Page 56 of Silver Sanctuary
“No. No. Fine.” Her eyes drifted to the kitchen where she hid away money every time she got paid from her job at the florist. Of course she put money in the bank, but this was her getaway money. Her something-happened-in-the-middle-of-the-night-and-she-needed-to-run money. “I can get you extra cash.”
“Nah. That’s not the sort of payment I want.” He licked his lips and Lacy’s stomach lurched. His hand traveled to the button on his pants and he flicked it open, reaching inside to take his disgusting dick out. Lacy’s eyes went to the ceiling, tears now welling in them. She’d done it before—to keep Embrie safe. She could do it again. They were so close to leaving. If she got the grant in Silver Springs, their life could start over.
“Get the fuck over here and suck me off like the fucking whore you are. You want this roof to stay over your head? You don’t want the cops to know about Embrie? You better open your mouth and swallow, bitch.”
She fell to her knees and?—
Lacy’s eyes flew open, her heart throbbing painfully in her throat. Strong arms banded around her and she wanted to scream. Instead, she closed her eyes and tried to breathe. The warmth of the room and the light scent of Nash cocooned around her. Safety. Security. Home.
“Hey, you okay?” Nash groaned, tightening his hold of her.
“Yeah,” she panted. “Wow… it was just a bad dream. I’m okay. Go back to sleep.”
“Are you sure? Do you want to talk about it?”
She reached up, patting his arm. “No. I’m going to get up and check on Embrie, though. I’ll be right back.”
“M’kay.” Nash pulled his arms back and let her slide out of the blankets. Her feet padded against the cool wooden floor as she opened their door, trying not to make too much noise as she entered the hallway. The apartment was silent, darkness still flooding the space. She tiptoed down the hall and over to Embrie’s room. Cracking the door open, she saw her daughter snuggled under her pink unicorn comforter and absolutely covered in all the stuffed animals the girls had gotten her.
Life was good.
Things were getting back on track.
She felt safe.
They were protected.
So why the hell had she had that dream?
Sixteen
The weeks since Lacy and Nash got engaged were starting to fly by faster than she ever imagined they could. She no longer felt eyes lingering on her when she walked down the street in town. No one made snarky remarks under their breath about her mom, or their history in town. People were starting to come into the shop. And of course, one of the guys was always there, watching over her. Aside from the nightmare she’d had a few nights before, everything was starting to feel… different. But in the best way possible.
She’d actually tried to get Nash to relieve the guys of their guard duties, but he wouldn’t hear of it.
The team dynamic was becoming more and more clear to her. Gunner was a tough leader, but fair. And he was grumpy with everyone, except Lily, and Sloane. Mae clearly got on his nerves, but Lacy knew he’d protect her in a heartbeat if she needed it. And Gunner was also kind to Lacy, too, even though he was reserved. There was always an added layer of quiet in the shop on his days. But when she showed him the best way to arrange a bouquet for Lily, he truly opened upmore than she could have ever imagined. It was really sweet, the questions he asked about which flowers meant things like love, companionship, eternity.
Gage was quiet. And unlike Lily, who would come with Gunner sometimes when she wasn’t working and chat Lacy’s ear off, Sloane didn’t accompany him. Ever. She couldn’t really blame her. After everything that happened… and it was still connected to Lacy., her mother, and the tragedy she caused…
Lacy shoved the thoughts of that wretched woman out of her mind. She’d ruined enough of her life, but there was no more power for her to hold. Not if Lacy was going to make a life in Silver Springs. Not if she was going to allow herself to hope?—
“Do I have something on my face? I knew I shouldn’t have had that slice of pie from Dolly’s before I came over here.” Hawk wiped at his face. “You have a mirror in the office?”
Lacy pinched her brows together in confusion. “You don’t have anything on your face. Why would you think you did?”
“Uh, hello? Earth to Lacy? You were just staring at me for a solid five minutes. I was trying to remember the signs of stroke before panic-calling Nash. He’d tear me to shreds if I let something happen to you while I was here.”
“He can’t blame you if I have a stroke.” She laughed. Hawk was the class clown. That man would flirt with just about any woman who walked into her shop, and the ones on the sidewalk while she was out doing deliveries. Oh, andespeciallythe women who sat on the porch of the Silver Springs Ladies’ Home. He would genuinely blush when they sang his praise. Maybe it was because they were all in their eighties and nineties, and Hawk couldn’t escape without them each taking a turn to feel his biceps. Had Lacy made sure her weekly delivery of flowers for the home was always on the day Hawk was with her? Of course. It was basically the best free entertainment she could ask for. Noway would she take Nash around those piranhas. He was all hers.
“You haven’t heard him lately.My wife, this.My wife, that. You guys aren’t even hitched yet and he’s already so far gone for you. It’s ridiculous.”
Oh, she heard him. Loud and clear. And she loved it. But Lacy wasn’t about to admit that to Hawk.
He took a long gulp of water from his bottle, and Lacy knew she needed to strike. “Maybe there’s something in the water here…” She wiggled her eyebrows and pointed to his bottle, turning back to the vase she was arranging flowers in with an evil laugh as Hawk coughed in the corner.
“Wicked woman, hold your tongue.”
“It’s just a matter of time, Hawk. Your turn will be here before you know it.”
