Page 24

Mateo

Mateo was making his shopping list the next morning when Scarlett came down the stairs. She was wearing leggings and a hoodie, looking comfortable but seeming anything but.

“What happened, love?” he asked, setting the pen and paper aside.

“I don’t have appropriate clothes for the market.”

Mateo’s heart sank. Of course she might have certain expectations for leaving the house. “We can stop at the store before heading to the market.”

“Do we have time?”

“Of course.”

As if her words had summoned him, Ezra came stalking down the stairs after her. “I’m coming too.”

“Ask Scarlett first,” Mateo suggested, turning back to his list.

“It’s not a question.”

“Fine, but if you make her feel uncomfortable you’ll wait in the car.”

“I’m not a fucking dog.”

“Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.”

Half an hour later, Mateo opened the passenger door for Scarlett while Ezra walked around the hood to take the wheel. Vince watched from his workshop, showing no interest in putting his tools down.

“We’re going clothes shopping for Scarlett. Then we’ll head to the market.”

Vince nodded and then focused back on the project before him.

Sitting in the back, Mateo watched as Scarlett took in her surroundings.

The property was off the main road, hiding behind a wild landscape of tall evergreen trees.

The dirt road used to be bumpier, but they’d flattened it out before having started the renovations on their house.

Mateo had actually been surprised that Scarlett didn’t seem concerned about the place’s history.

A short drive later, Ezra parked in front of a small boutique, and Mateo helped Scarlett to her feet.

Ezra rolled his eyes, but jealousy simmered beneath the surface.

A saleswoman came to help them right away, so he forced Ezra to sit down and let Scarlett shop without either of them hovering over her.

After a while, she disappeared into the dressing room. Mateo took the opportunity to ask if it were possible for Scarlett to leave the store wearing one of the chosen outfits.

“Of course.”

Ezra took advantage of being left alone, tapping over the thin wooden door behind which Scarlett was changing. “Let me see, little princess.”

“Remember your manners, Ezra,” Mateo warned.

“Please, little princess. Let me see you in one of those pretty dresses.”

To Mateo’s surprise, Scarlett opened the door. She’d selected a soft, form-fitting purple dress that fell to the floor but showed the perfect amount of cleavage.

“What a pretty princess indeed,” Ezra hummed, pulling her hair over her shoulder.

Her eyes flickered to Mateo as if she needed his approval too. “You look gorgeous. How do you feel in it?”

“Good. It’s just a little long.”

“We can have it altered,” he offered.

She shook her head. “I can do that.”

Mateo chuckled. Of course she could: pack women were trained to take care of the household and all its needs. “We’ll get you a sewing kit.”

Scarlett went back into the dressing room and Ezra impatiently waited for her to reveal the next dress.

This one was knee-length so she’d covered her legs in sheer tights.

To their relief, Scarlett felt comfortable in most of the clothes she’d selected.

Once she’d chosen one to wear for the market, Mateo went to pay.

This time, Ezra took it upon himself to hold the door open and help her into the car.

When she sat down, she pulled at the flowery white fabric of the dress she’d chosen to cover her thighs.

Mateo wasn’t sure if she’d done it on purpose, but she looked like the total opposite of Ezra, who refused to wear anything but pitch black.

“Thank you.”

“It was our pleasure. I think Ezra did enjoy spoiling his princess.”

Her cheeks blushed a sweet pink, which she tried to hide by ducking her gaze into her lap. Mateo hoped she’d enjoyed it too, because he wanted to do it all over again. The market was another forty-five minute drive, so they settled in for the ride.

It was mind blowing to him that she’d never seen anything but Brighton, and probably not even all of that. It was sad to think that her life had been nothing but restrictions—and how long it would take to break those habits.

Once at the market, Scarlett seemed hesitant. Her eyes scanned the crowd, seeming unsure of where to go first. Big crowds probably scared her too. Maybe her father had told her horror stories about what people could do to her.

“Would you like to hold onto me?” Mateo asked and held out his arm.

Scarlett took it and instantly she seemed to calm, as if he was her anchor in a wild storm.

Ezra walked behind her, keeping her safe from anything she couldn’t see.

It wasn’t necessary, but it seemed to make her feel safer.

With their basket in his other hand, he guided her to the stand he always bought his vegetables from.

