Mary couldn’t help herself, remembering just how Jax had asserted himself, realizing it was true.
Jax made her heart flutter wildly and she yearned to hug him, hold him close, and touch him in ways that made him sigh with happiness… and this poor, pathetic man before her looked so small, so weaselly, so miserable, that she felt sorry for him.
“I feel sorry for you,” Mary whispered, before she could hold back the words. “I hope you find someone that makes you as happy as my husband does – but until then? Leave me alone and please don’t come back here again.”
“You can’t kick me out…” Joe snarled, and Mary didn’t back down.
“No, but I can,” Eva interjected, smiling at her approvingly. “And that drop-dead, gorgeous man in the police uniform over there sipping on his coffee, like the stud-muffin that he is?… That’smyhusband, and he doesn’t look too happy right now.”
Dylan slowly got to his feet, and Mary almost burst out laughing, seeing the jokester that was always teasing and playing around with his wife, put on his ‘big bad’expression.
“Is there a problem, Eva-darling?” Dylan said evenly.
“Just informing a guest that he is no longer welcome at this establishment,” Eva said evenly, crossing her arms. “You don’t hardly buy anything. You always create a scene and I’m tired of you harassing my employees. I do not want you in my bakery ever again – am I clear?”
“You heard the lady…”
Joe looked at Mary, then at Eva, then back to where Dylan was standing.
“This place has terrible food and always has,” Joe snarled angrily, knocking a stack of trays off the tubing countertop in front of the display case, causing both of them to jump at the outburst.
Dylan moved into action, grabbing the man by the arm and twisting it around him pointedly, shoving Joe towards the door.
“… And you are done!” Dylan ground out, as Robin peeked her head from the kitchen and started laughing nervously. “One more word out of you, mister, and you’ll be brought in for threatening my wife. If she wasn’t clear enough for you? Then let me spell it out: stay away from my woman!”
“God, I love that sweet man…” Eva sighed happily.
As he walked back inside, Dylan grinned and beat on his chest happily, making all the women laugh, as Eva ran around the counter with her arms out, throwing them around his neck.
“Do you know how long I’ve wanted to chase that creep out of here?”
“About as long as I wanted to tell Mary to get rid of him?”
“Why didn’t you?” Dylan asked boldly, kissing his wife on the forehead before smiling at Mary. “You don’t have to put up with guys like that – even if they are your ex-husband.”
“Because I was afraid, he would hurt me again,” she admitted, and suddenly she realized that not only had Joe bullied her, he’d isolated her and made her feel like no one would help her – and none of it was true. “And I guess it took me realizing that I wasn’t alone to understand there was help available if I asked.”
“So long as you know that…” Dylan nodded. “Nobody should ever put up with that.”
“It’s a hard lesson to learn.”
“If you ladies have any issues, just shout… and do not hesitate, Miss Mary,” Dylan said pointedly, looking at her. “Am I clear? It doesn’t have to be just here either – at home too. You make the call if you are bothered, because that is what we are here for… remember?Serveandprotect.”
“Thank you,” she smiled, nodding, and feeling almost relieved. Everything in her life, her world, was coming together… and all she needed was the gentle push from her friend to grasp at a chance at happiness.
… And she had!
She had found happiness in his smile, his laughs, his soft-spoken dreams in the still of the night. She loved holding his hand, imagining a future with him, hearing him say that he cared for her… and knowing she had the best person in the world at her side, both mentally and physically, too.
Mary would never be bullied again – because she wouldn’t allow it. If Joe ever came around, she’d call the cops on him in a heartbeat. If he touched her, she’d press charges – and if he ever threatened her again? She would put a protective order against Joe to make sure he stayed away.
That frightened girl was rising above it all, because her best friend held the ladder and encouraged her to climb… reaching for the stars.
* * *
My sweetest husband,
I have to share with you what happened today – before I burst with joy!