Chapter 25
If Only You Would Listen
Mara woke to sunlight easing around the blackout curtains Amber had installed in all the rooms at the No Phailed Apples Inn.
A jolt of panic raced through her. She never slept past sunrise.
Even as the panic hit, Seth’s arm tightened around her. “Easy, Chaos Machine, we’re all good.”
“I’m late. I should have been up hours ago. I don’t have any dough rising.”
He chuckled and rolled over so she was flat on her back, covered from head to toe with her own personal sexy blanket of warmth.
He kissed her lightly, then not so lightly. “Good morning.”
His gruff, sleepy voice sent shivers running over her skin. “Good morning.”
He leaned up, with most of his weight on his elbows. His gorgeous hazel eyes studied her. “How are you feeling this morning?”
That made her smile. “Aside from panicky because I’m late, and turned on because you’re here with me?”
She felt his body harden where their bodies were aligned in the very best of ways.
He grinned and kissed her again. “Yes, besides those things.”
She blew out a soft breath. “I’m okay. The nightmares all disappeared quickly because you were here. Thanks.”
Mischief twinkled in his eyes. “It’s such a hardship sleeping with a gorgeous, sexy, naked woman I’m in love with.”
She smiled and reached up to touch his stubble.
Stubble that had left marks on her thighs.
“I’m serious. I’m okay because of you. Not only did you figure out how to keep us both safe last night, but you let me cry all over you, and then sent me spinning into an orgasm so intense, I fell asleep with a smile.
Then, whenever I woke in a panic, you were there, helping me remember I’m safe, that it’s over. ”
His eyes turned serious. “I’ll always be here for you, Mara, just like you are for me. We made a hell of a team yesterday. In fact, I think we’ll make a hell of a team for the next seven or eight decades.”
Her heart leapt, and she reached up to kiss him. “Sounds like a wonderful idea to me.”
Fritter jumped onto the bed and shoved between their faces to yowl for his breakfast.
Laughing, she petted the cat. “Sorry, buddy. You’ve been neglected. I’ll get you some food.”
Seth sighed dramatically and kissed her around the cat. “Looks like real life is intruding. You up for it?”
She took an internal survey, knowing it was a serious question. “I am. After I get Fritter some food, I’d like to take another shower. Then I’ll go apologize to Amber for being late.”
He chuckled. “After last night, I’m positive no one cares we slept in. There’s a lot of food in the fridge and freezer. Other people can cook. It won’t be as good as your stuff, but they’ll survive for one day. Besides, the bodyguards are checking out this morning.”
Which reminded her that Blake had stayed right here in this inn for a week without letting any of them see that he had such evil plans.
When a shiver ran through her body, Seth rolled them up to a sitting position and pulled her onto his lap, with his arms tight around her.
She sighed and leaned in. “I’m okay. Just thinking about how we called him Stone Face, but I didn’t think past the fact that he was a grumpy man who didn’t appreciate wonderful food. ”
“None of us did. I noticed him glaring at us both, but I figured he glared at everyone, so it didn’t occur to me that there was a serious issue.”
Fritter leapt to the floor to bat at their legs with another yowl.
Smiling, Mara rose. “Sorry, bud. Let’s get you some food and water.”
After they fed the cat, she and Seth thoroughly enjoyed another shower. Mara dressed, then took a deep breath, and put her hand on the doorknob. “Time to face the real world.”
Seth lifted her hand to kiss it, a gesture that never failed to make her swoon.
“We’ll face it together. After yesterday, we know we can face anything together.”
He was right. They could.
Holding hands, they headed to the kitchen and noticed the scents at the same time.
Seth squeezed her hand. “Bacon, eggs, fried potatoes. Maybe pancakes.”
She nodded. “Bread rising and apple muffins, too, I think.”
Which meant the others weren’t upset with her for sleeping in. They were taking care of her and Seth.
When they swung into the kitchen, her eyes instantly filled with tears. Happy ones. Grateful ones.
Seth’s arm moved around her waist and squeezed. “Family. We’ve got a family.”
Ford strode across the room and pulled Mara in for a long hug. “You doing okay?”
She nodded. “I am.”
When he let her go, the others took their turns, hugging her and Seth. Even the bodyguards had remained. While they didn’t hug her, they all shook her hand and Seth’s. They expressed how glad they were that things hadn’t escalated further the previous night.
Soon, everyone sat around the dining room tables, grouped into one large enough to seat them all. Neither she nor Seth was allowed to help.
Amber leaned down to hug them both again. “I’m so relieved you’re okay. I’ve been pestering you to take days off every week, but please don’t go to these extremes to do it.”
