Page 132 of Beyond the Blue Horizon

I shoved a little at his chest, breaking free of his hold.

“I’m completely fine all by myself,” I gritted.

It was knee-jerk.

The instinct to keep moving—to run, to evade, to protect—so overwhelming it was off my tongue before I could stop it.

My mind and spirit and stupid, failing heart at war.

Because this was so dangerous.

What was happening right in the middle of this kitchen.

I grabbed my cup from the counter and mumbled as I wound around Theo’s imposing frame, “I need to take a shower and get ready for work or else I’m going to be late.”

I rounded the long counter, head down as I beelined for the stairs, grinding my teeth in annoyance when I realized I hadn’t taken the time to put creamer in my coffee.

“Think you’re forgetting something, Pipes,” Theo hollered at my back, and in my periphery, I saw him waving the container in the air, smugness clinging to his ridiculously stupid, gorgeous face.

“This will do just fine,” I tossed out as I hurried upstairs like I was trying to outrun a tornado.

I slammed the bedroom door behind me and rushed into the bathroom.

Irritation smacked me full force as I looked down at my drab, boring, plain coffee.

My nose curled before I tipped the mug over and poured it down the drain.

Realizing it wasn’tfine.

Not even close.

TWENTY-FIVE

PIPER

Thirty minutes later,I had showered, moisturized my skin with my favorite cherry-scented lotion, and dressed. I’d tugged on a fluffy cream-colored sweater and a pair of velvet baby blue pants and the same over-the-knee boots I wore yesterday.

My love of fashion had never dissipated, though I had far fewer clothes than I likely would have if my life had turned out differently. If I hadn’t been so reckless and sent myself spiraling down a path that would destroy everything.

My hopes and my dreams and the true beauty of this life.

I swallowed around the barbwire of grief that threatened to close off my throat, and instead, focused on getting ready.

Cataloging the clothing that I did have up against the things I would need to buy since I was working at Ivy Threads. I was pretty sure everything would come out of that store.

Every item was adorable. Emery’s taste impeccable.

Sparking that itch to create in a way that I hadn’t experienced in a long, long time.

Tiny glimmers of excitement flickered in my belly, and I attempted to suppress it as I put on a small amount of makeup.

Mascara and blush and a shiny, pink lip gloss.

Then I inhaled a steadying breath, grabbed my purse, and opened my door.

My stomach toppled all over again when I could still hear the deep tenor of Theo’s voice rumbling through the air.

What was he still doing here?