“Brownie, it’s fine. I’ve got this.”
“I need to speak to my wife,” Declan protested, finally getting free of my grip. “You put your hands on me again and I’ll have you arrested.”
“You’ll have him arrested,” Tally exclaimed. “I’ll haveyouarrested for sending me abusive messages.”
“What?” he scoffed. “I haven’t sent you any messages.”
“You lying piece of shit.” My hands fisted at my sides as the anger coursed through me like a summer brush fire. It spread to every nerve ending, every tip, every inch of skin. The need to get him away from her made me itch. It felt as important as breathing. “Get in your stupid toy car and get the hell away from here and don’t come back. You forget her name, what she looks like and her damn number.” I pointed my finger right in his face, almost touching his nose that was twitching. “You sign the damn divorce papers and send them to your lawyer and then wipe your marriage to her from your memory.”
“I have no idea what the hell you’re talking about,” he protested, looking from me to Tally.
“Don’t look at her, dipshit. Keep your eyes on me.”
His cologne, too sweet, too artificial, too expensive, hung in the air smelling like poison as he dared to look her up and down. I took a step, fist clenched when Tally grabbed my elbow. Even in the middle of my rage, her touch anchored me, her fingers warm and steady against my skin.
“Wilder, it’s fine. I can deal with him.”
“Nuh uh.” I shook my head. “You don’t have to. I’m here to help take the load, to be there for you whenever you need me, to support you.” I took a deep breath. “If that means throwing this piece of shit off my land then that’s what I’ll do.”
Her eyes never left me as she climbed over the fence and as she moved alongside Declan, I thought that my heart was going to stop. The fear of her being so close to danger made my head feel like it was about to explode.
“Declan you need to leave.” Tally’s voice was calm and measured as she took my hand but looked at him. “You need to stop messaging me otherwise I will have you arrested. I mean it. Do as Wilder says and sign the divorce papers and just forget we were ever together. As for Dream Maker, that isn’t happening.”
“I think that’s one thing that definitely is,” he replied, adding a scoff of laughter that made me clench my jaw so tight I thought my teeth might break.
“No, it’s not.” Inhaling slowly, her shoulders went back. “Gunner has spoken to Bernard, and he’s agreed to sign over the ownership papers.”
“That’s not what he told me.” He turned to me. “Was this your idea, to pretend that you have him on board.”
“That’s what’s happening. You should call him.”
He physically deflated in front of me. He knew I was telling the truth and that he had nowhere to go. Other than the fuck out of our lives.
“I’ll go but you want a divorce then you’re going to have to wait.” He smirked at me. “Let’s see if he sticks around because I promise you it’ll never work.”
As Tally took a step back, I curled my fingers tighter around hers. She needed to know I was there, but that I knew she could handle it.
Declan Mullaney would never hurt her. Never go near her. Never be in her air space again, even if I died making sure.
As he walked away, I felt the relief seep through both of us. Maybe we’d won that battle but I was sure the war was far from over. When Tally’s phone pinged with a message just minutes after Declan’s car sped down our driveway, the smell of the exhaust still lingering in the clear mountain air, I knew I was ready for it.
Unknown number
You’ll get what you deserve. Fucking nothing. You bitch
Chapter 41
I Only Have Eyes for You – Art Garfunkel
Tally
The excitement was bubbling in my stomach, and I wanted to stamp my feet as I waited for Wilder. We were going out to dinner at a new fancy restaurant that had opened in nearby Clementine Hill. I had no idea how he’d got a reservation because I’d heard it was booked for months, not just weeks. He’d done it, though, and was a few minutes out from picking me up.
As I paced the cabin for about the fifth time, I heard his truck pull up outside. I wasn’t sure whether to go running out, if that was even possible in my strappy shoes, or just wait.
I didn’t have to think about it for long because there was soon a knock on the door. Smoothing down my tight, strapless, black dress that I’d paired with simple gold hooped earrings and a couple of bangles. My hair was pulled back into a tight, high, ponytail and I was wearing the perfume that Wilder always said drove him crazy.
“Hey,” I said, aware that I sounded breathy.
