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“Three months.” And she would never forget the way her heart pounded with fear that day. The way her palms had sweated when she told him they were going to the market before he left for work. Knowing she would have to be faster and stronger than she had ever been before. That if she made a single misstep, she wouldn’t live to see the following sunrise, and her daughter would be at his mercy.
“It was brave of you, lass.”
She snorted. “No. It wasn’t brave. It was what I had to do to save her life. There’s no doubt in my mind that eventually he would have beaten me to death and then turned her life into a horror show.” She glanced over her shoulder. Maddie wore a grin from ear to ear over Ernie’s rubber ducky song. It warmed her heart seeing her happy and healthy. And it was because of the man she’d agreed to marry. The last forty-eight hours had been a fantasy come to life. She kept wanting to ask if he was for real. Because he was hot, loaded, and undeniably had the sexiest accent ever. Every time he spoke, his words curled through her belly in a series of sparks that ignited a forge inside her. And for a reason she couldn’t fathom, he’d chosen her. Out of all the women he could choose from, he picked her. She couldn’t understand why.
“Did something happen to her? Did he do something to her?” he asked with a menacing growl. His hands flexed on the steering wheel.
The memory of that fight, the fear that had clogged her throat, surged inside. “Yes. She was two months old. She was being fussy, as babies are wont to do. And it pissed Ian off because she wouldn’t stop crying.” She paused, needing a moment to collect herself. She cleared her throat. “Ian shook her. And I had to fight him off and get her away from him. I barricaded the two of us in the bathroom, trying to calm Maddie while keeping him out. It was the night I knew we needed to leave. He would never stop. I wouldn’t be the only one he ended up killing. So while we were locked in the bathroom, I started planning how to get out. It took me a month to get our escape all set up.”
Jasper’s hand settled over hers. “He’ll never get close to her again, lass. I won’t allow it. As soon as we get your passports, we’ll leave for my home in Scotland.”
She glanced up from their joined hands. His face was pleasant, but fury blazed in his eyes, and she flinched in response.
“My anger is not at you, lass, but that piece of shite who thinks it’s acceptable to hit women and children. If he ever comes anywhere near either of you again, even after we’re divorced, call me, and I will be there. Understood? I will ensure you never have to fear him ever again.”
Hope surged inside Freya at his fierce response. Jasper meant it. Every word. It was a novel idea to Freya.
Later that day, Freya relaxed in the stylist’s chair while the hairdresser added finishing touches to her new hairdo. It was the same style she’d had before. But instead of looking like it had been hacked off at the ends, her layers had been freshened up and the color renewed so her roots no longer showed. It was more angled in the front than before, but Freya loved it.
That wasn’t all either. Now her nails weren’t chipped and scraggly. The spa manicure and pedicure had been utterly divine. Freya couldn’t remember ever being this pampered. Her nails were smooth and polished a candy apple red.
When Jasper first mentioned she would be doing this the other day, she hadn’t wanted to for a few reasons. It made her feel like a charity case. Been there. Done that. And definitely had the T-shirt. But it had also rankled because it seemed as if he was trying to change her into someone he deemed acceptable to be seen with. Not that she didn’t want to look nice for him as part of their deal, but she still wanted to look like her.
But when they walked into the salon, he’d told the hairstylist, “Don’t change the color. It suits her face and skin tone.”
He left the rest in her hands. Did he know how novel it was to be given a choice even when she wasn’t paying? He wasn’t trying to change her, only help her be the best version of herself.
Plus, he was right. The dark cherry hair color, a deep red with black undertones in it, looked amazing with her golden skin tone. And it looked even better now that the bags underneath her eyes were disappearing, and the sallow tint was gone because she was finally eating more than once a day.
He’d stayed with her in the salon, turning the heads of everyone present. But he paid them no heed. His focus rested on her and Maddie.
Jasper even had the salon paint Maddie’s fingernails and toenails. It was her first time getting her nails done. It was super sweet watching her joy and delight. Maddie thought it was great fun getting her nails painted pink.
But he’d left with Maddie while Freya was getting her hair done. They went in her snazzy new stroller with Maddie holding her hands up to anyone passing by so they would see her nails. He promised he would only take her around the outdoor mall area.
But his absence with her daughter was panic-inducing. Mainly because she didn’t trust him yet. How were they doing together? Had Maddie given him a hard time and had a toddler meltdown? Or had this whole thing been set up for him to steal her daughter away for nefarious purposes?
She felt like the worst mom on the planet for letting him walk away willy-nilly with her girl. In fact, she figured she was even worse than the Quokkas, who toss their babies at attacking predators so they can escape.
“Mama.”
Relief flooded her at Maddie’s excited voice. She smiled, trying not to sag in relief in the chair. Maddie was in the stroller, looking like she had the best time ever. Jasper wheeled the stroller right over to the stylist’s chair.
Heat flooded her under his eagle eye assessment that blazed with seductive approval. “Looks gorgeous. We’ve got a lunch reservation once you’re finished.”
She flushed under the unexpected compliment. “How’d things go?”
“Maddie and I had a grand time, didn’t we, my fair little lassie?” Jasper winked at Maddie with a big smile. There wasn’t an ounce of pretension. He really had enjoyed spending time with her daughter.
It was another one of those pinch me moments. Because Maddie’s father certainly hadn’t cared to spend time with her before they escaped.
“Uh, huh. Mama, wook.” Maddie enthusiastically held up a new toy. It was a stuffed teddy bear in a princess outfit with a crown.
Emotions rose in her chest that she did not know what to do with as she grinned at her girl. “Where’d you get that?”
“Ja’per.” Maddie gave them a toothy grin, squeezing the stuffed bear tight, like she was totally enamored of her new gift.
“You’re spoiling her.” She tried sounding stern, but it lost the impact with her smile.
