Page 76 of Monsters in Love

She crosses her arms over her chest. “Miller Higgins needs to keep his mouth shut. He had no business calling you.”

“Au contraire.I have something I want to discuss with you. Can I come in?”

“No. I’m busy. We can talk out here, but make it fast.”

“Aw, come on, Ann. No need to be so frosty. Our breakup was ages ago. Let’s be mature adults and try to be friends. Invite me in for coffee.”

Annie hates coffee, I think.He should know that.

“Hell, no. What part of ‘I hate you’ are you not understanding? The last time I saw you, I told you to fuck off. Take the hint, Chad. We will never be friends.”

“Why not? Why can’t you let bygones be bygones?”

“Because you suck. I shouldn’t have to explain that. You have sixty seconds to tell me what you want and then I’m going inside and you’re getting the hell off my property.”

His smarmy expression finally fades and he glares at her. “Damn, who knew you’d turn out to be such a bitch?”

She rolls her eyes. “We’re done here.” She turns to go inside, but he catches her shoulder and spins her around, causing her to drop the rake. At the sight of his hand on her, anger boils in my chest.

“Get your hands off me,” she snarls, but he ignore her.

“You’re going to listen to me one way or the other,” Chad says.

She twists, hard, and manages to dislodge his grasp. “Get away from me.”

“Not until you hear what I have to say. I want to buy the property from you! I’m prepared to pay more than it’s worth.”

She has her arms wrapped around herself now, a defensive posture if ever there was one. “It’s not for sale. Build somewhere else.”

“There isn’t anywhere else!” Chad bellows. “The town has strict guidelines for new buildings within city limits. Out here on the bluff is the best place for my development.”

“I don’t care! Your problem is not my problem.” She turns to go in the house, but he grabs her again.

“I’m making it your problem.” He wraps a hand around her upper arm, and even from here, I can see his fingers turn white as he squeezes.

“Let go! You’re hurting me.”

“Then stop being a bitch and listen to what I have to say!”

“Chad, I don’t care about your development. Accept it.”

I can see his chest heaving as his anger builds; clearly, he doesn’t react well to Annie’s dismissal of him. He reminds me of the men who invaded the manor all those years ago, all bluster and ire. I strain to move, to intervene, but the sun has me trapped here.

“You have to at least hear me out! I’m entitled to that much.”

“Fine,” Annie says, her voice low and calm. “Let me go and I’ll listen to what you have to say.”

He relaxes his grip and she shakes him off, but he doesn’t back up. He’s still in her face, still menacing her, and I cannot abide it.

Why is the sun taking so long to set? I’m stuck up here, impotent and helpless, while that asshole manhandles my woman. I use all my willpower to try to move, but it’s useless. I’m frozen in stone, once again unable to aid someone under my protection. Maybe this is my real curse, my real failure in life. Yes, I want my heartstone back and I want the freedom to leave the manor, but truly, if I cannot protect those who reside here, what is my purpose? Why do I exist, if all I do is fail the Winslows and spend my nights lamenting my fate? What kind of wasted life is that?

No. I will not fail. I will not let harm come to Annie now that I’ve found her.

“You don’t care about Haven’s Hollow, Annie. You never have. This was never even your home. It’s mine, and I have a right to make it a better place. I’m offering to make you very wealthy, and all you have to do is sell me something you don’t even care about. Then you can go and do whatever it is you want in life!” Chad is aiming for a reasonable tone, a sales pitch, but his face is flushed with frustration.

Annie manages to take a step back from him. “I do care about this house. I live here. I’m turning it into a bed and breakfast. I’m not going to sell you the manor, Chad.”

I can see the rage cross his face, turning his features ugly, but luckily, Annie sees it too. She backs up another step and lifts her hands just as he lunges for her. Her magical barrier holds, stopping him in his tracks.

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