Page 52 of Where We Bloom (The Blackwells of Montana #3)

Chapter Thirty-One

BILLIE

“ I love this book club,” Skyla says with a contented smile after the rest of the girls leave and just the two of us are left in the store. “Everyone always reads the books, and the conversation is so much fun.”

“I agree.” I smile at her as I gather the last few items for the trash, and Skyla helps me put the chairs away. “You don’t have to stay, you know. I’m fine here.”

“I’ve missed you,” she replies, watching me with shrewd green eyes, so much like her brother’s. “I know you’re a busy woman with work and my brother, but I thought it would be nice to hang out for a minute to chat privately.”

I can’t help myself. I pull Skyla in for a tight hug. Her arms wrap around me, and she squeezes me just as tight, and it occurs to me how much I really needed a hug.

“Are you okay?” she whispers as she rubs her hand up and down my back.

“I miss him,” I reply and pull back, eyeing Simon, who’s still standing by the front door, but he’s looking at his phone. “My life has changed a lot.”

She nods, obviously understanding. “He’s a little overbearing sometimes, and he’s feral when it comes to protection. Is it worth it?”

I frown at her. “Of course, it’s worth it. I can’t picture my life without him. But he’s so … worried about the safety thing, no matter how many times I explain to him that nothing’s going to happen to me here.”

“I thought I was safe here, too.” And everything that happened just a couple of months ago with Skyla’s stalker, her being in danger, her beautiful dog almost dying, comes flooding back to me. “My brother loves you, and there’s nothing he won’t do to keep you safe.”

“I love him, too.”

She smiles and cups my cheek. “Aye, I know you do. Isn’t it wonderful that I fell in love with your brother, and you fell for mine, and we’ll be best friends forever?”

“As long as your brother doesn’t dump me, it’s wonderful.”

She barks out a laugh and shakes her head. “Not happening. Ever.”

I laugh with her and pull away. “I’m just going to go turn out the lights and get ready to go. Would you like a ride home?”

“I drove myself in,” she says. “But I’ll wait and walk out with you.”

With a nod, I walk to the backroom so I can flip the light switches. I hear Skyla speaking and then a lower voice, and I assume she’s talking to Simon .

Once I’ve gathered my handbag from my office, I walk back through the store, and my eyes widen when I realize Skyla’s speaking to Connor.

But before I can run and jump in his arms, I realize Connor doesn’t look happy.

“You’ll do as I fecking say,” he says to his sister, who’s frowning at him. “I’ve already called Beckett, so he’s aware.”

“We’ll be fine,” Skyla assures him.

“Hey.” I offer my man a tentative smile, and then I’m yanked into his arms. He holds me so tight, it’s hard to pull in a breath. “I missed you, too.”

Suddenly, Simon shouts, “Get down!” He pushes through the glass door, his weapon drawn, and he’s sprinting across the street with Miller right behind him.

Connor tackles me to the floor, and Skyla’s down, too, and my heart thumps in my ears. There’s no noise coming from outside, and I lift my head to look, but Connor growls.

“Stay down, angel,” he says as Skyla scoots over to us, and I pull her close.

“What in the hell?” I ask.

“You’ll stay here, both of you,” Connor says as he goes to stand, but I yank on his hand, pulling him back to me.

“You’re not going out there.”

“I’m going to check it out,” he says, kissing my forehead. “I’ll be fine.”

Absolutely fucking not.

“Let Miller and Simon handle it.”

But my stubborn-as-hell man ignores my plea and stands just as the door opens again, and Simon rushes in, no weapon in sight.

“All clear, the suspect is apprehended.”

What the hell is going on?

“Who?” I demand. “What was he doing?”

Simon doesn’t even look my way. He’s talking directly to Connor as Skyla and I climb to our feet.

“The suspect is apprehended, sir, but we haven’t done a full canvas of the area to know if there are any more out there,” Simon adds.

“Who?” I demand. “What was he doing?”

Simon doesn’t even look my way. He’s talking directly to Connor as Skyla and I climb to our feet.

“The police are with him, boss,” Simon says.

“Miller called them in?”

“Yes, and they were literally a street away. They pulled up as we caught the guy.”

What guy?

“Good.” Connor tugs me against him. “Christ,” he mutters against my hair. “Need to get you to our home, bumble. And I need you to listen to my instructions and follow them.”

“ Who and why ?” I demand again, but no one’s answering me.

Instead, Connor backs away and starts barking orders.

“Simon, follow Skyla home, and don’t leave her until she’s through the gate at their ranch. Miller, we’re heading straight to the house. I want alarms set around the perimeter of the property and all cameras on.”

“Sir,” they both say, their faces grim.

“What’s going on?” I ask as Connor opens the back door of the SUV and gestures for me to get inside.

But I don’t get inside. Instead, my gaze is pinned to the short, skinny man with wire-rimmed glasses being led to the back seat of the police car where Chase Wild is reading him his rights.

