Perfect Night (Mason Creek)

“If you’d pry your legs open more than just occasionally, I wouldn’t have to fill my needs elsewhere.”

There were so many things I could say, like if he’d been good in bed, he wouldn’t have to pry my legs open. But I was done with the conversation.

“No worries now. You’re free to screw whoever you want.” I left him standing on the street or at least I tried.

He caught up to me and wrenched my arm so that I spun to face him.

“I’ve invested a lot in you,” he sneered.

“Yeah, like what the ring cost you? Twenty-five cents from the gum ball machine.” I tried to yank my arm away. He gripped tighter, pulling me closer.

“You won’t make a fool of me. We’re getting married.”

Pain hurdled through my arm where his hold felt like the Jaws of Life had clamped down on me.

“Let me go,” I seethed through gritted teeth.

“You belong to me,” he said, his other hand grabbing my ass.

Sirens resonated in the distance. I glanced over to see the curtain move in my neighbor’s window. A Sheriff’s SUV came barreling down the lot. Evan was so surprised he hadn’t released me.

Aiden came around his vehicle which he’d parked to the side of us. He glanced at me and then narrowed his eyes at Evan.

“Release her,” he said, using a commanding voice. Though he appeared calm, there was a storm brewing behind his eyes.

“Officer, there’s not a problem. I’m with my fiancée, right Emma?” Evan had the nerve to think I’d agree with him.

I jerked, but his hold was firm. “It’s actually Chief Deputy Sheriff and I got a call about a disturbance. Ms. Hawkins, are you okay?”

Though I let him see it in my eyes, I said, “No. He won’t let me go.”

Aiden’s hand slipped to the butt of his gun. “Sir, I’m going to ask you again to release her.”

“Fine,” Evan barked and pushed me away.

I hadn’t been expecting it and my heel caught the edge of the curb and I went down, hard on my butt. I didn’t see what happened next only that Evan was wrestled to the ground, his arms wrenched behind his back.

“You have the right to remain silent,” Aiden began to recite the Miranda warning I’d heard so many times on TV shows as he heaved him to his feet and perp walked him back to his vehicle.

“You broke my nose, you asshole. I’m going to sue you,” Evan screamed as Aiden shut him in the back of his vehicle.

Then, he was there beside me. The situation was almost déjà vu to that of the guy I’d had to teach a lesson to at the bar. Too bad the town hadn’t seen that. “Are you okay?”

I nodded. “I hadn’t expected it. He caught me off guard.” Evan had never showed this side of himself to me. We’d had verbal fights, all couples did. It had never gotten physical. “Can you arrest him?”

Aiden grinned. “He assaulted you.”

“I don’t know that I want to press charges,” I said without thinking.

“You don’t have to. I witnessed it, along with your neighbor. Besides, maybe the fear of prosecution will make him leave you alone.” His eyes dropped to my wrist, which was ringed in a red handprint. “You should go let the doc check you out.”

I murmured an agreement as I caught a side view of Evan spitting mad in the back of Aiden’s SUV. His eyes were wild, and it scared me. “Are you sure you’re okay? I can call Jessie for you.”

“I’m fine. I’ll call her.”

He looked like he wanted to kiss me, but he didn’t. “I’ll call you later.” I nodded, and he marched around to his driver’s side door all cop-like. I didn’t want him to go. I could handle myself in a fight, but Evan rattled me simply because I’d never expected it. My mind drifted to a not so long ago future that might have been mine. What if I’d married him and he’d gotten violent? It had come out of nowhere. I shook myself out of that because that future had been thwarted, gratefully. At least I knew now what he was capable of.

As I walked to my house, I waved at my neighbor. Her nosiness had come in handy. I’d been gearing up to use some of my self-defense training. I’d also been so confused that Evan the monster had been the same man I’d been engaged to. That was part of the reason I hadn’t reacted quicker.

Under the shower, I allowed myself a little weakness and cried. Cried because I hadn’t listened to my father, who’d seen something about Evan he didn’t like. I’d assumed he believed no one would be perfect for me because he’d never liked any of my boyfriends.

I folded my arms and propped them against the tiles, resting my head on them. “I miss you,” I said out loud, hoping my father heard me. When would the pain ease? I had no one to ask. Aiden had both of his parents and so did Jessie.