“Some.”
“Never use two words when one will do, Macy. Let this conversation be a lesson to you on man talk 101,” Newman stated.
Macy heard her cell phone ring. She didn’t want to answer it, she wanted to stand here and watch this battle of wills that was raging silently between the two Texans, especially Brad. He was trying to keep his distance, and Ethan was trying to break through the walls his brother had erected.
Hurrying through the door that led to the small rear storeroom, she found it in her bag and answered it. After all it could be Billy’s daycare.
“Good morning....” The words trailed off as she heard the deep breathing. Everything inside her went cold as it turned to laughter.
“Like a bit of heavy breathing don't you, Macy. I'm coming for you, wife.”
Two sentences, and suddenly she was back there. Once again the frightened, traumatized woman this man had reduced her to.
“You don't scare me, Brian Delray.” She fought to keep her voice from shaking.He can't hurt you anymore, Macy. Never again. “You’re n-nothing but a pathetic man.”
“Oh you’re scared, wife. You can change your numbers as much as you like, but I have ways of getting to you. I’m coming for you, and then you'll pay for what you did to me, you little bitch!”
Macy's finger shook as she disconnected the call. Dropping the phone to the desk, she then braced her hands on it. She inhaled a deep breath, and exhaled slowly.
Her ex-husband was a monster. No other word fitted him better than that one. But he was locked away behind bars, so she didn’t need to panic. No need to feel the pains in her chest, or weakness in her knees. His threats were empty now.
“Macy!”
“Coming.” She forced a smile onto her face and headed back out to the shop.
Damn her ex-husband to hell and back. The very place he'd once put her.
“What do you think?”
The words were from Newman, who was standing with Ethan, while Brad stood a few feet away. Alone, like she had once been, but no more, she reminded herself. She had friends now.
She did a sweep of the shop, seeing but not really, as her head was still in the conversation she'd just had with Brian.
“What's wrong?”
Brad had come to stand in front of her.
“Sorry?”
“Something's upset you.”
She shook her head. “Nothing. I'm fine, and I have to admit the shop looks amazing.”
Ethan and Newman moved closer, flanking Brad, forming a wall of beauty before her. Her battered and bruised heart sighed just a little, which made her feel better. This was here and now, her life with men like this in it. Not him, not that monster.
“Seriously, you guys shouldn't stand like that, all that handsomeness in a line is making my weak heart skip a beat.” Macy fanned her face with her hand and forced out a laugh. No one joined her.
“Cut the bull, Mace, who was on the phone?” Newman's eyes, which usually held a smile, looked cold and flat. “Was it Brian?”
She'd never been able to lie, even small white ones, so a huge, ugly, dark one was well beyond her capabilities. Macy nodded.
“Brian the ex?” Brad asked her.
She nodded again.
“What’d he say?” Ethan barked the question.
“‘I'm coming for you, wife.’ I called him pathetic, and he said he was going to make me pay for that.”
