Page 56 of The Perfect Heart

“I should have gone after him,” Nash panted, his gaze still wild, still caught up in the fight, shoulders rising and falling rapidly.

“No.” I put a gentle hand on his shoulder and felt him tense as his body registered it as a danger before his head snapped toward me and his shoulders relaxed. And the next moment, I was in his arms, crushed against him as he held me so tightly I could barely breathe. But I didn’t care.

Then he was holding me away, inspecting me with his eyes and his hands over my face, over my neck, frantically searching for any signs of pain or trauma. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” My fingers brushed the place my head had hit the wall, feeling soreness but no blood. “A little banged up, but fine. Are you okay?”

This time, my fingers traced but did not touch the bruise on Nash’s cheek, the trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth, and the gash over an eyebrow.

“I’m fine.” His fingers followed mine, wincing as they touched what must have hurt and came away smudged with blood. “He got in a few good hits, and I’ll probably hurt once the adrenaline wears off, but I’m okay. I’m okay, Halle.”

My eyes welled with tears, making the image of Nash blur. “I was so scared.” It was hard to get the words past the lump of a sob in my throat.

“You were scared?” Nash’s laugh had a wild edge to it. “I was in the office when you screamed, and I could see him dragging you away in the security cameras. I don’t think I’ve ever run that fast. I don’t think I’ve ever been that terrified. I was fucking terrified, Halle. I—”

The door banged open again before Nash could finish.

“I called 911.” Joseph was panting, wild-eyed gaze taking in the alley, searching for danger. “What the fuck was that? Did I just hear a gunshot? Are you guys okay?”

Nash didn’t answer, shaking nearly as much as I was as he pulled me into him again, my face pressed into his chest as he gasped for air, the sound rasping in his throat.

Chapter 28

Halle

I LOOKED OUT AT THE snow, the big flakes falling inside the light outside the window, joining the others piled into drifts and turning the world into a winter wonderland. From the kitchen, I could hear Nash finishing dinner, and a fire crackled in the fireplace behind me.

It was frozen outside, so cold and snowy that Nash had closed the bar for the evening to save his employees the trek to and from work, dangerous in this kind of weather. And so here we were, snuggled up against the storm barreling over the Cascades, dumping the possibility of record-breaking snow on the entire area. I smelled tomato soup over the scent of woodfire, heard the sizzle of cheese over the flickering pops and snaps as the orange flames consumed the logs.

And for once, finally, I felt like I was home.

It had been a week since the incident with Jack. We didn’t know what had happened to him after he escaped. The sheriff’s deputies had come roaring up only a few minutes after Joseph, who had given chase on foot, called them. But though they had put out an APB on him and searched themselves, it seemed like Jack had disappeared.

I was still checking the shadows, waiting for my husband to pop back up, but Nash didn’t think we’d see him any time soon. I wasn’t sure what made him so secure in his knowledge, especially because he didn’t know Jack like I did, but I wanted very badly to believe him. I tried. Very hard.

Nash had convinced me, however, to file a restraining order against Jack, so at least if he came near me again, it would be illegal. His support also helped me build up enough courage to file for divorce. How that would go, I had no idea. Any and all contact was supposed to be between our lawyers, but I knew the man wouldn’t go quietly. I expected a lot of drama and noise, dragging my name through the mud and threats.

But I wasn’t going to fight for any of the money, my clothes, my car—he could have it all for all I cared. All I wanted was the papers signed so I could finally be free. I knew a lot would have to happen between then and now, and I had to be prepared for a fight.

But for now, things were quiet. I had barely filed the papers a couple of days ago. I didn’t even know whether he’d been served yet, and no one was getting through this snow, anyway.

I took a deep breath, filling my lungs, holding it, and letting it back out in a rush, letting the peace settle over me, trying not to think it was probably only temporary. I was here, now, with Nash, and that was all that mattered.

I’d been staying at Nash’s place so he could keep an eye on me, and I hadn’t hesitated for a second when he had brought it up. Not only was his place more comfortable, but it helped to have him near when Jack’s voice intruded on my dreams, or I got too jumpy watching the shadows.

Nash would hold me until I had calmed and felt safe, and it was all I needed to remember that I wasn’t alone anymore, that I had someone who loved and treasured me, was here for me no matter what.

“You hungry?”

The smell of melted cheese reached my nose, and I looked over my shoulder as Nash came into the room with plates and bowls expertly balanced on his forearms. My stomach growled as if in answer.

“Starving,” I replied and joined him on the couch.

We ate, my legs pressed against his, talking and laughing like we used to. Except now it was so much more, our connection grown far more profound even than it had been in high school.

And more than that, Nash had kept his word. He had protected me like he had promised. He had stayed by my side, supported, shielded, and helped me up when life and my ex had knocked me down. When I didn’t know whether I had the strength to get back up. And he had the bumps and bruises to prove it, all just starting to fade or scab over.

Nash took my hands into his, his gaze following the lines of my palms for a moment before his eyes returned to mine.