Chapter 21
A llison groaned as she woke up. She opened her eyes, blinking at the glaring lights above her. “Hey, you’re back with us.” Stephanie’s voice turned her head.
“What?” She frowned and then bolted up. “Lottie? Seth?”
“Both are going to be fine. Zeke is stitching up Seth.” Allison closed her eyes. “Oh, yeah.”
“Figured you’d be better here than in there with him.” Stephanie chuckled.
“Yeah, thanks.” Allison sat up. “Ken has that bastard in custody, right?”
“Oh, yeah. Seth did a number on his wrist. But with Zeke so busy with Lottie, Seth, and you, he’s waiting for the ambulance crew to come up from Belle.” Stephanie looked at her and smiled. “Sucks to be him.”
“Right?” Allison smiled back at her, and then the expression dropped. “I saw him choking Lottie. I hit him with the lid of the garbage can to get him off her.”
“How did he get behind the bakery?”
“Drove straight in from the back. We should probably tell the Hollisters to check their fencing.” Allison rubbed the back of her neck. “Lottie came down to help me with wrapping the Fall Festival coffee cakes. She wouldn’t be seen from the front. We were wrapping in the break room. Big mistake.”
“You couldn’t have known he was out in the field watching.”
Allison shook her head. “She’s okay?”
“She will be.” Stephanie sighed. “It’ll take a while for her to trust another human, that’s for sure. Zeke wants to keep her with us overnight. Airway edema after strangulation could happen later, which would need intervention.”
“I have some savings, Steph. I can pay for any care she receives.”
Stephanie shook her head. “This is just time. Just a neighborly watch. Nothing to pay.” Steph handed her a cup of water. “Feeling better? ”
“Yeah. Thanks. I’ve never fainted at the sight of anyone else’s blood before. Just mine.” She frowned. “Weird.”
“No, not really. You were in a high-stress situation, and it’s pretty obvious you two are into each other.”
“That’s mild, but I’ll admit to it.” Allison chuckled.
“Well, I’m happy for you.”
Allison smiled. “Thank you. Is Ken coming by for statements?”
“He’s in with Lottie now. She’s latched onto Gregg Koehler, though. He held her while the asshat was fighting Seth, so I think she’s holding onto him as her safety net.”
Allison took a sip of the water Steph had given her. “Wish this was a bit stronger.”
“Sorry, the good stuff requires a prescription.”
Allison opened her mouth to respond when the door opened, and Seth walked in. He lifted his arm. A pristine white bandage circled his arm. “No blood. Don’t faint.”
She made a face at him as he walked over and pulled her into his arms while she was sitting on the exam table. “God, that fight was the most vicious thing I’ve ever seen,” Allison whispered .
Seth’s arms tightened around her. “He didn’t stand a chance until he pulled that knife. I’ll give him credit. For a big guy, he was fast.”
“For an insane asshat, you mean,” Allison said and shivered at the memory of that knife. “Where did you learn how to fight like that?”
“Well, I’d like to say military training.
” Seth chuckled. “But in reality, I had a period of rebellion when I was a young airman and had a few bar fights. You learn fast to think on your feet. Thankfully, I was never caught.” His hands rubbed up and down her back.
“Zeke said I was good to go. Take me back to your place?”
She looked up at him. “Absolutely. Should we tell Lottie we’re going?”
Seth nodded and bent down to kiss her lightly. “We’ll do that.”
Allison slid off the exam table, and Seth took her hand in his. Stephanie was in the hall when they walked out. “She’s down there. Sorry, there was no way I couldn’t hear you, and I was humming to myself as loud as I could.”
Allison smiled at her friend. “No worries.”
Seth knocked on the door and opened it. Ken looked around. “Ah, the warrior and the fainting princess. ”
“Ha, ha.” Allison rolled her eyes at Ken and walked over to Lottie. “How are you?”
