“I didn’t ask for your opinion, I asked for your legal expertise. I knew I should have gone to the city for a lawyer.”
I try and keep the anger from my voice but you know what, fuck him. My fingers whiten on the folders as I lift them and clutch them to my chest. The glare I hit him with has his eyes widening and him jumping to his feet as well.
“Why do you think you even get an opinion on what I do with my life, my money? You condescending asshole. Fuck you!”
His hands come up and, in his eyes, I see a flash of…panic?
“Whoa! Wait…wait! Rain…you’re absolutely right. I shouldn’t have said that. I’m…I’m sorry. Please, will you sit? I’ll help you in any way I can.”
It’s such a shock hearing him apologize that I hesitate and he pounces on the opening and doubles down.
“Please, Rainy, I’m sorry. Will you stay?” He pleads with his words and his sad ocean eyes.
Chase slumps back down into his chair and scrubs at his mouth like he’s beyond tired and it softens my stance.
I slowly sink back down into my chair and huff out, “Fine, un-fuck you for now then.”
One corner of his mouth lifts in a half smile and he holds out his hand for the folders. I hand them over and sit while he goes through all the documents, flagging the ones he needs with yellow tabs. Every few pages, he glances up with a small frown.
At first, I think he’s looking at my tits but after the fourth time I look down, thinking I must have a stain or something on my dress, and realize that it’s my shoulder he keeps looking at. The fading bite mark that Luke put on my skin. I bite my lip with anxiety that he might be upset that Luke and I…nope, not going there. I can sleep with whoever I want. I make my own decisions now. I decide. I sigh at myself knowing it’ll take longer than a few days and a new plan for the future to change my thought process from years of fitting into other’s expectations. I’ll get there, eventually.
We go over a few things and he promises to have everything in place with the bank so that I can take possession in a few days and that he’ll start working on the new business aspect of my needs after that. When he closes the last folder and slides them back to me, his gaze is tentative and he looks like he has something to say but isn’t quite sure how to say it.
“We… we have the cattle trailers we can use to help you move if you want? They’re clean, we scrub them out after every use. The three of us would be happy to help you move into your new place, Rain,” he says cautiously.
I study him carefully. He’s extending an olive branch and I’d be stupid to set it on fire so I nod.
“Most of the big stuff will be taken to the dump. I’m only keeping some of the furniture but I’ll never say no to big strong men who want to lift and haul for me.” I give him a teasing smile. “Hetter’s going to go with Maggie and me to Smithville so I can buy the rest new and bring it back in his truck.”
I stand and he follows me out of the office to the front. We step out onto the sidewalk and I feel his hand brush down my arm in the lightest touch.
“Just let us know when you need our lifting and hauling skills and we’ll be there.” His eyes burn into the side of my face. “Rain…I…”
Two things happen before he can finish whatever he wanted to say. Jackson turns the corner and lifts a hand at us in a wave and a sleek black Mercedes pulls up to the curb in front of us. My whole body freezes in place as Jason steps out of the car and turns his head my way with a furious expression. I suck in a gasp and can hear Chase growl, “this fucking guy” under his breath. Jackson picks up his pace as concern flashes across his face.
“What the hell did you do to your hair, Rain?” Jason snarls as he comes around the front of the car and steps up in front of me. His cold, dark eyes scan my short cut with distaste. “You’ll have to get extensions before the wedding.” He grinds out with a clenched jaw.
Chase’s hand comes up to rest on the small of my back and it’s that little thing that unfreezes me and has me bark out a laugh.
“There isn’t going to be a wedding, Jason, at least not to me - but if you really want one…try your assistant. She’s got long hair. Hell, she’d probably fit into my wedding dress too. And bonus – you already know your little dick fits in her.”
Jason spares a glance at Chase, dismissing him almost instantly to focus back on me with a look of exasperation.
“Stop being so childish, Rain. I told you that meant nothing. It’s an arrangement is all. She merely scratched an itch, nothing more.”
I nod knowingly as a satisfied grin pulls at my lips.
“I totally get that. I scratched a similar itch just the other night!”
Jason’s face goes white with fury and his hand flashes out to clamp on my arm.
“You trashy fucking slut! I took a nothing little country hick and molded you into something worthy of being my wife and you do this? I should…”
“Worthy? It took me getting away from you to finally see my worth and it was a hell of a lot more without you. Now, let…me…go!”
Chase tries to step past me but I elbow him in the stomach with my free arm to keep him back. This isn’t his place to play white knight. This is my mess to clean up.
Jason gets right into my face and spits out, “You’re nothing but a trailer trash whore, Rain.”
