Fragile Sanctuary (Sparrow Falls Book 1)

I stretched, my arms reaching toward the sun and loosening the muscles that wove around my spine. The new flower bed was officially turned over for planting. Because that was what you did when you ran out of space but were desperate for a project.

A horn gave two short honks, and I turned to see the familiar truck with Bloom & Berry on the side. Duncan navigated over the pothole-riddled gravel drive until he reached the side of the guest cottage. Biscuit lifted his head from his spot on the deck where I’d placed his bed in the sun, but he didn’t growl. Progress.

Duncan slid out of the truck as I made my way toward him. The moment I was within arm’s reach, he pulled me into a hug. “I’ve missed you.”

I hugged him back hard. “Me, too. I’m hoping I can come back soon.”

Duncan released me, his gaze sweeping over me in assessment. “Looks like that gash is healing.”

It was just an angry red line instead of a scabby wound now. But I was sure I’d have a scar. Just one more to add to the bunch.

“It’s totally fine.”

“Good.” He shifted his weight from foot to foot. “Trace have any leads?”

I sighed. “Not yet. They found the stolen SUV that ran me off the road, but it was wiped clean of prints.”

Duncan’s jaw tightened. “You’d think they’d have found something by now.”

“Maybe it’s over, and whoever it was moved on.” But as soon as the words left my lips, I knew they were a naïve dream. Whoever had been toying with me was likely just biding their time. Because these days, nobody left me alone for even a moment.

Between what had happened to me and The Hangman, no one in my life was taking any chances. Anson stayed every night, with Trace ordering drive-bys every couple of hours. During the day, the crew was here, but I also had frequent visitors. Nora came by to help clean an already spotless house. Lolli brought over a kit so I could make my very own diamond art dick flower. I’d gotten countless texts from Cope, checking in between games and practices. Fallon brought buckets of ice cream, and Arden even made a few stops to check in.

The only one who hadn’t been by was Kye. But I understood. He didn’t handle people he cared about being at risk well.

Duncan toed a piece of gravel with his boot. “Maybe they have.” He looked around my outdoor space. “You’ve certainly put your time off to good use.”

I grinned, following his line of sight. The entire garden was brimming with color. My mom would’ve absolutely loved it. To her, a garden should always be rainbow chaos. “It’s been fun to have some time to really bring it to life.”

“I’ve got everything else you asked for and a few hours to help you get it plugged in.”

I glanced at Duncan in surprise. “You never take off in the middle of a workday.” In fact, I would’ve thought he’d send someone else to make the delivery.

Duncan bumped my shoulder with his. “Told you. I missed you.”

Warmth spread through me at that. I had an incredible community around me. And that was more than enough to be grateful for.

“Let’s get started,” I said with a grin.

We set to work unloading the truck and then positioning the plants where I wanted them. It took a few rearranging attempts and talking things through, but we finally got things laid out in a way we were both happy with. I’d forgotten what great instincts Duncan had when it came to garden planning.

Before long, we had everything plugged in and were carefully watering the new additions. They were beautiful and melded into the gorgeous views beyond of the mountains and rock faces.

Duncan shut off his hose. “Do you mind if I take some photos for the website? It’d be great to have people see some end results.”

“Of course, not.” It was a great idea for a selling tool.

I kept watering the new plant babies until I heard a click and looked up.

Duncan grinned. “Action shot.”

I stuck my tongue out at him. “Living my best model life.”

He chuckled. “We could make you the Bloom mascot.”

I snorted at that. “I think I’m good with my usual dirt-covered existence.”

The sound of tires on gravel had me looking up to see a familiar BMW sedan making its way toward us. A trickle of unease slid through me. I hadn’t seen any sign of Davis for almost a month now, but I should’ve known I couldn’t escape him entirely.

Duncan frowned. “What’s the douche doing here?”

“Your guess is as good as mine.” But I braced. Trace said he’d been keeping a close eye on him. So far, nothing linked him to the things that had happened to me.

Davis climbed out of his sedan in his now-typical preppy look, and I couldn’t really picture him getting his hands dirty to set a fire. He frowned as he walked toward us, taking in my current state. “You’re covered in dirt.”

“Good to see you, too,” I muttered, turning off the hose.

“I’m sure you could hire someone to do this for you.”

I sighed. This was why he and I never would have worked. “I don’t want to hire someone else. I like doing this. Actually, I love it.”

Davis’s frown only deepened, but he shot a look in Duncan’s direction. “Would you please give us a moment?”

Duncan looked at me in question.

I nodded. “It’s okay.”

Davis bristled at that but controlled the slight flare of temper as Duncan walked toward his truck. “Rhodes.”

It was my turn to bristle. “Rho. Everyone calls me Rho. It’s what I prefer.”

He opened his mouth to argue and then snapped it closed. “Rho.” I tried to ease my posture at his acquiescence but couldn’t quite get there. “I wanted to apologize.”

My eyes flared. I wasn’t sure Davis had ever apologized to me for anything. Even for being a dick of epic proportions.

