“Thanks. I take it you’re not a novice at ropework?”
The man simply smiled before drifting off and disappearing into the thinning crowd as soundlessly as Payne had.
By the time Mallory lifted her head, once again appearing clear-eyed, Fletcher had made a few decisions. Not only would he encourage Mallory to agree to the art show and coloring book of her work, he would spend the rest of their time together convincing her to return home with him instead of staying here or going back to wherever she’d lived before coming to Rawhide Ranch.
But at that moment, his big challenge would be getting them both back to the room and into bed.
Chapter Seventeen
Mallory stopped on the sidewalk, unable to move forward. They were two doors down from Leroy’s Place in Porter’s Corner and it was just minutes before ten o’clock.
She couldn’t do this. She didn’t want to do this. The last thing she wanted was to see Mitchell again. He would find fault and start picking at her within two minutes of their meeting, and he would not be kind with his comments.
She could not understand why he was there, demanding to see her. He had not appeared too hurt when she’d broken it off with him before she’d left for Rawhide Ranch. Why would he want to see her now?
“Mallory? You okay, bunny?” Fletcher asked gently as he moved behind her and began to massage her shoulders.
This was the man she wanted. Fletcher was the man who understood her and had done more in the last two weeks to help her mend her broken heart and soul than anyone else had in her life.
Certainly not Mitchell, who always wanted her to change into something only he could envision but could not explain to her. When she’d thought she had met his demands, they would change without warning. Mitchell spent their time togethertearing her drown, breaking her further when she could not be whatever it was he wanted.
“Why am I doing this?” she whispered.
“Because you need to put your past to rest so we can move into our future together,” Fletcher reminded her.
“Our future?”
For a moment Mallory did not understand what Fletcher was saying. He would be at Rawhide Ranch for less than two weeks longer. How did that constitute “our” future?
Fletcher moved to stand in front of her, leaning down until they were eye to eye.
“Yes, bunny. Our future. I love you,” he said then stopped speaking, obviously waiting for her to reply.
“And I love you.”
“So if I love you and you love me, don’t you think we should have a future together?”
Mallory’s heart thumped harder at the image of a future with Fletcher coming to life in her brain.
“I guess. Yes. Yes, we should have a future together,” she answered after a moment of thinking.
“Good bunny. Now, let’s go tell the foolish asshole. I’ll be beside you the whole time. And Master Derek will be backing us both up.”
Fletcher’s description of Mitchell as a foolish asshole tickled Mallory and she began to giggle as she nodded her agreement.
When she could speak again, she said, “Okay. Let’s go tell the foolish asshole that he won’t ever get me back, even if I hadn’t found the man of my future.”
Fletcher nodded and wrapped an arm around her back. His touch helped her confidence grow big enough to face her foolish asshole of an ex. She felt strong as they finished the walk to the diner.
Fletcher opened the door and guided her through before following her. Derek followed, still silent.
Mallory was surprised the resort owner had remained quiet, but then she realized that he’d taken a step back as her protector to allow Fletcher to step into the role. In any case, she was happy to have both men with her at this moment.
Entering Leroy’s, she glanced at the big clock on the wall. 10:12. They were late, but scanning the empty diner she was not surprised Mitchell was nowhere in sight. They’d be lucky if he arrived before ten-thirty. After her classes and counseling at Rawhide Ranch, she could now see that he was a self-centered narcissist and it never bothered him to put others out as long as he got what he wanted.
She smiled as she realized that, no matter what else happened, this time he would be walking away empty-handed.
“Morning, folks. Take any table you want and I’ll be with you in a minute,” the waitress appeared in the doorway to the kitchen. As soon as they nodded their acknowledgement, she disappeared once again behind the swinging door.
