Standby (Open Skies Book 4) by Becca Jameson (popular e readers .TXT) 📕

outside before being blinded by smoke. Hawke was still doubled over in pain from the blow to his gonads. Jason had the upper hand when he entered the cabin.”

“Do you think you could have gotten away without Jake and Jason showing up?” Christa asked.

Shayla shook her head. “Not a chance. I might have escaped Hawke. It was very dark outside. I was at the tree line when Jake’s arms snaked around me and pulled me into his embrace. I don’t think Hawke could have found me. He wouldn’t have known which direction I ran. All I would have needed to do was get as far away as possible and then remain silent.”

Raeann frowned. “Sounds like you had it then.”

“Not even close. It was below freezing and I was ten miles from the nearest anything, and I didn’t even know which direction that might be. I would have died of hypothermia.” She shuddered at the thought.

“Shit,” Libby muttered.

“I never slept a single moment that night,” Heather added, running her fingers through her thick curls. “I’m pretty sure I lost about ten years off my life when I realized you were missing.”

Shayla reached out a hand and grabbed Heather’s. She was sitting closest. Shayla was glad she’d joined this growing group of friends. It turned out the two of them had a lot in common—besides both being duped by Hawke.

Heather’s hand was trembling and she fought back tears as she clearly relived the event. “I kept pacing your hotel room, praying even hours later that you’d simply gone to the ice machine and forgotten your key or something.” A choked half-laugh, half-sob escaped her lips. “I had this weird pretend scenario in my mind that you’d gone to another floor to the vending machines, fallen, hit your head, and had been transported to the hospital as a Jane Doe.”

Shayla squeezed her hand tighter.

“I kept thinking we should have paid closer attention to our surroundings. It gave me chills imagining that fucking asshole following us to dinner and watching us eat and then following us back to the hotel and grabbing you.”

“I’m okay now though. And he’s never going to hurt anyone again.”

Heather pulled in a ragged breath and nodded. “I know that logically, but it’s not helping me sleep. I’ve lost more sleep over this nightmare than the months that asshole was harassing me. Somehow it was different. When he was texting and calling, I didn’t consider him an actual threat to my life.”

“Have you spoken to his wife again?” Christa asked. They all knew the gist of the saga, but they hadn’t spoken enough in the last few days to paint the full picture for anyone.

Shayla nodded. “Briefly yesterday. It was awkward. Her husband is in custody in Seattle. She didn’t even fully know he was cheating on her until a few days before. She’s still processing and trying to play catch-up. I feel bad for her, and she feels awful for me too. It’s weird.”

“At least she doesn’t have to fight him in court or worry about him taking her kids or worse,” Destiny pointed out.

Bex sat up and reached for a bottle of wine. “What the heck are we doing sitting around empty-handed? We need wine.” She popped the cork and started pouring everyone but herself a glass, glancing at Shayla to continue the conversation. “What about the other two women? Renee and Katy?”

Shayla nodded. “I’ve spoken to both of them also. They’re equally shook up. Everyone feels like they dodged a bullet. The man was a ticking time bomb. We’re all lucky he didn’t lose his shit at any point and kill one of us.”

“Sounds like the tipping point was his wife finding out,” Raeann said.

“Yes. I think so. The crazy part is that he blamed me,” Shayla pointed out. “He kept rambling about how it was my fault that I’d spoken to his wife. He was the one who made her suspicious enough to check his phone when he got in the shower. Marilyn called me. Not the other way around. I suspect it’s going to take her a while to stop feeling somewhat guilty too. If she hadn’t read those texts, met with me, and then left him, he wouldn’t have kidnapped me. As much as we all know he’s a world-class dick, he’s her husband and the father of her kids, and though she suspected he was cheating, she didn’t know how bad it was or what a double life he led, so she’s going to be processing that for a long time.”

They all nodded.

“Some days I feel so lucky,” Destiny whispered in the silence.

“So…” Raeann started, drawing out the single syllable. “Enough sadness.” She turned to face Shayla. “Tell us what’s up with Jake. You’ve been with him for like two weeks. Are you an item? And more importantly, if that’s the case, why are you here with us?”

Shayla snickered and then sighed. “It’s complicated.”

“How the hell is anything with that hot hunk of man complicated?” Bex asked.

Shayla rubbed her eyes.

“Don’t tell me all is not well in paradise,” Libby added. “When Jason got home, he said he’d never seen a man more frantic to get to his woman before. Unless, of course, you consider himself, Mack, and Bracken,” she teased. “Spill.”

Shayla shrugged. “I’m just nervous, I guess. I’ve never been in an actual relationship. Guys don’t tend to stick around.”

“Jake doesn’t seem like a man who would run,” Christa pointed out.

“I know. I know. I’m just concerned.”

“How do you feel about him?” Libby asked.

Shayla leaned her head back and looked at the ceiling. “God. He’s fucking perfect. It’s maddening. What kind of man moves a woman into his house—a woman he barely knows—and devotes every moment of his time trying to help her get out of a previous relationship?”

“The kind I’m in love with,” Christa teased.

Gah. Of course. Mack moved Christa into his house after one date when her apartment fell through. It worked out for them. “Good point.”

“Granted I wasn’t trying to