The farmer was a sweet older man, who curiously eyed Scarlett and Ezra, who had never tagged along before.

The butcher was next, a young man who’d recently taken over from his father.

“The usual?” he asked, but then his eyes fell on Scarlett. “Ah, I don’t think we’ve met before. I’m Josh.”

“Scarlett.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Scarlett.” Josh helped Mateo pick out the meat for the week and packaged it up for them. “Have a great day.”

Mateo went to a stand for fresh herbs and spice, and Ezra whisked the rather hesitant Scarlett away. He found them at a vendor selling sun hats and silk scarves. It seemed that Ezra was a big softy after all.

Ezra handed Scarlett a big straw hat with a white bow that matched her dress. She tried it on, and it looked as if it had been made for her and that dress. “We’ll take it,” Ezra announced, paying for the hat without asking Scarlett’s approval.

“It looks great on you,” Mateo hummed as she stood before the mirror and inspected herself.

Scarlett beamed under the praise. “Thank you.”

They looked around a little more until he could sense that it was enough for her. He stopped at his favourite candy vendor and let her sample her way through what they had. Choosing his favourite citron candy for himself, orange for Ezra, and liquorice for her they left.

“Would you like to have takeout for lunch?” Mateo asked as they walked back to the truck.

“Can we take it home?”

“My thought exactly.”

At home, Mateo made sure she was settled on the couch with a drink and her food.

Vince joined them, his eyes nearly popping out of his head when he saw Scarlett in that dress.

After she’d finished her meal, Vince took her plate away and refilled her drink.

Though Vince was very good at hiding it, Mateo could feel his guilt over separating her from her pack.

He truly hadn’t meant for her to choose them so abruptly.

Pulling away from her and not letting himself enjoy her company was Vince’s way of punishing himself.

Once she was settled with a movie and snacks, Vince disappeared into the workshop again.

Ezra didn’t move from his spot on the couch, so dish duty was left to Mateo. By the time he’d finished, Scarlett was fast asleep. Even though it was a warm day, the AC was on, so Mateo covered her with a light blanket and turned down the volume on the TV.

Leaving her with Ezra, Mateo went to join Vince in his workshop. “When’s the next delivery?”

Vince only indicated the calendar on the wall.

It was a dresser that needed to be restored and returned in two weeks.

Vince usually worked pretty fast but had learned to give himself extra time for the deliveries in case a hunt came up.

They didn’t need the money from Vince’s woodwork, but it helped Vince keep busy.

Even though quiet, he had a hard time with idle hands.

“Scarlett was ecstatic today, overwhelmed yes, but happy to be out there.”

Vince’s eyes didn’t draw away from the wood he was detailing, but they didn’t have to for Mateo to feel the spark of jealousy.

“Ezra was quite tame too. Surprisingly, actually, but he seemed to enjoy parading her around. She has a way with him that he himself can’t understand.”

This time, Vince shot him a scathing glare and Mateo knew far too well what it meant. Shut up and get out.

“Just talk to her about how you feel. Of course she’s upset, but she’s smart enough to know that this would’ve happened at some point. She knows that it wasn’t your intention to pressure her.”

The words had barely left his mouth when a hammer whizzed by his head, missing him by an inch.

“That I expected of Ezra.” Mateo turned and picked up the tool that had left a dent in the wall behind him. “All I’m saying is that if she can handle him, she can listen to you too.”

Silence.

After returning the hammer, Mateo went inside, finding Ezra standing over the still-sleeping Scarlett.

His fingers twirled a strand of her hair, but he was gentle enough not to wake her.

There was a war within him that he still didn’t understand, and it made Mateo’s own head spin.

Ezra wanted to touch her, take what was his but at the same time, that would scare her, and even Ezra disliked that.

The simple thought of wanting her— needing her—was a whole new fight.

Ezra didn’t want to fall for her and at the same time, would burn down the world to please her.

Mateo could feel the hate and the fear she brought to Ezra, not towards her, but towards himself.

Ezra was well aware of who and what he was, and he’d stopped caring what others thought and expected of him.

But Scarlett was different. He wanted to be everything she would ever want, but knew he could never give her that.

Retreating to his room, Mateo left Ezra to his own devices.