“A huge one, honey,” Gwen said, and Lea nodded.
The New Yorker set her coffee down and cocked her head. “Can I ask why you didn’t call him?”
She sighed. “God, I wanted to, but…we kind of agreed to take it slow, and I didn’t want to pressure him.” Maybe she should’ve pressured him…
“Smart move,” Lea said. “And it seems to have paid off if you had him calling you. Jill, guys never call girls unless they want to get laid, and from what you said, you haven’t seen him since the laying.”
“Yeah.”
“Sunday, you said?” Gwen’s gaze bore into hers. “The same day you made chocolate?”
Lea’s palm slapped her chest. “Oh my, God. You made chocolate with Mason. He’s the reason it tastes so good. He was your muse.”
Damn. She knew better than to fight a losing battle. “He was more than that. Trust me.”
“Hot damn.” The brunette blew out a breath. “You ate this delicious stuff off each other, didn’t you? I want to eat it off of Ben. I am so friggin’ jealous I can hardly stand it.”
Gwen pouted. “So am I, and I don’t even want a guy.”
“Yeah, it was great. But, we haven’t seen each other since. We barely have a thing.” She lifted her shoulders. “Heck, I don’t even know what we have. It’s—”
The bell above the door rang as Mason stepped inside wearing his ACUs and a determined expression with a bit of heat in his gaze. The sisters twisted around to see who’d walked in then sucked in a breath and glanced back at her. She hardly paid them any mind, her gaze was glued to the gorgeous man who removed his Army hat and marched straight for her.
“Hey, Mason,” Lea said, echoing Gwen’s greeting.
He nodded to them without stopping and was behind the counter before she could blink.
“Hi. How wa—”
Setting his hat on the counter, he pulled her close and swallowed her words with a deep, thorough kiss that had her clinging to his shoulders for support.
“Damn.”
“Holy hell.”
From somewhere in the stratosphere, Jill heard the sisters, but she was too far gone to worry about an audience. Mason had one big, warm hand around her back and the other thrust in her hair holding her close, kissing her like there was no tomorrow. And he tasted so damn good, all hot and hungry, she was only too happy to participate.
When they broke for air, she set her temple near his chin and concentrated on filling her lungs. And finding her legs. Yeah, she needed them, too. Jeez, with one kiss, the man stole her breath, what was left of her brain cells, and her ability to stand. Damn potent.
“I’ve been thinking about doing that all week,” he said near her ear, his hot, ragged breathes sending shivers to her toes.
He drew back and gently brushed her lower lip with his thumb, and it warmed her beyond measure to know he didn’t care they had an audience.
“Sorry to kiss and run, but I needed to sneak down here during chow since I’ll be stuck with a bunch of guys ‘til Sunday.”
“My pleasure,” she said as the bell rang and Ben walked in, same determined expression on his face as he strode straight to Lea.
Her friend turned then squeaked and leapt from the stool straight into her man’s waiting arms for her own thorough kissing.
Gwen glanced around the embracing couple to the door. “How come I don’t get a hot soldier to kiss?”
Jill chuckled. “You want one? I’m sure there are plenty who’d line up.”
Mason nodded and pulled a phone from his pocket. “Just say the word. I can have ’em here in sixty seconds.”
“No thanks.” The blonde shook her head and turned back to her coffee. “The moment’s passed. I’m good.”
“I’m not good, not by a long shot, but we have to go,” Ben said, reluctantly untangling himself from Lea’s arms. “See ya Sunday.” Backing up toward the door, he switched his attention to Mason. “Let’s go, bro. We have less than three to hit the drill floor.”
“I’m right behind you,” he said, then turned to her. “See you Sunday?”
She smiled. “Yeah. You can’t miss me. I’ll be at your place…well, Ethan’s…baking cupcakes with Tyler.”
“Sweet,” he said, cupping her face and kissing her on the lips. “Stay out of trouble.”
“We’ll be at her place tonight. What kind of trouble can she get into?” Gwen asked innocently.
Mason groaned. “Now I’m worried.” After another quick kiss, he released Jill, nodded to the sisters then rushed out the door.
