Mallory decided to sit at the booth closest to the door. She slid all the way across the bench seat so Fletcher could join her on one side of the booth while Derek sat on the other side, leaving just enough space for Mitchell to sit next to him.
That way she was protected if Mitchell tried to lay hands on her. If he even bothered to show up.
“What can I get everyone?” the waitress, whose nametag identified her as Roxanne asked as she approached. “Oh, good morning, Derek. What are you doing in town on a Tuesday?”
Derek glanced at Mallory before answering. “Dealing with a little problem.”
After ordering coffee for the men and a hot chocolate for her, along with three pieces of cherry pie with ice cream, the men looked at her.
“Is he often late?” Master Derek asked.
Mallory nodded and took a deep breath. “All the time. It was but one of the reasons I broke up with him.”
Both men nodded. “We’ll give him until we finish eating and then we’ll return to the Ranch and he can go fuck himself,” Fletcher said.
For some reason his words and disapproving tone set Mallory to giggling again as she leaned her head into his shoulder.
Fletcher could only smile at Mallory’s delight in his words. What she did not understand was that he was not kidding. If the man was so impolite as to not show up in a timely manner, he was taking her back to Rawhide Ranch and then setting his investigators to digging into the asshole’s life. Then he would decide whether to destroy him or not.
They were nearly finished with their snack when the door swung open and a slick-looking man sauntered in as if he owned the place and had all the time in the world.
The clock on the wall showed he was twenty-eight minutes late. When Mallory stiffened beside him, Fletcher looked at Derek and nodded.
Mitchell had arrived.
“It’s about time,” Mallory said, going on the offense. She stared at the man who approached the table with disdain. “But I shouldn’t have expected anything less. What do you want, Mitchell?”
“Good morning, Mallory,” Mitchell said pleasantly, as if he hadn’t just kept them waiting a half hour after the agreed upon meeting time.
Fletcher had to take a breath and remind himself that he was here as backup, not to deal with the man for Mallory. What he really wanted to do was chase the man. Out of the diner, out of the state and as far away from his rope bunny as he could.
Fisting his hands under the table, he would instead sit back and remain silent while Mallory dealt with this self-absorbed piece of trash. A glance at Derek showed him the resort owner was also fighting the urge to step in and do damage to the man Mallory had once been involved with.
Uncurling his left hand, Fletcher laid his palm on Mallory’s thigh. He wasn’t sure if it was to give her strength, or just to assure her she was not alone. He had to bite back a smile when her hand settled on top of his.
“What do you want, Mitchell?” she asked again, her voice soft but intense.
It was obvious to him that she was ready to leave.
Mitchell looked confused for a moment. “Aren’t you going to ask me to sit down so we can talk and catch up?”
“No,” Mallory answered immediately. “You’re not wanted here and I only came to find out why you’re here.”
“Why haven’t you come home yet? You were only supposed to be gone for two weeks and it’s been over four months. You need to leave this den of vipers and sinners and come home with me. I’ve found a minister who can cleanse you of your wickedness and get you right with God once again.”
“No.”
“No? What the fuck does that mean?”
“First of all, what I do withmylife is my business. Secondly, I am right with God and don’t need you or anyone else telling me how to live. Third, and most important, we broke up more than five months ago. Why are you here now? If you need to convert someone, go to hell and convert the devil to be a goodguy because you’ll have better luck with him than you will convincing me to start dating you again.”
Fletcher could not help the grin as he studied Mallory. She looked fiercer than he’d ever seen her.
Ignoring the man who stood beside the table blustering at her attitude, he leaned forward and brushed a kiss on Mallory’s lips. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Can we leave now? I need to talk to Sadie and Payne about an art exhibit and Reese about a coloring book if we’re going to have it before you leave in two weeks. I also think we need to talk about our future.”
Fletcher leaned in and kissed her again, this time lingering and taking it deeper and deeper until he heard Mitchell swear before stomping out the door. Only then did he pull back and break the kiss.