Gray slapped Seth on the back. “I’ve got the evening meal covered. It’ll just be family. We don’t have guests until nearer the weekend.”
After they ate, the bodyguards left, thanked everyone again, and waved off Amber’s offer of a free night or a discount because of the fuss.
Kadek grinned. “We’re glad we could support you, but the team you’ve got here is as good as any I’ve seen. Take care, everyone. Call if you need us. Any time.”
And they were gone, leaving the apple farm family around the table.
Mara swallowed the lump in her throat. “Thank you. All of you. We’re so grateful for everything you did last night.”
Seth hugged her. “We are. Kadek is right. We make a hell of a team. Sorry, Charlie. A heck of a team.”
The boy laughed. “I’ve heard the word before, Babs. Dad says there are times when a curse word is the only one that’ll do.”
Nash groaned, while everyone else laughed. Olivia patted Nash. “But those times are few and far between, right?”
Charlie grinned and rolled his eyes. “That’s what he says.”
The laughter eased the tension in the room. Charlie was good at that. Ella too. She imagined the baby Amber carried would add to the whole family vibe.
She craved a child of her own. Being a mom wasn’t something she’d given much thought to in the past. Now, she wanted a mini-Seth with those hazel eyes and that innate kindness. Or a little girl who’d grow up fierce, and know how to stand up for herself.
How would Seth feel about starting a family?
His fingers traced circles over her arm, and he leaned in to whisper in her ear. “Whatever you’re thinking, I’m in.”
“What?”
He grinned. “I see the future in your eyes, Mara. And I’m in. All in.”
Grinning, she kissed him lightly. “Me too. It’s going to be great.”
Seth held Mara’s hand as she finished recounting the evening’s events for Marcus. He was proud of the way she’d told the tale. Honest, straightforward, and with compassion for MacNeil.
Hearing her version of waking up alone and afraid in the storage room had filled him with rage again.
Then she’d talked about how sorrow and helplessness had consumed Blake. Her compassion triggered his own.
It was weird to be so incredibly pissed and empathetic at the same time.
The ripple effect of events had begun when Blake MacNeil’s dream to serve his country was squashed. A medical issue had stopped that from happening. Everything else resulted from the moment Maki had decided to fulfill his brother’s dream.
Mara sighed. “Thanks to Seth and the others, no one got hurt.”
Marcus grinned as he tapped his notebook. “You had a lot to do with that. Your compassion for Blake and his loss helped de-escalate MacNeil. Helped remind him his brother wouldn’t have wanted anyone hurt.”
She sighed. “Even though he scared me so badly, I feel sorry for him. Do you know whether he has anyone to help him talk through things? Is there anything we can do to help him? Can we talk to the judge or write a letter on his behalf?”
Seth was in love with a spectacular woman.
Marcus smiled softly. “Sounds like he’s mostly alone, but I plan to talk with his boss today. I want to find out more about the people he’s surrounded by. See what his employer thinks of him without talking about what happened last night. That’ll give me a direction for what to recommend.”
Mara frowned. “What do you mean?”
Marcus tapped his notebook again. “MacNeil crossed state lines. He kidnapped you with the intent to harm you and Seth. I wanted to speak with you both before I call the FBI.”
“The FBI?”
He nodded. “That’s the next step for crimes like this.”
Mara frowned, and he could feel her worry. “Will they help him?”
Another nod from the chief. “They will. From my conversations with MacNeil throughout the night, I believe he’s no longer a threat to anyone. The anger has turned to shame and remorse.”
Seth squeezed Mara’s hand. “Is there any chance I can speak with him?”
Mara looked at him in surprise. “Should I go, too? Would that help?”
He wasn’t sure he wanted her anywhere near the man, but it might help her deal with the trauma. “Why don’t we see how he reacts to me first?”
Marcus nodded. “That sounds good. He’s in a cell in the back. I’ve got a video and audio feed. Mara and I can watch from here.”
Seth kissed Mara and rose. Marcus led the way and unlocked the door to the cells. There were two, but MacNeil was the only occupant.
Blake sat on the cot, head down and forearms resting on his knees.
Marcus spoke softly. “You’ve got a visitor.”
MacNeil’s head jerked up at that. Emotions chased across his face as he rose to face Seth.
Marcus closed the door behind him as he returned to Mara. There wasn’t a chance Blake could do anything to injure Seth, and the chief knew Seth well enough to see the reverse was true.
The resigned look on MacNeil’s face told Seth he didn’t know it.
Seth nodded at him. “Thought I’d stop in to see how you’re doing.”