He charged up the stairs and grabbed me. I try to yank away from him.
“Let me go.”
“Shut the fuck up,” he growls right before he’s ripped away from me.
Mitch grabs Jeremy by the collar of his shirt, lifts him off his feet, and tosses him off the porch down into the yard like a rag doll. The guy lands on his back and flips over his head as if he’s taking a tumbling class.
I place my gaze back on Mitch. His shoulders rise and fall with his shallow breaths. As if he could feel my gaze on his back, he turned to look at me over his shoulder. His eyes scanned me from head to toe. When he turns back to Jeremy, he takes a step down the stairs. Jeremy, on his feet now, spins around and sprints toward his car. He jumped in and peeled away so fast his tires squealed.
Mitch and I both stand and watch as his taillights disappear. As soon as they are gone, the weight of what just happened hits me. I gasp as the first tears fall. What the hell? Was he really going to assault me if Mitch hadn’t been here? Did he really pretend on that date because he thought I was a sure thing?
“Aww, baby, don’t cry.” Mitch cups my face in his hands. He uses his thumbs to wipe away my tears, but just as fast as he wipes them, more tears fall.
“He....he....” I seem to only get those words out.
Mitch scoops me up in his arms like a bride. He punches in the code to my door and then carries me into the house. He walks over to the couch where he takes a seat, with me still in his lap. I don’t argue that this may be inappropriate or that I’m too heavy to be in his lap. I bury my face in his chest and allow the tears to fall.
Mitch rubs my back, taking in all my sadness. He doesn’t rush me to get over it or to dry my eyes. He just holds me until my sobs stop.
“I’m so stupid.” My voice comes out muffled because my face is buried in his chest.
He pulls at my shoulder, causing me to look up into his face.
“You’re not stupid.”
I shake my head, disagreeing with him. “I am. I actually thought he was interested in me. What was I thinking?”
“Don’t do that.” His voice comes out roughly, his brow furrowed. “Don’t make someone else’s sick problems yours. That guy was a sadistic dumbass.”
“The stuff he said—”
“Was bullshit.” His words are said with so much anger I don’t even think of arguing with him.
“He’s a gotdamn predator, El. He went after you because he thought you’d be an easy target. He spat out a bunch of stereotypical crap, hoping it weakened your esteem to allow him to take advantage. Being divorced or a single mother doesn’t make you less than or undesirable. You know that.”
I did know that. Women were getting divorced and remarried all the time. And hell, even women with children find their forever mates. I know what Jeremy said was a bunch of crap. However, the situation was still scary. I’ve never been put in a place like that, and I’m scared to think of what could’ve happened if Mitch hadn’t shown up.
I place my head back against his chest, listening to the strong beat of his heart.
“Thank you, Mitch.”
“For what?”
I don’t look up at him to answer his question.
“For coming to my rescue tonight, for being there for me throughout this entire divorce. I don’t blame you for wanting some space now.”
He lifts my head again, this time using his finger under my chin. Those gorgeous blue eyes locked onto mine.
“Space is the last thing I want. I was just giving you breathing room.”
Licking my lips, I reply. “Not going to lie, I don’t think I enjoy breathing room.”
That dimpled grin graces his face as he laughs. His laughter pulls a chuckle out of me.
“Alright, no more breathing room,” he says as his laughter dies down.
He pinches my chin between his index finger and thumb, staring down at me. Suddenly, I get that feeling I did that day on my back patio. The burning urge to figure out what those lips would feel like against mine. My belly burns with the urge, and my thighs clench with the need. There is a heady feeling between us. It feels hot and electric all at the same time. I’m so close to his face, yet I don’t feel the gust of breath leave his nose, but his heart is rapidly pounding against my shoulder. He’s holding his breath.
