Page 66 of One Wild Ride

Maybe Alex was right. We should run away. I couldn’t think of a way we could fight his mother. I glanced at Evaleen’s mom and grinned. Maybe if I were Evaleen I could fight his mom. That woman was smart, in a good way. Unfortunately, Mrs. Hawthorne was smart in an extremely bad way.

“Here you go, Aria. Evaleen was so right about you.” Mrs. Bechmann handed over the tea to me. She looked up in my eyes as she smiled.

“Right about what?”

“She said there weren’t many people in this world who she trusted. She counted me and Edgar.” Evaleen’s mom pointed at Edgar who blushed and tried to hide it behind a teacup to his lips. “But she said if something happened, as long as she had you by her side she would feel safe. She called you kick-ass.”

“You got all that just from only knowing me for a few minutes?” That was nice of her mom to say but she didn’t know me.

“I see the wall behind your eyes, dear. It’s the same wall I see behind my daughter’s eyes. I wish it wasn’t there, but I know that wall served a purpose. I have a feeling that wall has made you strong in the past but maybe now,” she glanced over at Alex before turning her attention back to me, “now is the time to tear it down. It takes strength to rip it apart. And I know you have that power inside you or my daughter never would have mentioned it to me.”

My faced burned from her words. I tried to smile but I knew it was achingly desolate. Therefore, I turned my attention to the warm tea, seeking comfort in the murky waters.

“What about here, Edgar? You have that spare bedroom . . .” Mrs. Bechmann offered.

“What about here?” Edgar asked and I glanced up at him to find his usual expression consumed in confusion.

“You said she isn’t safe and I know this has something to do with Damien, so why not here?” Mrs. Bechmann said as she inched closer to me gently placing her hand on my shoulder.

As Evaleen’s mom’s words hit Edgar, his usual calm and temporary confusion changed drastically. I snorted and tried my best to cover it up with a cough.

“Oh, I couldn’t do that. You already have two people staying with you. I really don’t want to be the odd woman out.” I tried to give Edgar a way out.

It was clear he didn’t mind Evaleen’s mom staying with him, and knowing what I knew about Evaleen’s feelings and Edgar’s history with women, I knew he really didn’t mind Evaleen staying with him, either. But me? I might be a little more than he could handle.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” both men said at the same time.

“It’s just with, uh . . .” Edgar’s eyes searched the room in desperate need for an excuse.

Alex’s eyes, on the other hand, were laser focused on Edgar, narrowing with each word Edgar said. It was strange watching this quiet, artistic man turn protective of me. As he kept his eyes on Edgar, Alex scooted toward me on the couch, placing his hand possessively on my knee.

Was it wrong that my thighs and heart warmed at the gesture? I think, from any other man, I would have rolled my eyes and maybe even been insulted. But Alex had consistently been beaten back and controlled by his mother. I believed he finally gained his confidence to stand up for what he wanted and desired.

Edgar snapped his fingers. “Henrik’s place.”

“This Henrik is a man?” Alex said through gritted teeth.

“Yes.” Edgar smiled widely at Alex.

Evaleen told me many things about Edgar and having spent the last half hour with him, I see that everything she said was true. A smile from him could melt dried up, frigid panties. But it seemed to be having the opposite effect on Alex.

“She wouldn’t be staying with him. Henrik is selling his condo. Maybe he would let her stay there until someone buys it. I could ask.”

The grip on my knee loosened.

“No need. I’ll buy it. Aria can live there,” Alex said as my mouth, and every mouth that wasn’t Alex’s, dropped open.

---