It was amazing the difference a day could make.

I could have skipped my way to work, I felt so light. It sounded silly, and I couldn’t really put a finger on what had changed. Unless it was true, and I’d really, deeply, honestly opened myself up to another human being. To a man. To Kane.

It had made all the difference in the world, though.

In truth, I felt a little odd, feeling so light inside while knowing that Calie could still cause trouble for Austen and Kane. The thing was, my gut doubted it would come to much, and for my part, I knew the brothers hadn’t hurt her.

If I was honest, I’d known that truth deep down from the first moment the accusation had been made.

It had never made sense. It hadn’t fit.

No man with the ability to make me feel as safe as Kane could be the sort of man who’d force himself on another woman.

But getting one part of me to accept that truth while I was still struggling to trust Kane after everything I’d gone through was a different story.

I’d let those walls down, though.

I trusted him, and it had changed everything.

“What are you smiling about?”

I glanced up to see Emery waiting at the computer in the back, probably for me to clock in so she could do the same. “Am I smiling?” I asked.

“Only a little.” She winked at me. “He must be amazing.”

“Ah…yeah. Yeah, he is.” I wasn’t sure if amazing touched Kane, but at least it gave an idea. Hurriedly, I clocked in so Emery could do the same.

“Well, good for you. I’m going to go out on a limb here and assume it wasn’t that asswipe from the other day.” Emery clocked in and turned to face me, her long brown hair swept up in a half ponytail that put her beautiful features on display. Her bright green eyes met mine, and she rolled them emphatically. “I can see why you didn’t want to wait on him. Talk about a douche.”

The reminder of Chad was one I could have done without, but I refused to let it dull my mood.

I gave her a smile and nodded. “We went to the same college my freshman year.” Hesitating a moment, I finally said, “He…ah…he hassled me a lot, you know?”

“He seems like the type. Thinks he’s God’s gift, and when he finds out he’s not, he turns into the biggest dick.” Emery shook her head. “I’ve met the kind, honey. Believe me. Best to just steer clear of that shit.”

It felt good to have somebody validate my feelings about him, but I didn’t elaborate as we headed out to the sales floor. The morning shift was happy to be relieved, and once we’d traded out, I offered to handle bringing in the new stock from the back of the store.

The first few hours passed easily enough, but that dreaded lull in the afternoon came as expected, and Emery left for her lunch hour right as I was debating whether to take mine or not.

The store manager was in the back, and I was alone in the front when the bell tone signified a customer. The sight of the man filling the doorway caused bile to churn in my stomach. It was the absolute last person I wanted to see.

Don’t panic.

Kane’s voice from the lessons he’d given me rose up to murmur from the back of my mind, and I tucked them deep inside. Don’t panic.

It was harder than I liked because, as he stood there, Chad took a long, slow look around the sales floor, and I couldn’t help but notice the way he smiled when he saw it was just him and me.

Think that’s going to be your advantage, dickhead?

I couldn’t help the spurt of anger that rose inside me. The asshole had come back here, looking for me. I knew he had. To harass? To hurt? How far was he willing to go? How far was I?

As he took a step in my direction, I edged away, careful to keep something in between us the entire time.

When you can, you want to keep him from getting close. That’s always the best tactic. Got it?

Like we were back together in his garage, Kane’s voice guided me.

“Raye…” Chad smiled at me, his lips peeling back from his teeth in a broad, easy grin.

“Did you need something, Chad?” I asked, keeping my voice calm and level.

He hitched up a shoulder. I noticed that at some point in the past two years all that muscle had started to go a little soft. He was still big and solid, but there was a layer of fat that hadn’t been there before.

“We just never had much of a chance to finish talking.” He edged closer, eying me over the table I kept between us. “I thought maybe I’d drop by again. See if you wanted to go out…grab a bite to eat.” His lashes drooped low, and he added, “We could catch up on old times.”

“There’s nothing I want to catch up on, thanks.” I held his eyes levelly, surprised I had the guts to do it.

A grin spread across his face, and I could see the laughter in his eyes.

Laughter…and knowledge.

He knew what he was doing to me.

The piece of shit.

“Aw, come on, Raye.” He moved a little faster and tried to come around the table to corner me.

I dodged in the other direction, feeling a little foolish at the Ring Around the Rosie game we were playing, but I wasn’t letting him get close to me either.

“What’s the matter, Raye?” He gave me the same wide, charming grin he’d flashed a hundred co-eds. “You look a little spooked. You got ants in your pants or something? Stop dancing around and talk to me.”

“I don’t want to talk to you. If you’re not going to buy something, maybe you should just leave.”

His mouth tightened then, and he moved toward me once more, quicker this time. My high heel caught on the display, causing me to slip a little. That tiny hesitation was just enough for him to pounce, and he caught me up against the table.

Instinct took over, and I reacted, striking up with my hand the way Kane had told me to.

Of course, he hadn’t told me it would hurt.

I jabbed Chad straight in the neck, and he stumbled back, his face red as he choked for air. The red slowly turned to rage, though, and he swiped out with a hand.

I wasn’t where I had been, and he came up empty.

When he swung out again, he swung wild, and I stepped outside his reach, slapping both my hands against his arm before shoving him off balance. “I’m not the easy target I used to be, Chad. Leave me the hell alone.”

He spun around to face me, his eyes huge and furious.

But when he took a step toward me, I jutted my chin up. “Leave me alone,” I warned him. “Come near me again, and I’ll call the cops.”

He sneered at me. “Yeah, like that worked out for you so well last time.”

“I’m not some scared little freshman, desperate for people to like her anymore,” I said, curling my lip at him. “And this isn’t your town. If I call the cops, people are going to listen to me.”

He scoffed and opened his mouth to speak, but I didn’t give him the chance.

“And what’s more…if you keep fucking with me, I’m going to go online and ruin you.” I took a step closer to him and glared at him in challenge. “What do you think your boss and clients will think when you’re accused of being a rapist, Chad?”

“You little cunt…” He lifted a hand, his face florid with rage.

Fear bloomed inside me, but I didn’t take back what I said. “What’s the matter? You scared?” I challenged.

The creaking of the door was the only indicator that something had changed.

I heard it.

Chad didn’t.

He advanced on me, and I stood my ground. I had a witness. If he touched me, I was taking him down.

But before his hands came down on my shoulders, my manager said, “Raye, is there a problem here?”

The sound of her voice had never been so welcome, yet at the same time, I was disappointed that she stopped him before a physical threat had been witnessed. Turning my head, I looked at Pauline and met her gaze. “No, ma’am. Everything’s fine. This gentleman was just leaving.”

The look Chad gave me on his way out the door was a familiar one. I’d seen it a dozen times – no, more – during my freshman year in college. I’m not done with you, that look said.

I managed to suppress a shudder as I turned to focus on my manager. Pauline gave me a concerned look, her dark eyes softening as she studied me. “Raye, is everything alright?”

“I’ll be fine,” I told her.

I just hoped I wasn’t lying.