to breaking down. Maybe this was his sign. He wasn’t worthy of someone pure and amazing like Mary. His experience lately with the powers from above made him think this was par for the course in his life.
Chelsea looked back at him. “She probably ran away from that Blake jerk. He was telling her how he’d force her to marry him and how she’d never get away from him. They thought I left when they were talking, but I listened from Mom and Dad’s room.”
Nick’s gut tightened and all worries about his own failures and insecurities disappeared as his natural protectiveness flared. “He threatened her?”
“Sort of. I heard her slap him and he said all this stuff about how she’d be his perfect wife and she’d never get away from him.”
His perfect wife? Not on Nick’s watch. “Do you think he’s dangerous?”
Chelsea shrugged. “He looked too fake-pretty to be dangerous.”
He questioned why Mary would ever be drawn to a guy like that. “But you think Mary ran to get away from him?”
She nodded. “For sure.” Chelsea’s phone beeped and she pulled it out. “It’s her!” Her brow furrowed as she read. Nick couldn’t resist stepping closer. “She says she’ll be out of cell coverage for a while, and she thinks Blake will give up and disappear if she’s not around.”
Chelsea hurried to type back. Nick had no clue what she told her sister, hopefully not his entire monologue of how much he loved her. It had been almost easy to admit it to the door. He didn’t know that he was ready to say it to Mary’s face.
Nick studied Chelsea as she typed then waited and waited for a response. Nothing came. His gut tightened. Mary had run, and now she wasn’t responding. This Blake guy must’ve done a number on her. If there was one thing Nick understood it was emotional trauma. Could he help Mary? Was it his place? First he had to find her, make sure she was safe. And then he’d see what his role might be.
Chapter Six
Even in the dark, Mary had no trouble finding her adopted aunt’s cabin high in the mountains above Glenwood Springs, an hour north of Lonepeak Valley. The cabin was only accessible in the summer months. Thankfully in early May it was a muddy mess to get here but the snow was mostly melted. Unless Blake had somehow seen her sneak out, which she highly doubted, he wouldn’t find her here. Aunt Mary, who she was named after, wasn’t even her biological aunt. She was her mother’s best friend, and her family only came to the cabin for summer
holidays or to snowmobile in the winter. It was highly unlikely anyone would be here in May, and highly unlikely Blake could find her since she wasn’t even related to Aunt Mary, and the cabin was from Uncle James’s family side.
The codes were the same and Mary was soon settled comfortably in one of the upstairs bedrooms, since it felt too weird to sleep in Uncle James and Aunt Mary’s master suite. She stretched out on the bed looking at her phone. She’d sent Chelsea a text before she’d left Glenwood Springs. Chelsea told her Nick had come to talk to her and said some very sweet things to her door. Chelsea didn’t expound and Mary hadn’t responded. Now she was out of cell service, and she wished she’d sent Nick a text too. Yet what would she say? Sorry I ditched you. The truth is I dated an idiot and now I’m paying the price.
She rolled over onto her side and punched the pillow. She was also regretting not stopping at the grocery store in Glenwood Springs. The cabin had nothing but some stale crackers, granola bars, and canned peaches and tuna fish. She got hungry when she was nervous or bored. She was both right now. Something about Blake saying she’d never get away from him just gnawed at her gut. The fact that she’d ditched Nick when they were finally connecting made her even sicker. Dumb, she was dumb. Chelsea would tell her that, if she could call her sister.
She opened a Jennifer Youngblood book she’d downloaded on her Kindle. The suspense and romance distracted her and made time speed by. The romance made her yearn for Nick and that kiss she’d been denied. The only problem was the suspense made her a little jumpy as she started worrying that maybe somehow Blake had followed her. He’d come in here, terrify her, and somehow force her into marrying him, spend all of her money and ruin her life.
She closed her eyes tight and prayed for comfort and strength. It wasn’t like she was on the run. She’d chosen to leave so Blake would lose interest and leave himself. She had her laptop and could do a lot of work remotely, and then run into Glenwood Springs and upload everything at a café that had good Wi-Fi, check in with her sister, parents, and Nick. As teenagers they used to beg for trips into town to swim at the huge hot pools, and then to go to a café and get Wi-Fi. If only she wasn’t here alone and could enjoy the hot pots or hiking to Hanging Lake. She could do either by herself; it just wouldn’t be as fun. She should’ve made Chelsea come with her, or Nick.
The Strong Family Romance Collection Page 81
