“Well I did promise to help my mother set up the Baker’s ready to open. I’ve already gone for a joy ride for half the day, by the time we get back. I doubt Emma will have leave the clinic before it closes so I should get back to help.” He stared at her highly strung smile for a long minute. He unlocked the chain by his wheel first, leaving Beth handing nervously on the silence for his reaction. I just want to go home. Jason wound the chain around his right fist as he regarded her sceptically. He couldn’t have known how intimidating that looked, could he? Nearly there Beth. Keep it together a bit longer.
“Sure.” Beth released a breath she hadn’t realised she’d been holding. Man this guy is intense. He opened the first pannier up to retrieve his black helmet and gloves. He placed them on the seat and put away the chain. He walked around the Harley to her side and she shuffled back to let him open the second pannier. As soon as he lifted the white helmet up for her she reached for it, but he pulled it back before her fingers to connect with it. Beth searched his face for a reason for the hold up. “Hn.” He chuckled in his throat and licked his thumb. With no warning that thumb swiped around the left side of her mouth. Jason licked it again, and cleared the other side. He nodded when he was content he’d cleared her face of sugar, and put the helmet on her head like a crown. “Ready?”
“A-huh.” She gulped and waited as he pushed it down intoplace. She didn’t even get to fasten her own chin strap. Home, just think of home.
“Then let’s hit the road.” Jason put his helmet on and swung his leg over to rest comfortably on the seat. His hands braced on the handles as he waited for her to get on behind him. Beth wasn’t as comfortable about clinging to him as she had been on the way out, but at least he couldn’t put his hands on her or manhandle her when he was driving. So she took her seat and nestled into position at his back. He tugged at her wrists for good measure to prompt her to hold on tightly. Only then did he turn the ignition and start up the rumbling beast.
On the return to Glen Valley Beth wished he would speed up. She didn’t take in he beautiful colours of the trees as they sped past, orthe changing hues in the sky as she did on the way out. She kept her head downand focused on one thing. What she was going to do or say when they pulled upon her drive to get inside and get rid of him.
Emma is right. I’m no popular socialite, but even I know Jason’s acting creepy. We met yesterday, and I’ve had more hands on contact from a best friend, if I had one. Even the way people cooed at them as they passed made it clear that they looked like a couple. Nearly all day Jason had a hand on her at all times. He was possessive, controlling, and didn’t respect her personal boundaries. And that thing he did with her neck? Well that freaked her out more than she’d ever be able to describe.
Which she intended to, to Emma, in full freaky detail, assoon as she could. Then again, that’s the quickest way to find myself packed up and on the road back to Seattle…so maybe I don’t go into every detail. One thing Beth knew for sure, was how her sister would react to finding out how dominating and hands on Jason had been with her.
The familiar majestic scenes of Glen Valley reassured her right up until the point where he parked the bike outside of ‘Cake-a-licious’. The café sign was made of big pink lettering and cartoon buns were dancing in thewindows. She recognised the shop front from the pictures her mother had shown her on her cell. Even as Jason turned off the engine and held his hand out for her to take to help her off the bike, a cold knot coiled in her stomach. Son of a-he didn’t take me home! Beth’s lie had backfired. Jason had ‘helpfully’ taken her to the café to help out her mother. Not her home, where she could escape him and keep him on the other side of many locked doors. At first she panicked at her foiled escape plan…but then she calmed herself and took his hand. It’s alright. He’s still dropping me off. I’ll have breathing space soon. Beth forced herself tobrace her weight on his hand and the bike barely moved as he guided her off the bike and to her feet. She hurried to unzip the jacket and draped it over the Harley seat. Her hands lifted for the chin strap but she wasn’t fast enough. Jason’s strong fingers were at her neck before she could blink. She bolted stiff as he unfastened and lifted the helmet up off her head with little resistance.
“Thank you for the ride.” Beth was backing away from him as she smiled and waved her goodbyes. “A-and the churros.” She chuckled nervously and reached behind her to push the door open. nearly scott free. Jason free, at least. He narrowed his dark eyes, puzzled by her behaviour.
“…” Jason ducked his head to one side to look around her and his eyes widened. He jerked away from his Harley and reached for her. Her heart juddered in her chest at the sudden advance.
