by Anna Argent
Over Nate's dead body.
He pushed Hanna behind him just as the big man reached him. His eyes were red and puffy, and he was blinking so fast that Nate doubted the man could see very well.
He balled up his fist and slammed it into Jack's jaw. The force and surprise of the blow knocked the man back into the doorway, onto his ass.
Nate probably should have stopped there, but he couldn't. This fucker had terrorized Hanna, and the penalty for that was far more than one little punch.
Nate pulled back his foot and planted one hard kick right under Jack's chin. His teeth slammed together and his head swung back until he was lying flat on the kitchen floor, unconscious.
As much as Nate wanted to inflict more damage on the waste of human skin before him, he suppressed the urge and went to Hanna.
She was shaking, staring with wide eyes filled with shock. He pulled her into his arms and held her while she settled, crooning soft words of comfort. "You're okay now. I've got you."
After a few seconds, she pulled away enough to look up at him. "Are you okay?"
"Me?" he asked. "I'm fine. What about you? Did he hurt you?"
She gave an unconvincing shake of her head. "I think he wanted to."
There wasn't a single doubt in Nate's mind that if he hadn't shown up, Jack would have done more than merely hurt her. But all he said was, "Want me to kick him again? Or do you want the honor?"
She was still tense, but her shaking had eased. "You made that look disgustingly easy."
"He didn't see me coming."
She went silent, and her expression clouded with shame. "I tried to fight him. I tried to run. He was so strong and fast."
Nate wanted to stomp on Jack's head all over again.
"I'm sure you would have managed on your own if I hadn't come along."
She shook her head. "No. I wouldn't have." Then she looked up at him with tears in her eyes. "Thank you."
A hard lump formed in Nate's throat and he had no idea how to dislodge it. It wasn't her thanks that had rattled him, it was her certainty that she wouldn't have been able to get away from Jack on her own.
Nate had saved her, and in doing so, he knew he'd just killed something precious and vital in his sweet Hanna.
***
Hanna couldn't save herself.
When it was all said and done, the lights and sirens were gone, the sheriff had toted Jack off to jail and she was alone with Nate, that was the thought that stuck with Hanna.
Nate had saved her. And while she was deeply grateful to him, she wished she'd been strong enough to do the job on her own.
Nate was an amazing man and deserved a strong, capable woman, not a hot mess who was always in need of something from him.
Hell, she couldn't even shower without his help. What kind of a loser couldn't even figure out how to keep a few stitches dry on her own?
She didn't know. Couldn't think. Her head was buzzing and filled with thick cobwebs no clear thoughts could penetrate.
Nate pushed a mug of steaming liquid in front of her. Only then did she realize she was sitting at the little kitchen table, staring at nothing.
"You don't have to stay here," he said, his voice low and quiet, like he thought a loud word might break her. "You can come sleep at my place."
She shook her head without needing time to decide. "I'm fine."
She wasn't yet, but she would be. A little time to absorb the shock, a little sleep, a hot shower to wash away Jack's touch and she'd be fine.
"Conlan promised that Jack would stay locked up at least until tomorrow. You don't have to worry about him coming back tonight."
She didn't want to think about Jack. She couldn't deal with worries over where he was and what charges might be leveled against him.
Nate took her chilly fingers and wrapped them around the steaming mug. "Drink a little. I read somewhere that sugar is good for when you're in shock."
Was that what she was suffering? She honestly didn't know, but if a hot drink helped her get past this clogged, hazy numbness, then she'd drink.
The tea was sweet. She felt the heat of it slid all the way down to her stomach.
She didn't seem any more settled, but Nate appeared relieved. At least that was something.
"I'll stay here with you tonight," he said.
Again she shook her head without thought. "No. I'd rather be alone."
Was that true, or was she just giving him an out? She tried to answer the question, but all she got was static.
"Sorry, honey. This isn't up for debate. I'm staying."
It was his property. If he wanted to stay, she couldn't stop him.
"I need to shower." Even to her own ears, her voice sounded robotic.
"Okay. Let me cover your stitches."
Hanna didn't argue with him. She sat still like a well-behaved child, letting him do what he wanted.
When she finally got under the spray of hot water, and looked down, she saw the thin, angry red scratch that the window sill had left on her.
In that instant, all the mental cobwebs busted loose. The pain and fear of the night flooded back and choked the breath from her body.
Hard, ragged sobs spilled out of her, and she was powerless to stop or even stifle them. They echoed in the small room like a haunting, discordant tune she couldn't get out of her head.
In the back of her mind she wondered if she'd ever stop crying.
***
Hanna's deep, wrenching sobs broke Nate's heart, but at least she was reacting to what had happened to her tonight.
She'd been so still and silent, so distant in her shock, he wondered if she didn't need to go to a hospital or something.
His grandad had been like that for days after Grandma had passed, and Mom kept saying that once he started grieving for her, he'd start healing. That numb place was safe, but no one could stay there forever.
Now Hanna had left the safety of numbness to deal with what she'd faced tonight, but Nate couldn't let her deal with it alone.
