Page 48 of Hope and Country

I spun to face him. “I am. Tell me. Did you spy on me, Riley Burns?” I teased.

He shrugged. “I might have. For the sole purpose of making sure you were all right.”

His irises sparkled with a mischievous glint.

“I learned many tricks. It remains to be seen if I can apply them in real life.”

“You know it’s not necessary for ya to check that theory, right?”

I offered him a one-shoulder shrug. “I know. But I’ll never be unequipped to defend myself ever again. I can’t even grasp why I didn’t think about going for self-defense classes before.” I glanced down.

Riley cupped my cheek. “You were in survival mode, Devon. All this time. Don’t blame yourself. Brains are not always rational. You took a step back, could think without fearing for your life, and see things from a different perspective. What’s important is that you’re doing it now. You’re changing the narrative. You are taking the matter into your own hands. And that counts for something.”

A fog blurred my vision. How could Riley’s words always hit me straight in the heart? Where they meant the world to me. Where they made me feel something. Something real.

“Phoebe was great. The hour went by too quickly. It felt good. But more than that, it made me realize I need to be self-reliant. And always count on myself. And strive for my own happiness and safety. I wanna live down my new mantra which is I’m stronger than my fears.” A tight ball of emotions bounced around in my stomach. I looked away, unsure how to deal with the emotional surge rising inside me. My bottom lip trembled. I held my breath, trying to ease the turmoil about to wreak havoc in me.

Riley stepped closer, his hands resting on my hips as he leveled his eyes with mine. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he watched me. Something resembling fondness waltzed in his gaze.

“Dev, you already are all those things. And much more. You have your own business that you’ve started from scratch. With steady clients. You’d been living on your own for a long time. Providing for yourself. Without anybody’s help. Your mother died when you were just a teen. Yet, you’ve managed to create this life for yourself. You are successful. And independent. Don’t let anyone or anything convince you otherwise. Robbie is the bad seed. The one contaminating your success with his darkness. Not anymore. Now you can show the world who you are and excel of your own volition. Without anyone or anything stopping ya.”

My heart jump-roped in its cage—a little higher each time—with every sentence leaving Riley’s mouth.

“You truly believe what you just said?”

“Yep. Every word.”

I blinked back tears, using my fingertips to dab the ones escaping.

“Thank you. This. What you said. It means so much. I’ve never had anyone portray me like this before. Even I have trouble seeing the whole picture. But no matter how things turn out, I aspire to a more peaceful life. And a brighter future.”

“You’re halfway there, Devon. You’ve already overcome so much. Never forget that.”

I watched the man before me for half a minute, wondering how life put him on my road.

My entire self yearned for him. His touch. His kisses. His warmth.

Instead, to calm the desire igniting all my cells, I brought my focus back to the salad I was prepping, all the words Riley delivered taking roots inside me. Filling my heart with pride. And hope.

The next day, Phoebe came over for another lesson.

We had agreed on a three-home visit plan for now. Until my body regained strength and healed completely. And I was ready to leave the house. Then I would attend weekly classes at her women’s safety center. And really learn how to defend myself in case I ever encountered violence again.

Never again I’d be a victim.

The first step to this new life I’d build for myself.

Riley set the table. “Are you working on that new account after lunch?”

“Yes. I will—” My words died, and I startled as someone rang the doorbell.

Vines of tension spread all over my back.

Riley neared me, his hands massaging my shoulders, relishing the comfort they brought me. “It’s okay. Relax. It’s Taylor. He said he would stop by. To bring you something.”

“Me?” I asked, my thumb pointing to my chest.

“Yes. You. He wanted to give you some pointers personally. Now that he knows you work with Phoebe, he said he got something for you.”