“I-I’m good now tha-” Beth’s panic was cut short by his fist at her dress just as the backs of her shins connected with a large cardboardbox. Her upper body was held suspended from tumbling backwards over the box by nothing more than his grip on her dress. Beth was still a little shocked when she noticed his dark eyes dip down to her chest. She looked down and saw her dress was bunched up in his fist and the neckline had lowered to show her white bra. “A-ah!” She flung her hands up and pawed at his wrist. In her panic she skidded on her own boot heels and started to fall. Jason yanked on her dress hard enough, with very little effort, to reel her in to his firm chest.
For the second time that day she found herself pressed there, his arms around her, and his hands in the same weird position. One stroking her upper back, the other rubbing circles into the back of her neck.
“You’re alright. I’ve got you.” Jason shook his head and rolled his dark eyes at her with a very put out huff. “As clumsy as a new born deer. Get your bearings. You’re alright.” Beth gripped her fists by her side sand managed to turn her head to look into the bakery. She saw her mother and Ben were pottering around inside and begged them with her eyes to come over and save her. Ben spotted her first and took in the wide eyed plea like a smack to the face. He dropped whatever he was doing was off like a shot. He kicked the box in the doorway out of his way and came out like his ass was on fire.
“Beth.” He barked and darted his gaze from her scared expression to the taller man coaxing her. “Dear God girl you’ve been gone all day!”
“Portland takes a while to drive to.” Beth tried not to obviously drop Jason in it, but also totally wanted to grass him in.
“Portland?!” He focused hotly on the boy. “You took my Beth to Portland?! Without asking me?”
“I was tasked by Caleb to buy her a replacement camera.” Jason half ignored Ben and seemed to care more about rubbing the back of Beth’sneck than giving his full attention to the snarling patriarch. “You were fine with that when I picked her up.”
“To go to Kelly’s place!”
“You never asked where I was taking her.” Beth felt Jason become tense all around her and she felt more trapped against his chest, not less. His tone was getting defensive too. “I kept her safe. I took care of her and I’ve brought her back in one piece.”
“She doesn’t look-” Ben was raising his voice and bystanders were starting to stare. Beth contemplated thrashing her limbs for freedom and to launch herself at Ben. But she could see by turning her head that people were staring. Some were even on their phone as they watched intently. Why do I feel like I’m getting in even more trouble?
“Beth was just calming down before you came out here snapping your jaws old man.” Jason slid his left foot back and turned his body. Beth was shuffled to one side, still pressed to his chest, but now shielded from Ben. Crap! What’s going on?!?
“Don’t you tell me to calm down when you’ve taken my girl out of town without my permission and she’s shaking like a damn leaf.” Ben’s eyes seemed to catch on something with this new angle, and he flushed red with wide eyes. “Hey! Cut that out!” He became very alarmed as he pointed to the back of her neck. “I’m warning you boy!”
“What the hell is your problem? I’m only gentling her to-” Jason’s voice boomed through his chest and into Beth’s cheek.
“I can see what you’re doing, and you can cut it out.” Their argument was getting heated and it felt like she was going to be caught in the middle of a brawl if this kept up. If I were Emma, I’d be screaming at the top of my lungs. Or maybe I’d have kicked him in the balls? I-I just want to go home. Beth sniffled, her hands trembled, and she felt Jason’s face tousle her hair as he sniffed her.
The sound of a snarling dog made Beth tense and instinctively grab Jason’s jacket for protection. Who’s dog is that?! where-it was so loud and- “Stop Jason. There’s no need for that, and you need to stop.” At the change of his tone Beth forced her face to turn against Jason’s chest. Her watery brown eyes took in the sight of Ben stood outside the bakery, and her mother now too, with their hands down, palms facing Jason, knees bent and eyes lowered. The growling stopped and Beth wriggled to try and look around for the dog. It sounded big and very angry. She could see any dogs, but she did see a familiar blue pick up truck as it pulled up behind Jason’s Harley.
“Alright, everyone take a deep breath.” Caleb jumped out of the truck and thanked one of the bystanders for calling him. He looked immaculate today, in a snappy grey suit and tie. He’d shaved and his raven hair was neatly tied back at his nape. “Good afternoon everyone. Now, what seems to be the-” He locked onto Beth in Jason’s arms, her wide watery brown eye dexpression as she begged him for freedom, and sighed. “Jason?” His tone held a warning and his hands fisted on his hips. “Why are you guarding that girl from her own parents?” When Jason didn’t answer Caleb raised a dark brow and hummed deep in his chest. “Jason? Let Beth go to her parents.”