“I was upset after Trace paid me that visit. My reputation is very important to me. But I shouldn’t have taken it out on you. I’m sorry.”

I knew how much it likely took for Davis to actually admit to overreacting. “Thank you. I appreciate it. Water under the bridge.”

It eased something in me to have us on better terms. Because in a town this small, Davis and I would always run into each other.

He smiled then, a flash of white against his perfect complexion. “Good. I’ve been worried about you. I heard about the accident.”

“I’m okay, really. My SUV is toast, but a replacement’s being delivered tomorrow morning.” Thankfully, the insurance was covering the lion’s share of that.

Davis’s mouth thinned as his gaze skated over my forehead. “That’s going to scar.”

I shrugged. “Not the end of the world.”

“Why don’t you come stay with me for a while? It’d be safer than you staying here all alone.”

Well, crap.

It didn’t surprise me that word hadn’t gotten around about Anson and me because we weren’t actually spending time together in public places—not with everything going on. I didn’t want to give Davis false hope, but I didn’t want to hurt him either.

“I actually haven’t been staying alone. My boyfriend’s been staying with me.” Calling Anson my boyfriend felt ridiculous, but I wasn’t sure what other term to use.

Davis stilled, a flush creeping up his neck. “Boyfriend?”

I swallowed hard. “Yeah. We’ve been seeing each other for a few weeks now.”

“Who?” Davis demanded.

I did my best not to wince, but a flicker of the movement slipped free. “Anson. You met him the last time you were here.”

“The interfering prick?” Davis snapped.

“Don’t,” I shot back. “He’s a good guy, and we aren’t doing anything wrong. You and I haven’t been seeing each other for over a month now.”

Davis’s chest rose and fell in quick, angry pants. “We were in a relationship, and you jump into bed with the first moron behemoth to crook his finger at you? I should’ve known you were nothing but a cheap slut.”

I reeled back as if he’d struck me.

“What. Did. You. Just. Call. Her?” Anson growled.

Davis whirled on him, his face paling. “I called her what she clearly is.”

Anson prowled toward him, his panther-like grace in full effect. “I warned you to stay clear of her. And now you show back up and insult her at her own home? I don’t think you’re learning, Davy.”

“M-my name is Davis.”

“No. Davis is a man’s name. But you aren’t a man, are you?” Anson challenged.

Davis straightened his shoulders. “You don’t know me.”

Anson grinned, but it had a slightly terrifying bent. “But I do, Davy. I know you didn’t leave your job in Silicon Valley because you were swimming in cash. You got fired.”

My eyes widened. Davis had told me and everyone else who would listen that his stock options had meant he could take a ridiculously early retirement.

“Fired because you were harassing a woman at your company,” Anson pressed.

Davis’s face had gone fire-engine red. “She was a liar. She was just mad that I rejected her.”

Anson chuckled, low and menacingly. “Hardly. But you couldn’t handle the rejection, so you came back here and played the part of rich tech king. Only you aren’t rich, are you, Davy?”

Davis’s teeth ground together, his fists clenching at his sides.

“You’re drowning in debt. In fact, that BMW is two weeks away from repossession, and that house of yours is about to go into foreclosure. So, no wonder you were so determined to move in with Rho. It was her or back in with your parents.”

I gaped at Davis, remembering how hard he’d pushed me to sell the house and move into a modern build together. It had been way too early, but he wouldn’t stop bringing it up.

“I could sue you for slander,” Davis snarled.

Anson shrugged. “It’s only slander if it’s a lie, Davy. And I have all the proof I need to back this up.” His eyes narrowed on my ex. “And I can keep digging. I have resources you can only dream of. And you and I both know there’s more dirt to uncover.”

A muscle in Davis’s cheek fluttered wildly, telling me that was true.

“So, leave,” Anson ordered. “And don’t come back. If you see Rho in town, you’ll keep right on walking. She does not exist for you. Crawl back into your pathetic hole, and don’t come out. Because if you do, I will rip apart your life, piece by piece.”

Vitriol shot from Davis’s eyes. “You two deserve each other.”

Anson simply grinned at that. “Thanks, Davy. So nice of you to say.”

Davis just glared before turning on his heel and stalking back to his car.

Duncan lifted both hands from where he leaned against his truck and started to clap.

I burst out laughing.

Anson stalked toward me, pulling me into his arms and kissing me deeply. His tongue stroked mine, demanding better access as if he were desperate to sear my taste into his memory.

When he finally pulled back, I struggled to catch my breath. I searched his stormy gaze. “You okay?”

“I hate that prick.”

I brushed a strand of hair away from his forehead. “You didn’t say anything about looking into him.”

Anson’s mouth thinned. “Because I’m looking into everyone in your orbit.” I shivered at that, and he pulled me tighter against him. “I’m not taking any chances. You mean too much to me.”

I wanted to mean something to Anson. Relished that. But I hated the price he had to pay for it. Because I knew going down this road meant he had to face every demon that lurked there. And the price might be too high for him to pay.