“His dad mentioned it when we met so I could blackmail him.” I toss my reply casually.
Lee spins around, his intense eyes landing on mine. “You what?”
“Blackmailed the judge executive into getting the fire marshal to end the investigation of my house and make Austin drop the charges.”
He stands there staring at me for a few frozen seconds. Finally, he manages a word. “Explain.”
I’m happy to. I’m proud of the way I turned things back on those power abusing assholes, and I’m actually a little excited to tell someone. Especially Lee. He always seems to get a kick out of me fighting back, whether it’s an ex or his friend hiding in a cabin.
I take a seat on the couch, but he doesn’t move from where he stands as I tell him everything from my visit with Celia to meeting Grady at the bar. His jaw tightens as I speak, his lips thin into a line, and his gaze hardens as it locks onto me.
His tone is low but severe. “Are you out of your fucking mind?”
“Excuse me?” My face begins to heat. I expected shock, not anger.
“He could’ve killed you!” The way he raises his voice makes me blink and instantly pisses me off.
“I met him in public and I wasn’t alone. I had backup.” What part of that did he miss?
“Backup that couldn’t help you if he decided to hurt you!”
“I knew what I was doing!”
“Bullshit. Do you have any idea how many bodies the woods hide because of men like that? Are you trying to be one of them?”
Anger drives me to my feet. “Don’t fucking lecture me. I don’t need your permission to defend myself.”
“Defend yourself? You put a target on your back.”
“They put a target on me a long time ago. I took it off.” Icross my arms, glaring at him. “And it worked. The charges are gone. I’ll get my insurance payout, and they won’t come after the diner again.”
He takes a step toward me and snaps, “I don’t give a fuck! Do you understand me? I don’t care that it worked. You put yourself in the crosshairs of a man who has power, money, and nothing to lose. You had no idea how he’d react.”
Hurt bleeds into my anger. He doesn’t care that it worked? He doesn’t care that things are finally going in my favor? “He had plenty to lose and I reminded him of that. What was I supposed to do, Lee? Roll over and let them bleed me dry? Let them frame me for the fire, take my diner, and keep fucking with my life?”
“You should’ve told me before you did it.”
“You would’ve tried to stop me or do it yourself.”
He runs his hands through his hair. “Of course I would!”
My heartbeat thumps in my ears, rage overpowering me. “Why? Because you’re an all powerful man and I’m just a weak little woman who needs you to protect me? Fuck you. I’m not going to stand here and watch you act like I was stupid for fighting back. You don’t get to be pissed at me for surviving. I protected myself and my livelihood. I stopped them from hurting me again. Iwon.”
I was happy on the drive home, so excited to tell him that my half of the battle was over, even if we were still dealing with the trouble from his past. I thought he’d want to celebrate with me. Instead, he’s being a complete asshole. “You should’ve been happy for me,” I add, disappointment lowering my voice as I start to walk away. I’m horrified tofind I’m on the edge of tears and that’s the last thing I want him to see.
“Fuck,” he says under his breath, reaching out and catching my wrist. “Wait.”
I pause, and we both stand there for a moment, the air heavy with silence. Despite our recent confessions, it feels like so much remains unsaid between us.
“I’m sorry.” He pulls me over to him, cups my face in one hand, and presses his forehead to mine. His chest rises and falls with two deep breaths. A tear slips down my cheek and I inwardly curse. “I’m sorry,” he repeats. “I just…I’m at my limit. I can’t take it if anything happens to you.”
The fracture in his voice bleeds vulnerability. I’ve never seen him like this, and it breaks my heart. He brushes my tear aside with his thumb, and I wrap my arms around him tightly, burying my face in his neck. “I’m okay. Nothing’s going to happen to me.” The constant stress has been so hard. It’s worn us down and things aren’t over, not for either of us. “It wasn’t as big of a risk as you think. They know if anything happens to me that I have others who’ll spill the proof of their crimes. They bribe plenty of people in town to look the other way and all I asked for was to be left alone. They won’t retaliate.”
He holds me tighter, then moves back to look me in the eye. “You’re the opposite of weak. You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever met, and I’d never think you’re stupid for fighting back.” He reaches out to tuck my hair behind my ear. “You just scare the fuck out of me.”
I know exactly what he means. “We’re even then,” I reply, dropping a quick kiss on his lips.
“Iamhappy for you. I’m thrilled for you. We both needed some good news.”