“I’m fine now. The doctor gave me something for anxiety.” Lottie smiled. “You saved me. I heard you yelling before I lost consciousness.”
“Yeah, he might have a bump on his head. I whapped him with the garbage can lid.” Allison looked at Ken. “He must have been parked behind the bakery in Hollister’s field.”
“I’ll get evidence of that in the morning and swing by to get your statements. Tracks and such can wait. It isn’t supposed to rain for weeks.” He glanced at Lottie’s statement. “If you remember anything else, just give me a call.”
“I will. Thank you,” Lottie said. She glanced at Gregg and then down at their clasped hands. Lottie released her hold. “Thank you again, Gregg.”
Gregg glanced at them and then nodded before he turned back to her.
“I’ve been where you are. My father and my older brother were abusers.
Physically and mentally tortured my other brother and me.
Pitted us against each other. So, if you ever want to talk about things, I can listen.
I can understand where you’re at and what you’re going through.
” He pointed to Seth and her. “They know everything and can tell you. I’m safe.
” He nodded to Ken. “He’s a dick, but he’s safe, too. ”
Ken’s mouth dropped open. “Well, thanks for the recommendation, Koehler.”
Allison couldn’t help the laughter that floated out of her. She needed to laugh after the night she’d had.
“Lottie, Stephanie said they want you to stay the night. I’ll come over in the morning. You’re free to stay with me.”
“I don’t want to impose.” Lottie looked down.
“Mr. Marshall has a couple small cabins. Damn good locks, and the bastard wouldn’t know where you were staying.” Gregg glanced at his watch. “I can ask him tonight if you can use one until you get on your feet.”
“I can’t pay.” She looked up at Gregg. Tears were forming in her eyes.
“You can if you work for me,” Allison said. Could she afford an employee? Not really, but she’d make it work somehow.
“What?”
“Yeah. I’ll teach you what I know, and you can help me out.
” She liked the idea more and more. “Plus, I bet Kayla could use help at her shop, too. Mom and Dad down at the general store are getting on in age and could use someone to help stock the lower shelves.” She nodded and smiled. “Yeah, we can make this work.”
“Why would you want to do that?”
“Because we can,” Ken said. “I could use someone to clean the office once a week. We try to keep it up, but you know how guys are.”
“Are you serious?” Lottie looked from one to the next.
“Absolutely. You don’t worry about a thing. We’ll talk more when you’re feeling better.” Allison smiled. “Right now, we’re heading back to the apartment.”
“And I need to make a run to the jail in Belle.”
“There’s a fresh pot of coffee over at the bakery. We were going to spend the night wrapping the Fall Festival goods.”
“I’ll stop by in a minute and fill my tankard. Thank you, Allison.”
She smiled at Ken and, for the first time, didn’t feel like she should apologize.
“Not a problem.” They said good night to Gregg, Zeke, and Stephanie, then walked back to the bakery.
Her dad was sitting on the steps, and her mom was at the door when they turned the corner.
“Stephanie said you were fine when I called, so I didn’t come over.
” Her mom rushed over to her and hugged her.
“The audacity of that monster to attack you and Lottie. ”
“Seth stopped him.”
Seth shrugged. “I did what anyone would do.”
Allison’s dad crossed his arms. “Really?”
Seth smiled. “Well, anyone who thinks your daughter put the moon and sun in the heavens.”
“And that is my cue,” Ken said. “I’m going to grab some of that coffee, Allison. I don’t need to fall asleep on the drive south.”
“Oh, let me get it for you, Ken,” her mom said and looked back at Allison. “I’m not going to sleep for the next week, so your dad and I will package the coffee cakes for you. I see you had it all set up.”
“I do, but you don’t need to …”
Her mother raised her hand. “Go on, both of you. I’m sure you’re exhausted.”
Her father frowned. “What?”
He looked at Seth and then at the stairs.
“Dan, come help me,” her mom said and crossed her arms, giving him the stink eye.
