Chapter 19

That morning, when I woke up, I did what had become my favorite part of my new routine and turned around, burying my face in Macy's neck and peppering kisses down the back of her spine.

"Are you really that insatiable?" she groaned into the pillow.

I chuckled as I kept moving down her body. "Are you really choosing sleep over sex?"

It was hard to believe she'd been there for a month already, but that was what the calendar was saying.

Before I finished with Macy and left her exhausted with pleasure on my bed, I pressed a kiss to her cheek and got up to take Bucky for a walk. Once I got up, I witnessed Macy roll over, hug the pillow, and plant a sated smile on her face.

Now, after a week and a half of having her stay in my room, I found that far from getting sick of her, I didn't know how I would ever want her to leave again. As much as we'd agreed that this would be a temporary solution while Alex was in town, I was becoming dangerously used to having another person in my home and my life.

Even more unusual was the fact that she'd made me into a much more social person than I had been in the years since I'd moved home. I was going into town every few days for supplies that weren't absolutely necessary, garnering fascinated looks from the people who'd always known me as the hermit on the mountain who only came into town as a last resort. But I was getting a lot more used to the presence people around me as I went down the hill every few days, alternating the routine so that I was always there on different days of the week.

The asshole made it shamefully easy to see what he was doing; apparently, he'd established a pattern as soon as he got here, and he never alternated. For some reason, he was still hanging around, something telling him that Macy was still close. The arrogant fucker took it for granted that he was going to find her and get her back, because he felt fucking entitled to her.

There were no words for the anger I felt whenever I saw him, but I tried to stay as even-keeled as possible whenever I did see him. I couldn't tip my hand.

When I got back into the house, Macy was just finishing making eggs and bacon and putting the coffee on for the two of us.

"Thanks for doing that," I said, walking up behind her and taking the mug she'd held out to me.

"Sure. Thanks for this morning," she responded, straight-faced, even though the color stained her neck and cheeks.

"My pleasure," I said and meant it, leaning down to kiss her.

"Are you going into town again today?" she asked, her eyebrows furrowing with worry as she looked back up at me.

"Yeah. I'm not expecting a lot. I just want to keep tabs on him."

She sighed. "Okay. I guess it's worth it."

I reached out, running my thumb under her cheekbone gently. "Don't worry. I've never given you away."

"I know. I trust you," she said, bending her head down to press her lips into my palm.

I couldn't let her know what it did to me to hear those words, but I leaned down and kissed her again.

"Do you want anything from town?"

She shook her head quickly before pausing, as if to rethink. "Actually, yeah. Will you bring me back a croissant from Maria's?"

"Chocolate?"

"Yes, please."

I nodded at her. "Coming up."

I grabbed my keys and Bucky and went down into town.

* * *

When I got to Maria's café, I saw that the asshole was still there with his computer, the way he'd been every day I'd been by.

I tried my best to ignore him as I walked up and placed my order, getting a bag with two chocolate croissants to go. Nodding at Maria, I went and sat down at the usual table that I took next to Alex, waiting to see if he made contact, either with me or with anyone else.

There was something about doing this that made me feel right, as though I was getting back to what I'd always been meant for. It felt like the old days.

I pulled out the contract for the newest job I was about to take and started looking it over, reading all the details so that I could get a feel for what I would be doing. It was an interesting new gig, and the company was a brand-new identity protection firm. Not only was I going to be shoring up the security of the website itself, but I would also be testing and troubleshooting the actual software. It was an extremely lucrative gig, and I knew that if I got a couple more like this, I'd be set for at least a few more years.

I was so engrossed in the contract that I didn't even notice when Alex had left, but when I looked up a few minutes later, he was gone.

"Shit," I said, grabbing my stuff and heading out the door. I couldn't see him anywhere on the street, so I figured I might as well just go home.

But there was still one more stop I wanted to make before I left town for the day.

I went to the little general store on Main Street and walked in, looking around fairly quickly before finding what I was looking for and going up to pay. I was through pretty quickly, and I headed out the door and back to my truck, anxious to get back home to the woman I'd started thinking of as mine against my better judgment.

As I walked out, though, I knocked into a guy who'd been walking down the street and felt the wind go out of him.

"Sorry, man," I said quickly, reaching out to help him up and realizing before I was able to avoid it that the man I'd knocked into was none other than Alex.

"It's alright," he said, wheezing a little. I stood him up quickly, barely managing to avoid wiping my hand on my jeans.

"Well, if you're okay…" I said, turning away from him.

"Actually, I was wondering if you could help me with something," he said, following me. I paused, shutting my eyes quickly, before turning back to him with raised eyebrows. He pulled out a picture, and I had to forcibly keep myself from sucking in a breath at the picture. "Have you seen this woman? I think she might be staying somewhere around here."

It was Macy, dressed in a pair of work slacks and a blazer in front of an office door. Her head was tilted to the side, and she was pointing happily to the little plaque on the door that said, "Dr. Macy Wallace".

I had to force down the fury that rushed through me at the sight of the photo. How dare this piece of shit show her off like that when she'd been forced to give it all up because of him? How dare he use this picture of her seeming so happy when he'd done so much to hurt her?

I flicked my eyes from him to the photo, keeping casual. "Sorry, I haven't seen her."

"You sure? Look harder," he said, shoving the picture into my face.

I backed away, raising my eyebrow at him. "Believe me, if I'd seen that woman, I'd remember her."

I didn't know what made me say it. It had been an idiotic comment to make, but the fury on his face had made it all the more satisfying. The asshole still thought he owned her.

I turned away from him, heading down to my truck. "Take it easy buddy."

"Actually," he said, coming up to walk next to me, "I overheard someone saying a couple days ago that you used to be a cop. If that's true, I could really use your help in finding her. I'd be more than happy to make it worth your while."

"Well, you just said it, dude," I said, keeping my voice curt. "I used to be a cop. I'm retired, no interest in the work anymore."

He came around to stand in front of me, blocking my path. "Again, I'm good for it. I just really want to find my fiancé. I'm really worried about her getting hurt."

I clenched my fist to keep from laughing in fury. "Again, like I said, I'm retired. Can't help you and wouldn't if I could. I try to keep to my own business. Good luck though." He had no idea how much luck he'd need if he ever came close to her again.

I edged around him, physically holding my hand back from hitting him as I did.

I didn't stop walking until I got to my truck, and when I did, I sped off toward the cabin without a look back at him. I needed to see Macy and reassure myself that she was alright.

* * *

"Hey," she said, looking up from her book when I walked inside. "Did everything go okay? You were gone for a while."

"Yeah, all fine." I knew she would worry if I told her that he'd actually approached me and asked me about her. Worrying her was not on my agenda for the day.

"You sure?" she asked, lowering her feet to the floor and looking at me seriously.

"Yeah." I went and sat down on the coffee table across from her. "I just had a quick errand to run."

"What was that?"

I held out the croissant, and she smelled the inside of the bag deeply. "Thank you," she said, smiling at me.

"Oh, and I also went for these," I said, holding the plastic bag out to her. She took it curiously and looked inside.

"Oh my God," she said, pulling out the box of oil pastels and the large sketchpad of drawing paper.

"Is it right? I didn't know what I should get you, but if you let me know what you want instead, I can always take it back."

"It's perfect," she said, her eyes brightening a little. She jumped up from her seat on the couch and came over to me, clasping my face in her hands and kissing me deeply. "Thank you," she said when she came up for air. I felt a little bit of guilt as she kissed me again for not telling her and pushed it down. She was safe, and she was happy. Those were the most important things.