“She needs to clam down first.” Beth couldn’t raise her head, but it sounded like he was struggling with something. “And he needs to back off.” He snarled at Ben, who took a step back.
“Alright.” Caleb walked into the fray and waved for Ben and Jo to go back into the store. “Best if you leave this with me to reduce the threat level.” What?! He’s telling them to leave?!? Beth jerked towards her mother, but was held steadfast by Jason.
“But-” her mother tried, but Ben reassured her.
“Caleb has this. We’ll have her back in no time.” Beth whimpered when her parents retreated to the bakery and left her alone with not one but two creepy strangers. Emma wouldn’t have left me. Beth fixated on this thought bitterly and whimpered again when Jason resumed that weird neck massage with his thumb.
“Now you need to stop that Jason.” Caleb got close enough to stand right beside them before Jason jerked them back a step. “Jason?” He chided him. “I am not a threat. Beth is clearly upset, and you are not helping her calm down.”
“But-”
“Beth? Sweetpea? You want to stay where you are, or go to your mother?” Caleb asked smoothly with a kind smile and looking her right in her big brown eyes. She found the courage to nod and answer him.
“I-I want my Ma.” Beth breathlessly answered and the dog returned with a whine.
“Jason?” Caleb demanded his attention and no one seemed to be concerned there was a big dog nearby. Beth wasn’t skittish of dogs, but that one sounded way too big. “You heard the lady. Let her go.” A warning growl put Beth right on edge.
“Can’t.” Jason ground out.
“Why not?”
“She, she’s clinging to me.” Beth blinked with a start and realised he was right. She still fisted at his jacket. “Needs my protection. She-” Beth flung her hands down and tried to reach for Caleb.
“Alright.” Caleb paused for time to plan his next move. Alternating his focus from Beth to Jason. He had his hands on his hips and tapped at them with his fore-fingers. Right up until his lightbulb moment where he threw his arms open. “Well then, give her to me.”
“What?” Beth and Jason asked in unison. Caleb stared intently into Jason’s eyes, icy and sharp a he demanded obedience.
“If she needs protecting, who better to protect her than me?” Caleb pressed and rolled his wrists to indicate the transfer. “Give Beth to me and I will protect her. Or do you challenge my ability to protect her?” Beth blinked, starting to see the same weird intense stare from Caleb that she had received more than once from Jason. Cold, hard, and biting. “Give her to me Jason. That’s an order. Obey.” Caleb braced himself, knees slightly bent and hands reach to catch her.
The dog strangled a howl and it sounded like it was on the other side of Jason. Beth yelped from the noise, but more so when her arms were gripped in Jason’s hands tightly. “Obey!”
Beth was literally thrust backward with such force, she felt like a basketball. She stumbled over her own feet and would have fallen had Caleb not caught her. He steadied her as she trembled and looked behind him to the bakery window. Joanna and Ben were stood on the otherside of the glass and waiting with bated breath for her to join them. She tried to walk behind Caleb to go through the door and join her parents but she was pinned to the mayor’s side. She had swapped one captor for another. “Well done kid, you did good. Now just focus on your breathing. In and out.” Beth thought for a solid minute Caleb was trying to calm and reassure her. She even started to follow the instruction, turning in his arms to look warily over at Jason as she calmed down. “That’s it Jason. She’s safe. She’s calming down. Everything’s going to be just fine.” Caleb spoke with the smoothness of a salesman. Jason was buying what he was selling at any rate. Beth watched as the taller man took deep breaths in and out. He had his fists balled up by his sides, but his shoulders lowered and he rolled his neck to work the tension out. “There we go. Phew.” Caleb chuckled and jostled her affectionately at his side. “Now you look calmer now too. I’m going to take you to your parents in a minute, don’t you worry Missy. As soon as everyone’s feeling good, we’ll get right on that.”
Beth was in a numbed state of shock. What the actual hell just happened? Caleb looked very pleased with himself, all smiles and charm again. Jason was slowly returning to his broody self and even folded his arms awkwardly. “So did you two have a productive shopping trip?” At first no one answered him. Beth was still overwhelmed with the bizarre oppressive experience that was Jason’s company. Not to mention the hostage hand over just now. Jason though, found his voice. He cleared his throat and shoved his hands into his leather jacket pockets.
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