Chapter 6
— Mercedes —
I showered to rid myself of the ick that Landon’s presence had left behind, along with his blood from my hands. Once scrubbed clean yet raw, I emerged from the bathroom with my heart still pounding.
I paused in the hallway, scrutinizing the spotless floorboards now void of blood. The towel was nowhere to be seen, as was Beckett.
The back door whipped open, making me scream at the top of my lungs and clutch the towel to my chest until Beckett fully came into view.
“Fucking hell, Beckett!” I shouted.
He shut the door, leaned on it, and pressed a hand to his chest as if I’d given him the heart attack.
“Jesus Christ,” he laughed. “You gotta stop screaming like that, Merce. I’m gonna end up losing years off my life with you giving me the fucking chills.”
My attitude prickled from his audacity. “I thought you were Landon coming back! Of course I screamed!”
Beckett at least had the sense to look apologetic. “Sorry, babe. I was putting the towel in the trash can.”
He made a show of engaging the deadbolt and sliding the chain into place. A little smile had my heart fluttering as he approached.
“Jump into bed, Merce. I’mma grab a quick shower then be there in a minute, okay?”
“Okay,” I agreed, then flicked the light on as I headed into my bedroom.
I’d redressed in my sleep shorts and tee, as well as disposed of the forgotten condom, before pacing the room while waiting for Beckett to return. I simply couldn’t settle as the events of the last twenty minutes churned on repeat in my head.
The shower switched off and Beckett emerged a minute after. He stopped at the threshold of my room, unmoving and waiting for direction. I stood by the bed and pressed my hands to my hips, unsure of how to start the conversation.
Beckett made sure the towel was secured around his hips, then erased the space between us. Falling to his knees at my feet, he gazed up at me, amber eyes begging, and his eyebrows crinkled with sincerity.
“You may view me as a monster, but I won’t apologize for protecting you, Mercedes.”
My gut churned from witnessing him beating the shit out of Landon, but at the same time I’d never felt so protected.
“You’re not a monster, Beckett,” I whispered.
Anguish marred his pleading expression. “If you want me to leave, I will.”
My voice trembled with the fear of losing him again. “Do you want to leave?”
He shook his head adamantly. “Not a fucking chance, baby.”
I ran my hands over his clipped hair and stated, “Then please don’t.”
“You want me to stay?” he whispered.
“More than anything in the world. I’ve spent years wishing you back, and now you’re here. I don’t want to lose you again.”
With a face-splitting grin, Beckett rose to his feet and boosted me into his arms. “I fell asleep each night believing I’d lost you forever, but I never stopped loving you, Merce.”
His confession crushed me. “I’ve never stopped loving you either, Beck.”
Within that moment, I knew—just knew with my entire soul—that I’d forever regret not taking a chance on us. Leaving Gatlin Falls would hurt my heart, but the thought of watching Beckett leave tore it to shreds.
Taking his face in my hands, I kissed him like I used to. Unbridled, unashamed, and wholeheartedly.
“Thank you for protecting me. Without you, I’d still be running scared of Landon. It’s been months of hell, and I can’t live like this anymore,” I confessed against his mouth.
Beckett lowered me onto the bed and climbed over me, buck-ass naked. He adjusted the pillow while asking, “So, what are you saying, babe?”
When I didn’t answer, he stilled and found my gaze.
I looked back and forth between his amber eyes. I searched for every ounce of truth he possessed. I studied him, scrutinized him at close range until the amusement slid from his expression.
“Why you lookin’ at me like that?” came his husky whisper.
I felt the hint of a smirk tug my mouth. “Just thinking.”
It was his turn to stare and dissect. The hardened lines on his face softened as he rhythmically flicked his thumb across my lower lip. “About?”
“What it’ll be like living in another town.”
A hum vibrated in his chest. “I guess it depends on where you go, babe,” he mused.
“Somewhere in Montana, for example.”
His hand smoothed through my hair. “I mean, it’s fine, personally speaking. A little hard at the beginning, especially when everyone knows you’re the latest felon in Brandon’s ranch rehabilitation program, but from what I’ve experienced so far in Montana, the people are just like here, only more country.”
I snickered and snuggled against his chest. “Cowboys, you mean?”
Beckett’s chin bumped my head as he chuckled. “Yeah, Merce. Cowboys. Technically, I’m one now too.”
Smiling, I ran my hand up and down his bare torso. “Now that I need to see. Count me in.”
Beckett’s laughter started, then cut out. His entire body jerked as he pulled away enough to look me square in the eye.