“Who is that man?” I ask.

“Angel, I need you to get in the car now. Please.” He gestures for me to get into the car, then slides in after me. I’ve barely got my seat belt on when Miller takes off toward home.

Connor holds my hand, but he’s distant. His face is hard as granite as he stares out the window, grinding his teeth together.

“Who was he?”

Nothing. He takes a breath and grinds his back teeth together.

Okay, I’ll try this another way.

“How was the flight?” I ask, trying to draw him into conversation.

“Long,” he replies and pulls his glasses off to rub his eyes with his free hand.

I decide to keep my mouth shut until we’re alone in the house, and I can ask what in the hell is going on.

I don’t like that it feels like he’s shut me out again. It feels like it did months ago, when we were fighting the attraction between us, and he was always so broody and growly.

Something’s wrong, and he’s not going to tell me what it is.

“Boss, the house and perimeter are secure. Jones and Weston have eyes on our approach.”

I don’t even know who Jones and Weston are.

Connor nods but otherwise stays silent.

Finally, Miller pulls up at our front door. I push out of the vehicle and walk inside after punching in the code to disarm the house alarm.

Connor walks in behind me, rubs his hand down my back, and marches to his office.

And I’m right behind him.

“I’ll be upstairs in a few,” he says, obviously dismissing me. “Go get comfortable, and I’ll come hold you.”

“Not until you tell me what’s going on.”

He takes off his suit coat, watching me with cool green eyes as he drapes it over the back of his chair. I prop my hands on my hips as he unfastens the buttons on his cuffs and rolls them up his forearms.

“I’d like you to let me do some work, and then I’ll come upstairs,” he tries again, obviously doing his best to rein in his frustration.

“And I’d like you to talk to me.” I soften my tone slightly because I can see the torment in his eyes, and it makes my chest ache.

He’s barely touched me.

He’s so fucking distant, I hate it .

He’s shut me out, and he looks exhausted. His hair is in disarray from his hands diving through it in agitation.

“I need you to talk to me,” I try again.

“And I need you to do as you’re bloody told,” he retorts, fisting his hands at his sides.

I feel my eyebrows wing up at that. “I’m not a dog trained to obey you.”

“ Fuck ,” he growls and begins to pace the office.

“Something is obviously very wrong, and we’re in a relationship, Connor.

This is a partnership, not a dictatorship.

I can help, you know. I tell you everything, so it’s a slap in the face that you’d keep something from me.

Something obviously bad enough that it has you pulling away from me and not even touching me.

It’s not fair. Who was that man? And why did Simon run after him with his gun drawn? ”

He stomps to me, he grips either side of my jawline and throat, and he kisses me hungrily, drinks from me as if he’s dying of thirst.

“Goddammit, you’re not a fecking dog,” he growls, still holding me, staring into my eyes.

“You’re my future wife. You’re everything.

My life doesn’t work without you, and I won’t apologize or ask your permission to use everything in my power to protect you like you’re the most important person in the world because you are . ”

“I’m fine ,” I assure him, but he shakes his head. “Tell me who that man was, Connor.”

“I don’t know for sure who he is. I received threats.

” He swallows hard as if the words taste like ash on his tongue.

“Christ, I received threats against you. They’re here in Montana and had photos of you.

Recent photos of you from the recital and around town, and I suspect that was the arsehole taking the goddamn pictures.

I don’t know if he was going to try to do worse.

I don’t know if he’s alone or if he has a team with him. I don’t fucking know, angel. ”

My stomach drops. God, no wonder he’s been so worried about my safety.

“Why?” I ask him. “Why against me?”

“Because the threats against me didn’t get them anywhere,” he replies, and the fatigue in his face deepens.

“Wait.” I pull back so I can scowl up at him. “They’ve been threatening you ?”

“Aye.” He lets out a gusty breath. “It happens all the time.”

“But you didn’t tell me.”

“They’re mostly idle threats to try to scare me to do their bidding,” he replies, but I’m shaking my head. “But when they dared bring you into it, they unleashed the fire of a thousand suns because I’ll burn it all to the ground to make sure you’re safe.”

“Connor.” My hands circle his wrists. “When did this happen?”

“Which ones?”

I blink at him. “All of them.”

“It started in New York. But they didn’t send me the photos of you until just before I boarded the plane to come home.”

“You should have called me.” I step out of his embrace and pull my hands down my face. “As soon as it happened, you should have called me and told me, so I could understand why you were so adamant about me being with Simon.”

“I don’t?—”

“We’re partners ,” I remind him, turning back to him.

“You’ve said several times that you love my backbone.

Well, here it is, billionaire. If you think that I’ll sit back and let you dictate how things go without question, then I’m not the girl for you.

You need to go find her. I deserve your respect as well as your love and protection. ”

His eyes narrow, still so hot, and then he slowly walks to me until he’s just an inch away, but he doesn’t touch me.

And it’s torture.