She gripped the counter for support as Lea sank back down on her stool and they blinked at each other. “Well…that was…”
“Yeah,” her friend agreed with a sigh.
Gwen fanned herself as she waved at the displays. “It’s a wonder you two didn’t melt all the chocolate in here with those kisses from your guys.”
Your guys.
She had a guy? Was Mason technically her guy? Maybe. She liked the thought, except the part where he would eventually leave.
“Well, we should check on Dad before we head to your place,” Lea said, rising to her feet.
Gwen nodded, slipping into her fur. “Yeah, we’ll see you in about an hour. We’ll stop by your uncle’s and grab some pizza because, damn, I missed eating pizza the last ten years.”
“Super. I haven’t had it in a while,” she said, a stab of guilt piercing her gut for being too busy to stop by to see her uncle in almost two weeks.
“Okay. We’ll see you soon.”
It was just about time to close and get ready to relax with her friends for a night of junk food and movies. Life was good. She watched the girls leave, then grabbed the dishes from the counter and carried them to the sink. As she washed the plates and put them away, she sang with J-Lo on the radio, her heart feeling lighter than it had in weeks.
At the sound of the bell ringing above the doors, she smiled and turned around. “What did you forg—” Her heart jumped to her throat, smothering the rest of her sentence.
“Hello, Jill.” Donny smiled, but it never quite reached his once beautiful sky blue eyes. Now, they were kind of dull and smoky. “How’ve you been?” He gestured around her shop with his hand while his gaze admired. “Good, by the looks of it.”
Tamping down her trepidation, she knew it was best to deal with him in a calm manner. Especially if he was high or strung out. Judging by the desperation in his eyes and smudges on the worn out coat and jeans hanging off his thin frame, he was strung out.
Shit. That made him even more dangerous than if he’d been high.
His hands were shaking, too… Oh look, so were hers.
“I’m good. Business is new. I’m still trying to get my footing,” she told him with a hell of a lot more composure than she felt. But she needed to keep him unruffled while she tried to get him—and more importantly her—out of her shop. She was by the sink on the side wall, and he blocked the front exit; she’d never make it to the back before him. Even though he was scrawny, he was quick, and cunning. He no doubt already had a plan to cut her off if she moved in that direction.
“I always knew you’d succeed. That stupid, fucking bakery in New York never should’ve let you go,” he said, stepping closer, still keeping his body between her and the door. “Me either.”
Her heart lurched, then stopped. She needed to get outside. Now.
She grabbed the window spray and a paper towel and began to wipe down the counter. “You know we’re through, Donny. What is it you want?” she asked, gauging the distance to the door.
Two displays stood in her way no matter which side she went. Damn. She didn’t have a choice. She had to get closer.
“Money,” he replied, voice still level and even, thank God. “I just need a little to hold me over until my disability check comes in.”
She walked around the counter and stilled. “Since when are you’re on disability? I tried for years to get you to apply.”
“Yeah,
well, I’m on it now, but it’s tough making ends meet between checks,” he said, aggravation beginning to thin his lips.
Taking a chance, she turned her back on him and started to spray and wipe the first case, bringing her closer to a clear shot out the door. “I know it sucks trying to stretch a dollar.” Mostly because of him. She’d learned the fine art during those last two years of their marriage.
“Yeah, I don’t know how you managed with us. I’m sorry. You were a saint,” he said, a kernel of truth ringing in his voice.
But she was immune. Had been through it too many times with him. Donny could be sweet one minute, until he didn’t get what he wanted, then out of patience and mean the next.
She turned to face him. “That’s sweet, but you wasted a trip. I don’t have any money.”
“What?” He reeled back and sneered. “Look at this place. You’re rolling in it.”
“No. I’m not.” She shook her head, heart pounding so loud in her chest it probably registered on the Richter scale. “Every penny is tied up in this place, Donny. Between rent and overhead and stock and payroll…”
“Bullshit!” He grabbed her wrist and squeezed. “Just open the register and give me what’s in there.”
