Page 6 of Pursued By the Sasquatch

“I wasn’t really looking for a relationship. But Luke was persistent. I thought, he must genuinely like me. And if a man is willing to make that much effort to get a date with me, then he would be the sort of person who would always be willing to make an effort.”

I watched her mouth twist as she pushed down whatever emotions she was feeling.

“Well, it was good at first. He was very clear he didn’t want a relationship with someone who questioned what he was doing or made him feel bad for spending time with his friends. And that made sense. He said he’d had controlling girlfriends in the past and he didn’t want that again.”

I nodded. I could already see how this man had laid the groundwork. How he’d used things that sounded reasonable to push her to never question him.

“So, I didn’t ask. Until things got weird and he was getting money despite not working. Then he berated me for being controlling. It went on like that until I guess I became convinced that he was right, and I was just looking for problems.”

My heart was aching, and rage was burning deep inside me. A rage that I didn’t think would fade until I got my hands around Luke's neck.

“Then he fell out with a friend. Business gone wrong somehow. That friend sent me pictures of Luke with another woman. It was like a lightbulb in my head. Everything suddenly was crystal clear. He was a dick, and I was being a doormat. So, I ended it. He didn’t take it well.”

I tensed. “Did he hurt you?”

“Not physically. But when I refused to give him a second chance, apparently, he broke into my apartment and left some stolen jewellery and drugs there. Then tipped off the police.”

“Why didn’t you tell them the truth?”

“He left a voicemail letting me know he could get to me. He has a gang of big, violent friends and it was in my best interests not to mention his name. I just had to take the ‘punishment’, as he called it.

She talked a bit more, filling in details she’d missed or things that only made sense now. I watched the most perfect woman I’d ever seen, trying to hold herself together as she described being taken advantage of by a scumbag. How I held myself together, I’ll never know. And through it all, she seemed embarrassed. Not angry as she should have been. Or proud of having realized what he was and dumping his ass. Embarrassed. As though she thought it was her fault somehow.

“I suppose I thought I loved him. I didn’t dare stop to look at the inconsistencies in what he was saying. I was dumb.”

“Wanting to see the best in people isn’t dumb. Giving them chances isn’t dumb. It’s risky and brave.”

“Whatever it is, it backfired, didn’t it?”

“Yes. But one day it won’t. One day, someone will take that pure trust and cherish it, I promise.” I didn’t dare tell her that if she ever gave that sort of trust to me, I would work hard to be deserving of it every day of my life. I didn’t tell her I ached for her to give me that, and if she didn’t, I thought I might carry that ache for the rest of my days.

“I’d like to believe you are right.” Her eyes shone with unshed tears.

I reached across the table and took her small hand in mine, squeezing it gently. She stared at my hand for a few moments and then seemed to snap out of wherever her head had gone. Then she squeezed back tightly. Tight enough that it might have hurt a human.

“You don’t have to be frightened of him. Not with me around, Fern.”

“You don’t know what he’s capable of.”

“You don’t know what I’m capable of.”

Surprised registered on her face, but once again she didn’t flinch away from me. Did she really not understand how strong she was? I felt that maybe, for the first time, I wouldn’t have to hold back with someone. Perhaps I wouldn’t be too much.

“Fern, will you let me help you?”

She nodded mutely. It felt like I’d broken through a wall. An important one. But it was clear she didn’t know where to go from here. She wasn’t used to accepting help. I’d seen that much in her apartment yesterday.

“Did you tidy your place up yet?”

“No.” Her voice was small. This was hard for her.

“Then let’s go back and get that sorted first.” It wasn’t an excuse to get her alone. It seemed like the best place to start. Getting her alone was just a bonus. I reluctantly released her hand and our fingers grazed each other as I pulled away. It sent a tingle straight down to my dick. I tried to ignore it. I had to be in my head and my heart right now. Anything else was for later.

I stood and gestured for her to go in front of me. I left money for breakfast before she got the chance to rummage in her bag. She murmured a thank you and gave me a lopsided little smile that made me want to melt into a puddle right there.

As we drove back to her apartment, I put the radio on and caught glances of her shyly swaying to the beat of whatever the song was. My heart soared. Pure contentment washed over me. Something clicked in my head and broke through the confusion about what was going on. I loved her. It hadn’t even been a day, but I loved her. And I would do anything for her.

Chapter 7

---