Paradise Found

“Fuck,” Alistair curses as he pulls me into his arms, and I wrap myself around him and cry. “I’m so sorry, baby girl, you don’t deserve this. If I find that fucker, he’s going to pay,” he states against my neck.

I snuggle in tighter, absorbing his strength for a couple of moments before pulling away. “Thank you for trying,” I tell him.

He wipes my tears away. “I’d do pretty much anything for you, Elle,” he confesses.

Dammit! Why is he such a good guy?“I just want to go home,” I tell him.

“I know, but you should report the robbery to the police.”

“What are they going to be able to do? It was about one thousand pounds. It’s not a lot for the police to give a shit about.” I sniffle as I try to pack up my stall.

“But it’s not right, Elle. He can’t take your money and get away with it.”

“Is everything okay?” The market organizer runs over and interrupts our conversation.

“Some guy stole her entire day’s takings,” Alistair explains to the organizer.

Her face falls as she sees my tear-soaked face. “I’m sorry, sweetheart, the police are on their way,” she explains to me.

I let out a heavy sigh.

“It’s happened a couple of times, so they are aware,” the market organizer explains.

“Has anyone been able to get their money back?” I ask as the tiniest bit of hope burns brightly inside me.

She shakes her head.

That’s what I thought.

So I turn back and finish packing up everything ready to take home.

Not long later, the police arrive, and I give them my statement. I know they think I’m a fool for turning my back on the tin like I did. It was stupid letting Alistair distract me in that moment.

My hands are shaking as I take my keys out of my bag, the adrenaline from the day now wearing off.

“I don’t think you should drive,” Alistair says, snatching the keys out of my hand. “You’re in shock.”

“I need to go home,” I argue.

“I’ll drive,” he says, looking at me seriously as his brows pull together in a tight knot.

“No,” I answer quickly.

Alistair raises a brow at me, surprised that I don’t want his help. “Let me help you. I won’t stay, I promise,” he says softly.

I’m too exhausted to fight with him, so I nod and walk around to the passenger’s side and slide in. I give him my address, he types it into his phone, and it begins giving him directions.

We drive in silence.

Once there, he helps me unload everything from the car into my home.

Lauren is away for the weekend, so the house is empty as I walk around in a daze putting everything away like I have done all the other weekends before this one. Alistair follows, putting the tables and gazebo away in the basement without saying a word.

“Thank you,” I finally say once everything has been packed away. I’m sure he has a million and one other things he would rather be doing.

“I didn’t do anything,” he replies, shrugging his shoulders.

“You’ve done a lot. Maybe too much for me these past couple of weeks. And I don’t know how to repay you for your kindness,” I tell him through watery eyes.