“But …” Her father turned toward the stairs and pointed.
“Dan. Now,” her mom snapped, and Allison hid her smile behind Seth’s arm.
He glared at Seth and then at his wife. “Fine.”
Her parents followed Ken into the bakery, and the door shut. “Your mom is a feisty woman. ”
“Where do you think I got it from?” Allison asked as they walked up the stairs. They opened the door, and Gomer met them with a wagging tail.
“Hey, boy.” Seth bent down. “Who put you up here?”
“Probably Mom,” Allison said. “I think my dad just figured out we’re serious.”
“Yeah, I watched that happen,” Seth said, laughing. “I’ll take him out and be right back up.”
Allison nodded and pulled out her phone. The text was quick and simple.
Thank you, Mom.
A winky emoji came back almost instantly.
Allison took off her hoodie and dropped it on the couch.
Then she draped her shirt over the back of the chair.
Her socks and shoes were left at the door, while her jeans were on the bathroom doorknob and her bra and underwear on the knob of her door.
A trail straight to her bedroom. She smiled and walked into her room, then pulled back the blanket and slipped under the covers.
She heard Seth come in. It took less than a minute for the door to open.
He had her clothes in one hand. “I seem to have found something that belongs to you.”
“Yes, yes, you have,” she purred from under the covers .
“Damn.” Seth’s voice was two octaves lower. He stripped and crawled over her. “Allison.” He said her name like it was a prayer.
And then he slid under the covers and pulled her into his arms. She didn’t hesitate.
Instead, she melted against him, arms around his waist, face pressed to his chest. His scent was warm, and more, he was her safety, her protector.
That realization washed over her. She let the sensation sink in.
He was hers. She’d found that special connection when she hadn’t been looking for it.
But tonight, she’d almost lost everything.
“I thought …” Her voice cracked. “I thought I’d lost you.”
“You didn’t,” he murmured into her hair. His lips trailed to her neck. “You won’t.”
She tilted her face to see him. “People say that all the time. You can’t know that.”
“But I do know it. I knew I had the advantage over him. He was fighting out of pure rage. I was fighting for us, for our future, and for moments like these. He never stood a chance, babe.”
Something inside her gave way, and she kissed him; it wasn’t soft or gentle.
She needed to feel him. The kiss was desperate.
Her fingers gripped his arms, keeping him against her.
His mouth met hers in a rush of need and heat.
No hesitation and no holding back. The awkwardness of the first time was forgotten. She moved to cradle him in her legs.
“Don’t go slow,” she whispered.
He lifted his head, staring down at her, and she could see him in the moonlight. His eyes were dark and intense. His voice was husky when he asked, “Are you sure?”
She nodded. “I need you . ”
There were no words after that. Now, it was just a dance she knew.
Skin touching skin, breath mingling, and sheets rustling as they spun to music only they could hear.
His hands moved to her hips. Her lips on his jaw.
Tangled with emotion and need, she arched beneath him, every nerve alive, every part of her wanting him.
He moved with purpose, but with a tenderness that churned her feelings into something so intense she didn’t want to name it.
And when release came unexpectedly, she cried out his name.
Because he owned her heart and soul; he owned her.
She’d given him full access, and he’d scooped her up like she was precious.
Her heart flooded with emotion that hurt; it was so intense.
Afterward, he didn’t move far. Just pulled her closer and wrapped himself around her. She felt protected. Possessed. And she reveled in the feeling.
She lay against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. His hand repeatedly ran down the length of her hair.
“Seth?”
“Yeah, baby.”
“I don’t want to lose this.”
He kissed her hair. “You’re not going to lose me. You couldn’t pry me away from you with a crowbar. I love you.”
She looked up, her voice fierce. “You better, because I love you, too.”
“You’ll never regret it.” He held her tighter. “That’s my vow to you.”
And in that quiet, perfect moment, she believed him.