He went into the bathroom, needing to help her.
"Hanna?" He slid the plastic curtain open just enough to check on her.
The beautiful curves of her body would normally have grabbed and held his attention, but tonight, all he could see was her pain.
She was bent under the water, her shoulders shaking with the power of her pain.
Nate kicked off his shoes and stepped into the tub behind her. He pulled her against his chest and simply held her while she cried. After a few minutes, her sobbing subsided, but she was limp and exhausted, swaying on her feet.
"You're going to be okay," he told her, and one way or another, he was going to make sure it was true. "Tonight sucks, but tomorrow will be better."
She gave him a slight nod, but that was all.
Nate washed her while she stood there, making sure that every inch of her body had been cleaned of any traces that Jack had left. He couldn't wash away her memories, but at least he could do this.
When she was clean, he turned off the water, stripped out of his wet clothes, dried them both and wrapped her hair in a towel. Then he led her to bed where he covered her up and crawled in to cradle her body.
He woke up just before dawn to the feel of her hand sliding over his cock as she rolled a condom on him. He was hard, thanks to the soft press of her naked body against his, and though he'd had no intention of doing anything about it, the wayward appendage had a mind of its own.
So did Hanna.
He opened his mouth to tell her to stop, that she needed her rest, but she covered his lips with a finger and shook her head.
She straddled his body and slid down, impaling herself on his erection.
Hot. Slick. Tight.
Somewhere in his mind he told himself that if she was mentally ready for sex, she was going to be okay, but that thought disappeared the moment her pace sped.
He wanted to roll her over and pin her soft body under his while he took her, but she was so beautiful
like this. She rode him, her eyes closed, her hips moving like a dancer, and her bottom lip clenched between her teeth.
Nate levered up enough to suckle her nipples, and the sexy sounds that came from her throat vibrated against his tongue.
She moved faster until he had to use every trick he knew not to come. She wasn't done with him yet, and until she was, he was going to stay strong.
He felt the tightening ripple of her pussy a second before she threw her head back and cried out as she came. Nate let go and gave into the power of his orgasm, riding right on the heels of hers.
When it was over, she slumped down over him and fell asleep in seconds.
Nate rolled her over carefully and took care of the condom. When he came back to bed, he simply watched her for a while, soaking in the way she looked all peaceful and relaxed in the moonlight.
He knew then that he loved her. He didn't want to. After all, she was leaving and there was nowhere for their relationship to go.
But people didn't always get to pick who they loved.
He only wished that he'd been lucky enough for her to love him back. It would have been nice to know what it felt like to be loved by a woman as amazing as Hanna Lowrey.
Chapter Twenty-eight
When Hanna woke, Nate was gone, and this time, there was no note telling her he'd be back.
Why would there be? He didn't owe her any explanations. If anything, she owed him for dealing with Jack when she couldn't.
She dragged her ass out of bed and dressed with slow, clumsy movements. Last night's scare had left her drained, both physically and emotionally. She hadn't cried that hard in years, and she still felt wrung out and empty. Almost numb.
If not for sex with Nate last night, she might have worried that she was no longer capable of feeling anything good.
This will pass, she told herself. Everything is going to be just fine.
By the time she was washed and dressed, it was nearly noon.
Tires crunched over the broken driveway, and her heart jumped with excitement over the idea that Nate was back.
See? You're not broken. You can still be happy.
With an involuntary smile on her face, she rushed to the window, but instead of Nate's shiny white truck, she saw the faded blue paint and rust spots that adorned her faithful old friend.
"Rex!" she squealed and rushed out to greet her trusty companion.
His engine sounded good—better than it had in years—so good, she almost didn't recognize his throaty growl.
Declan Grace killed the engine and slid from the seat. His tall, lean body—a canvas of tattoos—was backlit by the bright sun. He saw her beaming face and returned her smile.
In that instant he looked so much like Nate, she almost wanted to kiss him.
Declan shoved the squeaky door shut and patted Rex's hood as he came to greet her. "I haven't seen a smile that pretty on a woman in a long time. Guess you're happy to see me."
"I'm happy to see Rex," she said, then realized how cold it sounded. "And his surgeon, of course. Thank you for bringing him back to life."
"Wasn't easy, but that look on your face made it worth all the effort." Declan handed her the keys, and until this moment, she hadn't realized just how much she'd missed them.
She caressed the scratched metal and let out a relieved breath. She was no longer stranded in this town. She was free and mobile once more.
The first place she wanted to go was to see Nate and thank him for helping her last night.
"Nate said you had a rough night and not to come by too early," Declan said. "Hope I didn't wake you."
"No. I'm glad you came. How much do I owe you?" she asked.
He pulled a folded invoice from his back pocket and handed it to her. "I know you're short on funds, so if you want to pay me after you get settled in your new job, that's fine."
She looked at the bill. With the money Nate had paid her for her work here and what she had saved, she had almost enough to cover it.
Hanna motioned Declan to follow her inside. She pulled out some cash and handed it to him. "Is this enough of a down payment? I wish I could pay the whole thing, but I need some money to get started in Oklahoma. I promise I will pay you as soon as I can, though."