She stilled. “No.”
“What do you mean, no, bitch?”
Jill answered by spraying him in the eyes with her cleaning solution, then pushed him with all her might and made a mad dash for the door, praying she could reach it before he reached her.
Chapter Fifteen
Mason was on the drill floor, near the supply cage, still recalling the taste of Jill’s lips on his less than an hour ago, when Lea burst in, gaze frantic as she searched around. Body instantly on alert, he slapped Ben on the arm to get his attention and rushed to the ruffled woman.
“Lea, what is?” he asked.
Ben pushed past him to grab her arm. “You okay?”
She nodded. “It’s Jill. Some guy is harassing her outside her shop. I didn’t call 911 because I knew Jeremy was here.”
Hollering for their cop friend, Jeremy Mercer, to join them, Mason sprinted for the door, Ben at his side. His heart was hammering in his throat as he crossed the street and raced the two blocks to the Confection Connection and the surly looking jerk twisting Jill’s arm. “Hey,” he yelled without stopping his pace. “Let her go!”
The asshole stilled, then turned around toward them, and if Mason hadn’t been out of his mind with worry over Jill, he probably would’ve found the guy’s raised brows and I-Just-Shit-Myself expression comical.
He wasn’t laughing.
No. He. Was. Pissed.
And shaking from head-to-toe with anger as he watched the fucker run off.
Son of a bitch!
Even though he wanted to chase the punk down and beat the shit out of him, he ran to Jill, his concern for her over-ruling his need to mangle. Jeremy, Keiffer, Greg and her cousin, Nico, passed them in hot pursuit. He’d let them deal with the guy.
“You okay?” he asked as he approached, his heart clenching at the emotions making her eyes appear so damn dark in her pale face.
Holding herself erect, arms hugging her body, she nodded, and broke his heart. She was so Goddamn used to handling things on her own.
Not giving a shit who was around, he pulled her close and held her tight. “You’re sure you’re okay?”
She nodded, finally slipping her arms around him. “I…why are you here?” she asked, drawing back to look up at him through rounded eyes, obviously blown away that he’d appeared, along with half the National Guard.
“Lea came in and told us some guy was harassing you.”
“And you came?” Her gaze grew bigger, as did his ire.
He reeled back. “Of course. Jesus, Jill,” he said, heart lurching again as he cupped her face with one hand. “Hasn’t anyone ever had your back before?”
“No.”
It wasn’t the word that delivered another invisible blow, it was the way she’d said it, like he was crazy. Like it was normal for people to look the other way and not show decency. God, just the thought of her living in a world so uncaring and cold all her life made him nuts.
Well, that wasn’t his normal. Nor anyone he knew. It was something she was going to discover living in the Poconos.
“Then you’d better get used to it,” Ben said, stepping closer.
Ryder, Lea’s brother nodded. “We do things differently here.”
“Yea,” Lea said, appearing with Gwen. “So, why don’t we take this inside so you don’t catch a cold.”
Mason silently cursed for not realizing Jill was outside in a sweater. “Come on,” he said, ushering her into the shop.
Everything inside him tightened at the sight of a spray bottle and rag discarded on the floor near one of the cases, and a round table display upended with its contents littered all over the floor. How they ended up that way burned a whole in his gut, but he clenched his jaw to keep a lid on his cool. She’d been through enough and didn’t need to see any more violence.
Although he wanted to keep holding her, he made her sit on the closest chair, then turned to see if Scott Holden, full time paramedic, had joined the group. He didn’t have to look far. The tall, green-eyed guardsman pushed through the small crowd with his pack.
“Hi, Jill. My gram loved those chocolates last week,” Scott said, kneeling down with his kit. Thank God the guy was always prepared.
“Mason,” Ben called him over to one of the counters, but he wasn’t ready to leave her side just yet.
She must’ve read the hesitation in his gaze because she squeezed his hand and smiled up at him. “It’s okay. Go ahead. I’m fine.”
“Yeah. I’ve got water for her,” Gwen said, sitting next to Jill.
