“What happened?” Her father pulls her from my grasp. “Did those two get in a fight? Do I need to call the police?” He glares at me as he says it.
“Yes, you need to call the police,” she pants. “Warren broke into my room and attacked me.”
“What?” Her father repels, clearly stunned as if it couldn’t be true. “Warren was just probably trying to get you back to the party. He would never hurt you.”
“He did. And he’s naked in the event you haven’t noticed.” Reese clings to me even harder. “Trust me, he wanted to hurt me. And if it wasn’t for Ace, he would have succeeded.”
“What was Ace doing in your room?” His eyes widen with disbelief.
“He heard me screaming. Warren was trying to force himself on me. Do I have to spell it out?”
Her father darts his suspicions from me to Reese.
The McCarthy’s waddle over in their slippers. Great. Here we go. Something tells me I’ll be needing bail and an attorney of my own before morning.
“Look”—Reese steps into her dad—“if you don’t call the police, I will. I’m not putting up with anymore of Warren’s bullshit.”
“Reese.” Her father grits it out like a threat.
“I’m going to get my things.” She leans into my chest a moment. “I’ll be staying with Ace. He’s the one I care about, not Warren. It was never Warren.” She looks up at me with tenderness locked in her eyes. “I’m in love with Ace Waterman, and I always have been.”
Her stepmother crops up just in time to hear Reese’s declaration, and her face bleaches out. I’m sorry if it’s not the news she wanted, but in truth, it’s exactly what I needed to hear and it feels damn good.
I follow Reese up to her bedroom as she throws a few things in her backpack. She kneels at the foot of her bed and slips her hand into the mattresses, retrieving a small stack of letters.
“They’re from my mom.” She bows her head a moment before stuffing them into the bag. She gets up and lands her arms around my waist. A sad smile pulls on her lips. “Um, I guess I sort of invited myself, but can I stay with you tonight? If not I can find Bry—”
I touch my finger to her lips. “Tonight and forever.” I land a gentle kiss over her cheek and we leave the Westfield house through the back, away from the noise, the accusations and one seriously jacked up Warren McCarthy.
I’m taking Reese home, and I never want her to leave.
The lights are all on at the cabin despite the fact it’s well past two in the morning. As soon as Reese and I walk through the door, Neva wastes no time in scowling at us before barreling down the hall to her room.
“What the hell?” Dad stomps out in his boxers with his BB gun at the ready.
Shit.
I fill him in on what happened, and he heads toward the door and cranes his neck out at the lake.
“I’d better get out there to see if you killed anyone tonight.” He shoves the BB gun in my chest with a wry smile. “How many times have I told you to keep your nose clean? But”—he looks to Reese and his features soften—“I’m glad you’re okay, Reese. I don’t want anyone forcing themselves on you. Excuse me while I throw on some clothes.” He heads back down the hall at a quickened pace.
“Come here.” I press a kiss over her head and lead her to my bedroom. I snap on the tiny desk lamp next to my bed in hopes she won’t see that my closet has vomited out into the four corners of the room. “You can take the bed. I’ll sleep on the floor.”
“No way.” She rubs her hands up over my back and settles her eyes on me with the look of genuine affection. “If you don’t mind I’d like to jump in the shower—wash Warren off—but when I get out, I want to find you warming the sheets for me.”
“For you? I’d set myself on fire to keep you warm.” I wrap my arms back around her waist and gaze down at her with a pinch of grief. “Tell me what he did to you.”
“Nothing.” Her lips press together, white as plaster. “He tried to kiss me, and I artfully deflected his efforts.” She glances away a moment. “Then he tried to, you know—and he couldn’t.”
“Shit.” An instant rage pumps through me. “If I didn’t kill him, I’ll have to rectify that tomorrow.” I’m not fucking kidding.
“Please don’t.” Her lips curve up one side, and her tiny dimple goes off like a comma. “I don’t want you in prison because then we can’t do this.” She leans up on her tiptoes and lands a careful kiss over my lips. “God—Ace.” Her lids flutter a moment. “You saved me.” She tightens her grip around my waist and gives a hard sniff. “I’d better hop in the shower.” She wipes the tears from her eyes. “I want to scrape him off my body.”
“Take your time.” I land another kiss on her lips, and this time we linger.
“I love you, Ace Waterman.” She blinks up at me with those expectant blue eyes.
“I love you, too, Reese Westfield.”