Declan shrugged. "No worries. I figure you'll be coming back this way to see Nate, anyway, you two being all hot and heavy like you are."
The mention of his name made her heart give a hard squeeze. They'd only been apart a few hours, but she already missed him. How was she going to go on with her life in Oklahoma and never see him again?
She'd give anything to be the kind of girl who deserved a man like Nate, but she knew better. The best gift she could offer him was to go on her way and leave him to find the right girl—one who was classy and educated and had a warm, loving family.
The idea of him with another woman made her physically ill and so jealous she was ready to rip this imaginary woman's hair out by the roots.
Way to be classy.
Hanna pulled in a deep breath to keep her voice from shaking. "Nate is awesome, but we're not together—not like you mean."
Declan frowned and ran a hand through his long, dark hair. "No? The whole town is buzzing about the two of you. They made it sound like things were pretty serious."
"We've only known each other a little while. How serious could it be?"
"Men fall fast. At least that's what Grandad always said."
Now it was Hanna's turn to be confused. "Nate hasn't fallen for me. It's just a fling."
Speculation tightened Declan's green gaze. "Did he tell you that, or are you just guessing?"
She hesitated as her mind ran through a fantasy where Nate fell in love with her and begged her to stay. He told her that she was the woman of his dreams, and that he didn't care if she had a shitty family, was homeless and between jobs.
Then reality set in and she almost laughed. "A man like Nate doesn't have to tell a girl like me anything. I know the score."
Declan propped one lean hip against the kitchen counter. "Okay. If you say so. I'm working on learning not to butt in—it's a bad Grace family habit—so I'll leave you to your own conclusions."
Hanna wasn't sure what that was supposed to mean, but she was already dealing with enough emotional garbage to add Declan's opinions into the mix. Now that she had Rex back, it was time for her to move on.
"I'm going to need a ride back to town. You don't mind, do you?" Declan asked.
"Not at all. Give me five minutes to pack, and I'll take you wherever you like." On her way out of town. Time to leave before she fell so hard for Nate that she couldn't.
Declan gave her a charming grin. "How do you feel about birthday parties?"
***
Mason attended his grandad's birthday party out of love and respect for the man, not because he was in the mood to celebrate or to be near other human beings.
The celebration was in full swing, with tons of food laid out on long folding tables, and games set up in the back yard near the pond.
For as long as Mason could remember, the family had gathered like this, using every little event as an excuse to get together and celebrate. Birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, holidays…hell, they even had a party once when his cousin was finally potty trained.
He'd always enjoyed these little gatherings, using them as a chance to catch up on what was going on in the lives of his siblings and cousins. They were all so busy with school and jobs, that if they didn't have a scheduled time to get together, they probably never would have bothered.
Grandma was no longer here to decorate, but someone had taken her place, hanging streamers and balloons in festive colors. The tables were covered with the same yellow-and-white checked cloths that had been used for years, and Grandma's blue and white serving dishes were crowded together to make room for all of Grandad's favorite foods.
Lots of barbeque, tons of carbs, and six different kinds of dessert were offered up, allowing people to eat as much a
s they wanted.
Mason wasn't hungry, but he held a sturdy paper plate filled with enough food to ward off anyone who might find his lack of appetite their business.
There weren't as many kids around as there used to be. The last generation was mostly grown, but hadn't yet settled down to start working on the next generation.
Mason had always thought that he and Diana would be the first ones to have kids.
Grief and anger clashed in his chest until there was no room left to breathe. He didn't understand why his fucking emotions couldn't make up their mind about who was running the show, but neither side seemed to be willing to surrender. He was left to deal with both, when everyone around him was laughing and enjoying the warm afternoon sunshine.
He couldn't remember the last time he'd enjoyed anything. Diana had betrayed him and taken that all away.
Across the back yard, his cousin Daisy was sitting in the lap of her boyfriend, Mark. They were smiling and laughing, with no concern at all for the rest of the world. It was just the two of them, inside their happy bubble.
Nearby, his brother Saxon was helping his girlfriend Gemma learn how to play horseshoes. He stood behind her, guiding her hand in a throw she needed no help to perfect. It was simply an excuse to touch the woman he loved.
Mason wanted to be happy for them, but he didn't know how. They had what he'd lost. How could he watch them cuddle and touch and not feel like he'd lost something vital?
Coming here had been a mistake—one that was about to get worse.
Mom spotted him where he hugged the shadows under a hickory tree and made a beeline.
Great. Now on top of dealing with all the people and happy faces, he was going to have to deal with Mom's meddling, too.
Dr. Bonnie Grace was a tall woman who was still strikingly beautiful, even after raising four willful children. Her face was prone to smiles, but right now, all Mason could see was worry dulling her pale blue eyes.
She joined him in the shade and hugged him. Her voice was soft with motherly concern. "How are you, honey?"
"Fine," he said, trying hard to warm the word before it came out all hard and cold.
"You haven't eaten."