Jolie hugged her sister. “I knew they’d love it. You make everyone feel welcome, Amber. I’m so proud of you.”
Ford filled two more bowls, then set them at the table where he and Jolie sat. “Tell us everything.”
While they ate, they heard about the rest of the guests. All couples for now, although they had a few singles for the following weekend, and a group of bodyguards training at Midnight Security the week after that.
Seth frowned at that news and then turned the frown Mara’s way. “What’s the name of the asshole who bothered you back in New York?”
The question slammed into her from nowhere. Her joyful, giddy mood disappeared in a heartbeat. “What? Why? It doesn’t matter. He’s in the past.”
“What if he’s not? What if he finds you here?”
She shook her head, trying to dislodge the fear at the thought of Anson following her. “He wouldn’t bother. I wasn’t important to him; he just thought I was convenient and would be compliant.”
Seth’s growl was matched by those from Ford and Gray. Her brother had stilled, and she could feel the intensity of his gaze without looking up. She kept her eyes on her napkin. “Seriously, he wouldn’t leave his bakery, and he certainly wouldn’t travel all this way because I told him to keep his grabby hands to himself.”
Amber reached across the table. “I’m sorry you went through that. We’ve got excellent protection here, but it would help to have a name. A jerk like that doesn’t get to cross our doorstep. I’ll block him.”
Mara sighed, looking from face to determined face, keeping the tremors to herself. “He probably hasn’t given me a thought since I walked out.”
Seth growled again. “He’s an asshole. If you don’t want us all to know, at least tell Amber his name so she can block any reservations from him.”
Mara didn’t want to be the reason her friend kept secrets from her husband. “Fine. Anson Wells. He owns Anson Bakes back in New York.”
Unable to sit with that information out there, Mara pushed to her feet and headed to her rooms. A few of them called her name, but she shook her head and kept moving.
Once there, she closed the door behind her and slumped to the floor. She thumped her head on the door behind her.
Saying his name aloud made it all real again. Made her feel small and weak. A lonely target for a man who figured he was her boss, and she’d do what he said.
She wasn’t weak.
Most of the time.
Fritter stretched and pranced over to jump into her lap. She snuggled the cat to her chest. “Thanks, Fritter.”
She wasn’t alone. Not anymore.
She wasn’t weak. And once she got her feet back under her, she’d go back to work and prove it.
Seth swore under his breath. “Sorry. I should have done that privately.”
Gray shrugged. “She probably would have refused to answer. Having Amber here, someone who’s been through having a stalker, helped push her to share the name. He was her boss?”
Seth sighed. “She told me a man got handsy with her and figured he could do what he wanted. When she refused, he fired her. Although she quit in the same breath.”
Amber rolled her lips together. “Awful man. I’m glad she walked away from him and came here.”
Ford swore and shoved to his feet. He paced the kitchen while more creative cursing fell from his lips. “Do you think the asshole will follow her here?”
Gray frowned and gripped Amber’s hand. “We know that some assholes just don’t quit. Hopefully, he’s a basic creep and doesn’t have an obsession with Mara.”
Seth had already pulled out his phone. Anson Wells had his photo on the front of his bakery, as if his face would pull in more customers than his food. Seth hated the smarmy jerk on sight.
He had one of those smiles that screamed scammy used-car salesman. He’d bet the man thought he was irresistible.
Ford stopped behind Seth and leaned over his shoulder to check the bastard out. “Want to go to New York with me and teach this asshole a lesson?”
“No.” Amber and Jolie said it together, but it was the fear in Amber’s voice that had him responding.
