Page 8 of Three Hearts Hideaway

Not this time.

Two years and this was how it ended. What a joke. How it took this long to leave him, she’d never fully understand. They say it’s hard to leave the cycle of abuse once you’re in it. But he never really abused her. Did he? Thinking about her longest relationship in that context was unsettling. But when she examined their dynamic closer, the yelling, fighting, talking down to her, slowly cutting her off from her friends and hobbies…it seemed that way. Her best friends, Brittany and Layla, had tried to warn her, but she couldn’t see past the charming man he was at the start of their relationship. He’d manipulated and isolated her. In truth, he’d intimidated her at times. It certainly wasn’t a healthy relationship.

But she didn’t want to give him any more space in her mind.

She had a plan. Stay away from Sebastian for ten days, and figure out whatshewanted. For herself and in a relationship. Then she could go back to Ottawa and not crumble to Sebastian when he inevitably knocked at her door.

So what did she want in a partner? Roman and his insane body came to mind. Though she needed more than physical attraction. Would he even be interested in her if he knew what she was into sexually? She shook her head. That was Sebastian talking, not her.

Roman seemed supportive at the pub earlier in the day, although she hadn’t gone into any type of detail. Instead, she glossed over the whole situation, enough to give him the gist. And she certainly didn’t play the voice message for him. That was way too personal. He’d be running for the hills.

On the other hand, he called Sebastian a coward for not listening to her needs. Perhaps that meant he was open to listening to a partner’s preferences. But she was getting ahead of herself. The priority wasn’t to bang the hot pub owner, who also owned the most beautiful bed and breakfast she’d ever seen.

She scooted off the bed, unzipped her suitcase, and began unpacking her clothes. The dresser in the corner was more than large enough to hold all her stuff. While she was at it, she decided to change into something more comfortable. She tugged on her black knee socks, an oversized white t-shirt, and the booty shorts she’d been wearing as pajamas for the past three years.

Unpacked and snug in her slouchy clothes, she heaved the duvet off the king-sized bed and dragged it to the snuggle chair. She curled up in the nest of pillows and reclined.

She felt better than she had at the beginning of the day. Taking time to explore what she wanted, not what Sebastian told her she should want, sounded freeing. In a week and a half,she hoped to return to Ottawa a woman confident in what she wanted. A woman she could be proud of.

Chapter Four

LOGAN

Roman was standing in the kitchen with a big, dumb grin plastered on his face. No doubt the woman he’d brought home was the cause of said big, dumb grin.

Logan wouldn’t get mad. That wouldn’t help the situation. Though it was hard to get mad when his best friend appeared so delighted. He simply needed to explain to Roman why having someone living with them for ten days would not be beneficial when they were on a strict timeline to finish the guest suites. Three and a half months. That’s all the time they had left. He needed to make Roman see reason.

Setting the pizza on the kitchen counter, he crossed his arms and opened his mouth to speak. Roman cut him off before he could.

“Before you say anything, Logey,” Roman said, “you said this was fine when I called you. You can’t change your mind now.”

A headache was already forming behind his eyes. Logan pinched the bridge of his nose. “You didn’t leave me much of achoice, Banks. What did you say? That she would besleeping on the street tonightif I didn’t agree to let her stay?”

At least Roman had the decency to look sheepish. Logan knew it wouldn’t last.

“And was that remotely true?” he demanded.

Roman ran his fingers through his beard. “Gertie’s fully booked at the hotel and was going to call the ladies in her mahjong group to see if Ava could sleep on one of their couches. Their couches, Logan!”

He scowled. “And a couch isn’t good enough for this Ava?”

“I seriously think she would’ve found a bench outside the pub and slept there tonight. So a couch would have been fine.” Roman crossed his arms in a challenge.

“And so you offered our place…why?”

“Because it was the right thing to do. We have the space, and she needs it. It also wouldn’t hurt to make some extra cash. And if she leaves a good review once we’re officially open, that would be good for business.” Roman took a long swig of his beer, evidently satisfied with his argument.

He was silent. How could he object to that? It’d basically be like refusing a guest who booked a stay at their B&B.

“Listen, her asswipe of an ex-boyfriend sent out her very private information in a voice message to her entire contact list. She was so mortified, she left town.”

Logan narrowed his eyes. “What kind of private information? People don’t skip out on their life because someone blasts their social insurance number to their contact list.”

“Private sexual information, Logan. To her family, her colleagues, her boss, for fuck’s sake.”

He took a deep breath and held it for a beat before exhaling. Not what he expected. “The guy sounds like a real piece of work.”

Roman grunted his agreement.

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