Macey
Present Day…
I WALKED OUT of the hospital and to my car parked in the back. One more week finished, and I had three blissful days off. I loved the fact I could complete a work week in four days, giving me so much time to myself. Keeping my purse close, I gripped the pepper spray on my key chain, unlocked my door, and checked the back seat before sliding inside and locking the doors again.
Starting the car, I headed towards home. My phone rang as I pulled out of the parking lot. I answered it using my hands-free device. “Hello?”
“Hey, Mace.”
“Hi, Payton.” I glanced at the dashboard clock. “What are you doing calling me at almost midnight?”
Payton had been at her parents’ home watching her nieces all day and I was sure she’d have been comatose by now.
“I’m letting you know I’m not home,” Payton said. “Got caught up with something at Mom’s and didn’t want you to freak out.”
I stamped down the panic that flared up inside her. “Oh, okay. Thanks for letting me know.”
“I can come home now if you want to wait for me.”
“No, Pay. It’s fine. I’m so tired, I’ll probably just fall into bed.” I stopped at a red light.
“Are you sure?”
I shook my head, grateful Payton couldn’t see me. “Yep, it’s all good. You set the alarm, right?”
“I did. I walked the apartment twice, double-checked every window, and everything’s locked up tight. Trevor’s on duty tonight.”
“Oh, good. He’s the best. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Call me when you get home and I’ll stay on the line with you.”
I smiled. “I’m okay, Pay.”
“Well, at least text me.”
“I will.”
“Thanks. ‘Bye.”
“‘Bye, Payton.” I hung up and took a deep breath as I approached my home.
I realized with great disappointment that Dallas hadn’t called me that evening. He’d left his usual message in the morning, but nothing tonight, which made me worry. He could be on assignment, he could be hurt, he could be dead.
“Macey quit it,” I said out loud.
I pulled up to the gate of my parking garage and waved the key card over the reader. The gates slid open and I drove inside. Parking in my designated space, I climbed out of the car and locked it. I always got my phone ready to dial 9-1-1 whenever I left the safety of my vehicle, and I kept a finger on my pepper spray as I made my way to the elevator banks. Slipping into an open car, I hit the button to the lobby where I liked to talk to the security person before heading up to my apartment. The doors opened to reveal Dallas talking with Trevor, the night doorman.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
Dallas grinned. “Payton might have mentioned something to Brock about you being alone tonight.”
“Aren’t you working?” I asked.
“It’s my night off.”
I sighed and stared up at the drop-dead gorgeous man. His dark hair was a little longer than it had been in the past, and his face had a day’s growth covering his jawline.
“You didn’t need to come over,” I said.
He shrugged. “I wanted to.”
I caught Trevor grinning and smiled at him. “Hi, Trevor.”
Trevor Tupou was a Tongan expat and the size of a small building. He was a math teacher by day and worked as security a few nights a week for what he called “fun.”
“Hey, Macey. How are you this fine night?” Trevor asked.
“I’m good. You’re letting all the riff-raff in, apparently?”
Trevor chuckled. “Only the ones with guns.”
“Looks like he’s my watch dog for the night,” I said.
“I’ll relax then,” Trevor retorted.
I chuckled. “I’ll believe it when I see it. Ready?” I asked Dallas.
“Lead the way, beautiful.”
I forced myself not to let his words settle deep as I led him to the main elevators and into one of the cars. If I did, it would give me hope, and I wasn’t ready for hope. He constantly told me how beautiful I was and how much he loved me, even with the scars, but I couldn’t bring myself to believe that his words weren’t out of obligation.
Once at my floor, I made the short walk to my apartment, unlocked the door, and pushed inside. The beep of the alarm sounded, and I hit the code to disarm it as Dallas locked the door again.
“I’ll do a sweep, huh?” Dallas said.
“That would be great. Thanks.” My heart calmed immediately. As silly as it was to even worry about such things, considering the fact my apartment was on the seventh floor, with no possible entry into it without scaling equipment, his words put me at ease. Dallas headed to the back of the apartment and I walked into the kitchen.
“Do you want a beer?” I called.
“Nah. I’ll just crash on your couch,” he said as he joined me. “All clear.”
“Thanks, Dal.”
He reached out to touch me, apparently thought better of it, and lowered his hand. He gave me a gentle smile and said, “I’ll see you in the morning.”
I nodded and headed back to my room. I dropped my purse on the chair by the bed and removed my scrubs, heading to the shower. Biting back tears of frustration as I climbed under the water, I counted to ten, then did a mental exercise to remind myself of the good things in my life. All tools my therapist gave me to help.
I forced my sadness aside. I still hadn’t given him the hug I’d discussed with Brock, but I hadn’t gone back on my word either. No other man had comforted me physically, and they wouldn’t. Not before Dallas. But since I didn’t believe we would ever have that again, I had to move forward. I couldn’t dwell in what could have been. It did me no good.
I turned off the water, dried off, and pulled on pajamas before climbing into bed. Hearing Dallas moving around in the other room was both comforting and saddening at the same time. I chose to dwell on the comfort and, with the knowledge that I was safe, I was confident that sleep would come quickly. “Goodnight,” I called.
“Night, honey,” he called back.
* * *
Dallas
In the living room, I pulled off my boots and stretched out on Macey’s sofa. Dragging my hands down my face, I knew I’d have a tough time sleeping with her so close, but I’d deal. I’d done this before. Slept in her living room when Payton was gone. And I knew I’d do it again. We were making our way back to each other. Slowly, but it was happening, and I’d wait as long as it took.
I’d almost fallen asleep when her blood-curdling scream had me off the couch within seconds and rushing to her door. It was locked. “Damn it.”
She continued to scream, and I was forced to do something I knew would bite me in the ass in the morning. I broke down the door and switched on the light on in her room. Macey was thrashing in the middle of her bed, screaming ‘no’ at the top of her lungs. Her long, dark red hair still damp from her shower stuck to her face as she turned her head from side to side, living her nightmare out physically.
When she screamed, “Dallas,” I didn’t think, just reacted and wrapped my arms around her, earning myself nails down my face as she fought him. I pulled her hands away and held them above her head. “Mace. Babe, it’s me. It’s Dallas. Wake up, sweetheart. I’ve got you.”
She blinked her eyes open and then burst into tears. I released her and she looped her arms around my neck.
“Shhh, baby. I’m here. He can’t hurt you anymore.”
“Is it ever going to stop?” she sobbed against my neck.
“I hope so, honey. But it’s okay. I’ve got you.”
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered.
“For what?”
“For us. For everything.” She grimaced and laid a finger over my cheek. “And at the moment, for apparently scratching you.”
“Hey.” I cupped her chin. “You’ve got nothing to be sorry for.”
“I’m still sorry.”
“I know, baby.” I smiled. “Want me to stay in here?”
“You don’t have to.”
“I know I don’t. But I’m offering.”
She bit her lip. “You don’t mind?”
I pried her lip from her teeth. “I don’t mind.”
“Okay.”
I stood and switched off the light, closing the door as best I could before sliding into the bed beside her. I pulled her against me, her back to my chest, and kissed her shoulder as I gave her a gentle squeeze. “Sleep, Macey. You’re safe.”
“You didn’t call.”
“What?”
“Tonight. You didn’t call.”
“I know, baby. Because I was coming here.”
She nodded. “Always call.”
“Huh?”
“I get worried when you don’t call.”
I gave her another gentle squeeze. “Okay, baby. I’ll always call.”
She sighed and within minutes, I heard her even breathing and then let myself relax.