Page 13 of Rescuing Macie

He smiled. “Yeah?”

“Thanks. I was really scared tonight.”

“I’m glad I was there,” Colt said simply, then forced himself to turn and leave her to change and pack. If he stood there any longer, there was no telling what would pop out of his mouth. He was a seasoned soldier. Had seen and done way more shit in his life than anyone should ever have to. He wasn’t proud of some of his actions in the past, but he couldn’t change what he’d done.

But it was the thought of arriving to find Macie dead that haunted him more than any of the carnage he’d lived through did.

He left her in her bathroom packing up her toiletries and made a quick stop to her closet to grab the shoebox she referenced. Her safe room was just what she said it was, a small quiet space with a sleeping bag rolled up at one end. He found the box she wanted and headed out to the living room.

As he began to gather up the CDs strewn around her laptop on her desk in the main part of the apartment, Colt’s mind spun with plans. He wanted to make his house a safe place for Macie. Wanted her to feel relaxed and to do whatever it took to minimize her anxiety when she was there. The safer she felt, the more comfortable she would be. And the more comfortable she was, hopefully the more receptive she’d be to dating him on a long-term basis.

He didn’t know what he’d done the night of Truck’s wedding to make her back off, especially when things had seemed to go so well, but now that he had a second chance, he wasn’t going to blow it.

Chapter Four

Macie nervously rubbed her hands on her jeans as she waited for Mary and the others to arrive. She hadn’t seen her brother’s wife since their wedding day, and while she liked the other woman, she had a tendency to be extremely blunt. In some ways it was refreshing. Macie never had to wonder what Mary was thinking. But on the other hand, she was terrified of doing something that would irritate her sister-in-law and make her not like her anymore.

Colt had put off the visit for almost a week, which Macie was super grateful for. She’d seen Truck several times; he’d come over to his commander’s house to make sure she was doing all right. He’d also gone back over to her apartment to grab more clothes and other odds and ends for her.

She’d barely left Colt’s house in a week, but she was more than all right with that. He went to work each morning, but came home for lunch to check on her, and was home by three-thirty every afternoon. He’d explained that since the men under his command had just gotten back from an intense two-week mission, and he’d been monitoring their movements almost twenty-four seven, he had some flexibility on when he had to be in the office.

She didn’t like hearing about her brother’s mission. Not that Colt actually told her much, but just knowing he’d been overseas doing something dangerous was more than enough for her to worry.

The view from the table she was using at Colt’s house was just as nice as the one from her apartment. She sat at the table in his dining room, which overlooked a small park in the neighborhood. Macie had always wanted kids. Always. But before now, she’d stayed away from them because it was too painful. At the moment, however, she found herself staring at the children on the playground for hours. They looked so carefree. So happy. She couldn’t remember a time in her life when she was truly that relaxed. Maybe before Ford had left for the Army.

Thinking about her brother leaving—and what had happened afterward—made her anxiety flare. She had no idea how he could still care about her after she’d not returned his letters. She didn’t know he’d sent them, but still. It had already been a long time since she’d talked to her parents, but she made a mental vow to never see them again. She’d never forgive them. And not just because they’d purposely kept Ford out of her life.

The doorbell rang, and Macie jumped. Looking at the clock, she saw it was three. Forcing herself to her feet, she went to the front door. She looked through the peephole, saw that it was Mary and the others, and took a deep breath. Colt wasn’t here—he said he’d be home as soon as he could—so it was just her. Macie’s heart raced and she crossed her arms and pinched her biceps, trying to keep her anxiety under control. This was her sister-in-law. It was fine.

“Mace!” Mary said happily as soon as the door was open. “It’s about time!”

Macie opened the door wider to let Mary and the others in. She recognized them, but Mary went ahead and introduced them anyway. “I’m sure you remember, but this is my best friend, Rayne. Behind her is Emily and her daughter, Annie, and Casey. The others wanted to come too, but they were busy. We’ll have to plan another get-together with them soon.”

Macie smiled at the other women and closed the door behind them once they’d all entered. She gestured to the living room and bit her lip as she followed. She hadn’t made anything for them to eat. She probably should’ve. Especially for Annie. Children were always hungry, weren’t they? She should’ve made cookies. That would’ve been easy.

And crap. Her stuff was strewn all over the dining room table. She was used to it just being her and Colt, and he’d told her to leave her computer set up at the table, and they’d been eating in the living room on the couch while they watched TV.

Macie was working her way to a full-blown anxiety attack when she felt a small hand slip into her own. Looking down, she saw Annie staring at her with a big smile. Her hair was messy around her head, but the little girl didn’t seem to notice or care. She was wearing a pair of jeans that had dirt on the knees and a pink T-shirt with white sequins all over it. Squinting, Macie saw that it said “I like glitter.”

Annie saw her looking at it and smiled. “Like my shirt?”

“It’s cute,” Macie told her.

Annie’s nose wrinkled, and she said, “Look what it can do!” And with that, she ran her free hand down her chest and the sequins changed directions and colors. Now they were brown and said, “But dirt is cool too.”

Macie smiled. “That’s funny.”

“I wish the dirt part was what showed all the time,” Annie pouted.

“Annie, what did we talk about?” Emily reprimanded gently.

The little girl looked at her mom. “That I should just say thank you when people give me a compliment. But Macie is my friend, I can tell her secrets.”

Macie glanced at Annie in surprise. “I’ve only met you once. At the wedding.”

Annie looked at her with big blue eyes and said, “But you’re Truck’s sister. And he’s my favorite uncle. And my brother is named after him. So that means you’re my aunt. And thus, we’re friends.”

Macie’s eyes teared up, and she had to look away from the little girl before she lost it completely. For the millionth time in her life, she regretted being so weak. For letting her parents coerce her into the worst decision of her life.