“Wait. Does that mean… you’ll come to Montana with me?”
A bubble of excitement welled in my chest. Out of nowhere, the future held hope and promise.
My inner voice screamed at me to take a leap of faith, so I nodded and looked up at him from under my eyelashes. “Yeah. When do we leave?”
“Well, fuck me! You serious?” Beckett exclaimed, utterly blindsided and in a state of disbelief.
“Scared, but serious,” I confirmed through a wash of giddiness.
Without warning, his lips claimed mine in a crushing, breath-stealing kiss that had my toes curling. Fuck, it was good to feel loved and worthy again.
“We leave whenever you want, baby. Give me the word and we’re gone.”
He rolled onto his back, bringing me with him. “I can’t believe it,” he crowed, running his hands up and down my back, alternating between hugging and tracing my curves.
I giggled and peppered kisses across his chin. “Give me a day or two to let Wendy and Saul know I’m leaving work, plus say goodbye to a few people. I’ll need to pack and let Leif know I won’t need to stay here anymore, and—”
Beckett stilled my running thoughts by cupping my face. “Merce, breathe baby. Take all the time you need. This time I ain’t going anywhere without you. Ask me to wait two days or nine years again, and I will. Always.”
I couldn’t stop my smitten grin from reappearing. “We can be broken together.”
Hands landed on my ass and squeezed. “I don’t care what people say: when it comes to you’n me, two wrongs definitely make a right.”
“Forever?” I asked, running my fingers along his cheekbone.
“And then some, Merce. Now c’mere and let me fuck you again,” he demanded before reclaiming my mouth with his.
~
I sniffed hard and dashed a finger below my eyes as I walked along the dock. I’d just returned the cottage keys to Leif and was soaking in the last of Gatlin Falls before I left town for the foreseeable future. While excited out of my mind, I hoped I was making the right decision to leave. Time would tell.
Handing my resignation to Wendy and Saul earlier today felt like a breakup. Despite their well wishes and encouragement, their sad expressions had me biting back tears during our farewell. I promised to come back and visit every now and then. And of course I would—Montana was literally right next door to Idaho.
I’d stopped by Reed’s place to say goodbye and explain why I no longer wanted to press charges against Landon. Beckett had remained staunch at my side during the recount, then Reed figuratively set aside his police uniform and thanked Beckett for keeping me safe.
Banks’s farewell was as bittersweet as they came. He’d pulled me into his arms and hugged me so tight.
“Who’s going to fill my beers when you leave?” he’d teased.
My playful slap to his shoulder had created a smile just like every other time. “Wendy or Amy. Or maybe another cute girl if Wends gets a replacement.”
Banks had scoffed. “Bet she won’t be as nice as you.”
I’d arched an eyebrow and laughed. “Who knows? She might be the sexiest woman you’ve ever laid eyes on.”
His full-bodied laughter and reply still echoed through my head as I paused at the end of the dock.
“Be hard to beat this beautiful face,” Banks had declared, cupping my cheeks and landing a smacking kiss in the middle of my forehead.
I still heard the emphasized kissing sound in my mind, and it made both my heart and mouth smile.
“You okay, Merce?” Beckett asked, sliding his arm around my waist and pulling me from my thoughts.
I hummed. “Yeah. It’s bittersweet. I’m ready to leave Gatlin Falls, but it’s the people I’ll miss the most. And the regular patrons. I feel sad that I won’t be saying goodbye to them.”
His embrace tightened as we stood looking out over the lake, taking in its beauty. “We can stay longer for your goodbyes if you want, babe.”
I shook my head. “No, it’s okay. I’ve said goodbye to most of the people I wanted to see. Gutted I didn’t see Scout, though,” I mumbled, staring at the rippling water as it caught the sunlight.
Beckett linked our fingers and smiled down at me. “Don’t worry about that, Merce. You’ll be seeing him soon.”
My brows lifted. “When?”
His smirk grew wider. “At our wedding. He’ll be my best man.”
A loud laugh fell from my mouth, then died when I realized he wasn’t joking.
With my heart in my throat and barely able to breathe, I whispered, “We’re getting married?”
Beckett grinned. “Well, yeah. Of course!”
“When?” I demanded again.
He took my face in his palms and gazed down at me, weaving our dreams before my eyes. From that single look alone, I went from spiraling out of control to falling further in love with him.
Bad boy or not, Beckett had always been—and forever would be—my boy.
His lips brushed mine, teasing and kissing, as he murmured, “You’ll have to wait and see, Mercedes.”
—The End—