Page 15 of Passion in Bloom

Crap. What if David already called the law about Todd holding that unloaded gun? Maybe Marty’s only here because charges were already pressed and—

“Heather?” Roarke called out again.

Damn you. I heard that note of worry in his gruff tone. Damn you for caring. Damn you for intervening. I didn’t want his sympathy or concern. I just wanted to be—to be safe and free. But here I was, obligated to assure him I was alive and well.

I opened the door, finding them both standing on the single step of a stoop at the entrance to this cabin.

Neither man flinched at my abrupt opening of the door. And neither man reacted to the stern glare I kept on my face. I wasn’t happy about them stopping by, and I wasn’t afraid to let them see it.

Marty spoke first. He did so as he lifted his hand and pointed at the wood panel I still clutched. I wasn’t letting go. I wasn’t giving them any indication that I wanted them to come inside.

“You need a peephole on that thing,” the cop said.

I nodded, already having thought the same. “That’s what you drove all the way out here to tell me?”

“No.” Marty cleared his throat, not wavering in this direct eye contact. “I wanted to come by and do a wellness check on you.”

“I’ll well.” I nodded once, ready to retreat inside.

“Heather. I told him about—”

“Why?” I cut off Roarke without masking my frustration. “Why? What right did you have to tell anyone about what happened to me?”

He furrowed his brow, watching me like he figured he’d never understand what made me tick.

“I didn’t ask you to get anyone involved in my business.”

He huffed. “I don’t need your permission to tell the law about a stranger breezing into town and harassing a woman.”

“I didn’t ask you to intervene. I didn’t ask you to get involved in my business,” I stated, trying my hardest to keep from raising my voice and sounding hysterical. I felt hysterical, and that was bad enough. “Butt out of things that don’t affect you.”

“It did affect me!” He exhaled a long breath, then raked his hand through his thick brown hair. Look, I understand that you like and value your privacy, but that man wasn’t going to stop.” He locked a hard stare on me, one I was powerless to look away from. “If I hadn’t butted in, David wouldn’t have walked away.”

I kept my lips pressed tightly together, praying tears wouldn’t betray me now.

He was right.

Of course, he was right.

David never quit. He never stopped until he got exactly what he wanted.

And it wasn’t as though I’d put up a fight. How could I have fought back or protested when I clammed up and got rigid with fear in a horrid panic attack?

“He almost didn’t leave you be until Todd showed up.”

At that mention, I looked at Marty. “He didn’t use it,” I rushed to say. “Todd didn’t fire it or anything.”

Marty nodded. “Roarke filled me in.”

I scoffed. “Well, I see that.”

“You don’t want him to know?” Roarke pointed at Marty. “You don’t want David to be stopped by the law enforcement?” He growled, shaking his head briefly. “For fuck’s sake, Heather. Why are you protecting that piece of shit?”

“I’m not protecting him.” David would never earn my need to protect.

“Then let me help. Let Marty help. Just talk to—”

“No.” I retreated one step into the cabin.