“And I have Better Than cake for her. Chocolate’s a great cure. She’ll be fine,” Lea insisted, setting it on the table before pulling a chair to Jill’s other side and sitting down.
Only when Scott finished checking her blood pressure and reassured him she was fine did he head to where Ben and Keiffer stood with Jeremy and Nico.
“We lost him,” the cop said, and before the curses left Mason’s tongue, the guy continued. “I have an APB out on him, and now that I know his name, it should help. Although, there’s no guarantee.”
He glanced at the guys and frowned. “How do you know his name?” It wasn’t anyone he’d ever seen in the area before.
“I told him,” Nico said, anger still present in his dark gaze. “It was her piece of shit ex-husband, Donny.”
Jesus.
Mason sucked in a breath and turned to glance at Jill. Sweet. Caring. Beautiful. “She was married to that…”
“Piece of shit? Yes,” Nico said, running his hand through his short, black hair. “Although, in fairness, the guy wasn’t always that way. I didn’t always want to rearrange his teeth.”
Ben nodded. “Sucks how dependency can change a person.”
“I don’t know him, or how he was before,” Mason rasped out, unable to get the image of the guy hurting Jill out of his mind. “All I know is this dirt bag was manhandling Jill, and now he’s on the loose. What are we going to do about it?”
Jeremy’s brows rose and an inflexible expression crossed his face. “We aren’t going to do anything. Let the police handle this, Mason.”
“Yeah, bro.” Keiffer cupped his shoulder and nodded. “Stay away from the guy. Just concentrate on Jill.”
He glanced at the mess surrounding them, and his anger rose. She’d taken pride in having everything neat and orderly, giving the place a fun and tasty atmosphere. Now it just spoke of violence. His gut clenched. “I want one minute with him.”
“I’d settle for thirty seconds,” Nico said with a nod.
Jeremy’s gaze grew stern. “I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that if you both turn around and go see to Jill.”
Fine. He pivoted around and strode to the woman who was now standing, serving Scott and a few others a pi
ece of cake. A smile tugged his lips. The sweet woman was made of some stern stuff. And, damn, it was a big turn on.
“Got any sweetness for me?” he asked as he approached.
She turned and smiled, sliding her palms up his chest. “Always,” she said, and he set his hands on her waist as she leaned close and whispered in his ear. “I keep the secret stuff just for you.”
And now he was rock hard.
He tightened his hold. “Lucky me.”
She drew back and stared up, her fathomless dark eyes sucking him in, interrupting his pulse, turning his world on its axis. Until someone cleared their throat.
Scott.
“So, Jill, if that wrist continues to hurt, I want you to go see a doctor. Okay?” the paramedic asked.
Mason narrowed his eyes, glancing from her bruised wrist to her face.
“Okay.”
He squeezed her waist and waited until her gaze returned to his. “I think since your ex is still on the loose, you should move your sleepover to the resort. I’ll make sure you get a free room. I know the owner,” he said with a grin, trying to keep things light despite the need to throttle someone rushing through his veins.
Her gaze widened as the girls gasped.
“That was your ex?” Lea frowned.
“What a jerk,” Gwen said after Jill nodded.
He crooked a finger under her chin and forced her lowered gaze to his once more, his chest tightening at look of shame in her eyes. “Don’t,” he said. “You have no reason to be embarrassed. You are not responsible for other people’s actions, Jill. Donny is responsible for Donny. End of subject.”
“Amen.” Lea nodded.
Nico stepped closer and touched her arm. “And if I get my hands on him, you’re not responsible for mine, either.”
A small smile tugged her lips. “Thanks, but I don’t want you to get in trouble.” She glanced at him. “Both of you. Please, promise me you’ll let him be.”
Mason’s grunt echoed Nico’s, until she narrowed her gaze.
“Promise me.”
Her cousin grumbled, but finally nodded. “I promise.”
She turned to him, sliding her hands to his collar and gripped tight. “Mason? Come on, I don’t want you getting in trouble over Donny. He’s not worth it.”
Wyne and Chocolate (Citizen Soldier Series Book 2) Page 13