I loved Texas. I loved being here with Mase. But Marco had tainted it. He had taken that from me. I hated him. If only I hadn’t been so terrified; if only I’d screamed. If only I had hit him or reacted in some way, he wouldn’t be running free. I wouldn’t be living in fear.
When we landed and deplaned, Grant Carter stepped out of a silver SUV and made his way to us.
“Thanks for coming to pick us up,” Mase said as Grant took one of the bags from his hands.
“You’re family, man. No thanks needed.” His gaze fell on me. “Glad you’re here, Reese. Harlow has been planning every second of your stay. She’s very excited about having you at the house.”
The sincere smile on his face didn’t hide the concern in his eyes. These people actually cared about me. The evidence of that emotion caused my eyes to tear up. I’d never had a real family. The one I should have been able to rely on had let me down. They’d allowed me to live in a world full of nightmares. I wasn’t going to let that keep me from having a relationship with them, but I would never be able to truly forgive my father for that.
But this family, the one Mase came from, was loyal. They were ready to open their home and their arms to me. The people in his world just kept bringing me in and accepting me. Somehow I managed not to cry. Instead, I smiled at Grant. “Thank you. I’m looking forward to spending time with Harlow, too.”
Mase’s free hand settled on my lower back as he led me to the SUV. When Grant had loaded our bags and walked around to get in on the driver’s side, Mase pulled me close to him and held my face in one hand. “You’re my family, Reese. This makes them your family. No one in this world is more important to me than you, and because of that, my sister adores you. Accept that,” he said. “That’s not something to cry over.”
“I didn’t,” I said.
His small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Yes, but you fought it. I watched your face. I know every expression you have, baby.”
With a soft laugh, I leaned into his hand and smiled up at him. “I love you, Mase Manning.”
“And that makes me the luckiest man in the world.”
We walked into the Carters’ home, where finger foods and sweet treats filled the table. Harlow greeted us, with Lila Kate holding on to her leg as she peered up at everyone with a curious expression. The second Grant walked into the house, though, she let go of her mother and squealed, lifting her little arms up for her daddy.
“There’s my baby girl,” Grant said, dropping a bag by the door and picking up Harlow’s Mini-Me.
Lila Kate patted his face with both hands, grinning brightly. “Daddy!” she announced to everyone.
“She pouts when he leaves every morning. When he gets home, it’s her favorite part of the day,” Harlow said, smiling at her husband and daughter.
“That’s ’cause she’s her daddy’s girl,” he said with pride as he kissed her chubby little cheek.
“Without a doubt,” Harlow agreed. Then she turned her smile to us. “I got a little carried away making some afternoon snacks for y’all.”
“I’m starving. That looks amazing,” Mase said, stepping forward and pulling his sister in for a hug. He whispered something in her ear, and she squeezed him tighter in response. Watching them together made me wonder about Nan. Why didn’t she want this closeness with them?
“Puddywun,” Lila Kate told Grant as she continued to pat his face.
“I’ll join in a moment. Go ahead and start without me. Lila Kate wants some pudding. It’s our thing when I get home,” he explained.
He walked over and kissed Harlow sweetly on the mouth and told her he loved her before taking Lila Kate back to the kitchen.
Harlow turned to watch him walk away as if she’d never seen him walk before. When she turned back to us, her cheeks were flushed. They were living the fairy tale I wanted for myself.
Mase
Harlow had taken Reese shopping with the girls today. She hadn’t wanted to leave me at first, and I wasn’t going to make her. But Harlow was so excited about it, and Reese began to relax some. In the end, she had assured me she was fine. I told Harlow I didn’t want them leaving Rosemary Beach; I wanted to be close by if she needed me. Harlow had promised they wouldn’t go far, saying she just wanted to take Reese’s mind off of everything.
I was headed out to play golf with Grant and Rush at Kerrington Country Club when my phone rang. I didn’t recognize the number and hated the fear that came with that. I shouldn’t have let Reese go without me.
“Hello,” I answered, my heart in my throat.
“Mase Manning?” It was a man’s voice.
“Yes.”
“This is Detective Northcutt with the Fort Worth PD. Marco Halls has been found.”
Relief washed over me. They had found him. The bastard wasn’t running free. “We’ve pressed charges, and Reese has a restraining order. What’s the next step?” I was ready to end this. I wanted the man behind bars. I just wasn’t sure that was going to happen.